October Events

VERMONT Money Matters and Public Banking Forum

Join us in-person in Montpelier on Friday, Oct. 7

and/or for our virtual public banking forum on

Friday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 pm.

Women trained as advocates for local public banking efforts are gaining strength in Vermont. WILPF US has been planting these seeds. Your attention and support can help them grow!

Recently, when the Women, Money & Democracy Committee of WILPF US and its partner An Economy of Our Own presented the second of two national Women’s Public Banking Learning Circles, a happy accident brought five women from Vermont together to talk about what public banking could mean in their state, and how to make it happen.

They’ve been organizing strategically ever since and hope to see some movement in the next few months, though they know it will be a long effort to get public banking on the legislative docket. Local leaders Jaquelyn Rieke and Shanda Williams have joined forces with the Vermont Kindness Project to plan a full day of panels, workshops, networking and sharing … including information about Public Banking in Vermont. 

Please join us for this exciting in-person event!

Friday, Oct. 7, 10am – 4pm EDT (includes catered lunch)

MONEY MATTERS: Women and Trans Therapeutic Journey of Financial Freedom

Lunch, Networking, Lots of Amazing Panels and Workshops.

At the Pavillion Building of the Vermont State Capital in Montpelier. 

Use this link to order tickets. Donations of $60-$120 requested.

The event is in collaboration with the Vermont Kindness Project and is co-sponsored by WILPF and An Economy of Our Own, among other allies. 

And join us too for this FREE virtual event!

Friday, Oct. 14, 7:30pm EDT

STATEWIDE FORUM: Organizing for a Vermont Public Bank 

Join Zoom meeting here.  

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW VERMONT PUBLIC BANKING INITIATIVE

Check out this very short video for an engaging overview.          

Vermont had a public banking initiative a few years ago which came close to success but eventually went nowhere, thanks to a (then) new State Treasurer. She was more interested in creating small financial distribution centers that chose winners and losers among small businesses than a system that would benefit everyone. Economist and author, and WILPF member Gwen Hallsmith led the initial public banking effort. 

Now that State Treasurer’s term is over and a new one is being elected in November. There is new optimism for a Vermont Public Bank’s chances for success. Your attention and advocacy could help!

Every Friday through November, we invite you and other organizers and interested observers to join our

“Money Friday” zooms at 7:30pm eastern. 

Guests from cities around Vermont and even state legislators drop in to lend their support or find out more about the efforts being mounted during these 30-45 min. zooms. National experts on public banking are also on hand to answer questions. Organizers report on which organizations and individuals they’ve approached or signed on as endorsers. Join the weekly meetings at this link.                   

On Friday, September 30, at our weekly Money Matters Forum, Massachusetts Public Banking advocate Ruth Caplan will offer a glimpse into that state’s organizing. 

Public Banking as an alternative to Big Wall Street Banks means local state and city dollars remain local, invested in causes championed by women, families, peace and environmental activists, economically depressed communities, small businesses and communities of color. The Bank of North Dakota is the only existing public bank in the US (though several are being planned in other states now). The Bank of North Dakota is over 100 years old and provided stability to protect the state from the 2008 financial crash. ND was the only state that did not experience huge foreclosure and bankruptcy rates. 

The WILPF and AEOO Learning Circles in 2021 and 2022 offered impressive tools and resources:  

• The WILPF US Public Banking Toolkit
• Engaged collaborators from An Economy of Our Own and California Public Banking Alliance Public Banking Alliance
• Informative short videos that sum up public banking in powerful ways.     

The two 6-session series brought together women who admitted they didn’t know much about public banking but agreed that the for-profit commercial Wall Street banks are ripping people off left and right.

By gathering intimate groups of 10 to 15 women, everyone could exchange more information and benefit from the facilitators’ experience. The 6-session series featured Susan Harman of the Public Banking Institute and California Public Banking Alliance; Rickey Gard Diamond, founder of An Economy of our Own, MS Magazine columnist, and author of Screwnomics; and, and Marybeth Gardam, Chair of WILPF’s Women, Money & Democracy Committee. The series went so well the first time in 2021 that a second series convened in 2022, concluding only recently.

If you are in Vermont, consider attending these two upcoming events to learn more and support the efforts to explore public banking in your state:

• You’ll learn why public banking matters and how it could save Vermont (or any state) millions of dollars in out of state fees and management costs that go to big Wall Street Banks.

• Find out how public banking keeps local money local and available for low interest student loans, low cost mortgages, affordable housing projects, small business loans, community development projects, and much more. Learn from national experts why public banking is growing across the US, and how to advocate for it in your city and state.

For more information contact Shanda Williams (Shanda.williams4@gmail.com) and Jaqueline Rieke (daughteroftheliberator@gmail.com), Learning Circle graduates and women on fire about economic justice in Vermont!

WILPF Women, Money & Democracy Committee is working with An Economy of Our Own to package Public Banking Learning Circles with resources and Facilitator Packets. By this time next year activists can mount their own organizing and educational efforts in their own city and state. If you are interested in this project, contact wmad@wilpfus.org.