Who are we?

 

 

 

 

Crystal facilitates transformative experiences. Since graduating from Southern Oregon University in 2007 with a degree in international economics, she has designed and led workshops and educational events. She is a skilled writer and interviewer, 100+ women are featured on her podcast, “Money-Wise Women”. In 2017, she became Education Director at the Post Growth Institute. She facilitates community-based trading through the Offers and Needs Market group process. She is a proponent of cooperative ownership, sociocratic governance, and inclusive processes that heal financial and racial trauma. She loves writing poetry, improvisational theater, and hiking with her two Australian Shepherds. She lives with her husband and two children in the hills of Southern Oregon.

Dani is a facilitator, youth mentor, writer & musician, passionate about earth care, people care, the role of art & music in healing & justice work, and the relationships between living beings & systems. Dani has a background in Permaculture Design, got connected with the PGI through the Offers and Needs Market, and now works as part of the OANM team and convenes the PGI's Anti-Oppressive Practice Circle. Dani currently works as a communications consultant for a local Rogue Valley organization called Coalición Fortaleza and as an equity consultant at Rogue Valley Mentoring. Dani was born, raised, and is currently based in Ashland Oregon & loves to snowboard in winter, plant seeds in spring, explore rivers in summer, jump in leaf piles in fall & admire and bask in the color purple all year round.

Robert Wanalo is a patchworker, absorbed in the practice of weaving ideas, relationships and information into fabrics of possibility. Having spent a good couple of years learning about the new economy, he began to work with the Post Growth Institute in 2018, and is currently serving as the Director of Movement Building. He is a sucker for good conversation, and could be anything from an instigator of depth, to a catalyst for humor and mischief. He lives in Kisumu, Kenya, where the quiet moments of dawn and dusk are his favorite times for hot beverages and solitude.

Donnie is a facilitator, author and social entrepreneur, passionate about all things not for profit. Originally from Australia, Donnie spent the past decade in the US, before moving to Argentina in 2022, from where he coordinates the Post Growth Institute. He has worked in Egypt, Kenya, Fiji, Thailand and South Korea, helping over 500 not-for-profit projects start, scale and sustain their work, while his own initiatives include developing: the Offers and Needs Market, Free Money Day, the Post Growth Alliance, the (En)Rich List, The Not for Profit Way training, Silent Skype team meetings, Project Australia, and the globally-used #postgrowth hashtag. An Affiliate Professor of Economics at Southern Oregon University and Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, Donnie holds a Ph.D. in social science. He is working on his fourth book: How on Earth: Our future is not for profit.

Natalie is a British writer and editor based in Berlin, Germany. She holds a BA in Social Anthropology and a Master's in Environment & Development, and has been a professional wordsmith for over six years. Passionate about the environment, social justice and actively challenging the cult of (over)work, Natalie is cofounder of Mind the Gap, a nonprofit working to close the gender wealth gap by hosting inspiring educational events across Germany; and DangerousTech, an events and content platform focused on digital rights and the intersection of technology and society. Natalie is convinced that post-growth offers a way of thinking about the world - and each other - that is more sustainable, mindful and just than our current system, and that the PGI provides a practical set of steps to get us there. A hatha yoga teacher and avid traveler, she enjoys long train journeys with her ever-adventurous dog, Squirrel.

Dien is an independent filmmaker and Assistant Professor at Bard College at Simon’s Rock. He has interests in community media, sustainability, and experimental art movements. Dien previously taught at the University at Buffalo (SUNY) and Virginia Tech, where he co-developed the filmmaking program. Dien became interested in post-growth economics through his interests in sociology, philosophy, and ecological wisdom. He lives in Great Barrington, Massachusetts and New York City, where he is most happy experiencing the colorful diversity of Jackson Heights. http://www.dienvo.info

Jessica, born and raised in South Africa, is passionate about our (one) Earth and all things nature. With a background in conservation, she has a PhD in environmental governance and is currently based at the University of Cape Town. Observing the devastating effects of industrial agriculture, resource extraction and fossil fuels on nature and the gross inequity hegemonic, neo-colonial capitalism has wrought on the Global South, has led her to seek a radical revolution in economics to a post-growth world. Jessica loves being in nature away from the city where the wild things are.

Tyler is a non-profit administrator based out of Portland, Oregon. Holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Population Health Management, Tyler applies a systems-thinking mindset to implement sustainable programming within his community. His education, experience directing teams and projects, and passion for organizational development support his drive to support likeminded leaders making an impact with their neighbors. He also focuses on individual health and wellness through his personal training business, Harris Fitness. Tyler enjoys hiking in the sunshine, having fun with positive people, and learning how to better himself and his environment.

Lina is just about to graduate from an MSc in Ecological Economics at the University of Leeds, having obtained a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a major in Circular Economies. She is passionate about the evolution of climate justice and strongly believes that a thriving and healthy society that fits within ecological limits is possible. She was born in Norway but has lived all over Europe since the age of 12, currently residing in Berlin. When not reading and engaging with post-growth ideas, she can be found at the stables or out in nature with her horse, Atlas.

Arnaud received his PhD in Prospective and Economic Modelling from Paris Dauphine University, where he designed new programs for Economics Studies. Working for the Scientific Mission of the French Consulate, he undertook a study on GMO in the United States for the European Parliament. At the same time, he became involved in the social and solidarity economy and degrowth projects. Since 2000, he has supported sustainable development education programs in Bénin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Togo, and the Republic of the Congo. Recently, he developed research at the local level, helping citizens in rural areas to produce their own energy, organic food systems, and soft mobility.

Marianna is a mechanical engineer turned design researcher. She holds multiple degrees in engineering, economics, and design, including a PhD in Design Science, and is currently a postdoctoral researcher working on making field trials more participatory, with the goal of working towards decolonizing the field of engineering for global development. After finishing her PhD and finally having some time to think about something other than her thesis, she became fascinated with degrowth and low-tech approaches as a path towards justice. Born in France, Marianna can be found in the UK, Michigan, Greece, and France, depending on the time of year.

Kia holds a BSc in Information Technology. A tech-savvy person who always craves learning, she chose to become a Virtual Assistant and has been pursuing that career passion for almost six years. Just through observing the current situation, she developed an interest in post-growth economics and an understanding of the importance of improving our economy. She was born on a suburban island in the Philippines, where the sweetest mangoes are to be found, and enjoys listening to Christian music in her quiet times.

Dylan is a writer/editor, educator, and activist with an MS in Geography and Environmental Resources. His interest in post-growth thinking developed through his participation in climate justice movements, including involvement as a student in the college fossil fuel divestment movement. He realized that the climate crisis cannot be solved through the capitalist system and instead more circular and caring systems are needed. He is part of the collective behind the publication on false solutions to climate change, Hoodwinked in the Hothouse. Born in Carbondale, Illinois, he resides in Chicago, where he enjoys taking walks and observing the urban landscape.

Priyanka is a fellow of iHeartRadio’s NextUP Initiative, and is creating a podcast that takes a deep dive into the ethical implications of information sharing and its bolstering of the surveillance state. She was invited into the PGI’s Offers and Needs Market Circle after completing the Facilitation Training as part of the Kola Nut Collaborative. A passionate community organizer, Priyanka has a background in the international nonprofit space. She is based in Chicago, having immigrated from northeast India as a child. In her rest time, she likes to vibe on the couch, go on adventures with her dog, catch up with friends and family, find inspiration, read, write, travel, and connect with others.

Thea, an earthling who enjoys wondering and wandering through threshold spaces, holds a Bachelor of Laws and a BA in International Relations. Since taking a sabbatical in 2019 from her previous work as a lawyer, Thea has been questioning and learning about the systemic limitations of the current paradigm. She is inspired by the post-growth space, including many individuals and organisations working collaboratively to prioritize people and planet within a socially just framework. Thea was born in Brisbane and is currently in a nomadic phase of life, with anchors in the UK and Australia. She is happiest when in the presence of Mother Trees, of all forms and species.

Alba designs, manages, and finds funding for community-based social and cultural projects. She has worked as a fundraiser for social movements related to the climate emergency and social and solidarity economy. She believes that what truly matters is how we relate to each other and to the life that sustains us. Thus, what brought her to the PGI is its people, their intention and values. As a writer she aims to illustrate the worth, and beauty, of going slow. Spanish by birth and Australian by adoption, she lives in Madrid with her cats, Bob and Dylan.

Priscilla, as a communicator and food activist, is dedicated to an ecological future. Understanding the energetic underpinnings of globalized systems, she is drawn to work that is decolonial, regenerative, and intersectional. Priscilla believes cultural narratives are key and that post-growth offers an alternative to current forces shaping existence. Through involvement at the PGI and food sovereignty scenes, Priscilla directs her energy on many scales in preparation for transitions in this lifetime. She currently resides on Očhéthi Šakówiŋ lands (Minnesota, US) and when not working, can be found near a body of water, in the kitchen, or bopping to music.

Ingrid is the Chief Empowerment Officer at the award winning consulting firm, Priestess Of Profits. A Woodard Certified Transformative Advisor, she is recognized as one of the accounting profession's Top 40 Under 40 and Most Powerful Women in Accounting. She became interested in post-growth approaches as a way to bridge the gaps between business and personal, magick and science, economy and environment. Ingrid is the leader of the Empower Your Passion Roundtable & Journey Beyond Accounting Roundtable mastermind groups for accountants, a member of the Intuit Trainer/Writer Network, and founder of the Accounting Alchemy Network. She loves playing Irish music and frolicking with her goats on her little farm in Ashland, Oregon.

Elisa holds an MSc in International Development Studies and Global Studies. She researched post growth during her studies and became passionate about civilizational transition discourses and human flourishing. She is now eager to build her professional path. After two years in Denmark, she returned to Italy where she was born and raised. There, she spends part of her time growing veggies and cooking with love. Elisa likes to do and learn all sorts of things, especially those related to food and nature. She likes taking care of her plants, spraying them patiently to keep them happy and hydrated.

Jasmine holds a MSc in Climate Change, Development, & Policy from the University of Sussex and is currently working as the Community Programs Manager for a local environmental justice nonprofit, Verde. She is also an artist and long-time painter and designer (jasminecoart.com). Jasmine discovered post-growth literature during her master’s dissertation and is excited to help communicate and cultivate a regenerative economy that truly serves the wellbeing of both human and natural ecosystems. She is currently residing in Portland, Oregon and loves all things movement — from dancing to yoga to climbing to trail running.

Gabriela is a recent graduate passionate about regenerative economies, embodied social justice, and using grief as a tool for connection and transformation. She found out about the PGI through an internship with SOCAN, where she created the Businesses Taking Action Survey to measure the social and environmental impacts of local businesses. She wants to help shape a world where economies and social systems work for nature, not against it. She was born and raised in Ashland, Oregon and is currently living on Ohlone land also known as Santa Cruz, California. When she’s not working she enjoys laying in the sun, walking in the forest, and dancing.

Ebony is a web weaver, community architect, and storyteller. Before producing and hosting Cooperative Journal podcast, she journeyed around the world collecting stories across cultures, experientially learning tools for self-sufficiency, and researching indigenous plants. Throughout that time she felt the power of human and non-human relationships, trust, and what agency feels like. Her intention is to collectively cultivate that same sense of awareness and embodiment through solidarity economy storytelling, placemaking projects, facilitation, and asset based mapping. Ebony is originally from Brooklyn, NY, and loves trying obscure fruits and vegetables, nerding out on solidarity economy models, and yoga.

Alex is an organization scientist by trade and gained experience as a business consultant. He’s passionate about learning, games, and equality. Alex gained interest in the Post Growth Institute as a result of discovering how the current economy works and looking for alternatives. He now hopes to contribute to a different economy, such as revitalizing the commons. Alex was born in the southwest of the Netherlands and is currently located in Valencia, Spain. He has hitchhiked 6000 kilometers in Europe, really likes cinnamon, and once stole a bolt from the Eiffel tower (je suis desolé).

Sarah studied anthropology and has a passion for learning languages, writing, and exploring place in both embodied and conceptual ways. She began facilitating community discussions in college in Pennsylvania, and in 2016 facilitated with Oregon Humanities across her home state for discussions on place and belonging. After teaching in Bangladesh, and many years in manufacturing, she works in inventory at Powell’s Books in Portland, Oregon. In 2019, Sarah attended an Offers and Needs Market (OANM) to connect with people around her goal of establishing a Persian-style garden in the US, and subsequently attended the PGI’s OANM facilitator training and Not-For-Profit Way training. She has started exploring fiber arts, and has a fish named Shakespeare.

Vera enjoys learning more than anything: she recently completed her Master's in human ecology in Sweden, where she had the opportunity to research Indigenous food systems in Latin America. She is most interested in finding connection points and bridges between traditional knowledge around the world and Western scientific knowledge about sustainability. Over the past five years, she worked and volunteered for various youth-led organizations, with whom she organized conferences, facilitated youth peace talks, and created sustainability workshops for schools in Eastern Europe. Currently she is based in Vietnam, where she enjoys catching the sunrise with a cup of coffee and an interesting read before the city of Hanoi starts buzzing.