Courage is key to unlock a democratic economy in Northern Virginia
By Stephanie McHenry
May 1, 2025
TDC CEO Stephanie McHenry and Next System Studies Director Ben Manski
Next Systems Studies at George Mason University hosted the second DNOVA Summit on April 26-27, which this this year considered the question: “What shall we do now to create a more democratic economy in Northern Virginia in the future?"
The Democracy Collaborative CEO, Stephanie McHenry, spoke at the plenary session.
Here are some of her thoughts.
Like many regions, Northern Virginia is impacted by economic forces driven by capital bias and extractive practices. The results include inequitable housing opportunities, inadequate investment in community resources and disparate health outcomes.
The DNOVA summit assembly reflected organizations and individuals working to correct these injustices through advocacy, academic research, student activism, community wealth building projects, climate interventions and public policy.
My panel, titled Community Wealth Building and the Changing Realities in Our Region, hoped to provide a basic grounding in CWB and to explore how these strategies can address the present and developing conditions in the region.
We established that the challenges ranged from unemployment resulting from federal government actions, to an inequitable gentrifying housing market; from specialized labor shortages to diminishing hope among youth; from abject fear in immigrant communities to entrenched political bias for neoliberal policies. And we talked about how to face these challenges with awareness and resolve, always remembering that real human beings (not just numbers in media reports) are being impacted. All the panelists had personal experience interacting with those being harmed - economically and psychologically - by the pressures of surviving in this environment. For some, tears flowed.
But, as devastating as the personal stories are, there is also a great danger in us being so consumed by these symptoms of the economy, that we lose momentum in addressing the systems that are at the root.
There are opportunities to innovate, created by an undeniable need for system change. There are opportunities to innovate when the “have-nots” are exponentially growing in number while falling so hopelessly behind the “haves.”
One example of such an opportunity, is how proposed comprehensive strategies, like the Community Wealth Building model, can help public sector and nonprofit organizations charged with regional economic development try something different. With this powerful tool they can move away from the horse race of trying to attract the next big box distribution center, and focus more on home-grown, community-owned enterprises to meet local needs and keep money inside the region (like they did in Preston, England).
Strong arguments were made in our discussion for clearing the way for community residents to stand in their power and formulate solutions from their own unique perspectives. Indeed, one of our panelists was especially tuned into the role of youth in becoming community leaders, both now and in the future.
McHenry speaking on her panel
But importantly, I believe that requiring courage is the most important thing for us to do as citizens and leaders.
Anchor institutions must show courage in how they operate in communities and in the world.
George Mason University is showing courage in supporting Next System Studies as a discipline to design the better economy of tomorrow.
Georgetown is showing courage in supporting Rosie’s Grocery, as demonstration of how Community Wealth Building projects can meet micro- and macroeconomic needs.
Political leaders must show courage by looking inward at local assets (people, spending, culture, industrial history) and putting investment resources and purchasing opportunities in place for indigenous enterprises.
Philanthropic organizations and individuals must show courage by taking charitable and investment risks in new economic and community development initiatives that work at the system level, as well as continuing to support efforts to address the tragic symptoms of those who are suffering at the hands of a capital-biased economy.
At The Democracy Collaborative, we have partners who have shown courage, like NoVo, Allstate, SHIFT, Tides, Rockefeller Family and Kellogg Foundations, as well as a few significant individual donors including Richard and Marilyn Mazess, Grant Sunderland, and many who wish to remain anonymous.
And it will require courage for those of us working on system change to boldly assert to our anchor institutions, political and philanthropic partners, that they too must have the courage of showing up for this moment.
