Seattle, South Korea and Scotland
Another month of great Community Wealth Building news from across the country and around the world. The Democracy Collaborative we pride ourselves of leading the movement of communities making their economies work for them. This month, we have words of wisdom from Seattle, a burgeoning movement building in South Korea, and some CWB legislation roaring through the parliament of Scotland!
The dangerous stories we're told
The People’s Economy Lab - a network led by and centering the experiences of BIPOC communities striving for economic justice in the Seattle area - released an article combatting problematic narratives in local elections. It points out why the “pull ourselves up by our bootstraps” idea is inaccurate and harmful, masking the true nature of our economies: us.
“We can build an economy that serves people, instead of people serving the economy. Where public, community, and worker-owned businesses, land, housing, and utilities meet local needs.”
News from elsewhere
South Korea: A New Chapter in Global Collaboration
In a landmark development, The Democracy Collaborative (TDC) and South Korea’s The Hope Institute have formalized their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed during a July 2025 delegation visit to Scotland. This collaboration has culminated in the publication of a joint paper, The Case for Community Wealth Building in South Korea, which outlines a roadmap for embedding CWB principles into Korean municipal governance.
The MoU commits both organizations to co-developing policy tools, practitioner networks, and pilot projects that advance inclusive, democratic, and sustainable local economies. As Neil McInroy, TDC’s Global Lead for CWB, noted:
“This partnership reframes wealth not as an extractive resource but as a shared asset that communities and local municipalities can steward together.”
Scotland: Legislative Leadership on CWB
Scotland continues to lead globally in institutionalizing CWB. The Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill, introduced in March 2025, is currently at Stage 1 in the Scottish Parliament. If passed, it will become the world’s first national legislation dedicated to CWB.
The Bill mandates that local authorities, in collaboration with public bodies, develop and implement CWB action plans tailored to their regions. It also requires the Scottish Government to publish a national CWB statement and guidance, ensuring consistent application of the model across the country.
This legislative move builds on years of groundwork, including the adoption of the Five Pillar model by numerous councils and public bodies, and reflects a maturing of the CWB agenda in Scotland.
Amsterdam: Digital Currency for Local Wealth Retention
Cryptocurrency is all the rage in certain circles but have you heard that it’s being used to promote CWB? In Amsterdam’s Nieuw-West district, a bold experiment is underway: the creation of a local digital currency network designed to retain capital within the neighborhood.
The project is part of a broader 20-year regeneration plan and exemplifies how CWB principles can be embedded in monetary systems to foster economic democracy and resilience.
Evidence of Impact: The Preston Model Revisited
New research published in the British Medical Journal confirms the tangible benefits of CWB in Preston, UK. Between 2015 and 2019, the city saw a 4% increase in employment—particularly among marginalized groups—compared to similar areas not implementing CWB.
The study also highlights improvements in mental health, housing, and child poverty outcomes, reinforcing the model’s potential to deliver systemic change.
Australia, Canada, and Beyond: Expanding the CWB Frontier
Internationally, CWB continues to gain traction. In Australia, the GROW project in Victoria is integrating CWB into workforce development and local procurement strategies. In Canada, Social Innovation Canada is advancing CWB through community-rooted economic models that prioritize resilience and equity.
Meanwhile, in Ireland and New Zealand, local authorities and civil society actors are exploring CWB as a framework for inclusive economic recovery and climate transition.
News from The Democracy Collaborative
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of Community Wealth Building, a term we coined in 2005, as well as the twenty-fifth anniversary of TDC as an organization.
To mark these milestones, and to assess the progress that has been made with Community Wealth Building across the United States and around the world, we are working on a report on “CWB at 20”.
The report will take stock and reflect on the state of the field, featuring many of the voices that have been important in the development of CWB along the way.
Looking ahead, TDC will also be taking a deep dive into the transformative potential of CWB in addressing the racial wealth gap in America and as a tool for Black America at a time of political hardship and reaction, commissioning research and developing new practice – including through anchor collaboratives that reprise and repurpose some of our earlier strategies.
We are also going to be recruiting for some new positions, so keep an eye on our website for opportunities to work with us on the political-economic program our times demand.
Last but not least, we are planning the next phase of activity of the Next System Project, through which we will offer new thought leadership and action to meet the scale of the challenges we are facing, in the United States and globally.
In the meantime, you can read our reflections on some of the limits of contemporary system change frameworks:
“Today, we stand at the crossroads of interlocking global crises – raging climate breakdown, accelerating biodiversity loss, deepening economic inequality, mass precarity, and the collapse of democratic norms. Heatwaves, floods, and wildfires displace millions each year as a result of climate change that is driven overwhelmingly by top elites; the world’s richest 1% now own more wealth than the bottom 95% combined; and a growing share of workers lack living wages or basic financial security.”
Now on the blog
Zohran Mamdani and the Economic Transformation of New York City
Community Wealth Building: From Crisis Response to System Change
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