TIE Affiliation

Travel Grant Recipient

Experience

The Tufts New Economy Group, comprised of graduate students from across the University, "seeks to foster learning, discussion, and action towards a more just and sustainable economy, building connections with “new economy” or “solidarity economy” initiatives in the Boston area and beyond." These initiatives are those which involve efforts to promote and develop economic models that prioritize people and the planet over profit.

All eight members of the Tufts New Economy Group are currently students in the Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Department. Additionally, two members are earning degrees from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Members of the group are interested in a variety of research topics including affordable housing and active transportation, community-based economic development, strengthening community food systems, and the interactions between food justice and public policy. Students in this group have previously worked in various sectors including environmental consulting, policy think-tank research, agriculture, social justice organizing and nonprofit work.

Current Studies and Future Goals

When asked what they found most important about their group's initiative, the Tufts New Economy Group responded with the following: "solidarity economy seeks to democratize modes of social and economic relation. It envisions an alternative system to capitalism that transforms the way we relate to the environment by changing the way in which society relates to the consumption of goods and services."

In order to travel to Montreal, Quebec for the purpose of connecting with and learning from some of the most well-respected solidarity economy practitioners, the TNEG received a TIE Travel Grant. When asked why they chose to apply for this grant, the TNEG responded with the following: "The organizers of this trip were looking to make travel both environmentally sustainable and financially accessible for those interested in attending. We felt that shared group vehicles helped to consolidate our gas consumption and fuel emissions while offering an opportunity for us to travel together and move from site to site. The TIE travel grant provided us an opportunity to recuperate our costs and travel in a fashion that made sense for the demands of our trip."