Economic Utopias and Dystopias is a literary event and community conversation about our current economic system and how literary visions of future economies could transform our society.

As America becomes more stratified along class lines, is it enough to increase social programs and charitable giving? Or, does the society’s economic system need a complete transformation? Economic Utopias and Dystopias, a literary event and community discussion, will feature four science fiction writers, Beverly Aarons, Shweta Adhyam, Elizabeth Guizzetti, and Nisi Shawl who will explore and discuss economic systems in literature and how they relate to our current economic reality.

A Collective Imagining

Writers and community members will engage in a collective imagining of a future economy they would be proud to leave behind to future generations. The collective vision of the group will be documented and shared online.

Economic Utopias and Dystopias’ featured writers will share their thoughts on economic systems in literature and how they relate to America’s current economic system, and Bo (Boting) Zhang, a real estate strategist committed to equitable development, will moderate group discussion in the first half of the event. In the second half of the event, community members will work in groups to create their vision of an economic system they would want to leave to future generations.

The event is free and open to the public. Free food and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided.

This event is made possible by a Community 4Culture grant.