American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA)

"We believe that shopping local is more than finding unique products; it's about investing in the people and places that make the Monadnock Region such a special place to live," said Elizabeth Hamshaw, General Manager of The Cheshire Horse, Plaid Friday Hub.

Local Energy Policy Toolkit | ILSR Energy Democracy Initiative Find policy tools, examples, and interactive stories from cities and towns taking action to promote local, clean energy and fight corporate control.

Our Local Energy Policy Toolkit is now available to all lawmakers and advocates who want to build clean energy economies in their community — without waiting for Congress.

Check it out: ilsr.org/energy/local...

Keeping it local: How shopping close to home strengthens our community | Homer News Every dollar spent locally helps create jobs, fuel community growth and keep Homer’s spirit thriving

Keeping it local: How shopping close to home strengthens our community buff.ly/kY5hyVh #ShopIndieLocal

Vicki will be leading a Local Leaders Roundtable for the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) @theamiba.bsky.social on November 13

Learn more and register here:
amiba.net/events/#!eve...

Skip the Door-Busting Mobs and Chill Your Holiday with Plaid Friday or Cider Monday - AMIBA “Embrace everyone already wearing plaid, document it with a picture, and watch it grow.”

On Plaid Friday, embrace everyone already wearing plaid, document it with a picture, and watch it grow. buff.ly/dj8w5uG

RSVP today! ⏰ Why do mega retailers like Walmart, Amazon, and the dollar chains get better deals from suppliers than independent businesses do? Learn how mega retailers use their market power to extract illegal pricing from suppliers and how to fight back Oct 28: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Send in the Clowns or Puppets - To All the Protests Long before I worked with local economies and social enterprise, I cut my social justice theatre chops with Bread and Puppet Theatre Company performing in the Domestic Resurrection Circus as a giant f...

"Send in the Clowns-or Puppets-to All the Protests"
Read Vicki's latest reflecting on her Bread and Puppet Theatre days and more open.substack.com/pub/pozzebon...

Plaid Friday Poster: November 28 is Plaid Friday. Wear plaid all day to show your support for your local economy.

We 😍 Plaid Friday!

Thank you for your reminder!

Plaid Friday, Small Business Saturday, Artists Sunday, Cider Monday!

#ShopSmall #ShowYourSupport for #IndieArt #IndieRetail #SupportCommunity #SupportSmallBiz #BlueSkyArt #ArtSky

Nov 28 - Dec 1 (or anytime!)

Event graphic in navy, light blue, orange. Headline reads: Virtual Briefing for Small Business: How Big Retailers Get Illegal Pricing Deals and How to Fight Back. Logos for Local Return and Small Business Rising. Headshots for expert speakers Stacy Mitchell and Katherine Van Dyck. Register now at SmallBusinessRising.net.

Mega retailers use their market power to extract illegal pricing, access, and promotions from suppliers, allowing them to undercut small and medium competitors on retail prices. Join us to see how local businesses can stand up to big corporate power.
localreturn.org/event/virtua...

Subscribe to the best news about cultivating communities for social good, and be the first to know about upcoming BIG-Bold Impact for Good workshops and events. Sign up eepurl.com/hCgsor

Why Choose Indie Art this Holiday Season?

Shopping art is about more than acquiring beautiful objects. It’s about:

🌟 Supporting local economies – When consumers purchase art, they invest in their own communities by supporting independent creators and small businesses.

amiba.net/artists-sund...

Check out 🎧 two of our co-founders on The Bottom Up Revolution podcast 🎙️ by @strongtowns.org on how to build community wealth.

Books targeted for bans more often than not depict characters who challenge oppressive systems and who question authority and established norms 1/2

bookshop.org/lists/celebr...

TODAY & EVERY DAY! Where you spend your $ matters — your choices create a ripple effect that starts with you & extends out to your entire community & local economy. Choose an Indie Local (independent & locally owned business), & the positive ripple effects magnify. Let’s make waves! buff.ly/evqwoq9

Here's how federal workers can apply for New Mexico unemployment during the shutdown - New Mexico Political Report New Mexicans who depend on a federal paycheck are being told to gather a few essential documents they’ll need in order to apply for state unemployment benefits if the anticipated federal government sh...

Here's how federal workers can apply for New Mexico unemployment during the shutdown nmpoliticalreport.com/2025/09/30/h...

A Prime Time this Fall to Make Ripples Resist Amazon October 7 - 8 (and Beyond!)

Make some waves with us tomorrow and Wednesday 🌊 🌊 🌊 ... and beyond!

A Prime Time this Fall to Make Ripples buff.ly/CLnrWVr

#shopindie #resistamazon

A Prime Time this Fall to Make Ripples Resist Amazon October 7 - 8 (and Beyond!)

Make some waves with us tomorrow and Wednesday 🌊 🌊 🌊 ... and beyond!

A Prime Time this Fall to Make Ripples buff.ly/CLnrWVr

#shopindie #resistamazon

About Half of Adults with ACA Marketplace Coverage are Small Business Owners, Employees, or Self-Employed | KFF This analysis estimates that 48% of adults under age 65 with individual market coverage are either employed by a small business with fewer than 25 workers, self-employed entrepreneurs, or small…

Republicans in Congress are dealing big blows to small businesses right now. One looming one is the dramatic increase in health insurance costs for those who buy through the ACA marketplaces. Half— half! — of people under 65 using the marketplaces are small business owners and employees.

Twin Threats to Local News (And Where's Local Opinion?) As PBS stations lose funding for local broadcast journalism, they'll air a new documentary about the demise of local print journalism

Twin Threats to Local News (And Where's Local Opinion?) mainstreetjournal.substack.com/p/twin-threa...

Our final community of practice in the series to support nonprofit employees in New Mexico happened last week, and we're so grateful to all who showed up with great ideas and great support for their peers. The work you're all doing is so important, and we are grateful for all you do!

💯

Handmade Colorful Embroidered Appliqué Skull Ornaments in a Basket Original Art by Amy C Lund

A few of my friends from the studio...

#October #FallDecor #AutumnVibes #SugarSkulls #DayoftheDead #LivingwiththeSeasons #inthestudio

It's not too late: Pick up a copy of The Connected Community by Cormac Russell and John McKnight today, and join us virtually on October 21 for a discussion of the book's ideas. localreturn.org/events/?even...

have a favorite bookseller? You can nominate them for a holiday bonus courtesy of James Patterson! Tell all your friends!
www.bookweb.org/james-patter...

Small Business Saturday: Shop Small and Indies First on November 29

The day after Plaid Friday is Small Business Saturday. No matter how you get involved, every little bit makes a big difference. Join us! amiba.net/shop-small-s...

Why Choose Indie Local? It Fuels Neighborhood Job Creation 💸🌱

Independent retailers create more jobs per sales dollar than chain competitors or online giants.

When you shop and invest your dollars, choose locally owned and independent businesses!

𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐭! CENTER is a nonprofit in Santa Fe that supports social and environmentally-engaged lens-based projects through education, public platforms, funding, and partnerships. Vicki was honored to have facilitated a recent board retreat for the New Mexico-based @centersantafe.bsky.social !

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲-𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫 - We are in a nonprofit crisis in this country, with the federal government attacking the sector from many angles 1/4