The economy is usually seen as a realm of top-down actions – massive multinational corporations make decisions about where and how the rest of us get the things we need and want, and decide what types of jobs they want to make available in which regions. But bottom-up, sustainable, community-led economic development is possible, and we know this because it exists. In this course, students will learn what bottom-up economics is and how it differs from more mainstream approaches to economics. Students will learn some of the myths that obscure the sight of bottom-up economic practices, and will also gain familiarity with several examples of these practices. Finally, during the Community Lab portion of the course, students will explore how bottom-up approaches to the economy can make their communities healthier, happier, more sustainable, and more resilient. *Subject to change