ChiDEC: Join Us; Ask us about Doughnut Economics
The ChiDEC team convenes regularly to discuss progress with ChiDEC working groups, and to discuss collaboration with other organizations in the Chicago area. You’re welcome to join us, or ask for a one-on-one meeting (in-person or on Zoom). Use our Contact Page for more information.
Featured Events in the Chicagoland area
June 18, 2025 1pm-7:30pm
Register/More Info: chicagoinnovation.com…
See list of speakers on sustainability topics:
- Sustainable Food & Agriculture Innovation
- Sustainable Energy Innovation
- Sustainable Manufacturing & Infrastructure Innovation
- Protect the Earth: Litigation, Confrontation and Collaboration
Location: Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk Hotel, Chicago
July 26-29, 2025
Register/More Info: degrowthinstitute.org…
Hosted by the Degrowth Institute (DGI).
Connect, learn, organize, strengthen the degrowth movement in the U.S.
- Challenge Growth
- Degrowth Deep Dives
- Degrowth Action
- Next Steps
Location: Multiple locations in Chicago
Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL) – Online Events
May 28, 2025, 10 AM CT
Schools & Education Doughnut Economics peer-learning gatherings.
A conversation among interest groups in the schools and education space to nurture Doughnut Economics community of practice.
Register/More Info: doughnuteconomics.org….
More DEAL online events: doughnuteconomics.org/events
Meet and Join the DEAL community: doughnuteconomics.org/members
Featured Sustainability Organizations in Chicagoland
Net Impact Chicago netimpactchicago.org
A local chapter of Net Impact. A network of Chicago area changemakers using their jobs to work for good, in every business and nonprofit sector, showing that it’s possible to: make a net impact that benefits not just the bottom line, but people and planet too.
350 Chicago world.350.org/chicago
A local chapter of 350.org, a part of the global climate change movement, taking tangible actions that make a positive impact on climate and the planet. See their current campaigns, including Divest Illinois. Get involved!
Chicago Climate Connect chicagoclimateconnect.com
Connect, collaborate, and take action on climate – right here in Chicago. A community of 1,500+ climate-minded Chicagoans across policy, business, tech, education, and grassroots movements; hosting monthly in-person events that blend intentional networking with panels, fireside chats, and structured programming.
Degrowth Institute degrowthinstitute.org
Mission: empower the sustainability movement to challenge the need for economic growth. Through education, research, and organizing, we’re working to build a more just and ecological economy beyond growth. Degrowth Cafes, Campus Conversations, DeSchool, Research and Communication.
What is the Doughnut?
The green Doughnut consists of a Social Foundation ring, an Ecological Ceiling ring and in the middle represents the ecological and social safe space for all of us.
We can measure how effectively we’re succeeding in living in the green safe space:
- The red bars extending inward towards the center of the doughnut hole represent the shortfalls, the degree to which millions/billions of people on Earth don’t have access to adequate food, water, housing, health care, etc.
- The red bars extending outward from the outside of the doughnut represent the overshoots, the degree to which we have already exceeded a safe limit for some categories of the ecosystem and environment. We’ve exceeded a safe limit for: greenhouse gases, fertilizers usage, biodiversity loss, and land conversion.
DEAL Website Resources
On the Doughnut Economics Action Lab DEAL website, are many resources for using Doughnut Economics. Following is a selection that ChiDEC has found especially helpful, ranging from basic concepts to a deep dive into the how-to steps.
About Doughnut Economics link. An introduction to the Doughnut, Doughnut Economics, how to live like a 21st century economist, and including a TED talk by Kate Raworth.
About Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL) link. DEAL is part of the global movement of new economic thinking and doing. DEAL is a gathering place for the international Doughnut community. Interact with others, use the free DEAL tools (videos, slides, stories, case studies) – for your place, your project.
Unrolling the Doughnut link. The ‘Doughnut Unrolled’ tools help with applying Doughnut Economics to your place. The link is to the first of five ‘Doughnut Unrolled’ tools: 1. Introducing the four lenses. This tool has links to the other four ‘Doughnut Unrolled’ tools: 2. Community Portrait of Place, 3. Data Portrait of Place, 4. Exploring a topic, and 5. Dimensions of the four lenses.
Themes link. Go here to browse DEAL tools and success stories – by theme. Themes: 1. Community & Art, 2. Cities & Regions, 3. Research & Academia, 4. Schools & Education, 5. Business & Enterprise, 6. Government & Policy.
Presenting Doughnut Economics: videos and slides link. These are videos and slides to use, and adapt, when presenting Doughnut Economics concepts and practice. Some of these tools are also available in the links above. Topics: Core Concepts, Downscaling the Doughnut to Nations, Introducing the ‘Doughnut Unrolled’ and the four lenses, Doughnut Unrolled: Data Portrait of Place, Communities in Action, Local and Regional Governments in Action, Doughnut Design for Business.