This event brings together leaders who understand why and how we might redirect our tax dollars away from endless war and militarism towards sustainable community development here and abroad. Where is the waste we can cut? How can we spend less on machines of war and feel more secure? How do we counter the deep coffers of the arms lobby and shift investments to local communities for good jobs and for a healthy planet for all?

These are some of the questions to be explored over a few hours with some of our nation’s leading thinkers and doers.

Dr. Lloyd “Jeff” Dumas, economist and author of “The Peacekeeping Economy: Using Economic Relationships to Build a More Peaceful, Prosperous, and Secure World” will keynote the event.

Others presenting insights on a series of panels include:

• William Hartung, director of the Arms and Security Project at the Center for International Policy;
• Elizabeth Beavers, coordinator of the People Over Pentagon coalition;
• Lindsay Koshgarian, director of the National Priorities Project at the Institute of Policy Studies;
• Johanna Bozuwa, research associate with the Next System Project at the Democracy Collaborative;
• Valerie Blakely, Michigan organizer for the Poor Peoples Campaign;
• Nicholas Jansen, Michigan state director for the Sunrise Movement.

We are also hoping to have a panel of Congressional members and/or staff help us better understand the hurdles we face in making the transition and how we might effectively confront the military-industrial-complex that President Eisenhower warned us about.

Register here.