DeSchool 2025
July 26-29 | Chicago, IL
Event Summary and Next Steps
DeSchool 2025 was DGI’s 4-day, in-person gathering to connect, learn, organize and strengthen the degrowth movement in the United States.
Degrowth is an intentional downscaling of the global economy for the purpose of achieving ecological sustainability and social justice.
Lead up to DeSchool TK
Working groups, prep, etc.
Place and History
The land we now call Chicago has been home to many Indigenous peoples and nations throughout history. The Council of Three Fires - made up of the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi - made their homes on these shores, along with the Miami, the Ho-chunk, the Sauk, the Fox, the Kickapoo, the Menominee and the Illinois Nations. The peoples of this place have tended her land and water since time immemorial, weaving cultures, economies and spiritualities that grew from deep relationship with the living, breathing world that surrounded them.
DGI Office
South Shore Cultural Center
Saturday, July 26
Challenging Growth
What is degrowth? Why is challenging economic growth so essential to the sustainability movement, and what challenges have been made so far?
Intro, CTG101, Ecological Economics 101, Communicating Degrowth, Degrowth to Decolonization, Offers & Needs, Culture Change, Why Degrowth Needs Relationality, The Plant
Sunday, July 27
Degrowth Deep Dives
What does it really mean to intentionally downscale the global economy?
What are the implications of degrowth for the sustainability movement, the economy, political systems, modes of production, community, and culture? How does the degrowth movement weave into other movements in North America for environmental and social justice?
CTG201, Revolutionary Ecosocialism, New Economy, Games & Simulations, Steady Statesmanship, Degrowth Militarism & Racial Capitalism, North of the North,
Monday, July 28
Degrowth Action
While a great deal of degrowth discussion happens in academic circles, degrowth is first and foremost a social movement.
What does degrowth look like in action? How do we organize, advocate and agitate for a downscaling of the global economy?
CTG301, Degrowth in Higher Ed, Line 5, Perspectives on Degrowth, Casa Pueblo, Authoritarian Playbook, Freeing Food, Post-Growth Finance, Policy Design, Town Hall, Beach Party
Tuesday, July 29
Next Steps
Where do we go from here? What did we discover this weekend, and how do we integrate the lessons, wisdom, projects and people from across the degrowth world into a stronger, more empowered movement?
Wild Mile, Priorities, Communication group, Theory of Change / Strategy group, Academics’ collaboration group, Base-building group
Where do we go from here?
How to get plugged in, upcoming events, etc.
Gratitudes