Nationally-recognized Author to Speak at June 21 North Capitol Street Business Forum

North Capitol Main Street, Inc. (NCMS) is hosting a community forum on June 21 at 7 p.m. at McKinley Tech High School. The forum is designed to building a better understanding between residents and local businesses.

The tentative theme for the meeting is "Be Vocal, Buy Local." NCMS will announce the results from its survey of both local businesses and residents. The goal is for local businesses to better understand what residents want the businesses to provide. Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr. is scheduled to moderate the meeting.

Michael Shuman, an attorney and economist, and author of the book The Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global Competition will be the featured speaker. He has written for the New York Times, Washington Post, Nation, Weekly Standard, Foreign Policy, and Parade. Shuman has also appeared on numerous television and radio shows, including the Lehrer News Hour and NPR's "Talk of the Nation."

Official description of his most recent book is as follows:

Defenders of globalization, free markets, and free trade insist there's no alternative to mega-stores like Wal-Mart -- Michael Shuman begs to differ. In "The Small-Mart Revolution, Shuman makes a compelling case for his alternative business model, one in which communities reap the benefits of "going local" in four key spending categories: goods, services, energy, and finance. He argues that despite the endless media coverage of multinational conglomerates, local businesses give more to charity, adapt more easily to rising labor and environmental standards, and produce more wealth for a community. They also spend more locally, thereby increasing community income and creating wealth and jobs. "The Small-Mart Revolution presents a visionary yet practical roadmap for everyone concerned with mitigating the worst of globalization.

This has all the makings of an unforgettable event, and I hope to see everyone there who cares about the economic vitality of the community.