After a winter and spring busy with speaking events, we are focusing on project work for the summer. Check out our fall events below, or see our Events Archive for information on recent Small-Mart events.

Slow Food Nation '08, the inaugural Slow Food Nation event, will be held at several venues across San Francisco, California from August 29 to September 1. Through dozens of events, Slow Food Nation will inspire and empower Americans to build a food system that is good, clean and fair, and aims to be the nation's largest celebration of American food and sustainability. The convening is a community event and all are welcome to attend.

In celebration of the Oregon Microenterprise Network's 10th anniversary, the 2008 Summit will feature an expanded set of trainings for economic development professionals under the theme "Building Communities, Expanding Prosperity." The summit - designed to highlight innovations and best practices that help entrepreneurs grow and prosper - will take place at the Governor Hotel in Portland, Oregon. Michael Shuman will be speaking on October 17. The Oregon Microenterprise Network (OMEN) is a statewide association of microenterprise development programs and their supporters.

The Bioneers Conference is a leading-edge national forum where social and scientific innovators showcase solutions for restoring the Earth and communities that are inspired by nature and human ingenuity. Michael Shuman will speak on October 19 about the Small-Mart Revolution as part of a track entitled Eco-Design and Eco-nomics. The conference will be held at the Marin Center in San Rafeal, California.

Hosted by the University of Kentucky's Appalachian Center, this one-day event will bring together economic development practioners from Eastern Kentucky to discuss mechanisms for collaboration and innovation through localized economic development. Speakers include Michael Shuman; Anthony Flaccavento, executive director and founder of Appalachian Sustainable Development; and Becky A. Anderson, founding CEO of HandMade in America. The event is hosted by the University of Kentucky Growing Local Economies Partnership, which includes the Appalachian Center, the Kentucky Entrepreneurial Coaches Institute, the Kentucky Small Business Development Centers, the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Rural Economic Development Program, and the Training & Development Corporation.

Taking place at the Laxson Auditorium in Chico, California, This Way to Sustainabily IV seeks to develop common ground to help build a sustainable society; one that balances economic, environmental and social needs. This annual event provides a forum to discuss issues that are relevant to the Chico region, community, faculty, staff, and students. On November 6, Michael Shuman will deliver a keynote entitled The Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Economies are Beating the Global Competition. Hosted by Calfornia State University (CSU) at Chico, The Associated Students of CSU Chico, Butte College, and The Associated Students of Butte College at the CSU Chico Campus. This event is free and open to the public.

The Rural Development Initiatives' Regards to Rural VI conference is a gathering for information, inspiration and celebration of all that is rural in Northwest North America. The conference will take place March 20-21 with pre-sessions on March 19; all events will be held at the Salem Conference Center in downtown Salem, Oregon. After a popular talk at last year's conference, Michael Shuman was invited back and will serve as one of two keynote speakers at this year's event.