Restorative
Economics
Restorative Economics believes in the power of community.
It sees abundance in connection, creativity, and collaboration. It invites us to be curious, to witness what others are trying, and to imagine new possibilities for our lives, our neighborhoods, and the world.
The economic system we’ve inherited doesn’t work for the vast majority of us.
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Capitalism is harmful by design—especially for Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color who experience these harms as a result of generations of exploitation and systemic oppression.
Capitalism takes our energy, labor, and creativity and turns them into profit for the people in power while the rest of us are left scrambling. Entire communities are struggling just to get their basic needs met. The environment is being rapidly destroyed. And, the value of a person is measured in dollars instead of dignity.
As a framework for systems change, Restorative Economics offers a grounded, people-centered alternative to capitalism’s destructive path.
Guiding Principles of
Restorative Economics
At its core, the Restorative Economics framework is about returning power to the people, sharing resources equitably, and creating systems that cultivate safe, thriving neighborhoods for all.
Healing as Essential
Acknowledging and healing internalized oppression equips us to participate in community decision-making and collective action.
Community Stewardship & Community Governance
Power belongs to the people. The wellbeing of the community is directly placed into the hands of the community.
Reclamation of Ancestral Knowledge
We draw on cultural and communal wisdom to guide how we manage resources, make decisions, and care for one another.
Power Building & Community
Self Determination
Communities build cultural, economic, and political power to shape the rules, norms, and resources that affect their lives.
Shared Prosperity
By structuring projects, businesses, and resources for collective benefit, communities grow prosperity that is shared, sustainable, and generational.
Decolonization for
Liberation
Unlearning the systems, beliefs, and structures that were never designed for our liberation, and restoring the thread of interdependence between people and land.
Restorative Economics works by supporting projects that are owned and run by the community—like worker-owned cooperatives, neighborhood land trusts, and local decision-making councils. These projects bring people together to share resources, create economic opportunities, and make decisions that directly affect their lives.
Theory of Liberation
Community
Ownership
Community
Governance
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Self-Determination for Political, Cultural, and Economic Power
Restorative Economics
in Practice
Living Examples of Transformation
01
The Guild
ATLANTA, GA
The Guild develops community-owned models of land, housing, and real estate that put power back in the hands of the people.
02
Restore Oakland
OAKLAND, CA
Restore Oakland advances community-governed projects that build political power, create shared economic prosperity and cultivate collective healing.
03
REAL People’s Fund
OAKLAND, CA
REAL People’s Fund is a community-powered fund and entrepreneurship program working towards a restorative and inclusive economy.
04
Boston Ujima Project
BOSTON, MA
Boston Ujima Project is a democratic, member-run organization building a cooperative business, arts, and investment ecosystem.
05
Richmond LAND
RICHMOND, CA
Richmond LAND removes land from the speculative market to protect homes for working-class families, and conserve land for long-term community needs—not corporate profit.
Power Up Your
Community
How to Engage with Restorative Economics
Community Members & Grassroots Organizers
Shape local governance, start cooperatives, influence resource allocation, and join or launch initiatives that strengthen shared decision-making.
Entrepreneurs & Cooperatives
Build sustainable, community-governed businesses that circulate wealth locally and create opportunities for collective prosperity.
Investors & Philanthropy
Provide integrated capital that supports community-led projects, prioritizing long-term wealth and wellbeing over short-term profit, and align investments with restorative principles.
Policymakers, Advocates & Institutions
Enable equitable policies, protect shared assets, and support systems that allow communities to govern resources and shape their own futures.
Allies & Academics
Study, apply, and share Restorative Economics principles responsibly, giving credit to the framework developer while helping communities expand impact.
Educators & Trainers
Develop curricula, run workshops, and share tools that help communities, cooperatives, and organizations put Restorative Economics into practice.
Credit & Attribution
The Restorative Economics framework was developed by Nwamaka Agbo, reflecting her worldview, values, and approach to economic justice. Giving proper credit ensures accountability, honors the intellectual labor of a queer Black woman in this field, and supports a shared movement for communities to build power, wealth, and self-determination.
Restorative Economics is meant to be used as a framework for critical thinking and a tool for inquiry, not a rigid formula.
It helps people understand how to engage with communities around their unique needs and visions, and how to build pathways to collectively shape resources, systems, and opportunities.
Every community is different. The way one neighborhood or cooperative applies this framework may look very different from another. The framework is a starting place to guide inquiry, adaptation, and deeper learning, always in service of community-led decision-making and shared prosperity.
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GUIDELINES FOR ETHICAL USE
01
Give Proper Credit
Explicitly acknowledge Nwamaka Agbo as the creator of Restorative Economics and link back to this page (https://www.nwamakaagbo.com/restorative-economics) whenever you reference or share the framework. Giving credit honors the work and supports a shared movement for community power.
02
Respect Intent
Use the framework to support communities in owning and managing resources together—not to justify further exploitation or profit for outside actors.
03
Adapt Responsibly
Communities and organizations may adapt and expand the framework to meet their local context, but the core principles and purpose should stay intact.
04
No Commercial Exploitation
The Restorative Economics framework is privately owned by Nwamaka Agbo and may not be reproduced, adapted, taught, incorporated into commercial offerings, or used for private profit without express permission.
By following these guidelines, Restorative Economics can be applied in ways that are practical, grounded, and ethical, helping communities envision and build systems that reflect their own needs, values, and visions for the future.
For any specific inquiries regarding licensing agreements or usage permissions for the Restorative Economics framework, please submit a request form.
Lineage of
Restorative Economics
Restorative Economics draws on a rich history of movements, thinkers, and cultural visionaries who have imagined and built pathways toward justice, care, and collective power.
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MOVEMENTS &
FRAMEWORKS
01
Restorative Justice
Restorative Justice (RJ) is a theory and approach to respond to harm and violence that has its roots in indigenous cultures around the world.
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→
02
Just Transition
A vision-led, unifying and place-based set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.
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→
03
Solidarity Economy
A global movement to build a just and sustainable economy where we prioritize people and the planet over endless profit and growth.
LEARN MORE
→
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HISTORICAL LEADERS &
CULTURAL VISIONARIES
Ella Josephine Baker
Tirelessly nurtured spaces where people could discover their own leadership, build confidence, and organize collectively. Her focus on grassroots empowerment reminds us that real change comes from communities themselves.
IMAGE SOURCE →Harriet Tubman
Embodied courage, vision, and resilience, navigating freedom literally by the stars. Her life teaches us how strategy, determination, and communal responsibility can guide movements toward liberation.
IMAGE SOURCE →Audre Lorde
Used the Erotic as a source of knowledge, power, and connection. She taught us that acknowledging desire, intuition, and joy is essential for imagining and building equitable futures.
IMAGE SOURCE →Octavia Butler
Created worlds where Black people could imagine freedom, possibility, and resilience. Her work inspires us to think beyond the limits of current systems and dream radically transformative futures.
IMAGE SOURCE →