This article appears as part of Hawthorne Valley’s 2024 Annual Impact Report: The Biodiversity Edition. We invite you to explore the full report and learn more about our work to renew soil, society, and self through the integration of education, agriculture, and the arts here.
In 2024, CSR initiatives took significant steps toward fostering a more equitable and sustainable future, advancing the discourse on socially conscious economics and human relations. These efforts align with our commitment to promoting educational resources and thought leadership that inspire transformative action.
Our pivotal publication, Steinerian Economics: A Compendium (2014), continues to resonate globally. Edited by CSR Director Gary Lamb and former Research Associate Sarah Mecca (Hearn), this landmark text was translated into Portuguese and Spanish this year to meet the growing demand for sustainable economic perspectives.
Dr. Silvinha Vasconcelos, an Associate Professor of Economics at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Brazil, who translated the book into Portuguese, recognizes its potential for catalyzing change: “I intend to use this book in a new course, ‘Economics for the Common Good,’ which I will be teaching in 2025.”
In Chile, Joan Melé, President of the Money and Consciousness Foundation, underscores the book’s power to inspire action: “The clarity with which the topics are presented in this book poses a challenge and a great responsibility for us. After reading the book, it is very clear what needs to be done; now it is up to us to decide what we are willing to do.”
These translations are already creating ripples across Latin America, where educators and thought leaders are embracing the text to address pressing social and environmental challenges.
The publication of On the Wings of Words: Conversations and Human Relations reflects our dedication to fostering understanding and transformation in human relationships. Edited by Gary Lamb, this concise volume offers profound insights from Rudolf Steiner on the mysteries of social encounter, contextualized for modern readers. Sherry Wildfeuer, a co-worker at Kimberton Hills Camphill, praised the book for its practical application: “A wonderfully concentrated expression of what spiritual science can contribute towards a positive social future by way of enhanced self-awareness and active self-transformation.”
This book serves as a guide for individuals and organizations committed to deepening their relationships and contributing to the realization of a threefold social organism.
Through these efforts, we reaffirm our belief that education and engagement are foundational to driving meaningful change. We are grateful for the ongoing support of our funders and community, who make it possible for us to amplify these voices and visions worldwide. Together, we are shaping a future rooted in compassion, sustainability, and conscious collaboration.
by Gary Lamb, Director of Center for Social Research
