Groundswell
The Groundswell
training network is
working to recreate
the economy based on
values of community
and social impact
By Matt Coté | Photos Claudette CarraCedo
Grassroots
Economics
As steam unspools from fresh cups of coffee on a polished
wood countertop, dozens of young minds fumble in the back-
ground to find seats for both their ideas and their posteriors. e
air is electric, and the warm glow of string lights reflecting off
vintage brick walls is homey and inviting.
"Every revolution needs a café," jokes Gilad Babchuk, laugh-
ing as he discusses the motivation behind the latest addition to the
amenities at Groundswell, an organization that uses a 3,000-
square-foot tract of Downtown Eastside real estate to train its par-
ticipants in the disciplines of grassroots social entrepreneurship.
"To understand Groundswell," explains the exuberantly cheerful
Israeli expat, "you first have to understand the space."
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