Through insights from over 80 interviews, we learn how living off the grid can inspire collaboration, community-building, and a shift from isolation to meaningful connection.

Why do some individuals and communities choose to “escape” rather than confront societal challenges head-on? In this engaging talk, Dr. Ryan Alan Sporer, Associate Professor of Sociology, explores the historical and contemporary phenomenon of escape as a political and social strategy. 

Providing a brief theoretical foundation rooted in his “politics of circumvention” concept, we will discover how humans have used exit and withdrawal as acts of resistance across history—from maroon societies and back-to-the-land movements to the modern off-grid housing movement. 

The talk will put the spotlight on Earthships, innovative off-grid homes constructed from recycled materials like car tires, glass bottles, and aluminum cans. While drawing on Dr. Sporer’s interviews with over 80 off-gridders, his research reveals how self-sufficiency can support pro-social behaviors like collaboration and community-building. Given climate crises for the foreseeable future, can tire homes offer useful insights that prioritize social and environmental harmony?

What to Expect:  

Discover fascinating stories of people who choose to live “off the grid” and why they do it. Learn how these alternative lifestyles promote cooperation, creativity, and community-building. Explore the practical and surprising lessons these movements offer for addressing challenges like climate change and social disruption.

May 6 | 10:30 – noon | HYBRID course at the Easton Family YMCA (choose in-person in the classroom, join thru Zoom, or wait for the recording) | $30