Our 2026 National Gathering Schedule is Now Live!

Did you know that Mechanism envisions a future where communities are the owners, beneficiaries, decision-makers, and consumers of what gets manufactured locally?

This is just one of the reasons why we think our 2026 National Gathering in Philadelphia from May 12 - 14, sponsored by the City of Philadelphia, will be unlike any other conference you’ll attend this year.

The vision we’re working toward is bold, and it’ll take a lot of hands on deck to get there, but our Gatherings provide a wide variety of people and organizations the space to strategize and dream on our shared path.

To get an understanding of what that looks like, check out the newly-released Gathering schedule here!

Our presenters know the challenging work it takes to transform or challenge the local conditions of an economic system that too often overlooks people and place.

They include the Kensington Corridor Trust, which works to de-commodify real estate assets and transition them to neighborhood control, and food manufacturer/grocer Kensington Food Company. There’s also the North American Center for Post-Growth Research, a new nonprofit that will tell our audience about its plans to foster research and public engagement for reimagining prosperity beyond profit and growth.

With site tours throughout Philadelphia, networking opportunities, rapid share presentations, and a Design Jam where attendees will work together to address real-world challenges, this is the type of conference that goes beyond just sitting and listening.

It’ll be even better with your presence!

What the “Save U.S. Manufacturing” Conversation Often Misses or Gets Wrong

Mechanism recently published a response and rebuttal to a list of manufacturing policy recommendations published on LinkedIn by national manufacturing expert Paul S. Lavoie.

Lavoie is America's Chief Manufacturing Officer at the American Manufacturing Futures Institute. In his LinkedIn article, he says a lot that we agree with, but we wanted to share some additional thoughts from the perspective of an organization that sees manufacturing through the lens of community benefits, not GDP.

“If our evergreen political focus on reviving American manufacturing at large is honest, we should be thinking about ways we can bring production back to cities, towns, and regions in a way that contributes to the material needs of our residents, not the whims of the global economy,” we write.

Read our full response here.

Newest Mechanism Podcast Season Drops April 2!

The Mechanism Podcast is about to launch its third season titled “Worker Voice.”

As the name implies, we’re dedicating this season to the production workers that make the things we love.

Building on the first season’s exploration of people-centered domestic manufacturing ecosystems, host Vincent Sagisi takes an in-depth look at power, agency, and dignity inside flexible product fabrication—from apparel and automotive interiors to medical supplies and beyond.

Be sure to follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or whichever platform you use, to get updated as soon as the first episode goes live.

Listen to The Mechanism Podcast here.