The Localist: Think Independent, Buy Local, and Reclaim the American Dream – Reading followed by Q & A with the author

Join Carrie Rollwagen for a short reading followed by a Q & A about her book and her experiences buying local

This month Hostelling International is super excited to be hosting Carrie Rollwagin, the author of The Localist: Think Independent, Buy Local, and Reclaim the American Dream. Carrie has been an advocate for small business since 2011 when she started Shop Small, a year-long blog project in which she shopped exclusively at Alabama-owned businesses for an entire year. She promotes local businesses whenever possible, whether it’s through writing, promoting events and products through social media, or co-creating and hosting Shop Small Social, an event spotlighting local businesses. In November 2014 Carrie released her first book – The Localist: Think Independent, Buy Local and Reclaim the American Dream – about the importance of shopping locally.

About Carrie Rollwagen

Carrie Rollwagen graduated from Samford University with a Journalism and Mass Communications degree, and she polished her skills at The Birmingham Post-Herald and Southern Progress, where she was a copywriter and eventually social media editor through the spinoff company Willow House. She works to help small businesses incorporate social media into their own marketing strategies, helping independent businesses leverage the skills they need to compete in tough business markets.

Carrie has been recognized for her talent with social media in traditional media (Southern Living, The Birmingham News, AL.com and Weld) and by bloggers. Carrie speaks at community events about social media for small businesses and non-profits, including at UAB’s Innovations in Wellness conference and at monthly social media workshops geared toward independent business owners.

Carrie also co-founded and co-owns Church Street Coffee & Books in Birmingham, Alabama with her business partner, Cal Morris. In addition to helping start the now-successful business over three years ago, Carrie participates in community initiatives with The Cultural Alliance, REV Birmingham, WordCamp Birmingham, See Jane Write and Y’all Connect; she also served on the Kickstarter School panel for Design Week Birmingham.