Snapshots of Buffalo’s New Economy Movement
This plenary panel from CommonBound 2016 features leaders in Buffalo, NY's vibrant New Economy Movement discussing their work and vision for a just and sustainable city.
Challenging a Rigged Market: Policy Tools That Enable Local Businesses to Thrive
For too long public policy has rigged the market to favor big corporations, undermining small, locally owned businesses, especially those launched by women and people of color. Now local businesses and activists across the country are working to change the rules to instead support community enterprises. In this CommonBound 2016 workshop leaders of these efforts look at how cities and states can expand financing for local businesses, keep commercial space affordable, end corporate subsidies, better support entrepreneurs of color, and more.
The Internet of Ownership: Cooperative Platforms for the Online Economy
As the online "sharing economy" devolves into poor labor conditions and monopolistic practices, the concept of "platform cooperativism" offers a hopeful vision for a more democratic online economy. This new wave of entrepreneurs, investors, and business developers are merging offline cooperative economics with the Internet in creative ways. In this CommonBound 2016 workshop, leaders discuss how far this emergent movement has come, and explore some of the challenges it faces in the struggle for the future of the online platforms we increasingly depend on.
Taking Our Visions to Scale: Lessons From Abroad
Outside of the US, there are a number of powerful examples of new economies at scale. This CommonBound 2016 plenary panel looks at a few of those international stories as we explore what economic democracy can look like at the level of a city, state, region, nation — and world. From Italy and Quebec to Cuba and El Salvador.
Decolonizing the Economy from the Ground Up: Case Study Boston Ujima Project
What will an anti-imperialist, economy look like? What will it take to decolonize economic structures in pursuit of liberation? After introducing frameworks for building a movement for sustainable business, community and worker ownership, workplace democracy, and thriving family businesses, we go local. We hear lessons from Boston, where grassroots organizations, small businesses and investors are working together to model an alternative to the capitalist economy at a local level. Participants learn from leaders of the Boston Ujima Project about their efforts to fight poverty and displacement through the formation of a community capital fund, a Good Business Certification, and an alternative local currency. Participants learn about Boston's unique new economy project and engage in the opportunities and limits of this community development strategy.
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