How do low-income communities learn to advance economically and build wealth? Low-income communities and communities of color, in challenging structural economic and social inequality, have historically grappled with tensions inherent to development. Who participates in, directs, and ultimately owns the economic-development process? In creating and sustaining new, inclusive economic institutions, how do community members cultivate and pass on skills, commitment and knowledge—especially among those who have long faced barriers to education and employment? And how should communities strike an appropriate balance between utilizing local knowledge and accessing outside expertise? This report draws on case studies of 11 different community economic development initiatives from across the United States to highlight a diverse set of powerful answers to these critical questions.

Located at the foot of Mount Hood in Oregon, Sandy's municipally-owned full fiber network offers gig Internet service for under $60 to every resident in the city. City managers, frustrated that they couldn't even get a DSL line in to city hall started off by building their own wireless and DSL network, beginning in 2001.

Compiled by Ryan Gerety, Andy Gunn and Diana Nucera, for the first ever Community Technology Network Gathering at the 17th annual Allied Media Conference in 2015.

The zine explores digital justice issues, community facilitation best practices, collaborative network design, and examples of projects from Belarus, Detroit, Red Hook, India and more

A more beautiful, just and sustainable world is possible. Take this library and use it to inspire global change!

An overview of The Next System Project and the need for systemic solutions for systemic crisis.

The Next System Project is an ambitious multiyear initiative aimed at thinking boldly about what is required to deal with the systemic challenges the United States faces now and in coming decades. Responding to real hunger for a new way forward, and building on innovative thinking and practical experience with new economic institutions and approaches being developed in communities across the country and around the world, the goal is to put the central idea of system change, and that there can be a “next system,” on the map.