This week we’re talking about Indigenous-led organizing to restore land, livelihoods and collective self-determination, a recent win for public banking in LA, an upcoming day of action for food sovereignty, reflections of the 10th anniversary of Occupy Wallstreet, and more!
Stories from the Field
Land Back & Indigenous Solidarity Economies: As we honor Indigenous resistance across the globe this week, we want to highlight examples of Indigenous-led projects putting Land Back into action. Watch this special feature about how organizers with NDN Collective are reclaiming ancestral lands in the sacred Black Hills of South Dakota. Then read about Dishgamu Humbolt, a Wiyot-led effort to heal and rebuild, while using solidarity economy principles to re-indigenize.
Public Banking Win: Last week marked a historical moment, as Los Angeles took the first steps toward forming a city-owned bank that would reinvest profits in the public interest. LA would be the first major U.S. city to get a public bank. To learn more, check out the latest on “Banking Reform for the People” and join this upcoming discussion about public banks around the world, hosted by NEC member organization New Economy Project.
Co-op Month Redux: We’re still learning from and celebrating Co-op month! Worker-owned cooperatives have long provided space to create more just, resilient, and inclusive economies. Dig into co-op theory and practice by watching these recordings about the history of Black cooperative economics, and the connections between worker cooperative advocacy and movements for racial and gender justice, abolition, and immigrant rights.
Solidarity Economies Abroad
Food Sovereignty Now! This Saturday, October 16 is the International Day of Action for Peoples’ Food Sovereignty. Food sovereignty — with its emphasis on community-controlled land, cooperation, and place-based ecological knowledge — is a cornerstone of the solidarity economy, and we honor the work of peasants’ rights organizations around the world. Hear about the work of a 14,000 member-strong organization of peasant farmers in Romania, and join La Via Campesina’s call to action.
Building Co-ops in Indonesia: As part of it’s COVID-19 response, the Institute for Indonesian Cooperative Development has run a co-op business incubator — supporting projects like recycling co-ops, coffee producer co-ops, and non-extractive lending projects to support women, young people, and rural communities. Read more about this work via NEC member Post Growth Institute and about the Indonesian cooperative movement more generally here.
One Year of India Farmer Protests: Since 2020, millions of Indian farmers have mobilized in protest of anti-farmer and anti-worker laws pushed by the right-wing Modi government. Now, they’re ramping up protests again, blocking major roads and railway tracks in their struggle for rural livelihoods and life. Read more about the upcoming actions and general strikes planned in the coming weeks.
PoliceFoundations.org
Start.Coop Accelerator
Movement News
- “People vs. Fossil Fuels’’: Winona LaDuke & Mass Protests Call on Biden to Stop Line 3 Pipeline
- An Introduction to Game Worker Cooperatives
- Black Jacobins, Green Jacobins
- Community orchards bear more than fruit
- Economic Democracy Gaining Momentum in Boston
- Envisioning Black Liberation and Indigenous Sovereignty
- Guaranteed Income For Artists Being Tested in Two Cities
- How community control of housing and land can help solve the housing crisis
- Not Just Another Nut Milk: How One Brand Is Tackling Wealth Inequality
- On their 15th anniversary, BerkShares will go digital
- These Street Vendors Needed a Kitchen, So They Bought One
- The Inside Story of How Berlin Took On Corporate Landlords and Won
- Trashing the planet and hiding the money isn’t a perversion of capitalism. It is capitalism
- Two generations’ perspectives on the future of climate change
Podcasts of the New Economy
Last month marked the 10 year anniversary of Occupy Wall Street. Tune in to Upsteam’s latest episode to hear how Occupy has continued to manifest a decade later in our movements, language, mutual aid efforts, and fights for deeper democracy. Listen now.
Additional Listens
LIFT Economy – Cheryl Whilby: Soul Fire Farm and Creating Regenerative Food Systems
The Response – Heatwaves and energy poverty in the Mediterranean
NEC on the Gram
Follow NEC on Instagram — @neweconomycoalition — Where we’re celebrating legendary freedom fighter and cooperative visionary, Fannie Lou Hamer!
Jobs Board
New Listings!
Digital Content & Social Media Writer, Demos
Director of Operations, NASCO
Director of Development, Real News Network
Education & Training Manager, Democracy at Work Institute (DAWI)
Equity Forward Program Manager, Stanford Impact Labs
Executive Director, Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (NESAWG)
Federal Policy Consultant, United Frontline Table
Indigenous Grantmaking Strategy Advisor, Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation
Market Study Consultant, Central Brooklyn Food Coop
Marketing & Communications Coordinator, Mission Driven Finance
Various Positions, Black Futures Lab
Various Positions, HEAL Food Alliance
Various Positions, PolicyLink
All Jobs
Affordable Housing Project Associate & Organizing and Policy Director, Urban Homesteading Assistance Board (UHAB)
Communications Consultant, Class Action
Communications Director, Working Partnerships USA
Director of Collective Impact & Director of Donor Engagement, Amalgamated Foundation
Economic Justice Editor, Nonprofit Quarterly
Executive Director, Multiplier
Executive Director, Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (NESAWG)
Executive Director/Co-Executive Directors, Kentuckians For The Commonwealth (KFTC)
IT and Operations Administrator, Corporate Accountability
Loan Officer & Loan Associate, Local Enterprise Assistance Fund (LEAF)
Media Specialist & Writer and Communications Coordinator, Appalachian Voices
Membership and Programs Coordinator, Cooperative Economics Alliance of NYC (CEANYC)
Network Officer, Crossroads Coalition
Nonprofit Administration & Operations Manager, Shareable
Oakland Local Political Coordinator, Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN)
Operations Assistant, North American Marine Alliance (NAMA)
Senior Digital Strategist, Equal Justice USA
Small Business Outreach Manager & Director of Communications & Fundraising, Center for Community Wealth Building
Software & Data Engineer, Data Wrangler & Analyst, Catalyst Cooperative
Various Positions, Action Center on Race and the Economy
Various Positions, Center for Popular Democracy
Various Positions, Dream Defenders
Various Positions, Equal Exchange
Various Positions, Ironbound Community Corporations
Various Positions, NDN Collective
Various Positions, Project Equity
Various Positions, PUSH Buffalo
Various Positions, The Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy (GCCLP)
Upcoming Events
Hot D.A.M! The SMA Freedom and Survival School
“Join the Southern Movement Assembly and community members from the region in a 6-month series of focused discussions on Decolonization, Abolition, and Mutual Aid. Together we will study the systems we want to dismantle, assess the root causes of our past and present conditions, develop shared visions, and analyze the possibilities for liberated communities.” (September to April – Online | Registration Open)
Ashe Ashe: Boston Ujima Project’s 2021 Cultural Assembly
“The Boston Ujima Project is harnessing a spirit of solidarity to build a new economy that reflects our values, meets our needs, and allows our communities to thrive. The 2021 Cultural Assembly will be an opportunity for artists and cultural organizers to come together to set collective priorities and develop practices for shared political power and economic development in Boston.” (October 13 to October 22 – Online & In-Person | Registration Open)
Making Money Make Change
“MMMC is an intimate space that uses workshops, storytelling, and skill-building to create a space for young people with class privilege and wealth to explore questions of identity and responsibility in a supportive environment. MMMC programming is dynamic and specific to young people with wealth who are interested in social justice. Whether you have been grappling with what it means to have class privilege and value social change for some time or are new to thinking about these topics, we invite you to attend and explore these topics in community.” (October 15 & 16 – Online | Registration Open)
Utility Justice Playbook
“Have you ever noticed how utilities across the country seem to be using the same tactics against us? … the Energy Democracy Project is fighting back by releasing the People’s Utility Justice Playbook. Join Yesenia Rivera, Solar United Neighbors, and Nora Elmarzouky, POWER Interfaith to learn more about the playbook and how you can use it to expand energy democracy in a community near you.” (October 20 – Online)
Building People-Powered Budgets: An Organizers’ Roundtable
“During this event, you’ll hear a powerful panel of leaders from PowerSwitch Action’s national network and partners speak on the transformational power of reclaiming public money for public goods that benefit all people and build racial and gender justice in our communities. We’ll discuss why budget fights are crucial for shaping our future, the opportunities and challenges they present, and how key takeaways from recent campaigns inform evolving strategies and tactics on the ground.” (October 21 – Online)
The Experience of CLTs in Latin America
“This event intends to establish a debate on the experiences of Community Land Trusts in Latin America, highlighting their challenges and potential through the testimony of people directly involved with projects of this type in progress.” (October 21 – Online)
41st Annual E. F. Schumacher Lecture
“Julian Aguon, a writer, lawyer, and activist from Guam, will deliver the 41st Annual E. F. Schumacher Lecture virtually, titled “Felled By Beauty: Guam and The End of American Empire.” Following his lecture he will be joined by respondent Lisa Linda Natividad and host Jodie Evans for a question and answer period. The event will feature an introduction by Naomi Klein.” (October 24 – Online)
Capitalism: The Roots, Ruin & Lessons for What Comes Next
Join Visionary Organizing Lab, for an exciting six-week online class exploring the relationships between race, gender, nature, social movements, politics and the capitalist system. Class meets via zoom. (October 26 to November 30 – Online)
Community Stewardship and Right to Housing Donor Briefing
“Join Right To The City Alliance and our member organizations to learn about the growing movement to secure permanently affordable, dignified housing. We will share about efforts to take land and housing off of the speculative market across the country. In the face of rising threats of gentrification, police violence, and climate displacement, we need to act together to forge new community futures.” (November 3 – Online)
Transforming Investment to Build Community Wealth
“Join the Kataly’s Restorative Economies Fund (REF) and our grantee partners for a discussion about prioritizing shared prosperity instead of individual wealth, and the non-extractive investments that can get us there.” (November 10 – Online)
North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO) Institute 2021
“Since 1977, NASCO’s Cooperative Education & Training Institute has been widely recognized as one of the most important training and networking opportunities available to members, directors, staff, and managers of group-equity cooperatives. The annual NASCO Institute is always a one-of-a-kind opportunity to network with hundreds of cooperative leaders and employers, to caucus about pressing issues, and to work on building an inclusive and accessible cooperative movement.” 2021 theme: Mutual Aid (November 12-14 – Online | Registration Open)