This week we’re talking about Juneteenth and reparations, Indigenous-led organizing for energy democracy and health cooperatives, solidarity economy policy recommendations from around the world, a new podcast series on Economics for Emancipation, and more!
Stories from the Field
#ReparationsJune: This month in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, the 2020 Uprisings, the 50th Anniversary of the War on Drugs, and Juneteenth, the Movement for Black Lives is sponsoring a month of activities focusing on reparations for slavery and its afterlives in the US. Catch the recording of the kick-off event, and plug into the whole #ReparationsJune series. BONUS: Read this piece by historian Robin DG Kelley about why the Tulsa Race Massacre went way beyond “Black Wall Street.”
Stop Line 3: Last week, thousands gathered for a Treaty People Gathering to stop the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline, which would carry more than 750,000 barrels of tar sands oil a day through Ojibwe land and sensitive ecosystems. As Indigenous communities continue to lead the resistance against the extractive economy, what do regenerative alternatives look like? Hear from Indigenous activists who have been developing programs for community solar and sustainable resource management via NEC member organization the Laura Flanders Show. Then check out the highlights from the Indigenous Economics Conference to dig deeper.
Public Power Resolution: Private utilities have consistently fueled climate disasters like the California wildfires and recent mass blackouts in Texas and Puerto Rico. To combat this, lawmakers introduced the Public Power Resolution this week, stating that “as long as energy is treated as a commodity, poor people, workers, and communities of color will suffer.” Read more about the new resolution to bring the US electrical system under public and community ownership via NEC member organization the Democracy Collaborative.
Solidarity Economies Abroad
PHOTO: Pablo Blazquez Dominguez via Common Dreams
Global Solidarity Economy Policy: How can public policy support co-ops and a solidarity economy? Learn from organizers in Puerto Rico, New York, Canada and Spain about the history and impact of SE policy in their homes: “We see the importance of legal guarantees and public policy that protects and supports cooperative organization. Because cooperation is without doubt essential and inherent to the human condition.”
Matawa Health Co-operative: The Matawa Health Co-operative (MHC) is a Matawa First Nations-owned and controlled health cooperative that incorporates traditional healing and medicines. During the COVID-19 pandemic, MHC has been on the front lines providing testing, treatment, food, shelter, public service information, mental health counselling, and vaccinations. Hear more about how MHC is guided by member needs, while providing safe and high quality health care for the community.
Finnish & Ukranian Migrant Socialism: In the early 20th century, Finnish and Ukrainian migrant workers in Canada practiced a form of “hall socialism,” which mixed cultural sharing and community life with political education and organizing. Hear from historian-activists Kassandra Luciuk and Saku Pinta about the legacy of these networks and lessons for cooperative organizing today.
Pride Month Devotional
Intentional Communities & COVID-19
Check out this new report by NEC member organization the Foundation for Intentional Community about the unique ways that intentional communities have responded and adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report is based on surveys of 58 intentional communities — such as ecovillages, cohousing, coliving, and other forms of cooperative residential community — from around the world.
Movement News
- “Disaster Patriarchy”: How the Pandemic Has Unleashed a War on Women
- A Worker-Owned Cooperative Tries to Compete With Uber and Lyft
- Congress Can Unlock Billions in Capital for Co-ops
- Gig Workers of the World Are Uniting
- Judge halts billions in debt relief for farmers of color as white farmers, conservative groups sue
- New Documentary Chronicles Historic 1970 Young Lords Occupation of Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx
- New York’s Public Power Bill Could Be a Model for the Rest of the U.S.
- Reimagining a Better World After George Floyd’s Death
- Solidarity and Stewardship: Addressing Anti-Asian Violence
- The GOP Has Declared a War on Protests
- U.S. Unions Are Voicing Unprecedented Support for Palestine
- When These Workers Unionized, Their Cafe Was Put Up for Sale—So They Bought It
- With moratorium ending, more than 8 million households face foreclosure or eviction
- Worker cooperatives prove your job doesn’t have to be hell
- World’s Peasant Farmers Unveil ‘Anti-Imperialist Manifesto’ in Defense of Nature
Podcasts of the New Economy
Additional Listens
Fair World Project’s For a Better World – This Is How We Hold Corporations Responsible
The Laura Flanders Show – Trans Lives Depend On Owning Our Stories
This Is What Democracy Looks Like – Public Banks and the Cooperative City with Amara Enyia
NEC on the Gram
Follow NEC on Instagram — @neweconomycoalition — where we are sharing arts and maps that illustrate dual power and the solidarity economy!
Jobs Board
New Listings!
Chief Marketing and Storytelling Officer, Color of Change
Co-Executive Director – Partners for Dignity & Rights
Communications Director, Working Partnerships USA
Communications Officer, Beloved Community Center
Communications Manager, San Francisco Rising
Content and Engagement Manager & Associate, Center for Economic Democracy
Development Manager, Participatory Budgeting Project
Editorial and Communications Manager, Shareable
Lead Environmental Justice Curriculum Designer and Facilitator, The New School
Membership Director, US Federation of Worker Cooperatives
Managing Director, Urban Oceans Lab
Partnerships & Marketing Associate, RiseBoro
Program Director, Community Purchasing Alliance
Programs and Partnerships Lead, All We Can Save Project
Reinvest Campaign Organizer, Climate Justice Alliance
Senior Capacity Builder, We Make the Future
Senior Data Scientist, Development Director, Harmony Labs
Various Positions, Equal Exchange
All Jobs
Capital Campaigns Co-Director & Strategic Storytelling Co-Director, Minnow
Co-Director, Director of Organizing & Donor Organizer, Resource Generation
Communications Consultant & Outreach Coordinator, Class Action
Development Associate, Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Senior Researcher, Corporate Accountability
Research Director Action Center on Race and the Economy
Various Positions, Catalyst Cooperative
Various Positions, Center for Popular Democracy
Various Positions, Dream Defenders
Various Positions, Movement 4 Black Lives
Various Positions, NDN Collective
Various Positions, Project Equity
Various Positions, PUSH Buffalo
Various Positions, Urban Homesteading Assistance Board (UHAB) – NYC
Upcoming Events
Juneteenth Panel Discussion with Black Workers Juneteenth Coalition (BWJC)
Join the National Black Worker Coalition for an informational panel on reparations, the CROWN Act, and making Juneteenth a Nationally observed holiday featuring leaders on each of these issues. (June 17 – Online)
Now We Own: An Evening for Worker Coops
NEC member org, NYC Network of Worker Coops is inviting their supporters to a fundraiser celebrating the past, present, and future of the NYC worker cooperative movement. Join us for music, drinks, and presentations from cooperators who are building the quality jobs and democratic workplaces that BIPOC communities need to survive and thrive into the future. (June 17 – New York City)
Redistribution Story Workshop
Come celebrate the end of Resource Generation’s Spring Redistribution Pledge and Membership Drive by hearing and telling the tales of powerful money-moves made during the past months. Hear from members who are close to full redistribution of inherited wealth, members working to start the journey, and members somewhere in between. (June 18 – Online)
Abolition Week
Whether you’ve never heard of Abolition, you have questions about what it means, or if you are already deeply committed to the work—the journey toward Abolition is an ongoing project, and it’s one that we are all on together. This journey involves both changing our systems and our mentality. That’s why Scalawag is hosting our second Annual Abolition Week to provide you with the context you need to guide you on your Abolition journey and to support you in taking the next step. (June 21 – 25, Online)
Co-ops Not Cops Pt 2
Join GEO Collective for part two of this discussion about the impact of co-ops in abolition work with Jessica Gordon Nembhard, Ed Whitfield, Morning Star Gali, Esteban Kelly, and Lydia Pelot-Hobbs. (June 22 – Online)
Community Land Trusts and Cooperatives: What’s the Connection?
We are seeing more and more folks in solidarity economy and equitable housing and economic development spaces talking about community land trusts. So what exactly is a community land trust? And what is (or could be) the relationship between CLTs and cooperatives? (June 24 – Online)
Women of Color in the Arts on the Solidarity Economy
What would a cultural economy be like if we loved Black and indigenous people?” Tune into this conversation on the compelling report Solidarity Not Charity aka Art.Coop co-written by NEC communications organizer Nati Linares. (June 30 – Online)