In this episode we explore a phenomenon that has existed throughout centuries both within and alongside Capitalism. Wherever relationships have been based on reciprocity, sustainability, and democratic governance you'll find the Solidarity Economy. We learn of it's origin and about how it is strengthened by countermovements and during times of crisis. We follow its presence throughout the history of a particular marginalized community in the U.S., celebrating the courage of African American cooperative thought and practice. We then paint a picture of a modern solidarity response to economic austerity. And finally, we dream about it's potential in the face of ecological peril and plan for what it will take to grow the Solidarity Economy to serve as a movement of movements.
Featuring:
Michael Ventura – Co-author with James Hillman of We've Had a Hundred Years of Psychotherapy – And the World's Getting Worse, columnist of Letters at 3AM with the Austin Chronicle
Caroline Woolard – Artist & organizer whose work explores intersections between art and the solidarity economy
Michael Lewis – Soildarity economy researcher; Co-author of The Resilience Imperative
Pat Conaty – Research associate Cooperatives UK, Co-author of The Resilience Imperative
Jessica Gordon Nembard – Professor of Community Justice and Social Economic Development, author of Collective Courage: A history of African-American Cooperative Economic Thought & Practice
Biba Schoenmaker – Co-Founder of Broodfonds Makers
Stuart Field – Founder of Breadfunds UK
Jos Veldhuizen – Member of Broodfunds, Amsterdam
Music:
Robert Raymond (witchdreammasion bandcamp)
Lanterns (lanternsss.bandcamp.com)
Chris Zabriskie (chriszabriskie.com)
Jörgen UNOM JG (unomjg.nl)
Cover image by Bethan Mure