This month we’re talking about calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, land liberation and rematriation, and solidarity with Haiti and Rojava. Keep reading to learn more about cooperative finance in Ghana, Co-op Month, new job opportunities, upcoming events, and more.
Photo source: @joeorephoto
Solidarity with Palestine: Around the world, tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine that is bankrolled by US taxpayer dollars. Our hearts are with all those who have lost loved ones in Palestine and Israel as a result of the 75+ year occupation. Take action locally or join the Oct 20th national day of action in DC to demand an end to the genocide in Gaza.
Land Liberation and Indigenous Sovereignty: On the first episode of Solidarity Economy Shorts, Cooperative Journal talked to the land justice project of NEC member organization Nuns and Nones about their commitment to returning Catholic-owned land to Indigenous and Black folks across the United States. From Secwepemc Territory to Navajo Nation, re-indigenizing the land is essential to repairing food systems, fighting against extractive industries and mitigating climate catastrophe. Learn more from Sikowis Nobiss on the Upstream Podcast to understand why cultural work like this is essential to decolonization.
Co-op Month: During the month of October, we celebrate cooperatives as a building block of the solidarity economy! If you’re part of a worker co-op, fill out the 2023 Worker Co-op Census and check out these words from our friends from Art.Coop about how cooperatives can form part of a larger liberatory project.
Regenerative Economies Network: NEC is excited to announce our membership in the Regenerative Economies Network! With this coalition of climate justice organizations and regenerative lenders, we are working to move $500 million from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund into movement and community accountable finance vehicles. Learn more about the network and how you can submit a project proposal.
Cooperative Finance in Ghana: Susus are an informal cooperative finance system that have existed in Ghana and across West Africa for centuries. Read how susus challenge paternalistic development models and provide a real example of community wealth building from the bottom up in this new piece by Dr. Caroline Shenaz Hossein and NEC member the Post Growth Institute.
Hands off Haiti: Farmers and peasants in Haiti and Kenya are speaking out against the UN’s plan to authorize a Kenyan-led military intervention in Haiti. If carried out, it would be the fourth foreign military intervention in Haiti in 30 years. Learn more about this long history of foreign intervention and Haiti’s ongoing struggle for self-determination.
Rojava Solidarity: This month, the Turkish government carried out a massive bombardment of North and East Syria that destroyed an estimated 80% of civilian infrastructure — including the entire power grid, schools, hospitals, and food and water sources. Show your solidarity, support mutual aid efforts, and learn how the people of Rojava continue to fight for a radically democratic and cooperative society in spite of state repression.
The New Economy Coalition launched the 2023 Black Solidarity Economy Fund (BSEF) application this week and we hope you’ll consider applying! The New Economy Coalition is a network of over 150+ member organizations building the solidarity economy in the US. One of the ways we resource the movement is through the Black Solidarity Economy Fund, a granting process dedicated to supporting Black-led solidarity economy organizations.
Black organizers from New Economy Coalition member organizations have been exploring how our network can counter the historical and persistent imbalance of resources across organizations and communities. It is through their time, effort, and work that we are proud to announce the launch of the Black Solidarity Economy Fund application. Read more about the Black Solidarity Economy Fund here.
We welcome Black-led solidarity economy organizations to apply by end of day on Tuesday, Nov 7th. You can find a text copy of this application here: bit.ly/2023bsefapptext
Auto Workers Escalate: Surprise Strike at Massive Kentucky Ford Truck Plant
Disastrous capitalism in Morocco in wake of earthquake
From Grassroots Organizing to Land Victories: New York’s Community Land Trust Movement Surges Forward
How land trusts overlap with the land back movement in Oregon
Internet for All? This Radical Solution Could Make it Happen
Jewish Voice for Peace Holds Massive Rally at Capitol for Israel-Gaza Ceasefire
Member-owned grocery store now open in Boston
Missoula housing co-ops aim to prove an anti-gentrification tool can work
Mutual Aid and the movement to Stop Cop City
NYC Nannies Built an Underground Care Economy That Should Inspire US Policy
Sackville co-op farm ‘like a family’ for neurodivergent young people
Small Axe Farm grows Seattle-area Black agricultural community
This Oregon Farmer Is Building a New Model for Indigenous Food and Agriculture
PODCASTS & VIDEO
Indigenous Youth Fight Big Oil & Gas Worldwide – The Laura Flanders Show
Land Liberation w/ Nuns & Nones – Solidarity Economy Shorts
Zapatismo and Pluriversal Ontologies – Social Ecology Institute
Debt and Race in America: A Newborn’s Unexpected First Piece of Mail, Indebted
TOOLS & REPORTS
Decolonize Palestine – Resources & Mythbusting
Economic Democracy Explained: Community Control over Institutions through Co-Governance – Demos
Free Ebooks for a Free Palestine – Haymarket Books
Mutual Aid History & Story Library – Solidarity Economy Association
Follow us on Instagram — @neweconomycoalition — where we shared our tender recap from our Bvlbancha staff retreat with Cooperation New Orleans and our transformative facilitation education experience with Training for Change.
NEW LISTINGS!
Co-Director, New England Grassroots Environment Fund
Director of Media and Press Relations, Corporate Accountability
Director of Operations & Internal Democracy, Beloved Community Incubator
Fellowship, Echoing Green
Organizing Director, Firelands Workers United
Organizing Director, Surge
Various Positions, Dream Defenders
JOBS
Associate Director of Communications, Caring Across Generations
Associate Editor, Dissent Magazine
Communications Manager, Cooperative Development (Northeast)
Community Advocacy, Research, and Education Senior Manager, Pride Foundation (Seattle)
Community Organizer, United for A New Economy (Denver)
Field Director and Membership Coordinator, National Black Food and Justice Alliance
Financial Manager, Indigenous Environmental Network
North America Campaign Lead / Senior Campaigner, Social Movement Technologies
Project Coordinator Contractor, Democracy at Work Institute (DAWI)
Trainer & Curriculum Development Consultant – Midwest Academy
Various Positions, Groundswell Fund
Various Positions, Jobs with Justice
Various Positions, Urban Homesteading Assistance Board
Various Positions, Urban Tilth
Financial Foundations Series – Financial Education for Other Worlds
Want to strengthen your finance skills in a way that’s aligned with your values? Part of a co-op, business, nonprofit, or other project and interested in shared power around finances? Register for A Bookkeeping Cooperative’s 4-part financial foundations workshop series. (Oct & Nov – Online)
Imagine Miami
Imagine Miami is Catalyst Miami’s annual signature fundraising event, and a memorable celebration of our work and community. This year, the party will take place at The Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater in Overtown. Imagine Miami 2023 will bring together our whole community, from generous supporters to members of frontline communities who are building transformative power from the ground up. We’ll also premiere our new strategic vision, which we co-created with our community members over the course of last year. (Oct 19 – Miami)
2023 Union Co-op Symposium
Co-op Cincy presents its 6th biennial Union Co-op Symposium, which will focus on combining the best of the co-op and union movements to forge a new economy rooted in connection. Activities will highlight equity, labor, community wealth-building, and care for the earth and ourselves. (October 20-21 – Cincinnati)
Alternative Media and the Solidarity Economy
This panel discussion will analyze the role of alternative media in “telling the story of our freedom” and informing one another of what must be done, while working to build a just world where people and planet are prioritized over profit. (Oct 21 – Online)
Introduction to Solidarity Economy Movements (Bilingual in English and Spanish)
Solidarity economy movements are people-powered forces to protect what matters most. They draw on tools and traditions within many lineages, making them accessible to any community, anywhere. Join us to explore what a solidarity economy movement is, how it works, and ways we can stay oriented to movement-building even as we navigate against the tides of capitalism and oppression. (Oct 23 – Online)
Food and Climate Justice: Resistance and Liberation
This course will offer a Social Ecology perspective on the background and potential of the climate and food justice movements to resist further damage from fossil fuels and agribusiness dominance, while building ecologically harmonious and equitable food and energy systems that can restore soil health, biodiversity, and climate stability. (Oct 23 – Online)
The Power of Online Spaces
Facilitators will illustrate how to bring popular education methodology to online spaces, and dispel common myths about what is and isn’t possible online. Together we will explore how to create interactive online spaces, meetings and trainings that are effective, impactful, relational, and restorative. Participants will leave with: tools for making your own online meetings and gatherings more impactful, accessible, and restorative; a greater understanding of the possibilities and opportunities of online spaces; practices for grounding our work in restoration and resiliency, and how to bring these practices online. (Oct 25 – Online)
Seize the Moment: USCPR National Conference
This is a moment to keep resisting. As the Israeli regime continues 75+ years of brutal attacks and ethnic cleansing, the Palestinian people are united in steadfast resistance. The worldwide movement for Palestinian freedom is growing, and you’re part of it. So you’re invited to take the next step after the 75th Anniversary of the Nakba to mobilize for liberation. (Oct 27-29 – Houston)
DC Solidarity Economy Loan Fund Launch
Get excited for the launch of DC’s only people’s loan fund! DC SELF is the DC chapter of the national Seed Commons network and provides non-extractive financing to cooperatives grounded in historically marginalized communities. Join us to learn more about non-extractive finance, the solidarity economy as a power building strategy, (Nov 9)
Live Q&A: Solidarity Economy – Can Loans Be Ethical?
During this Q&A, Boston Ujima Project’s Fund & Business Alliance team will present a vivid description of Ujima and its Good Business Alliance, connection to creatives, and underlying motivation. They will be able to answer questions concerning why these funds are necessary, the challenges and triumphs of non-extractive lending, and how they made their intentions a reality. They will also answer questions on their vision for the future and how you might be able to get involved in your community. (Nov 14 – Online)
Anti-Racist Organizing Series: Black Liberation
Join Florida Anne Braden Program for a 3-part panel series highlighting visionary organizers in Florida. At a time when fascism is on the rise in Florida, it can be hard to not feel hopeless, especially with so little information about the incredible resistance underway to fight the right and build toward our collective liberation. The online three-part Anti-Racist Organizing Series of the Florida Anne Braden Program will lift up incredible Florida based organizers working toward decolonization, Black liberation, reproductive justice and so much more! Let’s show up and move resources to these incredible organizations that are resisting fascist policies that the right is trying to spread across the country. (Nov 30 – Online)
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