Solidarity Economy Definition n n An alternative

Solidarity Economy

Definition n n An alternative economic framework to that of neoliberal globalization Grounded in solidarity and cooperation Promotes social and economic democracy, equity in all dimensions (e. g. race, class, gender. . . ) and sustainability. It is pluralist and organic in its approach, allowing for different forms and strategies in different contexts.

Community Development Corporations Franklin County Community Development Corporation – business incubator including an up to code food production center Dudley St. Neighborhood Initiative, Boston shining example of community taking control of economic development.

Social Enterprise Nuestras Raices Holyoke, MA Shared-use kitchen Mi Plaza Restaurant El Jardin Bakery Centro Agricola

Social Enterprise Urban agriculture Nuestras Raices, Holyoke, MA

Urban agriculture Zenger Farms, Portland, OR Immigrant Market Garden Land is reserved for immigrant families to grow vegetables that are common in their country of origin but are either unavailable or too expensive to buy in the U. S. They grow food for themselves and for sale at the local farmer's markets.

Urban agriculture The Food Project – Boston, MA The Food Project works with youth in immigrant communities to grow a community of youth and adults from diverse backgrounds who work together to build a sustainable food system. Ethiopian Catering business

Community supported agriculture About 10 percent of CSAs in the U. S. are operated by nonprofit organizations, such as food banks. Nonprofit CSAs provide work and training for the unemployed, fresh produce for the food bank, and a venue for other local farms to sell products. Food Bank of W. Mass.

Community Land trusts Athens Land Trust: Goals: Affordable Housing

Community Land trusts Conservation Athens land trust Neighborhood revitalization

Social/Local Currency Art used in Berkshire, MA local currency

Participatory budgeting Participatory Budget assembly in Santo André, SP, Brazil (2003) The participatory budget of Icapui, Brazil. The left column reads, “where the money comes from. ” the right one, “what the money is spent for. ” Below it says, ”When the administration is transparent, everything works smoothly. ”

Green building Solara 56 affordable housing project in Poway, California. Hydronic space heating and photo-voltaic panels produce nearly 100 percent of the project's electricity, significantly reducing tenants' utility costs and making these units even more affordable.

Eco-village Gaviotas, Colombia - A huge mural painting of what Gaviotans have already accomplished, and their vision for the future. Note airship in the background.

Eco-village This micro-hydro power plant generates electricity from a onemeter water drop. Gaviotas, Colombia – research center & biodiesal production

Eco-village: Gaviotas n Reforestation: Gaviotans have discovered that their pine forest can produce twice as much resin as any other resin-tapping forest in the world. Tree tappers normally use sulfuric acid when making incisions, but Gaviotans use an enzyme that appears to be beneficial for the trees. The use of mycorrhiza fungus on the roots of the trees may also contribute to their productivity.

Ecological production ZERI - Zero Emissions Research & Initiatives is a global network of innovators working within a common vision that views waste as a resource and seeks solutions using nature's design principles as inspiration. Traditional beer production ZERI beer production

Ecological design - Biomimicry n Termite inspiration - Eastgate Building in Harare, Zimbabwe. Inspired by termite towers in Zimbabwe that use ventilation shafts to keep their homes at a constant temperature of 87 degrees F, while outside temperatures fluctuate between 34 to 104 degrees. The Eastgate building doesn’t need an air conditioning system. In the first five years alone, the building saved its owner $3. 5 million in energy costs.

ESOPs – Worker ownership • 9225 ESOPs with 10 million workers • Better wages, benefits, investment, outsourcing, jobs and profitability.

Worker cooperatives Women’s Action to Gain Economic Security (WAGES) - Bay Area, CA In the Bay Area, immigrant women have taken control of their work life by creating worker-owned green cooperatives that provide nontoxic house-cleaning services.

Worker Co-ops Co-operative Home Care Associates (CHCA) -Jobs: Created Over 550 jobs for low-income African-American and Latina women, many of whom were on welfare. -Wages: average $8/hour—among the industry’s highest - Benefits: individual health insurance, paid vacation and sick time - Worker turnover: less than 20% a year, compared to an industry average of 40 -60%.

Mondragon Cooperative n n 100 -150 cooperatives, including manufacturing & service providers, a bank, a research and development institute, a chain of supermarkets, its own social welfare system, schools, housing, occupational training and an education center for members 20 -25, 000 worker-owners (3% of the Basque region’s workforce). Number one business group in the Basque region and is fifteenth in the ranking of Spanish companies. Survived 12 years of recession (1974 -1985) with no layoffs and virtually no business failures. Throughout its history it has had three enterprises fail. Fagor Arrasate assembly plant, part of Mondragon

Cooperatives International Co-operative Alliance ICA has 220 member organisations from 85 countries, representing more than 800 million individuals worldwide.

Craft cooperatives Somali Bantu Women’s Cooperative, San Diego, CA Women’s Textile Co-operative, Minneapolis, MN preserves Somali cultural art tradition. Older women pass on skills to younger women.

Agricultural Cooperatives Federation of Southern Cooperatives

High road & education Austin Polytech, Chicago – high school training for high skill jobs, management & ownership