Solidarity EconomySolidarity Economy

DefinitionDefinition An alternative economic framework to that of An alternative economic framework to that of

neoliberal neoliberal globalization globalization

Grounded in Grounded in solidarity solidarity and and cooperationcooperation

Promotes Promotes social and economic democracysocial and economic democracy, , equity equity in in all dimensions (e.g. race, class, gender...) and all dimensions (e.g. race, class, gender...) and sustainabilitysustainability. .

It is  It is  pluralist pluralist and and organic organic in its approach, allowing in its approach, allowing for different forms and strategies in different for different forms and strategies in different contexts.contexts.

Dudley St. Neighborhood Initiative, Boston shining example of community taking control of economic development.

Community Development CorporationsCommunity Development CorporationsFranklin County Community Development Corporation – business incubator including an up to code food production center

El Jardin Bakery

Nuestras Raices

Holyoke, MA

Shared-use kitchen

Social EnterpriseSocial Enterprise

Mi Plaza Restaurant

Centro Agricola

Social Enterprise - Social Enterprise - Urban agricultureUrban agriculture

Nuestras Raices, Holyoke, MA

Urban agricultureUrban agriculture

Zenger Farms, Portland, ORImmigrant Market GardenLand 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.

The Food Project – Boston, MAThe 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.

Urban agricultureUrban agriculture

Ethiopian Catering business

Community supported agricultureCommunity supported agricultureAbout 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 trustsCommunity Land trusts

Athens Land Trust:

Goals: Affordable Housing

Neighborhood revitalization

Athens land trust

Conservation

Community Land Community Land truststrusts

Social/Local CurrencySocial/Local Currency

Art used in Berkshire, MA local currency

Participatory budgetingParticipatory budgeting

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.”

Participatory Budget assemblyin Santo André, SP, Brazil (2003)

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.

Green buildingGreen building

Eco-villageEco-village

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

Gaviotas, Colombia – research center & biodiesal production

Eco-villageEco-village

This micro-hydro power plant generates electricity from a one-meter water drop.

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

Eco-village: Eco-village: GaviotasGaviotas

Ecological productionEcological productionZERI - ZERI - Zero Emissions Research & Initiatives is a global network of innovators Zero Emissions Research & Initiatives is a global network of innovators

working within a common vision that views waste as a resource and seeks working within a common vision that views waste as a resource and seeks solutions using nature's design principles as inspiration.  solutions using nature's design principles as inspiration. 

Traditional beer productionZERI beer production

Ecological design - BiomimicryEcological design - Biomimicry Termite inspiration - Termite inspiration - Eastgate Building in Harare, Zimbabwe. Inspired by Eastgate Building in Harare, Zimbabwe. Inspired by

termite towers in Zimbabwe that use ventilation shafts to keep their homes at a 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 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. 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 In the first five years alone, the building saved its owner $3.5 million in energy costs. costs.

ESOPs – Worker ownershipESOPs – Worker ownership

• 9225 ESOPs with 10 million workers9225 ESOPs with 10 million workers• Better wages, benefits, investment, outsourcing, jobs Better wages, benefits, investment, outsourcing, jobs and profitability. and profitability.

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 non-toxic house-cleaning services.

Worker cooperativesWorker cooperatives

Worker Co-opsWorker Co-opsCo-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 Mondragon CooperativeCooperative

100-150 cooperatives, including 100-150 cooperatives, including manufacturing & service manufacturing & service providers, a bank, a research and providers, a bank, a research and development institute, a chain of development institute, a chain of supermarkets, its own social supermarkets, its own social welfare system, schools, housing, welfare system, schools, housing, occupational training and an occupational training and an education center for memberseducation center for members

20-25,000 worker-owners (3% of 20-25,000 worker-owners (3% of the Basque region’s workforce).the Basque region’s workforce).

Number one business group in Number one business group in the Basque region and is fifteenth the Basque region and is fifteenth in the ranking of Spanish in the ranking of Spanish companies.companies.

Survived 12 years of recession Survived 12 years of recession (1974-1985) with no layoffs and (1974-1985) with no layoffs and virtually no business failures. virtually no business failures. Throughout its history it has had Throughout its history it has had three enterprises fail. three enterprises fail.

Fagor Arrasate assembly plant, part of MondragonFagor Arrasate assembly plant, part of Mondragon

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

Somali Bantu Women’s Co-operative, San Diego, CA

Craft cooperativesCraft cooperatives

Women’s Textile Co-operative, Minneapolis, MN - preserves Somali cultural art tradition. Older women pass on skills to younger women.

Agricultural CooperativesAgricultural Cooperatives

Federation of Southern Cooperatives

High road & educationHigh road & education

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