Mapping the Solidarity Economy

Mapping the Solidarity Economy Craig Borowiak and Cameron Scherer

What is Solidarity Economy? “ The Solidarity Economy is an alternative development framework that is grounded in practice and the in the principles of: solidarity, mutualism, and cooperation; equity in all dimensions (race/ethnicity/ nationality, class, gender, LGBTQ); social well-being over profit and the unfettered rule of the market; sustainability; social and economic democracy; and pluralism, allowing for different forms in different contexts, open to continual change and driven from the bottom-up.” -U.S. Solidarity Economy Network

Solidarity Economy in Practice: Philadelphia

Conservation Land Trusts Natural Lands Trust Willistown Conservation Trust Wissahickon Watershed Conservancy natlands.org Lower Merion Conservancy, circa 1970 wvwa.org lmconservancy.org wctrust.org

Community Gardens srpcg.org Before… … and after 3.bp.blogspot.com http://www.millcreekurbanfarm.org/ pps.org pps.org

Worker Cooperatives Wooden Shoe Books and Records Firehouse Bicycles The Pedal Co-Op woodenshoebooks.com firehousebicycles.com pedalcoop.org

Food Cooperatives
Weaver’s Way
Weaver’s Way Co-op Farm “ In the language of the local food movement, we’re eaters , not passive consumers .” Weaver’s Way also runs Weaver’s Way Community Programs to educate children about environmentalism, sustainability, and running an enterprise philly.codecraftersinc.com weaversway.coop weaversway.coop

Artists’ Cooperatives Little Berlin theartblog.org kenbmiller.com Highwire Gallery Nexus Art Gallery nexusphiladelphia.org

Daycare/Educational Cooperatives The Cooperative Nursery School Parents and teachers work together, share knowledge, and make decisions that allow children to thrive. cooperativenurseryschool.org cooperativenurseryschool.org

Social Enterprises Chairman Sandy Wiggins speaks at annual TED conference
build sustainable enterprise
help protect the environment
Increase social equity
is a commercial bank dedicated to developing the “green economy” by providing financial services associated with the triple bottom line. Their services: e3bank.com

Community Supported Agriculture Greensgrow Farms Rural farms… Pennypack Farm … and urban farms Charlestown Cooperative Farm Charlestowncooperativefarm.org www.cityfarmer.info Metrofarming.blogspot.com

Community Currencies Downtown Dollars The Ardmore Initiative established Downtown Dollars as result of frustration with lack of economic stimulus. In first month, sold $15,000 worth of Dollars Allows Ardmore residents to purchase $200 of community currency at half price (e.g. 20 DDs for $10) to use participating businesses. allaboutardmore.com allaboutardmore.com

Self-Help Programs S.H.A.R.E. Food distributes bags of groceries (~$35-45) to those in need in exchange for two hours of community service sharefoodprogram.org sharefoodprogram.org “ It’s about food, but it’s also about transforming how people see and think about one another.” - Steveanna Wynn, Executive Director

Fair Trade/Ethical Purchasing “ One day all artisans in the developing countries will earn a fair wage, be a with dignity and respect and be able to live a life of quality.” A shoulder bag, and a worker from Guatemalan cooperative Ruth & Naomi, whose artists made the bag. Ruth & Naomi emerged from the solidarity of Guatemalan women during the country’s civil war. tenthousandvillages.com Sells goods produced ethically and sustainably

Housing Cooperatives Bryn Gweled Camphill Soltane The Simple Way camphillsoltane.org thesimpleway.org bryngweled.org Altair Cohousing Altaircohousing.org

Settlement Houses United Communities Southeast Philadelphia “ Promotes the educational and economic advancement of individuals and families within its host neighborhoods.” citypaper.com
Dates back to 1847
Initially established to help new immigrants adjust to urban life
Established when three settlement houses merged; now operates two facilities in SE Philadelphia
Currently associated with United Way CDC
Programs include…
Homeowner education
Youth employment
ESL classes
Community development
Neighborhood Advisory Committee

Eco-Villages Green Village Philadelphia Three Groves Eco-Village
Founded by coalition of local business, community, and environmental leaders
Hopes to serve as “a catalyst for comprehensive neighborhood revitalization”
Though still in development, hosts neighborhood green workshops
blog.jmmds.com
Both an eco-village and a co-housing community
Members will take part in community dinners several times per week in Common House
Plans to be a “learning community and an educational resource” for local individuals and families
threegrovesecovillage.org

Community Financing is a public foundation that distributes money and other financial and technical resources to groups that promote social justice. Specific grants include…
- Racial & Economic Justice Fund
- Media Justice Fund
Phoebus Criminal Justice Fund
breadrosesfund.org Members of Bread and Roses meet with a 2009 grantee.

Gender/Minority Financing Women’s Opportunities Resource Center Promotes economic self-sufficiency to disadvantaged women by providing entrepreneurial training, business assistance, incentive savings programs, and access to financial resources. worc-pa.com Mary Ann and Pam Nelson used the Women and Company Micro-Enterprise Boost Program to found Farm Fresh Express Shasia Willis attended the Smart Start training program, and went on to establish her own childcare program. Lisa Bishop, thanks to an Economic Opportunities Fund, was able to start Voice of Victory Publishing worc-pa.com worc-pa.com

Community Development Corporations
Project H.O.M.E.
… partakes in local protests… Hosts community meals… … works with local politicians “… empowering families to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty, alleviating the underlying causes of poverty, and enabling all of us to attain our fullest potential as individuals and as members of the broader society.” projecthome.org projecthome.org projecthome.org

Mapping the Solidarity Economy

SE Mapping in Brazil http://www.fbes.org.br In 2005, the Brazilian Forum of Solidarity Economy mapped over 20,000 SE initiatives throughout the country (Rio de Janeiro seen here).

Getting Started
Drew upon Ethan Miller’s economic cycle to pick categories
www.populareconomics.org/ussen/webfm_send/11

Categories
-Cooperatives
-Housing Cooperatives
-Artists’ Cooperatives
-Food Cooperatives
-Childcare/Education
-Miscellaneous
-Community Development Corporations
-Community Financing
-Credit Unions
-Community Supported Agriculture
-Community Land Trusts
-Conservation Land Trusts/Community Gardens
-Other

Finding Organizations
-Online searching
-Directories and related umbrella agencies
-e.g. Fellowship for Intentional Community Cooperative Directory
-Speaking with people within the Solidarity Economy

Difficulties
-Technicalities
-Geographic parameters: how far outside Philadelphia?
-Is this organization still developing? Out of operation?

Difficulties
-Defining Solidarity Economy
-What counts as SE? All non-profits? Democratic ESOPs?
-“Co-opted” SE - Just because an organization or business falls within categories, does it embody SE principles?
-e.g. Major credit unions

Difficulties
-Mapping the un-mappable - Many components of the Solidarity Economy are difficult to map
-Local currencies
-The open source movement
-Networks (e.g. Philadelphia Regional & Independent Stock Exchange)

The Map

The Map Includes: name, website, address, contact information, and organization summary

The Map - Philadelphia - Suburbs

The Map
e.g. all cooperatives

The Map
e.g. food democracy

What Comes Next
Translate map to ArcGIS

What Comes Next e.g. housing cooperatives and community land trusts vs. 2007 poverty level Overlap data onto demographic (race, socio-economic status, etc.) maps of Philadelphia to locate patterns

What Comes Next -Gain a better understanding of how the Solidarity Economy works in practice -Survey identified organizations and businesses about relationship to SE -Find opportunities for local and sustainable supply chains -Foster connections between organizations with similar organizations and values

Mapping the Solidarity Economy

by Cameron Scherer

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