Mapping the Solidarity Economy

Mapping the Solidarity Mapping the Solidarity Economy Economy

Craig Borowiak and Cameron Craig Borowiak and Cameron SchererScherer

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 Solidarity Economy in Practice: Practice:

PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia

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Conservation Land Trusts



Natural Lands TrustNatural Lands Trust



Willistown Conservation TrustWillistown Conservation Trust Wissahickon Watershed ConservancyWissahickon Watershed Conservancy



natlands.natlands.orgorg

Lower Merion Conservancy, circa 1970Lower Merion Conservancy, circa 1970

wvwa.orgwvwa.org

lmconservancy.olmconservancy.orgrg

wctrust.owctrust.orgrg

Community Gardens

pps.orgpps.org

srpcg.orgsrpcg.org

Before……and after

pps.orgpps.org

3.bp.blogspot.com3.bp.blogspot.com

http://www.millcreekurbanfarm.org/http://www.millcreekurbanfarm.org/

Worker Cooperatives

Wooden Shoe Books and Records

Firehouse BicyclesThe Pedal Co-Op

woodenshoebooks.cwoodenshoebooks.comom

firehousebicyclesfirehousebicycles.com.com

pedalcoop.orgpedalcoop.org

Food CooperativesWeaver’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.comphilly.codecraftersinc.com

weaversway.coopweaversway.coop

weaversway.coopweaversway.coop

Artists’ Cooperatives

Little Berlintheartblog.orgtheartblog.org kenbmiller.comkenbmiller.com

Highwire Gallery

Nexus Art Gallery

nexusphiladelphia.orgnexusphiladelphia.org

Daycare/Educational Cooperatives

The Cooperative Nursery School

Parents and teachers work together, share knowledge, and make decisions that allow children to thrive.

cooperativenurseryschocooperativenurseryschool.orgol.org

cooperativenurseryschocooperativenurseryschool.orgol.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.come3bank.com

Community Supported Agriculture

www.cityfarmer.iwww.cityfarmer.infonfo

Greensgrow FarmsGreensgrow FarmsRural farms…

Metrofarming.blogspotMetrofarming.blogspot.com.com

Pennypack FarmPennypack Farm

…and urban farms

Charlestown Cooperative FarmCharlestown Cooperative Farm

Charlestowncooperativefarm.orgCharlestowncooperativefarm.org

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.comallaboutardmore.com

allaboutardmore.comallaboutardmore.com

Self-Help ProgramsS.H.A.R.E. Food distributes bags of groceries (~$35-45) to those in need in exchange for two hours of community service

sharefoodprogram.orgsharefoodprogram.org

sharefoodprogram.orgsharefoodprogram.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.comtenthousandvillages.com

Sells goods produced ethically and sustainably

Housing Cooperatives

Bryn Gweled

Camphill Soltane

The Simple Way

camphillsoltane.orgcamphillsoltane.org

thesimpleway.orgthesimpleway.orgbryngweled.orgbryngweled.org

Altair Cohousing

Altaircohousing.orgAltaircohousing.org

Settlement HousesUnited Communities

Southeast Philadelphia


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“Promotes the educational and economic

advancement of individuals and families

within its host neighborhoods.”

citypaper.ccitypaper.comom

•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-VillagesGreen 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 QuickTime™ and a

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blog.jmmds.coblog.jmmds.comm

•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

threegrovesecovillathreegrovesecovillage.orgge.org

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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.breadrosesfund.orgorg

Members of Bread and Roses meet with a 2009 grantee.

Women’s Opportunities Resource Center

Gender/Minority Financing







Promotes economic self-sufficiency to

disadvantaged women by providing entrepreneurial

training, business assistance, incentive savings programs, and access to financial

resources.

worc-pa.comworc-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



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.oprojecthome.orgrg



Mapping the Solidarity Mapping the Solidarity EconomyEconomy

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 StartedGetting StartedDrew upon Ethan Miller’s economic cycle to pick categories

www.populareconomics.org/ussen/webfm_send/11

CategoriesCategories

-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 OrganizationsFinding Organizations

-Online searching

-Directories and related umbrella

agencies

-e.g. Fellowship for Intentional

Community Cooperative Directory

-Speaking with people within the

Solidarity Economy

DifficultiesDifficulties

-Technicalities

-Geographic parameters: how

far outside Philadelphia?

-Is this organization still

developing? Out of

operation?


-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


-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 MapThe Map

The MapThe MapIncludes: name, website, address, contact information, and organization summary

The MapThe Map

- Philadelphia - Suburbs

The MapThe Map

e.g. all cooperatives

The MapThe Map

e.g. food democracy

What Comes NextWhat 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 NextWhat 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

Technology

Mapping the Solidarity Economy