Visibility:

Our map of New York Citys solidarity economy, available above, is heralded as a model for similar efforts around the world. Weve come a long way from our first version back in 2009, but the purpose remains the same: render the solidarity economyvisible to organizers, neighbors, researchers, policymakers, and to the solidarity economy groups themselves. Mapping keeps our organizing and research in touch with changes in the field and presents a cohesive and tangible framework for those seeking examples of community-led economic development in our city. We practice cooperation with others seeking to map their communities by sharing our data as members of the Data Commons Cooperative and sharing our website code (without a fee) with aligned groups. Weve also inspired liberal and progressive groups, such as the Freelancers Union, to start their own mapping projects.

Our short films, Portraits of a Solidarity Economy, are an effort to put a human face on an abstract economic concept. Each one explores a single individuals involvement with a solidarity economy organizationa worker co-op, intentional community, barter network, community development credit union, food co-op, or participatory budgeting initiative. We also created a short animation explaining the solidarity economy. They have been featured at film festivals and teach-ins alike, and can be viewed without a fee on this page.

In 2015 we are retooling our map to provide more comprehensive information about the organizations and models represented and are seeking to create longer films emphasizing more in-depth analysis of how solidarity economy organizations work.

Our research and organizing grew out of our efforts to map the many organizations in the city. As we attended sectoral network meetings it became clear there are many shared challenges for solidarity economy organizations, but that no study had been conducted of the New York City groups we were meeting. In 2012 we launched a Deep Listening and Movement Building project to identify what the common challenges and goals are across sectors, and to examine how groups were either already cooperating or how they would like to in the future. This led to the report Growing A Resilient City: Possibilities for Collaboration in New York Citys Solidarity Economy, which outlined substantial overlap in communications, technical assistance, financing, and governance issues. In February 2013 we gathered our 32 respondents and additional organizations for an evening of discussion about our findings and what the potential next steps could be. There was a great deal of enthusiasm for moving ahead with plans for greater cooperation, but it had become clear to SolidarityNYC that we could not properly support this level of organizing without financial support.

In 2013 we solicited and received our first substantial funding for the continuation of our movement building process, which in 2013-2014 allowed us to support a steering committee of solidarity economy leaders who hosted focus groups to dig deeper into the needs and goals of these groups. We are currently working with these groups to draft a proposal for a new organization, a multi-stakeholder cooperative to support New York Citys solidarity economy, called the Cooperative Economy Alliance of New York City, or CEANYC (pronounced scenic.) This organization will be independent of SolidarityNYC, and our collective will join as a member under the appropriate stakeholder class once it is launched.

We are currently engaged in a new Deep Listening and Movement Building project, this time focused on community-based social justice organizations engaged or interested in engaging in solidarity economy practices or community-led economic development. We hope to better understand the principles, goals, and culture of these organizations to better support cooperation and connection between them and the traditional solidarity economy groups.

Weve been told by several visitors that our website is the best English language solidarity economy site available. Were proud to offer the map and films as educational resources, but were also committed to bringing our analysis and listening strategies to others interested in this work. We regularly provide solidarity economy workshops, without a fee, for local groups and national groups ranging from students to philanthropists. Because of our vast local and national network, we are also available to convene technical assistance gatherings when movement building opportunities arise. For example, during Occupy Wall Street we hosted an Occupy Workplace Democracy event in conjunction with the Eastern Conference on Workplace Democracy and the Fund for Democratic Communities that included presentations by seasoned cooperators, co-op attorneys, and co-op financiers for five new New York City co-ops emerging from Occupy.

Last April we hosted a dialogue between Jessica Gordon Nembhard and a local African American solidarity economy organization, Black Womens Blueprint, about the legacy of African American cooperation in the U.S. and New York City. In 2015 we are interested in creating new resources, including a handbook and organizing training, to promote youth-based regional solidarity economy development, but this is dependent on financial support. If you are interested in a workshop, training, or presentation on the solidarity economy or a related topic please email us at info (at) solidaritynyc (dot) org.

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