Grassroots Economic Organizing

Catalyzing worker co-ops & the solidarity economy

ShareFests: An Economy For the People is Coming to a City Near You

Repost
June 2, 2014

cross-posted from Shareable

When Shareable and Center for a New American Dream decided to launch the ShareFest initiative, we had very modest expectations that 5-10 cities would step up to host an event. Amazingly, communities from around the world in the Sharing Cities Network have hit it out of the park with 40 ShareFests - some with several thousand participants (Belgium), one with over 40 activities (Porto Alegre) and one month-long ShareFest of 30+ events in Oakland! And many, many more sharing events happening this #SharingSpring. We wanted you to see for yourself what the fuss is all about, so we made this ShareFest Video.

ShareFests are the perfect opportunity to celebrate the city commons and to connect activists excited to create a sharing city together. For newbies just becoming aware of sharing, gifting, cooperatives and solidarity economics, a ShareFest is a great introduction - it’s one thing to read about it, and another to experience how empowering a new economy and how rich living it can be first hand.

If your city is well on its way to becoming a sharing city, a jumpin' ShareFest demonstrates that we are part of a bigger movement and we aren't alone! ShareFests all over the world are organizing, connecting and supporting the growth of local projects like timebanks, tool libraries, free stores, shared community resource mapping and much more.

Want to get in on the #SharingSpring? Find a ShareFest near you below or use a complete toolkit to host one in your community. It doesn't have to be a huge production (but it sure can be if you want!) and we are here to help.

Interested in participating in an upcoming ShareFest already scheduled in your community?

Need some inspiration? Check out highlights from a selection of ShareFests that already happened this Spring:

 

Go to the GEO home page

Thomas Llewellyn

Tom Llewellyn is the Network Coordinator for the international Sharing Cities Network, a project of Shareable. He is a co-founder and coordinator of the REAL Cooperative (Regenerative Education, Action and Leadership), is a partner in the Asheville Tool Library and is leading the development of the new Share Asheville initiative. He co-founded and managed the Critter Cafe, which raised money for a small public school and brought the entire community together to share a meal every weekend in 2007 in the small town of Canyon, CA. As the Education and Activism Director of Sustainable Living Roadshow (SLR) from 2008 – 2012 he toured the U.S. producing eco events, leading workshops and participating in a wide variety of actions and campaigns. In addition to being the lead production manager for SLR he was a founding member of A PLACE for Sustainability in Oakland, CA and was on the steering committee and co-lead the Right2Know March (for GMO labeling) from NYC-D.C. in 2011.  He has also spent time organizing to stop the expansion of: the Alberta tar sands, genetically engineered trees and the woody biomass industry in addition to many other causes. Currently working as a consultant for The Dogwood Alliance in Asheville, NC, he organizes in support of the Our Forests Aren't Fuel campaign targeting the expansion of the wood pellet and biomass industries in the Southern US and recently produced the short investigative documentary Wetlands Up In Smoke. Tom graduated Summa Cum Laude from San Francisco State University with a self-designed degree in Mind/Body Studies, is a Certified Massage Therapist and has a Permaculture Design Certificate. Drawing from years of experience as the director of the Canyon After School Program and Clever Scamp Summer Camp, as well as a rich background in theatrical performance and storytelling, he brings his playful creativity to environmental and political causes and actions.

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