Economic Justice

Jessica Gordon-Nembhard talks about her research into the history of African-American co-ops.

I want to emphasize the urgent need to reimagine the relationship between NGOs and cooperatives. Instead of NGOs or funders defining projects based on their own interests, support and resources should be offered at the community’s request.

This study explores the role of solidarity finance in promoting local development and the empowerment of marginalized communities through financial inclusion and access to community credits. It focuses on how solidarity-based financial mechanisms provide accessible credit with fewer barriers, fostering productive activities and economic resilience.

Housing cooperatives present a huge potential to the housing stock, not just in Hamilton but across Canada.

We need to shift to a new system, so that we can be fed, watered, housed, cared for, and enjoy our lives as best as possible in a more environmentally-unstable future.

Founded on women’s liberation, ecological sustainability, and direct democracy, Rojava’s political system provides a dramatic alternative to the status quo values of patriarchy, capitalism, and the nation-state that define the Middle East and much of the world. 

The Rede Mulheres do Maranhão (RMM) – Women’s Network of Maranhão –  is a cooperative made up of 16 solidarity enterprises, bringing together more than 200 members. Their activities include the production of sweets and honey, processing and cracking of babaçu nuts and cashew nuts, baking, vegetable and greens cultivation, and clothing manufacturing.

Ai Van Kok explains how she has used "The £1 Model" to help worker co-ops in the UK better understand, and take control of, their business expenses.

In Venezuela’s Amazonas state, fishing has long been not just a trade but a whole way of life rooted in collaboration, knowledge sharing, and mutual aid. Now, under the US blockade, fishing has become an even more important source of food. At the same time, the cooperative way of working of traditional fisherpeople has proven useful in solving blockade-induced obstacles.

In this session, Stephanie Rearick of Humans United in Mutual Aid Networks discusses getting started on projects and Julian Rose of Endstate ATL and New Economy Coalition discusses key considerations for sustainability, including governance, power, conflict, and more.