"Solidarity Economy and Worker Cooperatives"

Democracy at Work Conference, New Orleans, June 20-22, 2008:

We will be involved in several events at this conference, organized by the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives. "Uplifting and Strengthening our Community: Through Alternative Economic Development and Action" Showcase of Cooperatives. Come learn about different kinds of cooperative businesses around the country, and how they serve or can serve communities of color and low income neighborhoods.

SEN will join in on a Gulf Coast-wide discussion of alternative economic development strategies, the solidarity economy, and what it would take to pursue more alternative strategies for economic renewal in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.

Introduction to the Solidarity Economy (parts 1 & 2)

Part 1 - "What's the Economy For Anyway? Why We Need a Solidarity Economy" will provide participants with:

- A clearer understanding of the failures of the dominant economic model and the need for an alternative.
- Understanding of the solidarity economy (SE) - principles, the global SE movement including the U.S. Solidarity Economy Network, concrete examples of the SE.
- Exploration of the relationship between the SE and the cooperative movement.

Jobs and the Future of the US Economy: Possibilities and Limits

Date: Oct 1, 2010
Location: HOWARD UNIVERSITY
Armour J. Blackburn University Center
Room: Hilltop Terrace
Washington, DC 20059
Time: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

The US economy is in the midst of the greatest jobs crisis since the Great Depression. But this crisis is more than a short run phenomenon. For many decades we have experienced a long-term failure to generate jobs for all. A fundamental restructuring of the US economy is essential to overcome both the crisis and reverse the long term failure to generate jobs. 

(This was prepared as a discussion piece for a small network forming within the Democratic Socialists of America. Comments and discussion should be addressed to Eric Ebel, eebel@voyager.net.)