Summary
The system is broken by design.
The problems we face—poverty, racism, climate destruction, and state violence—aren’t accidents. They are built into an economy that puts profit for a few over the lives of the many. Small fixes won’t solve problems this deep. We need to build something fundamentally new.
We believe in a world where:
- We decide. Decisions about our communities and resources are made by the people who live and work there, not by corporations or billionaires.
- Everyone thrives. The economy serves the needs of all people, not just those at the top.
- The Earth is sacred. We care for our planet, not exploit it for profit.
- We cooperate. We support one another through mutual aid and community, rather than competing for survival.
We are not just dreaming of this future; we are actively building it now through worker co-ops, community land trusts, credit unions, and mutual aid networks. Our work centers on organizing led by working-class people, people of color, and those most harmed by the current system—because real change must be driven by those who need it most.
We are part of a global movement, because economic injustice connects communities everywhere. We welcome diverse strategies. What unites us is the belief that a more just, cooperative, and compassionate world is not only possible—it is necessary.
Our Commitment to Transformation
The U.S. Solidarity Economy Network is dedicated to the radical transformation of our entire society—economic, political, social, and ecological. We are building a new, post-capitalist, post-settler colonial system rooted in these core values:
- Solidarity and cooperation
- Participatory democracy (direct, ongoing say in decisions)
- Sustainability and the rights of Mother Earth
- Equity in all dimensions (race, gender, class, etc.)
- Pluralism (many approaches, one movement)
- Community and self-determination
- Internationalism
We do not seek adjustments to a system rooted in empire, exploitation, and oppression. In this period of crisis, minor shifts cannot solve the immense suffering caused by end-stage capitalism’s relentless extractive commodification of our planet. We must replace it entirely.
Our power comes from love, justice, dignity, and self-worth.
Real power isn’t about domination or control. It’s a spiritual groundedness—knowing that every person has inherent dignity and that we are all connected. This is what sustains us for the long struggle. What most people call “power”—the ability to get what we want—is really just leverage. Leverage is useful. But power is deeper: it’s the love, dignity, and self-worth we hold together as a community. We organize using our power to achieve leverage. But our power is always rooted in our shared humanity and our commitment to a world where everyone thrives.
Our strategy: Build and Fight
We are guided by a “Build and Fight“ approach—we build the new world we want, while we fight to defend our communities and dismantle the old system. Neither one alone is enough. As we build the next system, our projects also respond to the immediate needs that are intensifying, not as an end goal but as part of building the future.
We Build Post-Capitalist Alternatives
The solidarity economy is not a distant dream—it already exists, rooted in longstanding indigenous practices,
and there are many contemporary examples. All across the U.S. and globally, people are building it right now through:
- Worker cooperatives
- Community land trusts and real estate cooperatives
- Housing and childcare cooperatives
- Food cooperatives and community gardens
- Credit unions and Community Development Financial Institutions
- Timebanks and mutual aid networks
- Community-supported agriculture and repair cafes
- Platform cooperatives and independent media
- Community clinics and wellness cooperatives
- Lending libraries, tool libraries, and co-housing
These are not just nice ideas—they are the foundation of the new system we are creating. Every one of these projects shifts power, builds community, and proves that another world is possible. We support, connect, and grow these alternatives until they become the norm, not the exception.
We Fight for Non-Reformist Reforms
We pursue changes that actually shift power and move us closer to a whole new system—not just patches that keep the old one running. A non-reformist reform meets immediate needs while building the future at the same time. Think of it as building a door to a new world, not just painting the walls of the old one.
We Build Dual Power
We don’t wait for permission. We build new economic, political, and social institutions alongside the old ones—creating real alternatives that can eventually replace the system entirely. We resist the old world and grow the new one at the same time. That is what we mean by a dual power approach. We engage in co-governance processes where they exist, understanding this as a tactic, not a destination.
Our Four Fronts of Transformation
To bring this new system to life, genuine transformation requires movement on four fronts:
- Power: Shifting power concretely to the working class in our workplaces, communities, and political institutions.
- Ownership: Moving from private to collective and public ownership. If we are not transforming ownership, we are not transforming the system.
- Control: Replacing domination by the wealthy with democratic, working-class control over our lives.
- Strategy: A long-term plan that links our immediate actions to a transformational vision—grounded in study, discussion, collective analysis, and praxis.
Whose Side Are We On?
Grassroots organizing led by working-class people, people of color, and those most harmed by the current system is essential. We are building a world rooted in gender inclusivity, explicit antiracism, and decolonization—dismantling all oppressive hierarchies.
We believe we can create new institutions designed to incentivize justice, love, kindness, and compassion. This work is how we build collective power and bring forth a future where every person and all forms of life can thrive.
Make no mistake: everything is at stake.
The future of our communities, our planet, and generations to come hangs in the balance. The forces of exploitation and extraction are not standing still—they are doubling down. But so are we. There is no neutral ground in this fight.
We are on the side of the working-class, the oppressed, and the Earth itself. We stand against the billionaire class, corporate power, and all systems of exploitation. Either you are building a new world with us, or you are defending the old one.
statement is to make explicit and clear who we are and what we believe. Having said that, we can and do work with many organizations and individuals who have different perspectives about how to build a better world. We will continue connecting across our differences to develop and support networks that build collective power. May this work grow ever stronger and bring forth that which we know is possible! We choose to build. We choose to fight.
Key Terms Explained
Solidarity Economy
Solidarity Economy is a movement and a system built on cooperation, participatory democracy, equity, sustainability, pluralism, community self-determination, and internationalism—all working together to put people and planet before profit. It’s not a distant dream; it already exists in worker co-ops, community land trusts, mutual aid networks, and more. We are the movement building it, growing it, and connecting it until it replaces the old system for good. Read more about solidarity economy.
Post-Capitalist
Capitalism is our current system, where private owners control businesses and resources, and profit is the #1 goal. “Post-capitalist” simply means a system that comes after and replaces capitalism—one where wealth and resources are shared more fairly, communities have real control, and the economy serves everyone’s needs, not just the wealthy few.
Non-Reformist Reform
A regular reform tries to improve something without changing its core structure—like making a bad law slightly less harmful. A non-reformist reform is different: it’s a change that actually shifts power and moves us closer to a whole new system, rather than just patching up the old one. Think of it as building a door to a new world, not just painting the walls of the old one. It meets immediate needs while building the future at the same time.
Dual Power
Rather than only fighting against unjust systems, dual power means simultaneously building new ones alongside them. For example, while fighting for better housing policies, we also build community land trusts where residents own their homes collectively. You resist the old world and grow the new one at the same time. This is how we create real alternatives that can eventually replace the current system.
Participatory Democracy
Democracy where everyday people have a direct, ongoing say in the decisions that affect their lives—not just voting every few years, but genuinely shaping their workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities. It’s about real power for regular people, not just for politicians and CEOs.
Pluralism
Accepting and welcoming many different perspectives, cultures, identities, and approaches to change. No single group has all the answers, and diverse voices make movements stronger. There’s no one-size-fits-all way to build a better world—we need many strategies, all working together.
Self-Determination
The right of communities—especially those that have been historically oppressed—to make their own decisions about their lives, futures, and how they are governed. It means having control over your own destiny, rather than having decisions imposed on you from the outside.
Decolonization
The active process of dismantling the structures, systems, and ways of thinking that were put in place through colonization—the historical takeover of lands, cultures, and peoples by outside powers. In practice, this means returning power, land, and decision-making to communities that were dispossessed, and challenging all forms of colonial thinking that still shape our world today.
Praxis
The combination of theory and action—learning, reflecting, and then doing. It’s the idea that real change comes from constantly connecting what we study and discuss to what we actually do in the world. Study without action is empty; action without study is blind. We need both.
How We Work
USSEN is a network of collaborators. We are a hub for collective action, bringing together diverse movements and people to build the solidarity economy together. Here’s how we move:
We are a hub.
We bring together diverse groups and individuals, help them connect, share resources, and learn from each other.
We build power through relationships.
Our strength comes from the relationships we build across different movements—worker co-ops, land trusts, housing co-ops, racial and environmental justice, and more. These relationships are grounded in love, dignity, and mutual respect. That’s where our real power lives. The leverage we gain—the ability to push the system and make it move—comes from the trust and connection we build with each other.
We gather and resource.
We create spaces for people to meet, strategize, and act together. We provide educational resources, strategic gatherings, storytelling, and networking opportunities. We trust that those closest to the problems know best how to solve them.
We act locally and connect globally.
We support local solidarity economy networks (like MASEN and VASEN) while staying connected to the international movement through RIPESS and the Global Tapestry of Alternatives.
We are anchor conveners.
We help convene and coordinate efforts like Resist and Build, the People’s Network for Land and Liberation, and the Democracy Beyond Elections Coalition. We do this in partnership with others.
We organize in circles.
We work in small, flexible groups—circles—that focus on specific areas of our work. Each circle has autonomy to make decisions and move forward, while staying connected to the whole. We trust each other, and we share responsibility.
We make decisions by consent.
Consent means: a proposal is good enough to move forward—as long as no one has a “serious objection” that would harm the work or our values. We don’t need everyone to agree completely. We just need everyone to be able to live with the decision and support it moving forward. This keeps us from getting stuck in endless debate, while still making sure no one’s real concerns are ignored.
If you object, you step up.
Here’s the deal: if you have a critique or a concern, that’s valuable—we want to hear it. But responsibility lies with those who object. That means if you raise a concern, you also have to show up and help solve it. You have to bring a better idea, join the circle that’s working on it, or help figure out a way forward. We don’t shoot down each other’s work from the sidelines. If you see a problem, you’re part of the solution.
Bottom line.
We believe that collective power is built through collaboration. That means collective responsibility, collective decision-making, and a commitment to showing up to build what we need and are worthy of. That’s how we’ll create a new world—together.
Read more.