Solidarity & Cooperative Economics and African American Co-ops in History
Dr. Gordon-Nembhard begins by defining solidarity economics—an alternative practice of economics that rejects profit maximization as its primary goal and takes into account theories of power, control, and inequality. She describes how organizing production, work, and other economic activity around this principle, as opposed to neoclassical theory, could create a more equitable, just, and sustainable future. Dr. Gordon-Nembhard then explores the history of worker cooperatives—member-owned and run organizations that are created to solve economic problems and address community needs—in various African American communities throughout the United States. Watch her session here and follow along in her book where she calls out the importance of the following:
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Education, study groups, and training to support cooperative learning, informal study, formal study, and specific training
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Signals From the Future
A signal is a disruptive innovation that feels like the beginning of a possible future. A signal can be an unexpected product, practice, technology, event, data point, or organization that has the potential to scale in impact. What seems outlandish today could be mainstream in a few years.
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BLACKOUT BLACK FRIDAY?
The r/antiwork community on Reddit grew from 76,000 in January 2020 to 1,112,847 (and counting) in November 2021; users post about the endless churn of working for unlivable wages and support each other in reclaiming one’s time from a job. In addition to sharing content, the community is in the midst of organizing “Blackout Black Friday,” a general strike for retail and hospitality workers. (Image credit: flyer from blackfridayblackout.info)
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New York City just cancelled most medallion debt
 After multiple years of organizing, hundreds of New York City taxi drivers will finally have debt relief. The medallion debt crisis was fueled by predatory loans and artificial inflation of medallion prices. The collaboration between all actors - the NY Taxi Workers Alliance, the city, and the asset management company who purchased the debt - is a key component of the success of the deal. This monumental program comes at a time when the legitimacy of other kinds of debt is being challenged, such as student loans and mortgages. Can this be a model for future debt relief programs? (Image credit: Oscar Perry Abello)
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What happens when a healthcare union invests in worker ownership?
 The gigafication of work has pervaded almost all industries, healthcare included. Not only is demand for healthcare workers outpacing available resources, employment options with economic security and flexibility are slim. AlliedUP – a worker-owned cooperative focused on staffing allied healthcare professionals in hospitals and healthcare systems – aims to meet supply and demand by partnering with health care education providers nationwide to become the stalwart employer for new allied workers by offering above market pay, benefits, and wealth building opportunities. Equitable Enterprise advisor, Ra Criscitiello, is deputy director of research at SEIU-UHW and one of the founding members of this new enterprise. (Image credit: https://alliedup.com/)
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Does the future of consumption involve money?
The Buy Nothing Project, an international network of local gifting groups that was founded in 2013, now has over four million members in 44 countries, and has grown by a third over the past year. They “exist for the sole purpose of building community,” which is how their gift economy is able to operate. According to the BNP, the notion of true wealth is the “web of connections formed between people.” They believe that communities are more resilient and equitable when they have functional gift economies. (Image credit: https://buynothingproject.org/)
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Pecan Milk Builds Strong Communities
The Pec an Milk Cooperative is a producer of non-dairy milks in Atlanta that is collectively run by primarily young Black LGBTQ folks. Their primary mission is to create dignified work for LGBTQ communities, people of African descent, other people of color, women, youth, immigrants, and people with a disability. Their governance structure allows them to stay true to their mission and fundamentally prioritize people over profits, so worker-owners are able to take control of their economic futures. In addition, the ownership structure allows for most of the economic and social benefits of their activity to stay in the community where they’re established. (Image credit: https://pecanmilk.coop/home)
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