Grassroots Economic OrganizingOur weekly newsletter is out!
#Cooperatives #SolidarityEconomy
Commoning-Muster der Woche❓ Wie ist dem Kommerzialisierungsdruck zu begegnen? Wie ist zu vermeiden, dass Geld zuviel Einfluss bekommt?
❕Geld kommt auch in Commons zum Einsatz. Ein kluger Umgang damit ist unabdingbar, um den Zusammenhalt und intrinsische Motivationen zu schützen. Eigene Ziele werden über externe - etwa Projektförderkriterien - gestellt. Die Idee ist, dem Verwertungsdruck, der Preiskonkurrenz und der strikten Gegenseitigkeit zu widerstehen. Interne Geldflüsse werden davon entkoppelt, wer, wie welche Einnahmen erzeugt.
👉 Es ist wichtig, nur solche externen (z.B. staatlichen) Förderungen zu akzeptieren, deren Bedingungen der eigenen Commoning Kultur nicht grundlegend entgegen wirken.
👉 Als dem IT Commons Encommuns auffiel, dass die Prioritäten eines städtischen Auftraggebers wichtiger wurden als die eigenen Anliegen, entkoppelten sie Ausgaben und Einnahmen. Fortan galten externe Zahlungen für programmierten Code als Spenden und nicht mehr als Bezahlung und Anerkennung einzelner Produkte oder Leistungen. Die Gelder flossen stattdessen in die Grundfinanzierung des Gesamtprojektes.
🗨 Kennst du dieses Muster aus deinem Leben?
#commons #commoning #fediverse #solidarityeconomy #anticommercialization #encommuns
Cooperativa RizomaThe #FestivalCoopera was born out of a desire to bring #cooperativism closer to movements fighting for a fairer, more ecological, and more democratic society.
The event is part of the mission #RedeDeCooperativasIntegrais's mission to stengthen networks for collaboration and knowledge-sharing among cooperatives and people interested in the #SolidarityEconomy.
We want to be many and show that cooperativism is alive and thriving. Invite your community and stay tuned for more updates. (2/2)
Cheyenna Layne WeberWant to support co-ops in NYC?! Check out this #solidarityeconomy event on 4/30. All proceeds benefit co-op education and advocacy in the five boroughs, and the evening features food + drink by worker co-ops.
https://givebutter.com/bread-and-roses-may-day-kickoff-party
Matt Noyes@GEO_Collective is running a #poetry slam as a fundraiser on May the fourth. It's really about the #solidarityeconomy, but bring what makes this life worth living for you!
(Why May 4th? That's the date of the worker demonstration at #Haymarket Square in Chicago that May Day commemorates.)
Tickets: https://www.
eventbrite.com/e/grassroots-poetry-slam-tickets-1984979006643
More about GEO: geo.coop
Stephen Dioxide 
Hey, everyone, #GEO is running a #poetry slam as a fundraiser on May the fourth. It's really about the #solidarityeconomy, but if you just can't resist making a Star Wars (or Dave Brubeck) reference, we'll let it slide.
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/grassroots-poetry-slam-tickets-1984979006643
More about GEO: geo.coop
ecosentidoSolidarity Economies for Collective Power, with Jason Nardi - Planet Local Voices series II
#SolidarityEconomy #LocalFuturrs #EconomicsofHappiness #Solidarity
https://youtube.com/watch?v=8oil0IQVhx8&si=9VWSJ8lnuTRU4khH
#SolidarityEconomy #LocalFuturrs #EconomicsofHappiness #Solidarity
https://youtube.com/watch?v=8oil0IQVhx8&si=9VWSJ8lnuTRU4khH
Solidarity Economies for Collective Power, with Jason Nardi - Planet Local Voices series II
DoomsdaysCWRE: https://kolektiva.social/@firestorm/116346370857505543
#FirestormBooks needs our help! Thinking about buying a book? Buy it from them!
Firestorm BooksLike a lot of small businesses in our region, Firestorm has been in financial distress for the last year. Hurricane Helene was our tipping point, but local cost of living increases, inflation, and higher occupancy costs are huge contributors. In simple language: our sales are down, our costs are (way) up, and capitalism is the worst.
With less than $15k in financial buffer left, we've projected that our co-op will no longer have the resources needed for normal operations by the end of July.
⚠️ What We're Doing
Over recent months, we've analyzed our situation and explored possible interventions. We're planning to modestly increase store hours, refresh our Sustainers Program, explore new advertising opportunities, better promote our bulk / B2B sales, research grants for unfunded work done by our members, and look for new pop-up gigs. More immediately, we're planning a big sale for mid-April and we've requested and received a temporary reduction to our mortgage.
Our hope is that a handful of short-term measures will buy us time to pursue the longer-term shift in revenue needed to stabilize Firestorm. If we don't succeed, our nuclear option is a cut to pay. As a horizontal co-op we set a payrate democratically, so no changes take place without buy-in from our whole team, but moving away from a living wage runs counter to our collective health.
⚠️ What You Can Do!
If Firestorm surviving and thriving is important to you, we welcome your support. Here are a few ways to pitch in:
🌈 Buy your next book from us, or tell someone who buys books about us! Not a physical media person? We also sell audiobooks through Libro.fm.
🌈 Join our Sustainers Program, starting at $10/mo! Members receive discounts on books and can access free shipping, a monthly book subscription, and other great perks.
🌈 If you work in an organization that coordinates book-related programs, reach out to us about bulk purchasing (we offer discounts!)
We extend our huge appreciation to everyone who is already supporting our co-op financially, or otherwise! We've only made it this far because of you.
📬 Subscribe to our mailing list for a weekly update on the #Cooperative and #SolidarityEconomy movements!