The United States Solidarity Economy Network (USSEN) has been a powerful force in movements in the US left over the last two decades, especially those working toward cooperative and postcapitalist economies, democratic governance, social and racial justice, sustainability and climate justice, and electoral justice.
In this context, USSEN has pursued a number of activities to organize and bring focus to the proliferation of left economic projects in the US, bringing SE values and practices to life through educational offerings, strategic movement gatherings, storytelling efforts, and intentional movement relationship building and networking.
In 2020 USSEN convened national and translocal groups in a “Resist and Build Convening” of regular and then quarterly virtual convenings. Initially, an in-person convening was planned for March 2020 which was canceled due to the pandemic. In October 2023, that gathering took place, creating a space for solidarity economy groups in the US to engage in dialogue, collaborate, and build relationships.
Numerous efforts developed out of this, with a broad facilitating group emerging that includes USSEN, and with volunteers seeking out interesting, impactful, collaborative projects that advance postcapitalist systems change with others also working for that change.
The convening modeled a productive dialogue around reforming capitalism vs. pursuing and advocating for post-capitalism; encouraged ties among movements resisting oppression and those building alternative systems and institutions; and invited participating organizations to practice working together by working together. Circles formed out of these convenings and continue to meet today around critical efforts:
USSEN Board members continue to be engaged in a wide range of collaborative and intersecting projects with local, regional and national organizations, coalitions and movements in the United States and beyond. These include for example, the New Economy Coalition, RIPESS, Democracy Beyond Elections, Cooperation Jackson, the Municipalism Project, and many others.
Upcoming events include activities such as the Decolonizing Economics Summit https://decolonizingeconomicssummit.org/ a virtual Resist & Build Network Virtual Summit: A Gathering of US Solidarity Economy Movement Organizations March 21, 2024 2-3:30pm ET / 12-1:30pm CT / 11am-12:30pm PT with an optional 30 min Unconference after closing. RSVP: https://bit.ly/RBSpring2024