We did it! Our People-Powered Economies campaign raised over $30k in 30 days through the incredible generosity and commitment of almost 300 supporters! We also received a full $6,000 match from the Fund 4 Democratic Communities: $100 for all 60 of our new recurring monthly donors. Thanks so much to our amazing community of friends, allies, and community members -- this is what #PeoplePoweredEconomies look like!
These funds allow us to continue our work building #PeoplePoweredEconomies everywhere -- economies where communities have their own sustainable sources of housing, jobs, energy, and other vital aspects of a healthy and resilient community.
Of course, we’re not building People-Powered Economies on our own. That's why we set up a Solidarity Fund to share the abundance from our people-powered fundraising campaign. When we asked you to join us last month in creating #PeoplePoweredEconomies, we let you know that a percentage of everything we raised would support the incredible work of Cooperation Richmond and Planting Justice.
Our campaign yielded $950 for each of these organizations:
Cooperation Richmond builds community controlled wealth through worker-owned and community-owned cooperative businesses by and for low-income communities and communities of color in Richmond whose wealth has been extracted. They incubate and facilitate the launch and successful operation of diverse cooperative enterprises operated by local residents, especially those coming from legacies of systemic marginalization and barred opportunity.
Planting Justice has built over 250 edible permaculture gardens in the San Francisco Bay Area, worked with three high schools to develop food justice curriculum and created 11 green jobs for men transitioning from prison in the food justice movement. They just purchased 2 acres of deserted land in Sobrante Park and are building an aquaponics farm, nursery, and an urban food production hub staffed almost entirely by formerly incarcerated staff/community leaders.
And we’re experiencing abundance in other ways -- we currently have 5 summer interns who are working on projects spanning our major program areas, from grassroots finance to renewable energy! Read more about them here (scroll down to the bottom of that page for their bios).
Sustainable Economies Law Center (SELC) Blog Highlights
Update on the new homemade food bill! - SELC Policy Director Christina Oatfield continues the story of new legislation seeking to expand the legal scope of the sales of homemade meals with some major updates and reflections on the future of homemade food in California.
Forming a Worker Coop: LLC or Cooperative Corporation? - SELC Staff Attorney Sara Stephens breaks down the key considerations in the choice between the two most common entity types for worker cooperatives: the cooperative corporation and the limited liability company (LLC).
Interning at a Worker Self-Directed Nonprofit - SELC's fall and spring Legal Intern, Simon Mont, reflects on his experience researching - and participating in - a worker self-directed nonprofit.
Upcoming Events
Resilient Communities Legal Cafe
July-Sept in the East Bay
The Resilient Communities Legal Cafe provides direct legal advice, workshops, teach-ins, and discussions to businesses and organizations that are trying to make their communities a better place to live and thrive. Come, ask us your questions, and join others from your neighborhood who are taking their livelihoods, communities, and economies back! See dates and locations here.
Summer Legal Professionals Happy Hour
Wednesday, June 29
If you're an attorney, legal worker, or law student looking to build your network of resilience-minded legal professionals, join us and celebrate the building of community resilience with other legal professionals, SELC staff, and movement lawyers! RSVP here.
Summer Members & Volunteers Happy Hour
Wednesday, August 3
Calling all SELC volunteers, interns, members, and sustainers! Come and let us celebrate your part in building community resilience! Join SELC staff and your fellow SELC community members to cultivate connections at our upcoming happy hour! RSVP here.
End o' Summer Happy Hour
Tuesday, August 30
Everyone is invited to celebrate the end of summer with SELC! RSVP here.
Oakland Climate Action Coalition
Did you know that SELC is an organizational member of the Oakland Climate Action Coalition (OCAC)? Learn more about the impactful, intersectional work OCAC is leading in Oakland by subscribing to the coalition’s new monthly newsletter! Click here to subscribe.