It has frequently been observed that terror can rule absolutely only over men who are isolated against each other… isolated men are powerless by definition.”  — philosopher Hannah Arendt

The fragmentation of our society is accelerating at an alarming rate. Our isolation from each other has created ideal conditions for authoritarianism to take root. It’s easier to sow division among people separated from each other. And the loss of collective power withers away our personal power. That powerlessness can translate into apathy: If we can’t make change as a society, how can we, as individuals, do anything to fight government terror? 

Despite increasing abuse of executive power, more of us are breaking free from isolation and remembering the joy of coming together in solidarity. Case in point, between 5-6.5 million people filled the streets for the October 18th No Kings protest; the biggest protest in the U.S. since the 1970s.  And the following week, Bay Resistance convened about 5,000 people on Zoom to prepare to protest the planned arrival of federal agents in the SF Bay Area.  How do we sustain the growing wave of people power? There are a million ways to resist and build the future we want, but one of our favorites is through the daily practice of solidarity through cooperation! You might be thinking, “Wait, you’re saying my local co-op is a building block in the wall against government terror?!”

In a word…Yes! Cooperatives are an organizing structure to practice “small d” democracy  — the daily practice of building people power, energizing workers to exercise their power to make choices about their own lives and labor. So while we continue to resist government terror, through cooperation, we can practice trust building, collective problem solving, and leadership skills –  to build the just future we’re fighting for. If you’re curious about cooperatives, check out cooplaw.org or our Youtube playlist Worker Cooperatives.

Happy Co-op Month to all the worker-owners who are living out the reimagining of an economy based on mutual care and where all of the things we need are controlled and governed by everyday people. 

We can govern ourselves! 

Tricks for Breaking Spells of Fear, Competition, and Isolation

Need some love, inspiration, sparks of energy, or a marshmallow? Then check out our latest MCLE!   Staff Attorneys Janelle Orsi and Tia Katrina Taruc-Myers share short stories, insights, practices, and contemplations to break up the heaviness of law and the legal profession. They use the framing of magic, charms, and spells, not just to be charming, but to be real about the effect our legal system has on us. Each module is designed to weaken the spells of fear, competition, and isolation that the legal profession has cast upon us. 

If you enjoy the recording, join us in January 2026 for part two of this series! Reserve your spot here. 

“The Future is Collective” Book Celebration

Join Niloufar Khonsari in Berkeley on Nov. 5 to discuss their new book, The Future is Collective, a practical and visionary guide for transforming how we lead, work, and govern together. The book draws on two decades of advocacy and real-world experience, and speaks to the challenges leaders face in times of growth and uncertainty, and uplifts practices rooted in clarity, care, and community. RSVP here for the book discussion followed by Q/A. 

Niloufar Khonsari (she, they) is a Bay Area consultant, facilitator, and former movement lawyer with deep experience supporting nonprofits to build more just, caring, and participatory ways of working together. They co-founded Pangea Legal Services, a worker-led immigrant justice organization, and now lead Bala Rising, advancing organizational development, capacity building, and collective leadership.

7th Annual Black Solidarity Cooperative Conference

[PHOTO ID. LEFT IMAGE: Erika Sato, Mwende Hinojosa, Gregory Jackson, and Tia Katrina Taruc-Myers stand smiling together in front of a doorway in between sessions at the conference. 

RIGHT IMAGE: Ed Whitfield sits on a white folding chair as he addresses the attendees of the Black Solidarity Cooperative Conference. Kingdom X stands behind him, holding the red, black, and green Pan African Flag.]

Earlier this month, Repaired Nations hosted an energizing Black Solidarity Cooperative Conference in West Oakland. Legendary cooperative developer and solidarity economy scholar Ed Whitfield kicked off the conference. In his speech, he encouraged the community to focus our energies on creating liberated economic zones — communities built on self-determination and cooperative economics — for respite from the extraction of our hypercapitalist system while building an alternative economy.  

Law Center staff attorneys Tia Katrina Taruc-Myers and Erika Sato presented on tools and techniques to teach cooperatives how to talk about alternative salary structures.  Also presenting were people from Mandela Grocery Cooperative, Real People’s Fund and Organizing, and Black Cultural Zone on topics ranging from how to build a successful Black-led cooperative to how to leverage relational capital into multi-million dollar real estate transactions. We left the gathering filled with gratitude and a renewed sense of solidarity.