Why We Need Solidarity Economy Now in California


The concentration of wealth and power in California—the fourth-largest economy in the world—is causing skyrocketing inequality, a housing crisis, climate disasters, corporate exploitation, and the rise of authoritarianism. Reforms have not been enough. We need a new system—rooted in solidarity, collective ownership and governance, and community care. That’s why we’re building Cal SEN.

What is the California Solidarity Economy Network?
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The California Solidarity Economy Network (CalSEN) is building a movement, network of relationships and an interlinked ecosystem of infrastructure towards a post-capitalist future. Rooted in solidarity, cooperation, and mutual care, we uplift real-world solidarity economy projects—like cooperatives, community land trusts, public banking, mutual aid networks, and more—that put people and the planet before profit. CalSEN brings together communities, organizations and movements to cocreate a just, sustainable, democratic economy by which we have the political, economic and social power to meet our own needs collectively, with dignity.



​Goals for the Network

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  • ​Connect solidarity economy projects for mutual support and learning.​

  • Create collaborative projects that strengthen the movement and fuel new solidarity economy projects to fill needed gaps for communities across California.
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  • Educate the public about the failures of capitalism and the solidarity economy solutions that already exist.
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  • Advance policies that remove barriers to and invest in the spread of solidarity economy projects.
​How can you help?
We are in the development stage. If your organization is aligned with our mission and you would like to join our meetings, contact [email protected]. We have a lot of needs in this stage, including but not limited to organizing and outreach help, fundraising, and developing an inspiring and interactive website, as well as strategy and narrative support, particularly from grassroots allies. At a later date, we will need a lot of communications support for listening, developing and delivering narratives. Aside from a very small stipend for a coordinator for 2025, we currently don't have funds to pay staff.