North American Network for the Solidarity Economy

NEW! NANSE Draft Vision Statement & Application Available in French & English.

The North American Network for the Solidarity Economy (NANSE) is a network of individuals and other networks in North America - including the Caribbean - that represents nearly 10,000 organizations. Members include co-ops, specialized networks, research institutions and a range of organizations involved in community economic development and social enterprise development.

NANSE is dedicated to:

• Exploring alternatives to the Low Road, neo-liberal development model that is at the root of the problems of de-development and marginalization we face in our communities in North America, and the deep poverty and underdevelopment that plagues communities in the South;
  
• Promoting active exchange between our organizations on experience, projects, ideas and strategy, virtually or through face-to-face meetings;
  
• Promoting joint work and projects as partners and consultants in building a global solidarity economy

NANSE is a part of the Intercontinental Network for the Social/Solidarity Economy (RIPESS).

Find out more about NANSE. To read the NANSE draft vision statement in French, please click here.

Are you involved in community-economic development, a credit union, co-op, environmental justice organization, small business association or network or other organization addressing issues of poverty, economic and environmental justice, and sustainable development? Then you should join NANSE!

NANSE Discussion Forums

Nanse is committed to helping shape the emerging vision and strategy of the Social/Solidarity Economy through active debate and intellectual inquiry. Members of NANSE get to participate in our online discussion forums and interact with position paper authors and others in the Solidarity Economy movement around the world.

Here is a sample of the discussions under way right now:

The Sierra Leone Diamond (Mineral) Sector
Abu A. Brima
Network Movement for Justice and Development

The emphasis on natural resource extraction to generate economic growth and promote development by reducing poverty and thereby ensuring sustainable peace has generated controversy amongst development
scholars, donors and borrowers, and civil society... Read more.

Over the Top
What prospects does Peak Oil hold for the community sector?
By Stewart E. Perry & Don McNair

"Something that we're going to have to get used to" - that's how Prime Minister Steven Harper summed up his comments about high gasoline prices at a news conference in April. While he was at it, he might as well have added heating oil, diesel, and aviation fuel to the list. And if you think those are expensive, check out the alternatives... Read more.

Labor, Community and the Creation of Wealth: Towards a Contemporary Development Strategy for the Social/Solidarity Economy Movement
By Dan Swinney
Center for Labor and Community Research

The movement to advance a competitive alternative development model to the powerful neo-liberal Low Road global model is a shared goal of the movement to build the social/solidarity economy. It's important to
oppose the various manifestations and social costs of the current model, but our experience shows that you can build a truly sustained and mass movement when particular battles and projects are linked to a
positive and practical alternative... Read more.

For more information, please contact:

Matt Hancock
mhancock@clcr.org
1-773-278-5418