What We Do
The Center for Economic Democracy advances visions and practices
for a just and sustainable world after capitalism.
Our Strategies
Educate and inspire
people who seek a world beyond capitalism
Launch & steward
campaigns & collaboratives
to build democratic economies
Redirect capital
to heal communities and our relationship to the living earth
Our Programs
Solidarity Economy Initiative (SEI)
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Solidarity Economy Initiative is a project of Massachusetts-based social movement groups and funder-allies that resources base-building groups to "build the new" as a symbiotic strategy with their essential resistance work. SEI funds "Just Transition" projects through the Solidarity Economy Fund, a pooled grant-making vehicle governed by SEI's grassroots leaders.
Mass Redistribution Fund (MRF)
In the face of the coronavirus crisis and economic crash, grassroots groups across Massachusetts have been among the first responders, working around the clock to provide relief for urgent community needs while building the community resilience necessary to weather future storms. The Mass Redistribution Fund invites those who received pandemic stimulus funds and are able, to join the #ShareMyCheck movement and donate to grassroots relief efforts that combine emergency pandemic response with long-term base-building and community organizing.
Boston Ujima Project
The Boston Ujima Project is a cooperative business, arts and investment ecosystem built by and for Boston's working class Black, Indigenous and communities of color. The Ujima network of community solutions includes a time bank, grassroots community standards, local business alliance and the Ujima Fund, the nation's first democratic investment fund.
Climate and Ecology Programs
CED is a founding member of the United Frontline Table (UFT), a national network of grassroots coalitions fighting for environmental justice, safe and affordable housing, Indigenous sovereignty, robust labor rights and a solidarity economy that works for both people and the planet. UFT works to mobilize this powerful member base towards a just climate response that meets the immense challenges ahead.
CED helps lead UFT's policy efforts, focused on both shaping federal policy and implementation at the local, tribal and state levels. Together we are building a path towards the just and sustainable future envisioned in the People's Orientation to a Regenerative Economy.
Municipal Democracy Campaigns
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CED convenes and/or partners with allied groups to advance policy campaigns that shift ownership and control to the people, often launched through multi-stakeholder study groups. Current projects include supporting the design of Boston's newly created participatory budgeting process, as well as exploring elected police oversight and democratic land allocation through Boston City Charter reform.
Capital Advisory
and Funder Organizing
CED partners with foundations, wealth managers and funders to develop approaches to investment and philanthropy that are grounded in a reparations framework and center social movement leadership and community needs.
Local Movement Infrastructure
As part of a network of Boston-based movements groups, CED is working to establish joint administrative and book-keeping capacity for local grassroots nonprofits and a shared movement space in Boston. CED also offers organizational capacity for aligned projects, including fiscal sponsorship, technical assistance and hosting local funds that advance economic democracy, including the Harvard Prison Divestment Campaign's Just Reinvestment Fund.
Employee Ownership
CED works in coalition with worker owners, grassroots organizations and the broader cooperative support ecosystem to advance employee ownership in the City of Boston and to build alignment and power across Massachusetts.
Workshops and Trainings
CED designs and facilitates participatory workshops on a range of topics including solidarity economy, economic democracy and community-controlled finance. In 2019, we co-presented Economics for Emancipation with the Center for Popular Economics, and led trainings for Boston Organizing School, Climate Justice Alliance and Dream Defenders, in addition to our direct partners.