The ongoing battle for economic justice can feel like a Sisyphean task, with victories often feeling fleeting and hard-won. However, rather than fighting against unjust systems, there is an alternative approach to creating a more just and sustainable economy – the concept of a “solidarity economy”.

This movement prioritizes people and the planet over endless profit and growth. Examples of solidarity economy practices can be found in Indigenous survival and sustainability methods, cooperatives, community land trusts, credit unions, peer lending, mutual aid, community-led economic development, bartering, community-supported agriculture, and fair trade products. Informal ways in which family, friends, and neighbors come together to support each other are also part of the solidarity economy.

In my own community on a rural country road, neighbors come together to help each other in times of need. When a tree falls across the road, the first person with a chainsaw takes care of it. Those with wood stoves benefit from the fallen tree. During bad weather, people check on each other to ensure everyone is safe. Surplus produce from gardens, eggs from chickens or successful hunting trips are shared among community members. This type of mutual support and cooperation embodies the principles of the solidarity economy and offers a tangible example of how we can create a more just and sustainable economic system.