Dear Colleague,

Increasingly, people around the country and the world are realizing that the series of intersecting crises we face are not by chance, but by design. From staggering wealth inequality, to the looming threat of climate change and irreversible damage to our ecosystem, to surging xenophobia, racism, and authoritarianism, these crises are generated by an economy structured to concentrate ownership and power. And yet, many of the solutions being put forward focus on merely regulating or reforming the existing institutions that make up this extractive economy. The time has passed for simply tinkering at the edges of this system. Instead, we need to develop the architecture of a more democratic and just economy, and we need to do it fast.
 
In this essay for the Transnational Institute, Executive Vice President and Senior Fellow Marjorie Kelly expands on this idea, and makes the case that to actually address the crises we face, must focus on displacing the dominant form of enterprise in our current economy: the profit-maximizing, shareholder-controlled corporation. Instead of this “monoculture of design,” we need forms of enterprise that shift ownership and power to workers and communities. The building blocks of this next generation of enterprise are already emerging, seen in developments like the growth of worker ownership and campaigns for re-municipalization across the globe. Our task at hand is to continue to scale these approaches while always innovating new models.  
 
To that end, I am excited to announce the launch of a new project in partnership with the UK-based think tank Common Wealth, focused on advancing forms of democratic public ownership in critical sectors of our economy. The research will explore the areas of digital infrastructure; data and platforms; intellectual property and R&D; and land and natural resources, pulling together policy playbooks and legal briefings for both the US and UK in each area. Watch the launch video here and read more about the project below.
 
We have also launched a new collaboration with Cooperative Energy Futures focused on leveraging the Green New Deal to expand energy democracy. The series will bring together policy proposals that can ensure public investment in climate resiliency benefits communities, not corporate interests. By focusing on advancing energy democracy, the Green New Deal can help expand access, ownership, and control over the economy. We recently published the first set of proposals, which include the creation of a Community Ownership Power Administration, debt cancellation for rural cooperatives, and the development of a Green Investment Bank. Read more here.
 
Another critical element of our work is rewiring economic development so that the flow of resources benefits local residents, not corporate bottom lines. Part of this strategy is working with anchor institutions to leverage their core business practices to build community wealth and keep resources circulating locally. Our new Anchor Mission Communications Toolkit brings together best practices for advancing the anchor approach and tools for putting forward a new narrative around what is possible. Read more below. 
 
Lastly, I am excited to share the launch of our newly redesigned website. I invite you to explore the webpages and learn more about The Democracy Collaborative’s different bodies of work.