How Mutuality Matters:
Digital Stories of the Solidarity Economy

Team Members:
Neguin Anvari, Politics and GISES, Merrill ’22
Edward Estrada, Politics, Cowell ’22
Dylan Hoage, Environmental Studies and Economics, Stevenson ’24

Partner Organization: Solidarity Economics Project
As the compounding crises of economic instability, income inequality, and political polarization have escalated in our nation and the world, many have been looking for new economic theory. The people seek a framework that can explain what has gone so wrong, move civic actors to build a more inclusive economy in California, and motivate the creation of new institutions that could steer us on a better course. The Equity Research Center (ERI) at the University of Southern California and the Institute for Social Transformation at UC Santa Cruz have created a joint project called Solidarity Economics. This project draws on researchers, organizers, stakeholders, and policymakers to provide a vision for our economy; to identify opportunities, eliminate barriers, and promote new narratives to build a more inclusive economy. Our project will develop and disseminate a “solidarity economics” approach to address widening income inequality, rising economic insecurities, and growing social and racial fragmentation while also promoting innovation and economic growth.

Total Funding: $4,755.00

Project Outcomes

We intend to contribute to communicating the concept of solidarity economics by developing videos on key components of the solidarity economics idea and linking the video with digital media campaigns. These videos will focus on case studies that showcase Solidarity Economic in action, or instances where Solidarity Economics ideas could improve society. We plan to deliver the message behind Solidarity Economics and spread the importance of it to a larger audience with something that is easily accessible, which is why we decided on digital storytelling. The stories we will highlight in our videos will serve to remove the blinders that prevent us from understanding the solidarity that already exists in our economy, both at a small- and large-scale. The goal of our project is to provide people, particularly progressives, with the terminology and concepts to spread awareness for the solidarity economics model. We plan to do this through creation and distribution of well-researched in-depth videos covering specific case studies of Solidarity Economics in action. Each video will include a direct call-to-action for the viewer, which will either ask them to share the video, contact their local representatives, or join a local organization advancing justice in their community.