Building Our Solidarity Economy Conference View Other Sessions

Building Our Solidarity Economy is a one-day conference to be held at the University of Michigan on March 28, 2025. The conference is co-organized by UM’s Ginsberg Center and the Michigan Chapter of Resource Generation, with engagement from over a dozen other units, organizations, and local groups. This conference will offer students and community members opportunities to deepen their understanding of the solidarity economy in theory and practice, access concrete skill-building (fundraising, redistribution, community investment, navigating conflict), and reflect on the importance of organizing cross-class movements for economic justice at UM and in the broader community.


The Ginsberg Center is a unit within Student Life at the University of Michigan that helps facilitate equitable relationships between the university and community organizations. This conference relates to several of Ginsberg’s programming areas, namely social entrepreneurship, philanthropy, advocacy, and community organizing. 


Resource Generation is a national membership organization for young people with wealth and/or class privilege. Half of UM undergrads’ parents are in the top 10% based on income. 10% are in the top 1%. This conference creates opportunities for RG Michigan to expand our membership and visibility, promote cross-chapter exchange and leadership development, and deepen our own understanding of the role of young people with wealth and class privilege in building the solidarity economy.


Support for this event is provided by the U-M Year of Democracy, Civic Empowerment, and Global Engagement and our partners.


If you do not have a University of Michigan email, please sign up for a friend account before registering for any conference sessions.




Session Is Over
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East Quadrangle - 1710 (Abeng Multicultural Lounge in East Quadrangle)
See Session Description

“You don’t go into coalition because you just like it. The only reason you would consider trying to team up with somebody who could possibly kill you, is because that’s the only way you can figure you can stay alive.” - Berniece Johnson Reagon

Coalition-building is crucial to social change but, as Bernice Johnson Reagon reminds us, it's not always easy or comfortable. Along with Detroit City Council Member for District 6, Gabriela Santiago-Romero, this workshop invites participants to reframe internal disagreements about strategy and values as paths toward stronger relationships and more effective organizing. Participants will explore approaches to navigating difficult conversations with both internal and external stakeholders, from the standpoint that conflict itself is neutral and unavoidable – but the ways we encounter it can make or break our movements. What would it look like to hold each other accountable without resorting to discourses of blame and shame? How can we resist divisive narratives, and instead create our coalitions using frameworks of mutuality and growth? This topic was selected by popular demand during our pre-conference workshop.


Directions to Session: 

The session will be held in one of the University of Michigan's Multicultural Lounges, Abeng Multicultural Lounge in East Quadrangle. The address for East Quad is 701 East University Ave in Ann Arbor. To get to the room, enter East Quadrangle (EQ) from its main entrance at 701 East University Avenue, using either the steps or ramp. The Abeng Multicultural Lounge is located on the first floor next to the East Quad community center desk.

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