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Solidarity Circles

A leadership program for clergy, faith leaders,
& organizers building the solidarity economy

 
 

“I joined Solidarity Circles to connect with a relational network intent on organizing theological spaces out from a charity mindset and toward a solidarity economy. This experience has been foundational in providing concrete language and praxis for ideas that have remained elusively abstract; solidarity circles puts feet on the aspirations for a world beyond the grip of neoliberalism.”

—Ralph McCoy

Solidarity Circles: Some Introductory Reflections

Joerg Rieger

At a time when protest often seems to be the last recourse for those longing for a better world and a more sustainable faith, the Solidarity Circles of the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice at Vanderbilt University are designed to expand horizons by constructing and building alternatives. Our approach is holistic from the outset. Putting together faith communities and solidarity economies—we are also talking about developing religious and economic democracies in addition to political democracy—leads to deeper engagements of all of life and feeds back into the deepening of faith.

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Building Solidarity by Deep Transformation

Faith leaders, clergy, & organizers today feel more isolated than ever. We are over-resourced and under-connected. We need spaces and networks to organize together.

Solidarity Circles are built to meet this need. These are virtual peer-networks for faith leaders, organizers, clergy, and members of the community who realize that the solidarity economy is essential for the flourishing of life and our faith communities. Solidarity circles are one way the Wendland-Cook Program is seeking to revitalize and build the church and Christian theology in positive ways. We believe that this work is deeply connected to the mission and vocation of Christian churches. Broadly understood, the cooperative and solidarity economy are ways of addressing longstanding economic inequalities within our society, including white supremacy and gender and sex inequities.

We're so excited about the work we can do together.

“Solidarity Circles gave me the space to dialogue and wrestle with the intersection of our vocation and the needs and challenges of a post-modern American society.”
— Rev. Evelyn Harris
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What To Expect?

Participants go through an 9-month dialogical, educational process grounded in community praxis to help diversely align your institution or community with the solidarity economy. What results? Previous participants have launched a new program (a cooperative daycare, say), held a study group on the solidarity economy, launched a sermon series on the topic, or worked to more concretely shift their institution in the direction of the solidarity economy.

Here’s a preview of some of the topics we’ll cover:

• What’s the Problem (with our economy, with our theology)? What are our Alternatives?
• What is the Solidarity and Cooperative Economy?
• Site Mapping: Taking a look at your institution
• Analyzing Power and Keeping Track of Privilege
• Practicing Deep Listening

The content is informed by the the Churches and Cooperatives Toolkit (created in collaboration with the Southeast Center for Cooperative Development) and other materials presented in Interventions and Exchanges as well as Wendland-Cook webinars.

Program Cost:

The program is priced at $500 per participant.

We believe in making the Solidarity Circle program accessible to all who share our vision. Need-based scholarships are available to individuals who may find it challenging to cover the full program cost. Please complete your application, and upon acceptance, you'll have the opportunity to apply for financial aid.

If you are an institution or community seeking to apply as a group, please contact Aaron Stauffer for group pricing and information (aaron.k.stauffer@vanderbilt.edu).

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Previous Cohort Members

 
 
 

The Promise of the Cooperative Economy

The economy is not working for all those who have to work for a living. Our current economic system is based on exploitation and extraction of people and the planet. Still, there are concrete ways of building a new economy and society around the solidarity that can come from seeing God’s grace at work in mutual relationships. This work starts by building solidarity.

By joining a solidarity circle, you’ll gain access to a network of peers who are interested in building an alternative economy and committed to the work of faith in the world. Over 9 months, you’ll engage in monthly virtual meetings and trainings, getting access to relationships and resources that can equip you with the skills and knowledge to become part of the ever growing solidarity economy across the country.

 
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The Curriculum’s Competencies

Our curriculum consists of three units, each with three modules and is grounded in four competencies. Modules include a 20-minute video featuring main content, shorter “topics” videos, and reading materials. These topics are competency-based and are those we believe leaders need to create and sustain social change in their community.

  • Liberating Theology and Bible with Power Analyis

  • Value-Based Community Organizing 101

  • Storytelling as a framework for Social Change

  • Listening to the Spirit: Prophetic and Pastoral Active Listening

Participants meet monthly for 90 minutes virtually and have separate 1:1s with facilitators and their colleagues to deepen relationships and develop a deeper contextual analysis for their work. Participants are also offered a free coaching meeting with a WCP coach.

Participants receive access to a unique, private social media platform to further connect with and build with other cohort members, past and present.

“Solidarity Circles offer an experience for belonging and intimacy so that new paths of exploration, curiosity, and learning are integrated in a cooperative reality.”
— Rev. Stephen Handy