Youth and Student Leadership In The Solidarity Economy

Saturday, June 7th, 11:45 AM to 1:00 PM
Room 346
Undefined

This panel discussion and question & answer will explore the current and future role of young people and students in the solidarity economy. Representatives from CoFED, Grand Aspirations, Responsible Endowments Coalition, and NASCO will share case studies of exciting solidarity economy work students on campuses and young people in communities are making happen. This panel will cover case studies of campus food cooperatives, community-directed infrastructure projects, housing co-ops, and campaigns for the reinvestment of campus endowments. This panel is directed both at non-students and non-youth who want to learn more about how those constituencies are engaging at young people and students looking for ways to get involved.

Collaborative live notes: https://commonbound.hackpad.com/Youth-and-Student-Leadership-In-The-Soli...

Speakers: 

Lauren Ressler

Responsible Endowments Coalition

Lauren currently supports the national student responsible investment movement as National Organizer for the Responsible Endowments Coalition. Originally from Seattle, Washington, Lauren worked with the Cascade Climate Network and Sierra Student Coalition to oppose the development of coal export facilities along the Pacific Northwest coast. In addition to this work on coal exports, Lauren has worked on ending the student loan debt crisis and making higher education affordable for all.

Bio

Jackson Koeppel

Grand Aspirations

Jackson Koeppel is the Organizational Facilitator for Soulardarity, a chapter of Grand Aspirations empowering residents of Highland Park, MI to build self-determination through the collective planning and cooperative ownership of 200 solar streetlights, replacing those repossessed by the local utility. He grew up in New York City, and went to school at Oberlin College in Ohio.

Bio

Morgan Crawford

North American Students of Cooperation

Morgan Crawford is the Director of Educational Programs, North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO). He spends most of his free time thinking about cooperatives. With a background in student housing co-ops at UC Berkeley, community housing co-ops in Iowa City, IA, and a recent stint serving as NASCO Board President, Morgan brings a wide array of experiences to the NASCO Staff Collective in his role as Director of Educational Programs.

Bio

Jennifer Roach

Grand Aspirations

Jennifer Roach works with Grand Aspirations to coordinate a green economy training program in Hartford, CT called Summer of Solutions Hartford. Since co-founding the chapter in 2010, she has worked with her team to build community and school gardens in Hartford and train young people in urban farming and leadership development skills. She is committed to building just and sustainable local food systems to support healthy and prosperous communities.

Bio

Ruby Levine

CoFED

Ruby Levine lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While attending Macalester College, she got involved with the founding of Grand Aspirations. Working with Grand Aspirations and local community partner Cooperative Energy Futures for five years, she developed skills in facilitation and group process management, development of green economy ventures, empowerment and development of young people ages 14-30, and long-distance collaboration and support.

Bio

Yahya Alazrak

CoFED

Yahya Alazrak is the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast Regional Organizer. He spent 4 years being a part of the Greenleaf Coffee Cooperative at Guilford College. At his core, Yahya cares about people and creating a more just, equitable, and awesome world. Using the skills he's gleaned in the shop, in his Community and Justice classes, as a student body president, as a Quaker, and as an IWW member, he is eager to spread his love and knowledge about organizing cooperatively on college campuses.

Bio