Today I happened across this video of two lawyers, Jennifer Kassan and Janelle Orsi talking about the need to enable a new economy to assist when we are in poorer economies (like right now). They believe in building “sharing” into our community and organizational structure with small, localized cooperative enterprise. I believe this is the start of localized “crowdsourcing” to enable sustainable community development.

Janelle who is a ‘sharing’ lawyer from Berkley has written a book about the Sharing Solution which helps us move into a sharing economy instead of a consumer economy. Jennifer and Janelle are the co-directors of the Sustainable Economies Resource Law Centre (www.theselc.org). They say sharing makes economic sense and builds connection by “re-knitting” our communities out of neighbourhood and corporate silos.

They focus on 5 key areas: Food and Agriculture, Co-Operatives (consumer, worker, producer), Community Supported Enterprise, Housing and Local Currency Exchange. It’s all about giving more. Start with food to open the doors of a sharing culture…pass over your extra zucchini and tomatoes and see what act of generosity comes back your way. We can also help by organizing platforms for groups to share – websites, tool sharing, events and creating technology for sharing.

The hardest part for people is the fact that sharing is a skill that needs to be cultivated. By cultivating our personal skills of communications and conflict, we are able to work through issues without fear.

“Everything you have, has you.

As children we are taught to share.

As adults we are taught to own.” – Janice Mae