Download the PDF: “Principles for a New Economy 2012″

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On April 17, 2012, The Straddler met Christopher Mackin in the lobby of the New Yorker Hotel to discuss his views on present-day American capitalism and the potential for economic alternatives. Mackin is founder and president of the Cambridge-based firm Ownership Associates, and has worked as both a professional and an academic in the field of worker ownership since 1978. A member of the core faculty of the Harvard Trade Union Program, he recently completed his second consecutive year as Ray Carey Fellow at Rutgers, where this past spring he taught a new course, called Democratic Capitalism, that he designed for the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations.

On his weekly trips between Cambridge and New Brunswick this past spring semester, Mackin made several stops in New York City to present a less structured version of his Democratic Capitalism course to individuals and working groups affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement…. Read the full story >

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Kickstarter is the world's largest funding platform for creative projects. Learn more about how it works at www.kickstarter.com.

From April 4 – May 4, 2012 we are running a Kickstarter campaign to raise much-needed funds for the completion and distribution of Shift Change: Putting Democracy to Work. Kickstarter is the world’s largest online funding platform for creative projects. Our goal is to raise $30k in 30 days.

We are counting on your support– either by making a financial contribution and/or by spreading the word about the film and the campaign to your networks– to make this ambitious fundraising effort a success.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR KICKSTARTER PAGE AND DONATE NOW >

Below are some tips and resources to help you play a role in bringing this project through the finish line. These tips are meant as a starting point. If you have other ideas or inspirations about how you’d like to help, please contact us. We welcome your enthusiasm and creativity!

How to Support Shift Change on Kickstarter:

1. Make a financial contribution. Donate to Shift Change via the Kickstarter site between 8am (PDT) on April 4 and 8am (PDT) on May 4.
2. Tell everyone you know about Shift Change on Kickstarter (see our social media resources below for advice and samples).
3. Make sure you are connected with us via email, Facebook, and Twitter, to receive the latest updates, news, and additional tips.

Social Media Tips

1. “Share” posts from Shift Change: Putting Democracy to Work on your Facebook page. Remember to include a comment about why you support Shift Change.
2. “Retweet” updates from Shift Change on Twitter. Be sure to include the hashtags #coops, #worker-owned, and #democracy.
3. “Forward” emails from Moving Images (non-profit production company behind Shift Change). Send them to your friends, colleagues, and organizational mailing lists. Click here to join our mailing list if you aren’t already on it.
4. “Like” or “Tweet” the Shift Change preview video. Both on our Kickstarter page and here on our website.
5. “Pin” Shift Change photos and videos to your Pinterest boards.
6. Blog about Shift Change. Use your personal blog to announce your support for the Kickstarter campaign and the importance of completing this film.

Sample Tweets and Status Updates

Use the sample tweets below to tell your Twitter followers that you are a fan of Shift Change.

[Sample Tweet #1]   I just donated to @Shift_Change on Kickstarter. Join me. http://tinyurl.com/cdvjll5 #coops

[Sample Tweet #2]  I support this inspiring Kickstarter project: http://tinyurl.com/cdvjll5 #coops #democracy

[Sample Tweet #3]  Please support @Shift_Change on Kickstarter. http://tinyurl.com/cdvjll5 #coops

Use the sample Facebook status updates to tell your friends and fans.

[Sample Facebook Status #1]   Please join me in supporting an important and inspiring new documentary film: http://tinyurl.com/cdvjll5

[Sample Facebook Status #2]    I just contributed to a Kickstarter campaign in support of the new film Shift Change: Putting Democracy to Work. Please consider donating. http://tinyurl.com/cdvjll5

[Sample Facebook Status #3]    I’m so excited about the new film, Shift Change: Putting Democracy to Work! Learn more about it here: http://tinyurl.com/cdvjll5

Resources

Use these links to promote Shift Change to your networks in whatever way makes the most sense for you.

Link to Shift Change preview video: https://shiftchange.org/new-a-sneak-peek-at-shift-change/

Link to Shift Change Kickstarter page: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1287935035/shift-change-putting-democracy-to-work

Link to Shift Change Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/shiftchangemovie

Link to Shift Change on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Shift_Change

Link to Shift Change Enews Signup Page: https://shiftchange.org/contact/

Shift Change Logo / Web Banner

Post our logo as a banner on your website / blog / social networks. Be sure to link the banner to www.shiftchange.org.

The Rainbow Grocery, in San Francisco, CA, is worker-owned and managed.

Once you start looking, you discover there are cooperative enterprises all around us. Did you know that Handwork in Ithaca New York is a worker cooperative? C4 Tech & Design in New Orleans? Blue Ridge Biofuels in Asheville NC? Equal Exchange coffee importer in West Bridgewater MA? CH2MHILL in Englewood, CO? Select Machine in Kent, OH? Pedalers Express in Sta. Cruz CA? Big Timberworks Eco Design and Builders, Gallatin Valley, MT? Union Cab in Madison, WI?

While there are many types of cooperatives – consumer, housing, marketing, etc., Shift Change will focus on worker owned and managed cooperatives. Take a look at this map of the expanding numbers of worker cooperatives in the U.S.