In the lead-up to the GSEF2021 Mexico City forum (dates to be confirmed), GSEF will organize a series of webinars throughout 2020 in collaboration with GSEF2021’s Local Organizing Committee. The first round of this GSEF Webinar Series on Challenges and Strategies of SSE in Times of COVID-19 Crisis will invite GSEF members and key partners to share their experiences and initiatives towards supporting the SSE sector and alleviating the socio-economic impact of the crisis on communities through SSE.

Three webinars around this theme will take place respectively in French, Spanish, and English.

9 June 2020, Tuesday
Title: Challenges and Strategies of SSE in Times of COVID-19 Crisis
Language: English
Time: 08:00 am (GMT)

Speakers: 

• Mr. Xuan Xia, Founder, Star of Social Innovation, China
• Ms. Lynn Collins, Strategic Relations and Engagement Advisor, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA), United Kingdom
• Ms. Nonhle Memela, Programme Manager, eThekwini Municipality, South Africa
• Mr. Juyeon Cho, Director, Seoul Social Economy Centre, South Korea
• Mr. Anthony Wong, Business Director, The Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Hong Kong
• Moderator: Ms. Laurence Kwark, Secretary General, GSEF

Registration link

Join CCEDNet for the May installment of our Local Organizing for Fair Economies (LOFE) community of practice, "Organizing Across Sectors & Silos: Weaving Networks."

The conditions for social, economic, and environmental policy change are strongest when government hears a loud, collective voice from across communities. At the same time, it's hard to maintain deep principles of inclusion, autonomy, grassroots leadership while building unified messages and advocacy.

Sometimes we end up at such a high level that the specifics are lost. Sometimes there's too much compromise for collective effort to feel right. Other times there are 'too many cooks in the kitchen' or all the work gets lumped on one leader.

How do we bridge across movements and build powerful coalitions but also maintain strong collaborative, inclusive, and participatory practice? Can we avoid the pitfalls of consolidating or homogenizing our incredible movements and instead create 'economies of network' to build power?

Join us for a conversation exploring how we organize across sectors, break down silos, and weave our movements. We'll learn about the 'network weaving' model and then discuss other practical tools, practices, and principles for building collaborative and active organizing structures.

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Humanity is facing one of the most serious and uncertain crises in recent history. The current globalization of the COVID-19 pandemic has allowed it to spread to all countries. Even remote populations are at risk, as are populations in war zones and those living in cramped conditions with poor hygiene such refugee camps, putting the lives of human beings at risk in an increasingly globalized world.

This webinar will firstly address how the present crisis is affecting the right to food and food security from both producers and consumers points of view, and then to explore how the existing social solidarity economy can provide an important part of the answer. It is essential to break with the neoliberal existing commodification of food to do so and build legislation to support connecting farmers to markets. 54 states and other bodies now have some form of SSE legislation in place. How can we use this to better implement the right to food, in both formal and informal economies?

As expressed in RIPESS’ statement, the challenge we face is how to build an alternative model of development, driven by the needs of all peoples and communities around the world, and the protection of our planet. The window of opportunity is now open to accelerate the process, capitalise on the thousands of ingenious solutions being created within communities and make positive change permanent and global in all its diversity.

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Have you been wanting to learn more about innovations in investing and finance? The 2020 Social Finance: Ethical, Environmental, Everyone! Webinar Series from the Fair Finance Fund brings you experts in impact investing, social finance, social entrepreneurship and innovations in finance to present on their work and answer your questions. Each webinar will feature two speakers, facilitated by the team at the Fair Finance Fund. The series will discuss new models of investing for social purpose, managing risk in an integrated portfolio, the social and environmental impacts of social finance with stories from the field, and the best practices of investing for the future for people and the planet.

Speakers for Thursday April 30th:

Béatrice Alain, Chantier de l’économie sociale
Seth Asimakos, Saint John Community Loan Fund

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Do you need working capital for things like developing new online markets, seasonal inputs, new distribution channels, new local supply chains? The Stepping Stone Loan is a short term loan offering meant to help local food and farm businesses thrive and change. It is quick and easy, between $5000 and $10,000 for a one year term, 3.65% interest, with an accelerated application process and full interest and principal repayment at the end of the term. The Fair Finance Fund has loans from 20,000 to 100,000 also available to meet other needs.

This information session will provide you with an overview of the Fair Finance Fund, what we offer, what you need to know to qualify and apply for our Stepping Stone Loan, and how to put your best foot forward in your application. Join us for this webinar on the Zoom platform.

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