Data center resistance, toolkits for thriving communities, and events
Hi subscriber,
We're working hard to meet our goals for the last quarter of 2026 at a restorative pace! Can you resonate?
One of our goals is to keep spreading the word about the Library of Things Toolkit! You can purchase the printed book version or find the free versions.
We're also sharing our latest stories, a short Q&A with Shareable staff member Bobby Jones, and upcoming partner events. It's also the 14th anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, so we’re sharing an inspiring episode of The Response podcast on collective resilience in the wake of the disaster.
Finally, as we near the midterm elections in the United States, we're highlighting our Mutual Aid Toolkit, which provides resources and ideas for civic action beyond voting. Take a look below!
In solidarity,
Team Shareable (Aaron, Alison, Bobby, Paige, Tom, and Xaivier)
“[Shareable's Food Assistance Co-op] is all about sharing food, sharing the workload, and sharing community and connections with one another.”
— Bobby Jones, Shareable Development Director
Shareable team
Shareable's development director, Bobby Jones, shares the latest on our Food Assistance Co-op in Rome, GA
How is this program connected to mutual aid and/or the Solidarity Economy?
The Food Assistance Co-op pilot that Shareable is running in Georgia is a food pantry that is governed and run by the folks receiving food each week. The co-op is all about sharing food, sharing the workload, and sharing community and connections with one another.
What’s one element or program aspect that can be replicated in other communities?
The Food Assistance Co-op model is a great way for larger or more bureaucratic organizations like food banks and pantries to adopt more democratic practices by giving their clients a new level of autonomy and power while also providing a whole lot more than just food.
What’s one highlight of the program?
The Food Co-op is about so much more than just access to food. It really is about building community! One of our co-op members describes the food co-op as her "pressure relief valve"—for her and others, it's the only space where they are consistently around other adults, working together and supporting one another through the challenges that they face.
Latest Stories
It was just a couple of years ago when a small group of friends had the idea to start a tool library (also known as a Library of Things) in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. The idea was exciting, but creating a thriving sharing hub felt daunting...
Written by Bobby Jones
Organizers from Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Arizona share strategies for resisting data centers in other communities. The prolific construction of massive data centers that house the physical computing power for artificial intelligence (AI) is galvanizing resistance in localities across the United States...
Written by Derek Seidman
The Response Podcast
Thursday, October 29th is the 14th anniversary of when Hurricane Sandy struck New Jersey and the East Coast. We're sharing an episode on the response to the disaster and how a dormant side of New York City was awakened — one based on collectivity, mutual aid, and solidarity.
How-To Guides
The Library of Things Toolkit is now available in print! This 250-page book will walk you through the process to start (or grow) a thriving sharing hub in your community. Order one directly through Shareable for 25% off!
Mutual aid before and after elections
We're highlighting sections from our Mutual Aid 101 Toolkit that we think will help inform mutual aid work before, during, and after elections.
In the introductory section, Dean Spade defines mutual aid as the part of our ecosystem of liberation work where we’re giving each other material support to survive existing systems. He distinguishes mutual aid from “charity” and illustrates that historically, social movements are successful when huge numbers of ordinary people organize to fight back, making it impossible for extraction and violence to continue.
In Section 3, Decision-making governance, and power, Julian Rose explored power dynamics and decision making processes within collective ownership. He acknowledged that conflict is often a downfall for mutual aid groups (and organizing more broadly), and explained that the key to surviving conflict is planning in advance for how to handle it. Good governance is critical for healthy relationships and sustainability in mutual aid networks.
Upcoming Events
Tufts University Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning and Shareable co-present this ongoing free lecture series hosted by Professor Julian Agyeman (chair of Shareable’s board). Carlton Eley is an accomplished expert on equitable development and has 22 years of experience as an urban planner. He has been an effective change-agent over the span of his career.
Join us for free Library of Things Co-Lab hosted by the Tool Library Alliance (TLA) and Shareable. This quarter's focus is Corporate Partnerships. Join Audrey Van de Castle, Sr. Director, Operational Excellence Technology @ Stanley Black & Decker and Liz Chamberlain, Director of Sustainability @ iFixit to hear about their models of corporate support for community organizations, and ask questions to help guide your …
Shareable is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and our articles, toolkits, ebooks, and how-to guides are always 100% free and accessible through our website. You’ll never hit a paywall with our reporting and that’s because of donations from readers like you. If you enjoy our work, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today: Donate now
You received this email because you are subscribed to the Shareable
