Changencies Today by Thisone Jones
When we started, the term was new - “Change Agency”
now if you go online, you will find several types of changencies happening around the world.
It seems like we should specify what we are and what we aren’t.
A social changency, like (reference TBA) is designed to be more than just a school….
a creative changency, like this healing arts organization in (reference TBA)…
I think changency could easily become a household word, and in my imagined future every town hosts their own versions.
for me, a changency will never be an LLC or a non-profit organization. If we are forced to find legal structure, we may move into being operated by an independent church, or form a nonprofit association.
if folks working in a changency environment wish to start social enterprises, they may choose to pursue NP or an LLC. Some places, including washington state, do offer business charters for social enterprises that meet the criteria for their definition.
can it be done without legal structure?
of course it can. these legal structures are relatively new to humanity, and completely unnecessary to human functioning. in fact, they often get in the way.
so it might look on the outside like a social proprietorship, or a NP association (club), or a spiritual group. Be aware that almost 100% of alternative organizations do make agreements with the government as to what structure and rules they operate under. The social and political climate support this, and folks might find it scary (existentially) to have a local project operating without legal structure.
why am i even talking about it? because the pressure to conform and participate in legal business structure is now completely normalized and very strong in the USA. This was not always the case, BTW. AND, in many cases (if not all) we don’t actually legally have to form contracts with the government. We certainly don’t have to grind ourselves to dust trying to get something off the ground that we could otherwise just start doing if there were no pressure to form legalized corporate entities.
seriously. It’s okay to form a non-profit if that model really fits who you are serving and how you plan to get funding, but i don’t want folks to assume they have to take on a lot of complicated structure, paperwork and overhead in order to do what they need to do. This shift can make it possible for many many more people to operate small enterprises.
and if that fails, we can collectivize our micro enterprises into a shared legal entity….. there’s always a way to keep our rights intact, despite the assumption and pressure and normalization of corporatizing.
so far, even our own core team members have found it relevant to work under government agreements. Sadly, i think even we are too wealthy to see past our own noses.
Changency as i view it is a specific and holistic response to the challenges of making real social and environmental and economic changes to our culture, including redistributing wealth, building community and making a living.
Our Changency model might make sense quicker to those who carry less assumptions about how economy and organizing needs to work here and now. Folks who have lived with a lot of wealth among other wealthy people seem to find it hard to imagine that we even need to find alternatives to the oppressive, confusing and restrictive nature of small business in the USA today.
For instance, food coops are mostly for-profit entities. Why? because they aren’t really serving those in need. Very few are actually run collectively. There has been a lot of pressure to compromise. Food coops got political at some point, and the success of that model (serving mainly wealthy white progressive communities) might make it hard to imagine something else.
something that does serve folks in need, and truly prioritizes its communities values over being a part of the corporate coop success party.
now if you go online, you will find several types of changencies happening around the world.
It seems like we should specify what we are and what we aren’t.
A social changency, like (reference TBA) is designed to be more than just a school….
a creative changency, like this healing arts organization in (reference TBA)…
I think changency could easily become a household word, and in my imagined future every town hosts their own versions.
for me, a changency will never be an LLC or a non-profit organization. If we are forced to find legal structure, we may move into being operated by an independent church, or form a nonprofit association.
if folks working in a changency environment wish to start social enterprises, they may choose to pursue NP or an LLC. Some places, including washington state, do offer business charters for social enterprises that meet the criteria for their definition.
can it be done without legal structure?
of course it can. these legal structures are relatively new to humanity, and completely unnecessary to human functioning. in fact, they often get in the way.
so it might look on the outside like a social proprietorship, or a NP association (club), or a spiritual group. Be aware that almost 100% of alternative organizations do make agreements with the government as to what structure and rules they operate under. The social and political climate support this, and folks might find it scary (existentially) to have a local project operating without legal structure.
why am i even talking about it? because the pressure to conform and participate in legal business structure is now completely normalized and very strong in the USA. This was not always the case, BTW. AND, in many cases (if not all) we don’t actually legally have to form contracts with the government. We certainly don’t have to grind ourselves to dust trying to get something off the ground that we could otherwise just start doing if there were no pressure to form legalized corporate entities.
seriously. It’s okay to form a non-profit if that model really fits who you are serving and how you plan to get funding, but i don’t want folks to assume they have to take on a lot of complicated structure, paperwork and overhead in order to do what they need to do. This shift can make it possible for many many more people to operate small enterprises.
and if that fails, we can collectivize our micro enterprises into a shared legal entity….. there’s always a way to keep our rights intact, despite the assumption and pressure and normalization of corporatizing.
so far, even our own core team members have found it relevant to work under government agreements. Sadly, i think even we are too wealthy to see past our own noses.
Changency as i view it is a specific and holistic response to the challenges of making real social and environmental and economic changes to our culture, including redistributing wealth, building community and making a living.
Our Changency model might make sense quicker to those who carry less assumptions about how economy and organizing needs to work here and now. Folks who have lived with a lot of wealth among other wealthy people seem to find it hard to imagine that we even need to find alternatives to the oppressive, confusing and restrictive nature of small business in the USA today.
For instance, food coops are mostly for-profit entities. Why? because they aren’t really serving those in need. Very few are actually run collectively. There has been a lot of pressure to compromise. Food coops got political at some point, and the success of that model (serving mainly wealthy white progressive communities) might make it hard to imagine something else.
something that does serve folks in need, and truly prioritizes its communities values over being a part of the corporate coop success party.
We all love the unique, the rare, the well-loved places that operate alternatively, that are a bit more funky, less sleek and the same everywhere you go. WE recognize their value. Have you noticed, there seem to be less of these places around? Why is that happening? its getting harder and harder to do anything in some ways, especially independently.
all that to say, we can choose to make an effort to value these places and people by
1. making them more visible to others
2. supporting any efforts they make to raise funds or change structure
3. actually shopping at them more, not only when on vacay or it's convenient, or they are the only place that has what you need.
what if we didn’t assume that brand competition was 100% healthy? what if we didn’t always choose what looked clean or what our friends are doing? what if we didn’t assume that our coop was making ethical choices - and made the effort to find out and put in your two cents.
why do i want to start a changency? because i need a container to operate within, and i can get started with almost nothing.
if you dream it (and ask for materials), the builders and supplies will come. if you build it (and ask for participation), the people will come.
all that to say, we can choose to make an effort to value these places and people by
1. making them more visible to others
2. supporting any efforts they make to raise funds or change structure
3. actually shopping at them more, not only when on vacay or it's convenient, or they are the only place that has what you need.
what if we didn’t assume that brand competition was 100% healthy? what if we didn’t always choose what looked clean or what our friends are doing? what if we didn’t assume that our coop was making ethical choices - and made the effort to find out and put in your two cents.
why do i want to start a changency? because i need a container to operate within, and i can get started with almost nothing.
if you dream it (and ask for materials), the builders and supplies will come. if you build it (and ask for participation), the people will come.
Note - There is a document called "Occupy the Hearth" I'd love to locate again.... The author(s) imagined what would be possible as more and more of us give up hamrful ways of doing economy, and turn toward repurposing the spaces and resourcing we already have... We the 99% still have so much... we can do A LOT
Check out WFP's music playlists! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1HcFRMVj3XtO1Q6p51gjQP?si=8b6e5aefb5c14a49
Our list of available herbs and more! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P9JtWzP7XQB-C1dBHEEe7AgSmnMHqVmJwcBonUmjDDY/edit
Google Docs
Wild Farmacy - Local herbs and more
WildFarmacy - Local herbs and more!
Fall 2021 (updates coming soon) To order, email johannabotanica@gmail.com , msg Johanna O’Tea on fb or @johannabotanica on tg Please note some items may be out of stock! Contact us (with your shopping list)…
Fall 2021 (updates coming soon) To order, email johannabotanica@gmail.com , msg Johanna O’Tea on fb or @johannabotanica on tg Please note some items may be out of stock! Contact us (with your shopping list)…
Tea for the People! by WildFarmacy. Since 2013. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I4o-1neFpSA63zMdJ9FxocnIGjk1oPfrgavFuI2MkHI/edit
Ir/Reverence Vidcast: Episode One with Johanna and Monarda. On trauma, herbs and justice... https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xQ1iLOVj1qM4-lPYZ875LIt91TjVmAym/view?usp=sharing
Google Docs
Irreverence episode 1.mp4
We are now working with Intuitive Invisibles and Intuitive Public Radio! Here's a place to START. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g_mYkjAnxFks399yO5weTEjRTP_6ENkwg1id3kigYTk/edit?usp=sharing
Google Docs
🌞 START • Intuitive Public Social Community • Intuitive Public Radio • IPR •••
🌞 START • Intuitive Public Social Community • Intuitive Public Radio • IPR ••• Start • Help, Donate, Learn This is a start here page. Connect • Collaborate This is an opportunity to ensure safe, inclusive community resources for all who need them:…
some messy thoughts about Complex Mutual Aid Design.... https://docs.google.com/document/d/15cfs3dAukbNs-5FI81MJFA6__1LHXhmcBqSa0a_UfL0/edit
Google Docs
Complex mutual aid org design
The deepest I’ve got into grassroots organizing for money and participation, my designs were about targeting by location - whereas our potential community and allies are dispersed. Still perhaps relevant conceptually- limited door to door solicitation and…
Yup, herbal tinctures too. to be updated soon! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SKDItztfEmFDZJ6SRUW28hx3MRR-ZEmW/view?usp=sharing
Classes and more by JohannaBotanica.... a bit out of date but you get the idea. One of Jbot's skillsets lol. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzLjFS2DiMh7UDBpMDVob0xQLWc/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-8vTPCLbI3MxEa0_tRYUoLg
Google Docs
J.BOTclass brochure7:14.pdf
Anyone want to add to this? We, as healees
We are your clients
Impatient patients
We ask -
https://docs.google.com/document/d/14N-VTJl2_GOQUI2t65xCTfn37XjBZzo6CEJmBU02Tb0/edit?usp=sharing
We are your clients
Impatient patients
We ask -
https://docs.google.com/document/d/14N-VTJl2_GOQUI2t65xCTfn37XjBZzo6CEJmBU02Tb0/edit?usp=sharing
Google Docs
We, as Healees
We, as healees We are your clients Impatient patients We ask - That you become trauma-aware. That you join us in a shared knowing of the challenges and grief we face. That you position yourself to work in teams to help us navigate complex problems …
Next up, Exploring a few Changency Modules...
Free TorC Project by Wildfamacy presents:
The Changency
a Model for Emergent Social Spaces
A ‘Change Agency’ (or changency) offers its community Inspiration & Access to Holistic Life-Ways through a variety of pathways, including:
Free Store & Upcycling
Lab/Factory/Maker Space
Info Shop
Boutique, Consignment, and biz incubation
FOOD!!!
Healing Arts….
Pageantry - costuming, play, and performance
Community Care
We will be reporting on each of these elements over the next week. For our first installment, we are focusing in on The Free Store…..
Generally offering mostly clothing, Free Stores range from widespread but grassroots events like ’The Really, Really Free Market’, to a room or building filled knee deep with free stuff that the locals all know about. Anyone who has found a treasure in a free store knows how much fun it can be to dig.
As Love Renegades, our scaled-down lives might be relatively simple; yet we never lack for material wealth. We generally do not ever buy new clothes, or new stuff of any kind if we can help it (food is certainly an exception tho some of us have also been known to frequent dumpsters). This is one way that people honor the physical, material nature of our common lives in this time and place. There are so many clothes in the world! People have so many items they do not need. We scavenge, forage, re-use, re-purpose, ask for and receive gifts, and up-cycle as much as we can. This is part of ‘Living in the Gift’ (see author/speaker Charles Eisenstein), and it’s also a strategy for not participating in things we strongly disagree with….
What do we need to do in order to move collectively into the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible?
What does a healthy society’s economy look like? People take care of each other, regardless of what or who they are supposed to be. People ‘pay it forward’, these gifts that we are already given, by the earth and her creatures. People do what they love or feel called to do to contribute to that society, freely. Some folks call this “voluntary alignment” You might hear us use this term a lot in the future.
A changency by nature is experimental. What does this particular community need? (Feel free to explore these questions with us, online and in-person here at 202 S. Date St.)
Going further - so what do we do with the clothes that no one wants, like a fabulous silk gown with a horrid stain on it? We Up-Cycle! Up-cycling is repurposing useful material for something totally new. This can mean cutting the art from a stained t-shirt and appliquéing it onto a jean jacket, or actually shredding denim to make insulation for your home. ‘Swap-O-Rama-Rama’ is another worldwide movement of grassroots free-store events, focusing on up-cycling! Participants bring sewing machines and spend the day free-shopping AND helping each other craft beautiful things from old or customize their new finds.
These practices are basic: Keeping as much as possible out of landfills. Sharing what there’s plenty of - with anyone who wants it. Having places to donate things you don’t want but others can use. Repairing and repurposing, and otherwise not buying new goods, including craft materials. Keeping resources local and valuing and mindfully using what’s already here to co-create health and beauty.
A good ‘Change Agency’ will always have a spot for some free exchange. Here at the Willow Bend, we offer the Giving Tree - a money-free thrift store. Please feel free to donate clean clothing, hygiene and household items, and place some funds in our donation jars while you shop at the Giving Tree!
Come to our Free Store! Bring your stuff, get some stuff. New items daily! We love you! Be Free!
[Ed - this changency space has since passed]
with Sparkles and Happiness,
~johanna, julie, and the willow bend crew
The Changency
a Model for Emergent Social Spaces
A ‘Change Agency’ (or changency) offers its community Inspiration & Access to Holistic Life-Ways through a variety of pathways, including:
Free Store & Upcycling
Lab/Factory/Maker Space
Info Shop
Boutique, Consignment, and biz incubation
FOOD!!!
Healing Arts….
Pageantry - costuming, play, and performance
Community Care
We will be reporting on each of these elements over the next week. For our first installment, we are focusing in on The Free Store…..
Generally offering mostly clothing, Free Stores range from widespread but grassroots events like ’The Really, Really Free Market’, to a room or building filled knee deep with free stuff that the locals all know about. Anyone who has found a treasure in a free store knows how much fun it can be to dig.
As Love Renegades, our scaled-down lives might be relatively simple; yet we never lack for material wealth. We generally do not ever buy new clothes, or new stuff of any kind if we can help it (food is certainly an exception tho some of us have also been known to frequent dumpsters). This is one way that people honor the physical, material nature of our common lives in this time and place. There are so many clothes in the world! People have so many items they do not need. We scavenge, forage, re-use, re-purpose, ask for and receive gifts, and up-cycle as much as we can. This is part of ‘Living in the Gift’ (see author/speaker Charles Eisenstein), and it’s also a strategy for not participating in things we strongly disagree with….
What do we need to do in order to move collectively into the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible?
What does a healthy society’s economy look like? People take care of each other, regardless of what or who they are supposed to be. People ‘pay it forward’, these gifts that we are already given, by the earth and her creatures. People do what they love or feel called to do to contribute to that society, freely. Some folks call this “voluntary alignment” You might hear us use this term a lot in the future.
A changency by nature is experimental. What does this particular community need? (Feel free to explore these questions with us, online and in-person here at 202 S. Date St.)
Going further - so what do we do with the clothes that no one wants, like a fabulous silk gown with a horrid stain on it? We Up-Cycle! Up-cycling is repurposing useful material for something totally new. This can mean cutting the art from a stained t-shirt and appliquéing it onto a jean jacket, or actually shredding denim to make insulation for your home. ‘Swap-O-Rama-Rama’ is another worldwide movement of grassroots free-store events, focusing on up-cycling! Participants bring sewing machines and spend the day free-shopping AND helping each other craft beautiful things from old or customize their new finds.
These practices are basic: Keeping as much as possible out of landfills. Sharing what there’s plenty of - with anyone who wants it. Having places to donate things you don’t want but others can use. Repairing and repurposing, and otherwise not buying new goods, including craft materials. Keeping resources local and valuing and mindfully using what’s already here to co-create health and beauty.
A good ‘Change Agency’ will always have a spot for some free exchange. Here at the Willow Bend, we offer the Giving Tree - a money-free thrift store. Please feel free to donate clean clothing, hygiene and household items, and place some funds in our donation jars while you shop at the Giving Tree!
Come to our Free Store! Bring your stuff, get some stuff. New items daily! We love you! Be Free!
[Ed - this changency space has since passed]
with Sparkles and Happiness,
~johanna, julie, and the willow bend crew