The Virginia Solidarity Economy Network (VASEN) made \$500 grants available to community groups interested in hosting solidarity economy dinners - small to mid-sized gatherings of folks interested in learning about the solidarity economy.

Madre Tierra, a grassroots organization in Fredericksburg, together with the worker cooperative Magic Broom, organized a solidarity economy dinner on Friday, November 1st.

The evening began right as it was getting dark with a delicious dinner.

And an alter in celebration of the Day of the Dead.

Madre Tierra co-founders Dilcia Molina and Leslie Moncada then lead a group discussion of what "cooperative" means to the 28 women assembled from all over Latin America.

I was amazed by the wealth of experience that the participants brought to the discussion. Their varied experiences of consumer, producer, and worker cooperatives from across the broad region set the stage for a conversation about why we had gathered this evening.

Leslie and Dilcia then presented their project organizing the worker cooperative Magic Broom, and introduced the group of board members from SECOSOL who had come down from the DC metro area to join the event.

The participants were then asked to say a final word reflecting on the discussion, with many of us expressing our desire to work together to help build an economy that serves our real needs as human beings.

SECOSOL is organizing another solidarity economy dinner in the Northern Virginia area for mid December. Leslie and Dilcia are the co-presidents of SECOSOL. After being inspired by attending the dinner in Fredericksburg, I am greatly looking forward to working with them to organize another one in my neighborhood.