About On the Commons

Print

Since 2001, On the Commons has sparked collaborations, showcased commons-based solutions at the community and national level, developed approaches of how to share our commons equitably and given inspiration to commons activists to make a difference in their communities— and the world. As a commons movement strategy center, we connect organizations, community leaders and individuals with new ideas, practical solutions and one another to create significant change.

2011 marked our 10th anniversary and a big year for the commons. On the Commons is involved in a remarkable and ever-expanding circle of efforts to reconstitute community, re-localize food, preserve water as a commons, move towards cooperative economics and better harmonize our lives with the health of our planet.

On the Commons Mission

Our mission is to draw attention to the importance of the commons in the modern world. We advance commons-based solutions that will help achieve environmental restoration, social justice, global cooperation and a brighter future for all.

Over the next two years, On the Commons will be:

• On the road organizing commons convergences and meeting with local commoners in communities across the country as well as connecting commoners to one another to grow our movement.
• Launching a Great Lakes Commons initiative –a multi-year partnership with many other organizations to declare and live our Great Lakes as a commons, public trust and protected bioregion.
• Convening a farmland commons conference exploring tools and strategies to name and claim farmland as a commons.
• Continuing our influential coverage of commons news and commentary on OntheCommons.org and in the media raising the visibility of the commons movement and promoting our new book All That We Share: A Field Guide to the Commons.