Beyond the Building: Exploring Solidarity, Community, and Shared Ownership

This session addresses the pressing question: How do we create a built environment that genuinely supports climate justice and equity? We explore the complexities of community-led development in a landscape dominated by traditional market forces, asking what it takes to center marginalized voices and empower residents as key decision-makers. By examining the intersection of climate action, social equity, and urban development, we consider how the built environment can shift from being a source of inequality to a foundation for resilient, inclusive communities. Another critical issue we tackle is the role of ownership and governance structures in advancing community empowerment. From community land trusts to shared ownership models, we question how control of land and resources can be reimagined to ensure long-term affordability and equitable access. What lessons can we learn from communities that are already challenging traditional ownership models, and how can these approaches be scaled or adapted to different contexts? We dive into practical examples and case studies to explore these possibilities. Finally, we address how practitioners, from architects to community organizers, can use their work to drive systems change. Too often, projects are disconnected from broader societal goals, and this session challenges attendees to think beyond individual buildings and consider their contributions to systemic transformation. How can each of us, in our respective roles, contribute to a solidarity economy that prioritizes people over profit? This session aims to inspire, instruct, and provoke new thinking about our collective role in building a just and equitable future.