CAN support map

The aim of this page is to help a growing number and diversity of people involved with Citizen Action Networks, find each other easily over time. The map and listings on this page are to help people find theme-based CANs, and support organisations or initiatives. A companion page, map and listing, Citizen Action Networks near you is to help people find place-based CANs. Each of these map pages are accompanied by related video and news pages.

Add CAN support initiative

List of theme-based CANs, support organisations and initiatives

Development of CAN support maps[edit | edit source]

In addition to, or perhaps eventually replacing the above map a series of more localised maps are planned:

Scotland CAN support, South West England CAN support, Rest of UK CAN support, Europe CAN support, North America CAN support, Latin America CAN support, Africa, Asia and Oceania CAN support

CANs as a generic term[edit | edit source]

CAN is a generic term for new forms that are appearing everywhere. CANs have autonomy and their development can be described as fractal.

Reflecting what's out there[edit | edit source]

It's perhaps inevitable that any map such as this one, especially in the early stages of development, will be at best, an extremely partial view of the numbers, richness and diversity that's out there. For example just considering mutual aid alone, Mutual Aid Wiki currently (Sep 2022) lists 5781 mutual aid groups throughout the world.

It's well known that movements wax and wane and will be affected by events such as the global pandemic. The pandemic will have affected both what's out there and any attempts to reflect this in a complex variety of ways, sometimes opposite trends cancelling each other out for example. One of the more positive recent trends perhaps being the proliferation of intergenerational or multigenerational expressions of community agency. We're perhaps increasingly aware that we need to be in this for the long haul.

CAN support map[edit | edit source]

The map above is experimental and collaborative. Initially the data for the map comes from a small sample of Daily Alternatives articles mentioning CANs, listed below, and the Alternative Global Co-creators network. This will then be added to with similar information on organisations and initiatives identified via the ongoing development of CASwiki. It's hoped that over time we can develop the map through collaboration, people adding CANs (see below).

Add to the map[edit | edit source]

If you are a Co-creator with The Alternative Global's Co-creator Network you can use the form to add a theme-based CAN, or support organisation or initiative to the map. Otherwise please sign up first via the The Alternative Global website, via the 'Co-create' page.

You can add a CAN and location to the map even if no website/link yet, for example if you're a co-creator looking to develop a CAN. You can include your name in the text box.
The map is to help people find theme-based CANs or support organisations or initiatives. Please do not include place-based CANs. These can be included on a companion page: Citizen Action Networks near you. Place-based CANs that are also support organisations can be included on both maps.
Ideally the map will help people find active theme-based CANs and support organisations or initiatives. Apart from CANs in development this will normally mean signs of activity over the past 12 months. It is recognised that it is useful to also include some links to less recent initiatives for the purposes of reference, research or historical interest.

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Existing networks, organisations or initiatives[edit | edit source]

global or international networks, organisations or initiatives without a specific location can be included in the list below

civics, the first map of citizen innovation that citizens develop daily throughout Ibero-America. Lists (Oct 2022) 5,866 initiatives, content available under creative commons license. Civic maps are being embedded in many of CASwiki's city and country pages, for example El Salvador and Argentina
Global Ecovillage Network, global map, ecovillage.org, content available under creative commons license.

From Wikipedia:Global Ecovillage Network

The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) is a global association of people and communities (ecovillages) dedicated to living "sustainable plus" lives by restoring the land and adding more to the environment than is taken. Network members share ideas and information, transfer technologies and develop cultural and educational exchanges.

Transition Network, charity working "to support the Transition movement, amplify stories of community-led change, and nurture collaborations across difference to challenge us all to reimagine and rebuild our world." Global maps: Transition near me, hubs, Main article: Transition Network
The Movement for Community-led Development, Members of the Movement for Community-led Development work together to take community-led development to transformative scale, beyond small projects, to a level that transforms society.^[1]

Ecological restoration[edit | edit source]

Ecosystem Restoration Camps, global movement of people creating an abundant earth. "We repair broken ecosystems together and, in doing so, provide humanity with hope and a better future. Our big goal is to have one million people come together by 2030 and restore degraded ecosystems in 100 camps around the world."

Future democracy[edit | edit source]

Trust The People, movement of community builders committed to building a real democracy from the grassroots up. "We believe that by stepping into our agency and working with others in our neighbourhoods, we can shape our society into one that serves the needs of all."

(more to follow)

New economy[edit | edit source]

Mutual Aid Wiki, "A community-managed resource documenting 5781 mutual aid groups throughout the world. Created to enable individuals to connect with their mutual aid communities and to enable mutual aid communities find each other, share approaches and support one another." Option to embed their map. added 12:33, 30 September 2022 (UTC)
DEAL, Doughnut Economics Action Lab, site includes DEAL community map, addded 17:00, 25 September 2022 (UTC)
Platform Cooperativism Consortium, Platform co-ops offer a near-future, alternative to platform capitalism based on cooperative principles such as democratic ownership and governance. Information available under creative commons license.
coop - DotCooperation, Global Directory & Map
The Digital Commons Cooperative, using GIS, mapping, linked data and other tools to help social justice and solidarity economy organisations make real change. Mykomaps, digitalcommons.coop, "maps the solidarity and cooperative economy to increase visibility and opportunities for collaboration and collective changemaking." Sample and global maps shown.
Mutual Aid Networks, "Redesigning Work for a Cooperative, Regenerative Economy" added 14:33, 25 August 2022 (UTC)

(more to follow)

Cities and urban sustainability[edit | edit source]

Integral City, "global constellation of communities of practice that nurtures cities as human hives."
Fearless Cities, informal global movement of activists, organizations, councilors and mayors that are working to radicalize democracy, feminize politics and drive the transition to an economy that cares for people and our environment. Site includes global map.
Placemaking Europe, Creating better cities together, content available under creative commons license, added 09:04, 18 October 2022 (UTC)~

Open data[edit | edit source]

Open Data Institute, co-founded in 2012 by the inventor of the web Sir Tim Berners-Lee and artificial intelligence expert Sir Nigel Shadbolt to show the value of open data, and to advocate for the innovative use of open data to affect positive change across the globe. Geospatial data and mapping, theodi.org

Social tech[edit | edit source]

Good for Nothing, "...a growing community of thinkers, do-ers, dreamers, makers and tinkerers, finding time to gift our ideas, skills and energy to help accelerate the impact of social innovators, change makers and epic projects of social good." Licensed under the Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

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Notes and References

What is a CAN? Information from The Alternative UK, thealternative.org.uk
Daily Alternative articles about building CANs, thealternative.org.uk/dailyalternative

Page data
Authors	Phil Green
License	CC-BY-SA-4.0
Language	English (en)
Related	2 subpages, 8 pages link here
Impact	327 page views
Created	August 22, 2022 by Phil Green
Modified	February 2, 2024 by Phil Green
Cite as	Phil Green (2022–2024). "CAN support map". Appropedia. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
API queries	basic, semantic, html, files, more

↑ The UK Movement for Community Led Development is launched, press release

[1] The UK Movement for Community Led Development is launched, press release

[1]

About CANs	What is a CAN? I, we, world A new system of change
New media	CAN video CAN support video CAN news CAN support news Social media CAN wiki development
Action	Menu of possibilities Zero carbon communities Ecological restoration Future democracy Fairer, kinder Abundance economy
Resources	Citizen action Resourcing CANs Resourcing CANs 2 Glossary
Growing CANs	How to make a CAN Collaboratories Friendly Inquiry Action
Joining up CANs	Guide Reader Ways of working