North America CAN

The aim of this group of pages (see end menu) is to help a growing number and diversity of people involved with CANs, find each other easily over time. The map on this page is to help people find place-based CANs. A companion page, map and listing, North America CAN support is to help people find theme-based CANs, and support organisations or initiatives. A sub page of this one, North America CAN/video features related video.

Add Citizen Action Network

List of Citizen Action Networks

Development of CAN maps[edit | edit source]

Rather than a global map, a series of more localised maps is planned:

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

Autonomy of CANs and self organising[edit | edit source]

The areas of these more localised maps is suggested by the current data. The current display is not intended to suggest any existing, planned or preferred network or networks of CANs. CANs have autonomy and may choose to self organise into networks based on areas of their own choosing, for example around bioregions. It is expected that the areas displayed by these more localised maps will evolve over time as more data becomes available.

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 5,781 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 maps[edit | edit source]

The CAN maps are experimental and collaborative. Initially the data for the maps came from a small sample of Daily Alternative articles mentioning CANs, and the Alternative Global Co-creators network. This is then added to by CANs identified via the ongoing development of CASwiki's local information. It's hoped that over time we can develop the maps through collaboration, people adding CANs directly into the maps.

Why map CANs[edit | edit source]

Like Los Madriles, Atlas de iniciativas vecinales (Atlas of neighbourhood initiatives), Madrid, and Civics Neighborhood initiative maps, it is suggested that CANs create "new spaces of possibility, through self-management and participation". This map of CANs "also wants to be a gesture of recognition, gratitude, visibility, self-criticism and inclusion." Also the maps and related pages can be seen as a celebration of the richness, diversity and innovation of CANs.

Add Citizen Action Network[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 CAN 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 place-based CANs. Please do not include theme-based CANs or support organisations. These can be included on a companion page: North America support. Place-based CANs that are also support organisations can be included on both maps.
The map is to help people find active CANs. Apart from CANs in development this will normally mean signs of activity over the past 12 months.

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

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

Authors	Phil Green
License	CC-BY-SA-4.0
Language	English (en)
Related	2 subpages, 55 pages link here
Impact	3 page views (more)
Created	May 26, 2023 by Phil Green
Last modified	February 22, 2024 by Phil Green
Cite as	Phil Green (2023–2024). "North America CAN". Appropedia. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
API queries	basic, semantic, html, files, more