About

Shareable collaborates with organizers and allies to imagine, resource, network, and scale cooperative projects. 

drawing of a butterfly's metamorphosis

Abundance is not only possible, it is already blooming.

Across the globe, people are building cooperative projects that offer glimpses of a more just, connected, and joyful world. Mutual aid networks, worker cooperatives, Libraries of Things, and thousands of similar initiatives show us what real people power looks like. And they show us that we can govern ourselves, build economies that serve all, and shape a thriving future—together.

Mission & Vision

Shareable collaborates with organizers and allies to imagine, resource, network, and scale cooperative projects. We envision a just, connected, and joyful world where sharing is daily practice and communities flourish.

Values

SOLIDARITY: We are an unstoppable force when we unite in purpose and vision.  

We believe there is no power greater than collective action. Compassion and belonging generate resilient communities and shared prosperity, and they lay the foundation for justice and equity. Shareable facilitates connection and collaboration across geographic boundaries, creating a broad ecosystem of support and resources necessary for sustainable change.

“The minute we become an integrated whole, we look through the same eyes and we see a whole different world together.”    ― Azizah Al-Hibri

ABUNDANCE: We are more than enough and know what we need to flourish.

We believe that people are naturally connective and generous. Even in the face of coercion and systemic violence, our collective assets and power are strong enough to create generational change. Shareable serves as a catalyst for communities to recognize and grow cultures of abundance through lasting networks, infrastructure, shared resources, and support.

“In our communities, we have everything we need. Our work is to bring it together and make it work.”    ― Ai-jen Poo

CURIOSITY: We are stronger, wiser, and more impactful when we listen, dream, and embrace change.

We believe that curiosity, fueled by empathy and imagination, drives change. We can only envision what’s possible when we question assumptions, seek alternative perspectives, and escape the familiar. Shareable embraces ongoing experimentation, feedback, and evolution on our quest to create a more liberated, resilient, and joyful world.

“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”   ― George Bernard Shaw

LIBERATION: None of us are free until all of us are free. 

We believe that diversity of people, perspectives, and practices is fundamental and necessary to build a generative society. We see how we are all harmed by and benefit from systems of privilege and exploitation, and believe we can – and must – build a better world. Shareable is dedicated to inclusive and equitable principles, policies, and practices that allow us all to thrive as our full, authentic selves.

“Without community, there is no liberation…but community must not mean a shedding of our differences, nor the pathetic pretense that these differences do not exist.”    ― Audre Lorde

CELEBRATION: Our radical optimism and joy are the fuel for transformative action.

We recognize and have gratitude for wins large and small in order to create a spirit of unity, inspiration, and the motivation to keep striving. Shareable uplifts and amplifies not only the successes of ourselves and our comrades, but also the resilience and effort that goes into bringing powerful visions to life.

“A revolution without dancing is not a revolution worth having.”    ― Emma Goldman

History

Shareable was founded in 2009 during the Great Recession, when, out of necessity, many in the U.S. were rediscovering the ancient-but-neglected daily practice of sharing. Inspired by a fragmented but growing culture of sharing, co-founders Neal Gorenflo and Laurie Schecter launched Shareable to uplift and connect the stories and lessons of this emerging movement. 

Shareable quickly became a go-to source for news and how-to guides about the  “sharing economy.” From the beginning, we paired solutions journalism with organizing to build a sharing community. In 2013 we launched the Sharing Cities Network—a group of local organizers leading sharing projects around the world—which led to the publication of Sharing Cities: Activating the Urban Commons in 2018 and the development of municipal programs in more than 100 cities.

Current Work

Shareable’s organizing work is currently focused on:

  • Sharing Hubs & Infrastructure – We’re working to establish sharing hubs like Libraries of Things in every community. Whether it is a simple how-to guide; our comprehensive Library of Things Toolkit; incubating the Tool Library Alliance; or partnerships to scale Libraries of Things on universities and affordable housing, we’re developing useful tools so every community can create infrastructure for sharing.
  • Mutual Aid – We’re working to build capacity and to network mutual aid projects across the US and around the world. Whether it is our popular how-to guides; sharing stories on our podcast the Response; our ongoing Mutual Aid 101 learning series and toolkit; or partnerships to build capacity for mutual aid disaster resilience, we’re developing resources and networks to build communities of care.
  • Co-op Sector – We’re working to support and strengthen democratic, community-controlled cooperative businesses and organizations. Whether it is educational partnerships like the Social Co-op Academy; piloting food assistance co-ops; fighting to modernize and democratize local electric co-op utilities, the second largest co-op sector in the US; or restructuring our own organization as a worker self-directed nonprofit, we’re shifting the narrative toward cooperative governance.

Shareable continues to publish articles, podcasts, and how-to guides that amplify the people and ideas shaping a world where sharing is a daily practice and communities flourish.

Theory of Change

We believe that:

If people have access to the knowledge, networks, and tools to create cooperative solutions

⇨ Then they will organize collective efforts to meet shared needs and build community-led alternatives that foster resilience

∵ Because communities are more resilient, connected, and just when they share resources, decision-making, and infrastructure.

That’s why we work with community organizers and allies to: 

  • Imagine different ways of being in community
  • Create resources that equip local organizers
  • Build support networks of peers and allies
  • Develop tools and strategies to scale cooperative projects in more places.

Accomplishments

Shareable catalyzed a global sharing movement and cultural phenomenon. Through a unique mix of award-winning solutions journalism, catalytic convenings, global partnerships and campaigns, prolific public communication, and top-tier media appearances, we’ve directly reached an estimated 50 million people worldwide; helping to elevate sharing to the global stage as an empowering lifestyle choice, social enterprise opportunity, and strategy to help governments meet their sustainability development goals.

Programs, Policy & Advisory

  • First publication to continuously publish about sharing as a lifestyle and economy (2009)
  • First consumer survey on sharing attitudes and behaviors, “The New Sharing Economy” (2010)
  • First blogged life experiment based on sharing, “The Year of Living Shareably” (2011)
  • First summit about the sharing economy, ShareSF (2011)
  • A founding member of the City of San Francisco’s Sharing Economy Working Group, which launched the global Sharing Cities movement (2012)
  • First policy guide about regulation in the sharing economy, “Policies for a Shareable City” (2013)
  • MapJams: Shareable supported groups in 100+ cities to create public maps of sharing-based resources; sparking a worldwide asset mapping trend beyond the MapJam (2013-2016)
  • ShareFests: Shareable worked with groups in 60+ cities to host public Sharing Festivals (2014-2019)
  • Co-launched the Platform Co-op movement (2014)
  • Advised several municipalities, both formally and informally, including Seoul, South Korea, whose trail-blazing Sharing Cities work was recognized with the 2018 Gothenburg Sustainability Award 
  • Shareable Fellowships
    • Sharing Cities Organizing (2014)
    • Sharing Cities Research and Publication (2016-2017)
    • SolidarityWorks Libraries of Things (2024-2025)

Awards

Journalism

Film

Our micro-budget documentary film, “The Response: How Puerto Ricans Are Restoring Power to the People,” had a full festival run and received over 10 awards, including the Gold Prize from the Spotlight Documentary Film Awards, as well as awards for both Social Issues and Narration Talent (Tom Llewellyn) from Docs Without Borders.