Whether you’re an entrepreneur with a great idea or part of a team of workers preparing to take over an existing business, you’ll find the help you’ve been looking for at the Coop Academy, your one-stop shop for starting a workercoperative. Only the Coop Academy provides over 100 hours of training and development in sales, marketing, finances, communication, conflict management, democratic decision-making, cooperative business structures, greening your operations, and social responsibility. Not to mention weekly one-on-one coaching with experienced cooperators and entrepreneurs, legal support with incorporating you co-op and logo & web design services. Space is limited so sign up now.

“Ideas for co-ops may flourish, but few people understand exactly how to make theirs real. The Coop Academy is providing answers.” Yes! Magazine, Spring 2013

Ready to register? Apply now.

New Era Windows Opens for Business

Workers at the New Era Windows Cooperative are celebrating the grand opening of their new unionized worker co-op. Almost a year to the day after their window factory closed, a group of former workers have launched their own window business without bosses. In 2008, some of the workers were involved in a famous six-day sit-in after Republic Windows and Doors gave workers just three days’ notice before closing the factory. The sit-in drew national attention and union workers reached a settlement where they each received $6,000 each. About 65 workers occupied the factory after their jobs came under threat again in 2012. With the help of the Working World, they successfully raised the money needed to buy the factory equipment and produce their own windows as a democratically-run and worker-owned cooperative under the name New Era Windows. Congratulations to the workers at New Era and the team at the Working World.

Chicago HS Students Start a Manufacturing Co-op

Four African-American high school students at the Austin Polytechnical Academy (APA) in Chicago are applying their computer-aided manufacturing skills to a new worker-run business. The cooperative, called MECH Creations, will manufacture trumpet mouthpieces at APA, 231 N. Pine Avenue, Chicago, IL. With assistance from the Center for Workplace Democracy (CDW) and Manufacturing Renaissance (formerly Center for Community and Labor Research), the students, now business owners, have secured a patented design, created a business plan, acquired materials, and are ready to begin production this May.

“We’re starting MECH Creations to bring new business to our community,” says Jennifer Curtis, a 18-year-old student at APA. “We are four young women who will work for ourselves and our neighborhood to show that anything is possible for young people.”

We asked each member, “What does POP mean to you?” Hear what they shared…in their own words. 

Rafiah Vitalis: Volunteer/Administrative Coordinator

Rafiah is a “Bronxite”, with deep Caribbean roots and Yoruba ties. She has a long history of work in the non-profit sector and is profoundly committed to the areas of community development, sustainable solutions and social initiatives. This dedication has led her to a number of community leadership roles, volunteer opportunities and research endeavors. With the belief that we stand on the shoulders of giants, she too wants to make an impact that results in implementing long lasting change. Rafiah is thrilled about lending her expertise and assistance to the Green Worker team and references the quote by Ghandi which states “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

Omar & Janvieve’s Baby Girl: Anayansi Ife

Our own working family couple, GWC’s Communications Coordinator, Janvieve Williams-Comrie and founder and Coordinator, Omar Freilla, are basking in the joy of having just given birth to their second child, Anayansi Ife Freilla-Williams. Anayansi was born at home with the support of an amazing team of midwives and doulas, the natural strength of her mother, and the love of her family & community. Mama and Papa are both doing well, a bit sleepy, but happy to report that Anayansi is happy and healthy and fully enjoying the tender caresses of her big brother Gibran.

Why do you want to be a Cooperative?
“We want to be a self-run business and try to avoid corruption while helping our community. We want to be able to have funding for our non-profit without having to be at the will of organizations or companies we don’t agree with morally.”

Why do you want to be “Green”?
“We began Eco Ryders as a non-profit; all our members have an activist background in activist work in some way. No matter what we do and how we change in our future we want to be an example for what environmental education should look like.”

What did you learn from your workshop on “Invisible Capital” with author Chris Rabb?
“How to think about capital in a way I never had before, it made me think a lot and when I left I had lots to process.” I look forward to seeing the results from our work with Chris.”

How has it been working in your team?
“Everyone is pitching in doing their share and we come together to inform the rest that are not in the course.”

Thanks to Victor for taking out time to talk to us and share his experiences. Keep an eye out to see what other teams have to say about being in the Coop Academy.

Green Worker Cooperatives

The second series will be on Holistic Healthcare businesses and will be facilitated by Julia Bennet from Third Root Community Health Center. This conference call will take place on Wednesday April 24th from 12:30-1:15pm.

Third Root Community Health Center is a worker-owned cooperative of holistic healthcare practitioners, providing accessible classes and treatments to the Brooklyn community.

The call will cover opportunities for holistic healthcare businesses, the benefits of cooperative ownership in the holistic health sector, and the links between social justice and holistic healthcare. 

About the speakers

Julia Bennett is a Board certified licensed acupuncturist trained in both Chinese and Japanese acupuncture. She has also completed extensive studies in Chinese herbal medicine and Native American herbal medicine. Julia’s particular passion is community health and the health concerns of women with particular emphasis on working with women who have tested positive for HIV and AIDS. Julia ardently believes that the health challenges of our humanity must address wellness as a birthright. 

Jackie Amezquita-Srebrenick is a former worker owner at the Beyond Care Childcare Cooperative in NYC and is currently on staff at Green Worker Cooperatives as Coop Academy Coordinator. She is also a certified co-op developer by the Democracy At Work Network.