Aaagh + Active Hope: A Recap From April

A Heartfelt Goodbye and a Warm, Welcoming Hello

It's been a little while since our last newsletter, hasn't it? Well, there's a good reason for that – our wonderful colleague Clancy has embarked on a new chapter of his journey down in Virginia. We're feeling his absence keenly around here. Clancy really took our communication and fundraising efforts to new heights. We miss his talents, his consistency, his sense of humor, and his knack for clarity.

But as they say, when one door closes, another opens. We're delighted to introduce not one, but two new additions to our team. First up, we've got Phil Waller stepping in to lead our Good Green Jobs Steering Committee, working closely with the Department of Labor. And fresh to our team, Sidney Cherie Hilley has joined us, along with Co-op Dayton, to take charge of our communications efforts.

Let's extend a warm welcome to Phil and Sidney as they join us on this exciting journey ahead!

Power in Numbers: Pitch Night Success!

We’d love to congratulate The Southern BEE Alliance, INC for winning last night’s Power in Numbers Pitch Night!

Here are all of the remarkable individuals behind each of these esteemed cooperatives that gave their pitch last night at our Power in Numbers Pitch Night:

Crenshaw Co-op Bakery: Meet the talented team behind the treats at Crenshaw Co-op Bakery: Eve Fouche, Asia McGinnis, Assata Richards, Lisabeth Ryder, and Geof Gusset. Together, they bring passion and creativity to every batch they bake.

Third Ward: Assata Richards, Tracie Franklin, Connie Edwards, and Grace Ifeanyichukwu are the driving forces behind Third Ward's community initiatives, striving to uplift and empower residents in their neighborhood.

Parable of the Sower Intentional Community Cooperative: Aleta Toure, Yehudit Toure, Cassa Justice Abdullah, Reddit Harris, and Sabah Brinson form the heart and soul of Parable of the Sower Intentional Community Cooperative, fostering a nurturing environment rooted in cooperation and mutual support.

The Southern BEE Alliance, INC: Crystal Davis, Leeza Stewart, Racquel Washington, Adrienne Troy-Frazier, and Simone Lee are the visionary leaders driving the mission of The Southern BEE Alliance, INC forward, promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship in their community.

Woodhill Community Co-Op: Meet the dedicated team behind Woodhill Community Co-Op - Morgan Bulger, Morgan Ford, Marylin Burns, Yolanda Young, Toni Johnson, Ashley Evans, Tiffany Walker, and Wyndi Moore. Their collaborative spirit and commitment to community empowerment shine through in all they do.

Renting Partnerships Reaches New Heights

We're thrilled to announce a major milestone in Renting Partnerships' journey towards innovative cooperative housing! On January 18, they successfully acquired a multifamily building in Avondale, expanding their revolutionary model.

Renting Partnerships is forming a new community and rehabilitating an existing 10-unit multifamily building in the Avondale neighborhood. To learn more, check us out here.

Co-op Cincy Featured in Three National Articles

  • In this edition of our newsletter, we're excited to bring you three insightful articles featuring Co-op Cincy that shed light on the latest developments in the world of worker-owned cooperatives. The first article, "Cooperative Ways to Weather the Silver Tsunami," explores innovative strategies for navigating demographic shifts, particularly among the aging workforce. You can read more about it here.

  • We have a compelling review by Matt Noyes for Labor Notes, titled "If the Workers Take a Notion: ‘Works for All’ Showcases Union Coops." This piece delves into the intersection of unionization and cooperative models, offering fascinating insights into how these two movements can complement each other. You can find the review here.

  • We present an article titled "How US Social Cooperative Laws Could Accelerate Co-op Development," which explores the potential impact of social cooperative laws on the growth and sustainability of cooperatives in the United States. Dive into the details here.

Movement News

  • Dive into the "Solidarity Economies Building Community Power" series by the Nonprofit Quarterly, which showcases inspiring initiatives across various cities, including the DC Metro area, Oakland, Los Angeles, Buffalo, and New Orleans. Discover the transformative power of solidarity economies and community-driven solutions here.

  • We bring you the empowering story of Empowered Energy Systems' transition into a worker-owned cooperative, as detailed in a riveting piece by KVNF Community Radio. Explore how this transition is reshaping the energy landscape and empowering workers here.

  • A groundbreaking study published in Lancet sheds light on the health and wellbeing benefits stemming from the Preston Cooperative model. Delve into the findings and implications of this research here. We hope these articles inspire you as much as they have inspired us!