1600 W Imperial Hwy, Los Angeles, CA 90047 https://goo.gl/maps/QG72d2PX91x

Please join us at our upcoming event Unions and Cooperatives Working Together: A Strategic Dialogue
on
Friday,
September
14, 2018

It’s an opportunity for unions leaders, staff, and worker-owned cooperatives to come together and collaborate, learn and share best practices among the co-op community. For more information see
the attached flyer below.

You won’t want to miss this!
This is another way to build power within our movement. We need it now more than ever.

Look forward to seeing you and your members at this important event.

RSVP TODAY

In solidarity,

Karla Salazar

L.A. Union Cooperative Initiative (LUCI)

Planning Committee Member

P.S. Please feel free to forward the email to others. Thank you!

Mount Saint Mary’s University
Rose Hills Auditorium
10 Chester Place • Los Angeles, CA 90007

Join Us to Build
Cooperative Businesses with People
Returning HOME from Prison or Jail!

An Evening of knowledge sharing,
entertainment & networking

Purchase Tickets, Make a Donation,
or Become a Sponsor on Eventbrite

LINK TO EVENT POSTCARD

Featuring:
Jessica Gordon-Nembhard
Jessica Gordon-Nembhard is a political economist and professor of community justice and social economic development in the Africana Studies Department at John Jay College, City University of NY; and author of
Collective Courage: A History of African American
Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice.

The evening will include a dynamic program with Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Cooperative Partners, Collective REMAKE, and entertainment followed by a reception with delicious treats and fun.

Mount Saint Mary’s University • Rose Hills Auditorium
10 Chester Place • Los Angeles, CA 90007

Doors Open: 4:30 p.m.
Network, buy RAFFLE TICKETS, Make ART,
and check out SILENT AUCTION Items.

Program Starts: 5:00 p.m.
Featured Speaker: Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, author of
Collective Courage: A History of African American
Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice*
Panel discussions with Collective REMAKE members
and Community Partners.

Entertainment: TBA

*Collective Courage: A History of African American
Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice
books will be available for purchase at the event

Reception: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Silent Auction, Raffle, and ART Making
Refreshments to include lemonade, ice tea, beer, wine and treats.

Proceeds from this event will go to support
Collective REMAKE and participating partners.

More details to come!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/
1FAIpQLSe7AbJYQcIZDJvtjnYIQkcY
eKoQgX6xVEyv_t_l2fHyaebWjg/viewform

Below are some interesting films that will be streaming for free over the next couple of weeks. Today is the last day for the first two, so check them out. Hope at least some of us can take advantage of this offer.

Many of us have become accustomed to starting our day with a dread of what terrible news that day might bring. But now, suddenly, we feel heartened to see so many of our fellow US Americans stepping forward to demand and build a society that is more equal, just and sustainable. The pandemic, economic crisis and increasingly visible violence against African Americans and other people of color have exposed long existing fault lines in our society, and pressure is building to correct them. There is widespread public discussion about emerging from the current crisis with a revitalized commitment to global justice, respect for the freedom and dignity of all people, and a sustainable environment.

To contribute to that discussion, Moving Images, in collaboration with our distributor Bullfrog Films, is offering free on-line viewing of several of our films that show living examples of people who are building the kind of world we want to see. Two films will be available each week at this site, password: M0V1@nG

Beyond those specific dates, go to http://bullfrogfilms.com/ for streaming, screening events, or purchase options. For more about Moving Images visit shiftchange.org,
movingimages.org,
goodfoodthemovie.org.

Enjoy the films! Please forward this to friends and allies.In solidarity, Melissa Young and Mark Dworkin, Moving Images producers, and the Moving Images board

Week 1, July 9 through 15: Neighborhood organizing in Detroit, and World Social Forum for global justice

We Are Not Ghosts [2012] – 52 min. Fifty years ago Detroit was booming, with two million hard working people living the American Dream. Then the auto industry fell on hard times and so did Detroit. Many people moved away. Whole neighborhoods turned into wastelands. But some have a vision for a new Detroit, as a human scaled city in a post industrial world. And with urban farms, peace zones, and spoken word poets, they are starting to make it real. Langston Hughes, Greater Reading, Awaken! Film Festivals. Brussels Academy Amsterdam, Free Speech TV broadcast.

Another World is Possible [2002] – 24 min. In 2002, 51,000 people from 131 countries gathered for the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Called in response to the elite gathering of the World Economic Forum, this week of workshops, panel discussions, and high-spirited demonstrations was inspirational for those attending. “What we’ve been doing all week here is telling each other rumors, about creative and brave resistance, telling each other stories, that are true stories….” – Naomi Klein. Hazel Wolf Environmental, Peace & Human Security, Planet in Focus, Vermont International, Columbus bronze, Global Visions, Prix Leonardo gold, Green Reel, Tunisia, US Social Forum festivals. Broadcast WYBE Philadelphia and Telesur.

Week 2, July 16 through 22: Democratic workplaces benefit worker owners and local communities

SHIFT CHANGE [2012] – 70 min. Employee ownership offers a real solution for workers and communities to have secure dignified work in democratic workplaces. Shift Change highlights worker-owned enterprises in North America and the remarkable Mondragon cooperatives in the Basque region of northern Spain. PBS, WORLD Channel broadcasts 2014-17.

WEconomics: Italy [2016] – 19 min. The Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy has one of the highest concentrations of cooperative businesses in the developed world , and this film highlights what a cooperative economy and society have to offer.

Week 3, July 23 through 29: Resistance to Trump-like politics, and building a more sustainable food system

Don’t Give Up Your Voice [2018] – 40 min. Widespread and creative resistance to a Trump-like president in Argentina – in organized labor, at worker coops, street protests, theater and music – led to his overwhelming defeat in his re-election bid in 2019. Canadian International Labour and Workers Unite Film Festivals.

GOOD FOOD[2008] – 57 min. Pacific Northwest family farmers, plus the businesses and markets that feature their products, show that it is possible to increase the supply of healthy, local, sustainably grown food. Seattle International Film Festival, broadcast PBS.

WORCS was founded 10 years ago to help create worker cooperatives and the driving force behind a lot of cooperative efforts in Southern California. Our organization is small but it is growing!

Please sign up on our micro-donation page

We have a scale between $5/mo and $20/mo

The consistency on the donations will help us establish a financial track record that will allow us to qualify for grant monies and bank loans to help create more worker cooperatives and educate the public. https://www.worcsusa.org/donate-1

Please like our facebook page: www.facebook.com/worcsusa

We are in the middle of restructuring our organization as the interest and need for economic alternatives are reaching levels none of us collectively have ever seen in our own lifetimes. WORCS is organizing this effort out of pocket to increase the amount of democratically owned and operated enterprises existing in the American SouthWest.

Arizmendi Bakery:

We currently have a study group that is now in direct talks with the lead cooperative developer, Tim Huet, of the Arizmendi Cooperative which has 5 Bakeries, a construction cooperative, and a Cheese Board cooperative. We are making major headway with this effort to bring this awesome Bakery.

Seed Meetings:

We do seed meetings to different groups around Southern California to explain that worker cooperatives may be an option they never have considered. We most recently had a meeting with 20 workers and the owner of a Cabin Resort near Lake Arrowhead to convert the business into a worker cooperative and the workers are now forming an exploratory committee. This serves as a catalyst sometimes by just simply conveying ideas in a very simple and clear way.

Here are some examples of our work in the city of Santa Ana that is helping the worker cooperative movement. Santa Ana passed ordinanced to help worker cooperative development. https://www.ocregister.com/
2017/08/01/santa-ana-is-first-orange-county-city-to-formally-support-worker-cooperatives/
https://www.latimes.com/
business/la-fi-worker-cooperatives-20160817-snap-story.html

We also have similar work in Las Vegas we are currently retrieving from years past where we generated work that influenced city officials.

Videography:

WORCS is forming a consortium with Social Tap Cooperative which is a worker cooperative based in the OC/Long Beach area. They have a season of episodes interviewing cooperatives around the United States. We are also in talks about getting a podcast going that talks about cooperatives and economic alternatives. There are also going to do some promotional videos.

Shop.coop

We will have this website up in a limited capacity this month. This is an e-commerce website that will sell things sourced only from cooperatives, mainly worker cooperatives. We are waiting to see for things to get more logical(economically) but we have about ten worker cooperatives so far we are going to purchase ranging from board games, gardening equipment, coffee, tea, different nut butters, merchandise, and more. This will help exist cooperatives have a new outlet to sell their products

Please sign up on our micro-donation page

We have a scale between $5/mo and $20/mo

The consistency on the donations will help us establish a financial track record that will allow us to qualify for grant monies and bank loans to help create more worker cooperatives and educate the public.

https://www.worcsusa.org/donate-1

In Solidarity,
Lisabeth Ryder
lisryder

510-326-2644

“Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed citizens to change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” –Margaret Mead”

Please publicize. Flier graphic attached below.

In Solidarity,
Lisabeth Ryder
510-326-2644
lisryder

The webinar video is posted! https://www.usworker.coop/blog/
why-worker-co-ops-should-matter-to-labor-unions/

Why Worker Co-ops Should Matter to Labor Unions
Friday, February 12th, 2021 * 1:00 to 2:15 EST (12:00 CST; 11:00 MST; 10:00 PST)

Presenters:
John McNamara / Northwest Co-op Development Center; Lis Ryder / Los Angeles Union Co-op Initiative; Ra Criscitiello / Service Employees International Union

Registration link: https://info.usworker.coop/civicrm/event
/info?reset=1&id=413 .

Register for the workshops here: luci.coop/register Download Flyer as PDF Here:Download

Register here: luci.coop/register

They are trying to sell our 40 acres for the 4th time, your signature turns into another email to the sellers letting them know that we are not backing down. The work is long, but the repercussions will be also. Stand with us today for Black self-determination, for thriving and rooted communities in South LA, for safety, health, nourishment, and cooperativism.

Sign, donate, share, share, share, share…

Downtown Crenshaw and local residents are tired of all the gentrification that is displacing the community and refuses to sit back any longer. They have been attempting to buy the mall for a long time, but have been ignored. They have now stepped up to let those involved know that they will be very resourceful in ensuring that they will be included in these talks and be heard, even if this means that they have to go to the homes of all those who are dismissing and ignoring them.

#DowntownCrenshaw #40AcresAndAMall
#LIVWRK #AsherAbehsera
#FDT #Trump #JaredKushner #Kushner
#SageFuchs #KelseyHunter #CIM
#MarqueeceHarrisDawson
#HerbWesson
#HollyMitchell
#MarkRidkeyThomas
#Gentrification
#ProtectTheHood #CrenshawMall
#OnlyTheHoodCanSaveTheHood
#SaveTheCrenshawMall
#SaveCrenshawMall
#StopGentrification
#DemandCommunityOwnership
#DiscoverYourAgency
#News #BlackRock

@mhdcd8 @hollyjmitchell @mrtempower @livwrk @ktla5news @nbcla @cbsla @abc7la @lasentinelnews @lafocusnews @laweekly @kcrw

What are Co-ops?

A cooperative (co-op) is an enterprise owned and controlled by the people who produce (workers) or use the product or services (consumers) — its members. Members are the foundation upon which a co-op is built. Co-ops are different from other forms of businesses because they operate to meet the needs of its members, rather than focusing on profit for investors or management. There are various kinds of co-ops that exist: 

Types of Co-ops:

1. Worker co-ops are owned by the members — people who work there and return the means of production to the workers. What makes a worker cooperative unique is that all decisions are made democratically and its structure remains horizontal. Common examples include bakeries, retail stores, software development groups and architectural groups. A specific example would be Arizmendi Bakery in CA. 
2. Consumer co-ops are owned by the members — the consumers who gain goods or services. While consumers have the opportunity to supply their own needs, share earnings, and have access to bargaining power, the employees are not usually members of the cooperative. They tend to be organized in small communities. Common examples include food, retail, hardware, etc. A specific example would be REI. 
3. Producer co-ops are owned by the members — the producers of products. Members use the cooperative and work with other producers who create similar types of goods or services to increase their marketing capabilities and to streamline the production process. As a result, they can lower their bottom line and share mutual benefits, but employees are not members of the cooperative. Common examples include agricultural products, arts, and forestry. A specific example would be Sunkist. 

How WORCS Can Help:

At WORCS, we believe in building and promoting worker co-ops since they’re inherently non-exploitative and put the workers and their needs at the forefront of the business. We can connect you within our network of cooperatives, provide educational tools, and assist you with securing capital or loans. You can contact us by email at worcsusa@gmail.com or by phone at (714) 643 6117. To learn more, click here for resources we recommend checking out!

Works Cited:

• https://ncdc.unl.edu/typescooperatives
  .shtml
• https://uwcc.wisc.edu/about-co-ops/types-of-co-ops/
• https://ncbaclusa.coop/resources/what-is-a-co-op/