Our annual co-op appreciation festival is Aug 27!
We're planning our annual co-op appreciation festival for Saturday, Aug. 27. We'd love to see you there!
The festival will be held from 4-6 pm at Our Harvest's urban farm in College Hill (969 W North Bend Rd.), located on the beautiful, historic Bahr Farm.
Come meet the teams behind our 14 co-ops, learn more about their products, & connect with other Co-op Cincy supporters. There will be music & free food!
Register now so we can get a head count:
Photos of our last annual festival
City approves $100K for Co-op Cincy
The new budget from the City Council of Cincinnati includes $100,000 in funding for Co-op Cincy! This is the first time we've received direct financial support from the City!
Half of that money will go to our loan fund, enabling us to help new and existing worker-owned businesses access financing. The other half will fund our technical assistance program, enabling worker-owned businesses to develop a solid foundation and grow. This money will directly help us build community wealth and preserve family-sustaining jobs in Cincinnati.
In addition to awarding Co-op Cincy $100,000 in funding, the City Council designated Queen Mother's Market (QMM) as a priority for surplus spending. QMM is working to start a Black- and women-led co-op grocery store in Walnut Hills, a food desert. You can donate to support their grocery store here.
Big thanks to all the City Council members for their support, and special thanks to Council Member Greg Landsman and Vice-Mayor Jan-Michele Kearney for advocating for us.
We'd also like to thank all the people who spoke at the city's budget input forums in June.
Interested in donating to our loan fund and technical assistance program? You can do so here.
Ellen Vera, our Director of Development and Co-op Organizing, speaking with her daughter at the last city budget input forum
Documentary begins shooting
This month, award-winning filmmakers Mark Dworkin and Melissa Young of Moving Images began shooting a documentary exploring Co-op Cincy's work and our efforts to build an economy that works for all. Dworkin and Young spoke to staff, co-op members, partners, and community representatives.
We're grateful for their work and very excited to see the results. One of their many previous documentaries, Shift Change, told the story of co-ops and worker-ownership in the United States and Spain.
Other updates
Deadlines near for Power in Numbers & Construction Co-op U
Power in Numbers applications due July 8
Beginning in September, we’re offering another Power in Numbers, our co-op business boot camp for Black-led teams!
The free, 14-week course helps Black-led teams of entrepreneurs work through the process of launching a co-op business and build wealth for the long term.
As a co-op business incubator, we support participants in the process and offer ongoing technical assistance after they launch their co-op business.
Applications are due by July 8 – apply today! Know someone who might be interested? Share this message!
Construction Co-op U now starts in September
Our Construction Co-op U is an online training and support program that helps teams develop a worker-owned business in a construction-related field.
Originally planned for the summer, the course's start date has been pushed back to September.
Participants will:
Adapt a proven, replicable business model and develop a successful business plan of their own
Benefit from weekly trainings, 1-on-1 mentorship, and technical assistance, as well as hands-on training by professionals
Receive assistance incorporating and structuring your business
Have an opportunity to access financing
New board members
We recently welcomed two new members to our wonderful Board of Directors!
Big thanks to Clement Tsao and Adrienne Wiley for helping support worker-ownership and create an economy that works for all! A bit about them:
Clement is a labor and employment attorney at Branstetter, Stranch & Jennings, where he represents labor unions in all aspects of labor relations and provides counsel on matters involving contract negotiations, grievance arbitrations, and organizing.
Fun fact about him: He still watches Grey's Anatomy.
Adrienne is the Executive Director of the Healing Center, a non-profit organization aimed at helping individuals and families gain and maintain economic, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Fun fact about her: There is currently artwork inspired by Adrienne hanging in the Cincinnati Art Museum.
For our full board, see https://coopcincy.org/staff-and-board
Shontelle starts summer internship
We’re thrilled to have Shontelle Johnson interning with us this summer!
Shontelle is a rising sophomore at Xavier University majoring in Political Science and minoring in Economics, and she’s the chair of the Student Rights and Identity Committee of the Student Government Association. This summer she’s helping us get testimonials from co-op members and program participants.
Fun facts about her: She really likes Beyoncé and she cannot dance. She’s originally from metro Atlanta.
Co-op updates
Farm stand at Our Harvest
Our Harvest now has a farm stand at Bahr farm (969 West North Bend Rd.) in College Hill from 4-6 pm on Thursdays. Come meet the farmers, pick up a harvest box, and browse their weekly selection of locally grown vegetables! EBT payment available!
Also, Fox19 talked to Farm Lead Alex Otto for a short segment at the farm! We are still tracking down a link.
Queen Mother's Market receives $200K grant
Queen Mother's Market was awarded a Healthy Food Funding Initiative Grant of $200,000!
With 294 applications, we are beyond grateful to HFFI for believing in QMM's plan to launch a Black- and women-owned co-op grocery store in the Walnut Hills neighborhood.
QMM is still raising money with the goal of opening a brick-and-mortar store by 2024. Want to support them? You can donate here.
This month, QMM also presented during the Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit as part of the Food Secure Community panel.
Heritage Hill celebrates Juneteenth
Heritage Hill hosted a Juneteenth celebration at their Arlington Heights warehouse with music, Black food vendors, and special Juneteenth clothing.
The event, mentioned in the Cincinnati Enquirer and Cincinnati Magazine, was "about celebrating the resilience of a people to overcome," said Brandon Z. Hoff, Founder and CEO.
"We recognize that the bondage and brutality of slavery in this country destroyed lives and families. Juneteenth celebrates those last enslaved people in Gavelston, Texas, who were finally told that slavery had been abolished.”
Queen City Commons presents at conference
Queen City Commons presented during the Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit as part of the Resilient Composting panel.
Co-op Cincy mentions
Common Future examined some of the issues with childcare in this country and how to work toward solutions. Their article discussed organizations who have tried combining the cooperative model and childcare and featured our recent transition of Shine Nurture Center to worker-ownership.
Our Worker-Owner Workbook has been included on the website of the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations.
Movement news
4th & Vine Starbucks workers in Cincinnati won their union election last week!
Apple workers at Maryland store voted to unionize, a first in the U.S.
In “The Radical Root of CSAs,” Jared Spears explains why the “CSA model of funding and sustaining locally-rooted agriculture has grown exponentially around the globe over the past four decades.” Our Harvest, which uses the CSA model, is part of this wave.
Solidarity
Ellen Vera, our director of development and co-op organizing, spoke at the Labor Notes conference in Chicago with Flequer Vera, CEO of Sustainergy.
Upcoming events
July 8 from 12-3 pm: Co-op Cincy co-op tour. To learn more and sign up, see this questionnaire.
Aug 27 from 4-6 pm: our annual co-op appreciation festival at Our Harvest's urban farm in College Hill (969 W North Bend Rd), located on the beautiful, historic Bahr Farm. With music and food. Register now.
