One of the many joys of summer is biting into fresh fruit from a farmers market and taking home locally grown goods for a delicious summer recipe. Our Harvest is dedicated to expanding this simple pleasure to more people through their 2024 fundraiser, Project Food Access.

From Our Harvest, “This initiative aims to enhance food access by establishing mini farmers' markets in retirement facilities and food-insecure neighborhoods. Volunteers will facilitate these markets, ensuring that nutritious food reaches those who need it most. Additionally, we'll be enrolling customers in Produce Perks, a program that provides free produce dollars to stretch their food budgets further.

Your donation to our GoFundMe campaign will directly support these efforts. By contributing today, you can help us keep our produce affordable and accessible to all members of our community. Every dollar makes a difference in our ability to sustain fair wages for our farmers and continue providing quality products.

It's crucial now more than ever to support small businesses like OHC, where every decision is made with integrity and care for both our workers and the environment. Despite economic pressures, we've made significant strides, reducing debt and optimizing our operations to operate more efficiently.”

Join us in supporting this wonderful cause!

Support Project Food Access

Cherishing the Legacy of Dale Bahr

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Dale Bahr, a pillar of our community and a true steward of the land. Dale passed away peacefully last month, with his beloved wife Carol by his side. For many years, Dale and Carol dedicated themselves to preserving Bahr Farm, the last working farm within the city limits, ensuring its legacy continued through relentless determination and hard work. Dale was a mentor to many at Our Harvest, and his impact on our organization is immeasurable. Thanks to Dale’s generosity in entrusting Bahr Farm to Cardinal, Our Harvest will honor his wishes by continuing to cultivate this historic land. Rest in peace, Dale. Your legacy will live on through the fruits of our labor.

Read More About Dale’s Legacy

We are excited to announce this year’s gathering will focus on the hope that radiates through our community as we showcase "Works for All: A Celebration of Cincinnati's Co-op Economy Through Film," taking place on October 4th, 2024.

The evening will feature a special debut screening of "Works for All," a 30-minute documentary highlighting the vibrant co-op economy in Cincinnati. This inspiring film portrays the stories of cooperatives within Co-op Cincy’s network, led by individuals often marginalized from the mainstream economy. It delves into our unique approach to training and ongoing support, showcasing how worker-ownership transforms lives and communities.

We are thrilled to share that the documentary was created by acclaimed filmmakers Mark Dworkin and Melissa Young, known for their earlier work "Shift Change," which also focused on democratic workplaces.

Event Details:

📅 Date: Friday, October 4, 2024

🕖 Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

📍 Location: The Woodward Theatre

Our theme this year is the movies! So, wear your best red carpet chic attire and join us for an unforgettable evening of inspiration and community spirit.

Mark your calendars for a night that celebrates the power of cooperative economics and community resilience. Tickets are $50 which include refreshments and movie-inspired lite bites. We can't wait to see you there!

Co-op Cincy welcomed The Praxis Project for Roots and Remedies Conference

Co-op Cincy was thrilled to host The Praxis Project for the Roots and Remedies Conference, a gathering dedicated to empowering organizers and activists. Since 2008, Roots & Remedies has provided a space for addressing issues such as housing, food access, education, and youth empowerment. This community-driven event allows attendees to reconnect, relax, and celebrate the profound work being done to improve health, justice, and racial equity nationwide.

At this year's conference, Co-op Cincy's Racial Justice Educator and Co-op Developer, Cynthia Pinchback-Hines, Ph.D., was a panelist for the Friday evening opening session. The panelists explored the theme "Home, Heart, Hope," addressing questions about their personal journeys, organizational missions, and visions for a just future.

Pinchback-Hines shared how growing up in the Jim Crow South shaped her values around social justice and civil rights. She inspired the audience to imagine a world where people have jobs that pay a fair, livable wage and where workers own businesses that allow them to build and support their communities. "People give me hope -- the grassroots efforts (are) calling on the collective wisdom of our ancestors,” said Pinchback-Hines during the insightful panel.

The 2024 theme, "Home, Heart, Hope," encapsulates the rights and strengths that ground our efforts against injustice and towards collective liberation. We're grateful and honored to have had this opportunity to build a movement for justice, inclusion, and equity.

Honoring Leslie Edwards Jr.— Pioneer of Valley Homes

The village of Lincoln Heights, approximately 12 miles north of downtown Cincinnati was the first all black self-governing city— north of the Mason-Dixon Line. Valley Homes, a housing cooperative founded after WWII, was established in this historic village.

Last month, on July 6th, a memorial bench in Valley Homes was dedicated to honor  documented original Tuskegee Airmen, Leslie Edwards Jr.

Edwards was staff sergeant and flight chief of Tuskegee Airmen Flight A. Leslie Edwards Jr’s dedication and tenacity paved the way for him to lead Valley Homes Mutual Housing Cooperative Board. 

The Valley Homes were sold to its residents as a tenant-owned housing project. By the late 1970s, residents were having trouble making payments on their mortgages to the government. While president, Edwards Jr.  was determined to keep tenants in their homes. His investigation proved that tenants had been deliberately over-charged for their properties. In 1979, his persistence led to the elimination of the over 500k federal government debt. We are so inspired of Leslie Edwards Jr.’s work with the housing cooperative— and honored to say that he was the uncle of our Office and Project Manager, Victoria Russell.

Creating New Pathways with Good Green Jobs

Last September, Co-op Cincy received a planning grant from the Department of Labor to advance green construction and climate-resilient jobs. We created the Good Green Jobs Steering Committee— which includes representatives from various partners striving to build a more strong and diverse workforce through sustainable practices and policies. The committee includes five working groups, with 25 partners, including the Cincinnati AFL-CIO, Urban League of Greater Southwest Ohio, Green Umbrella and industry partners including Sustainergy.

The Good Green Jobs Steering Committee has been meeting monthly for the past year— and continues to meet monthly for meetings to discuss strategies, identify best practices, and assist with follow-ups. Our five groups consists of:

  • The Green Construction Industry Working Group addresses workforce needs and growth strategies under the Inflation Reduction Act. They are currently working on exploring the formation of a shared services cooperative.

  • The Labor & Workforce Development Group focuses on creating a diverse, skilled workforce for the expanding green construction sector. Currently, they are recruiting the right workforce partners to the table.

  • The Project Pipeline Group aims to develop green construction projects and explore consumer purchasing alliances. Led by the City of Cincinnati Office of Environment and Sustainability, they recently applied for a C-Site grant to help fund solar and energy efficiency projects for houses of worship.

  • The Procurement Policy Group works on shaping policies to improve worker treatment and community impact. They are currently researching the best practices around procurement for diverse and values based contracting.

  • The Local, State, & Federal Collaboration Incentives Group identifies and leverages programs and partnerships to support quality green jobs. They are currently working on community outreach to raise awareness to opportunities pertaining to the Inflation Reduction Act.

As part of our work through the Department of Labor, we want to help connect people and organizations to resources, as well as incentives to save energy. Looking to save on electric appliance upgrades, energy efficiency improvements, or solar installations? Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, there are incentives available to help you. Use Rewiring America's incentive calculator to see how much you can save. If you're connected to a non-profit, the Clean Energy Tax Navigator can help you understand the benefits available.

Hilary Abel Appointed to New Position at Department of Labor

We are happy to announce that Hilary Abell, co-founder of Project Equity, has been appointed as the head of the Department of Labor’s Division of Employee Ownership. The federal government now has a full-time staff member dedicated to helping employers and employees learn about employee ownership. Hilary brings extensive experience and passion for employee ownership to her new role, which promises to strengthen and expand employee-owned businesses across the country. Learn more about her appointment in the NCEO article and PRWeb announcement.

Check Out the Coolest Composters Around, Queen City Commons on Cincinnati Edition!

Marie Hopkins, founder of Queen City Commons, chats composting: Composting can be a great way to reduce the amount of waste you send to the landfill and add nutrient rich soil to your garden. But how do you get started? What do you add to your compost? And what if you don’t even have a yard? Check it out here

Dig into the details of composting even more by taking a look at Queen City Common’s quarterly newsletter! The most recent newsletter highlighted that they've successfully begun using their new custom-made dump truck, funded partly by the Hamilton County ReSource Impact Grant, which has increased their food scrap capacity and reduced physical labor. They also welcome Tikkun Farm as a new partner, located in Mt. Healthy, focusing on community restoration, growing veggies, and managing a composting operation. Sign up to receive their newsletter here.

Our Next Co-op U and Farming for Refugee Program Begins Mid-August!

We are excited to announce the start of our next program— dedicated to educating worker ownership and farming to refugees— begins the week of August 12! We are seeking Arabic-speaking families to join this enriching 9-month journey. The program includes 12 weeks of farming and 24 weeks engaged in our cooperative business program. To get involved, email Luma Alzubaidi at lumaalzubaidi@gmail.com or call 513-952-3826. Join us in this transformative experience!

Upcoming Events

Movement News

  • Black co-op leaders recently gathered in St. Paul, MN, for the Network for Developing Conscious Communities' third annual national conference to form the National Association of Black Cooperators, focusing on cooperative economic strategies and cultural transformation to support Black communities. Read more

  • Check out the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio's comprehensive State of Black Cincinnati 2023 report. This vital resource highlights the current socio-economic conditions and challenges faced by Black residents in Cincinnati, offering insights and strategies for driving meaningful change and promoting equity in our community. Dive into the report to learn more about the impactful work being done and how you can get involved!

  • The Union Co-ops Council has spent seventeen years building alliances between worker cooperatives and labor unions to enhance worker rights and economic democracy. Discover their achievements and ongoing efforts in the full article here.

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