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Mutual Aid Network Cooperative with Stephanie Rearick Sat., Dec 10 from 2 to 4pm at L.A. Eco-Village

Communities around the world are piloting Mutual Aid Networks (MAN) designed to meet life’s economic needs – food justice, work redesign, sustainable energy, community justice, housing and transportation access, travel and culture exchange, etc. Local MANs are connecting in a global cooperative, the Main MAN, in order to support each other’s success and build a network of networks that can engage the 100% in a neighborly global economy.
http://www.mutualaidnetwork.org/ 

We’re hosting a gathering of people and organizations in Los Angeles to learn what the Mutual Aid Network framework can do and explore how it might help us meet our goals – as individuals, as organizations, and in partnership with one another. Those of us who choose to proceed will determine goals and next steps.

 

About Stephanie Rearick
Based in Madison, Wisconsin, Stephanie  is founder of the Dane Countysr-akron-hi-14l0247 TimeBank, a 2800-member time exchange, and Creative Director of Mutual Aid Networks. In addition to her work in cooperative economics, Rearick is co-owner of Mother Fool’s Coffeehouse and works as a musician.
DETAILS:
Date & Time:      Saturday, December 10, 2016 from 2 to 4pm
Place:                     L.A. Eco-Village
                                 117 Bimini Pl

                                 Los Angeles 90004*

No Reservations required:  mailto:crsp@igc.org or 213/738-1254
Free event but donations welcome to benefit MAN and Arroyo Sustainable Economies Community Organization (Arroyo S.E.C.O.)

 

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North American Students of Cooperation Conference Nov 11-13, 2016 in Ann Arbor MI

Over 400 participants will converge on Ann Arbor, Michigan from November 11th through 13th, 2016 to share ideas, learn new skills, and look at issues affecting the cooperative movement worldwide.

Since 1977, NASCO’s Cooperative Education & Training Institute has been widely recognized as one of the most important training and networking opportunities available to members, directors, staff and managers of group-equity cooperatives.

The annual NASCO Institute is always a one-of-a-kind opportunity to network with hundreds of cooperative leaders and employers, to caucus about pressing issues, and to work on building an inclusive and accessible cooperative movement.

Conference registration and scholarship applications will open on September 1st. If you have any questions about NASCO Institute, please contact Morgan Crawford at morgan@nasco.coop.

Apply to Lead a NASCO Institute Session

NASCO is inviting proposals for presentations at this year’s Institute. The deadline to submit proposals is Friday, August 19, 2016. Proposals will be evaluated on a rolling basis, so apply early! Final programming decisions will be made by the end of August.

This is a great opportunity to share your knowledge and sharpen your skills as a cooperative educator. Also, presenters are eligible for conference travel and registration compensation!

To apply, and for more information, please see our website.

Conference Theme: Cooperative Resilience

As the wealth gap continues to grow and our systems of production and consumption are increasingly revealed to be unsustainable, people around the world are building alternative structures to a degrading and dehumanizing economy.

Cooperatives are robust and resilient organizations that succeed in times of crisis. Rather than prioritizing shareholder profits, they are driven by the needs and desires of their member-owners. As they provide necessary goods and services, they can provide hope that a just and sustainable economic system rooted in democracy and solidarity is possible.

In service of their members, cooperatives provide dignified jobs and business ownership to undocumented and low-income people, create access to healthy food in communities that have been neglected by grocery corporations, keep money local by providing communities with strong financial services and access to capital, unite small farmers banding together to sell their goods at market, and drive away the predatory landlord by providing affordable resident-controlled housing.

This year’s Institute focuses on the innovative and resilient nature of cooperatives, and how these qualities are essential to adapt in a changing world as we build the next economic systems.

Keynote: Changing the World in a World that is Changing

As we see social alienation, economic crisis, international contention, and the growing social movements in response to it all, many of us are moved to try to change the world. But, to state the obvious, the world is not just sitting there waiting for us to change it. In fact, the world is changing every day and we cannot stop it. The challenge, then, is how can we change a world that is already in motion.

In his keynote presentation, Ed Whitfield will explore how we go about changing the world for the better, recognizing the motion and counter-motion all around us. In particular, Ed will talk about how the access to tools and resources is the key to the power to direct change along the path we care about, toward a wholesome, equitable, sustainable and just world.

Ed Whitfield is a social critic, writer, and community activist who has lived in Greensboro, North Carolina since 1970. He is co-founder and co-managing director of the Fund for Democratic Communities (F4DC).

Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, Ed’s political activism started with attending Little Rock Central High School and beginning to do anti-war work as a teenager. Ed retired after 30 years in industry before becoming involved with philanthropy. He now speaks and writes on issues of cooperatives and economic development while continuing to be interested in issues of war and peace, as well as education and social responses to racism. Ed serves on the boards of the New Economy Coalition and The Working World.

While he spends much of his time practicing bass guitar, Ed can often be found playing jazz or blues flute along with singer-songwriters and bands in Greensboro and wherever he goes in the world. He recently won the “Plays the Most Instruments” award at Greensboro’s long-running Open Mic night.

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The Green Festival at the L.A. Convention Center – September 16 – 18, 2016

 

 

Green Business Network at Green America

Your free ticket to join us at Green Festival Expo

LA Green Festival Expo

The 6th annual LA Green Festival Expo is almost here!

Join us September 16-18 for America’s largest and longest-running sustainability event. Claim your free ticket using free ticket code GAGF16.

Los Angeles presentations and mentoring sessions kick off on Friday, September 16 at the LA Convention Center.

Voting is now open for the Green Festival Community Award. Help your favorite non-profit working to improve the LA area win a $5,000 grant. Cast your vote »

Please vote now for “Neighborhood Council Sustainability Alliance”, an L.A. Eco-Village associated organization

LOCATION: Los Angeles Convention Center, South Hall K.
1201 So. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles 90015
All public transit leads to the
Los Angeles Convention Center. No need to drive!

HOURS:
Friday 9/16 from 12 noon – 6pm
Saturday 9/17 from 10am – 6pm
Sunday, 9/18 from 10am – 5pm
Come visit L.A. Eco-Village at Booth #514

Exhibitors at Green Festival Expo

Free ticket
Enjoy the vibrant green marketplace and attend programming all weekend long on green business and green living.

See you in LA,

Denise Hamler
Director
Green Business Network®

ASLSign language interpreters are available on Saturday and Sunday.

Expert Dojo B2B Power Seminars
Free Onsite B2B Mentoring Services
Get the most out of Green Festival to grow your business. Sign up for a free 20 minute power session on topics critical to your success, from leading entrepreneur growth engine Expert DOJO. To register or for more information, contact Rob Butler at rbutler@greenfestivals.org.
Speakers at Green Festival Expo

Learn from leaders in social enterprise, and hear from sustainability experts. Check out some of the weekend’s inspiring speakers below or apply to become a speaker at an upcoming Green Festival.

Ed Begley, Jr.
Ed Begley, Jr.
Actor, Activist
Board Member, Greenwish

Ian Fisk
John Lewis
Founder
Bad Ass Vegan

Moby
Moby
(Richard Melville Hall)
Musician

Carolyn Parrs
Carolyn Parrs
CEO
Mind Over Markets

Brian MacMahon
Brian MacMahon
Expert Dojo

Sica Schmitz
Sica Schmitz
Owner
Bead & Real

Abigail Steinberg
Abigail Steinberg
Author
Recipe for Success

Val Wright
Val Wright
Innovation Expert
Val Wright Consulting, LLC

Stephanie Nicora
Stephanie Nicora
Designer, Entrepreneur
NICORA

Featured Session from Green America

Alisa Gravitz
Clean Energy, Agriculture & Climate Justice: The Three Essential Climate Strategies 
Alisa Gravitz, CEO/President, Green AmericaAfter the hottest summer on record, we need to ramp up climate solutions. Alisa Gravitz will discuss the trends and the most effective climate strategies. We can win—if we double down now. Find out how we can do it.

Exhibitor
Join the nation’s leading sustainability event and reach new green customers.

Save 10% on exhibiting with your exclusive discount as a Green Business Network member.

Exhibit »

Download the Exhibitor Invite »

Awards
Help your favorite non-profit working to improve the LA area win a $5,000 grant. Green Festival supports inspiring organizations that educate and benefit their local communities with the Green Festival Community Award. Voting is now open »

PLEASE VOTE FOR “NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL SUSTAINABILITY ALLIANCE,” an L.A. Eco-Village affiliated organization.

All exhibitors are nominated for the Green Festival Brand Award. Invite your followers to vote for you »

 

Claim your free ticket »

Use Free Ticket Code GAGF16

 

 

.Green Festival is back in LA for our 6th year! Join the Green Festival Marketplace by exploring over 250 exhibitors, learning from over 50 inspirational speakers, indulging in some delicious vegan or vegetarian food and learning all you need to know to live a more sustainable lifestyle! SHOP.TASTE.ENJOY

F  Join the conversation by joining the Los Angeles Facebook Event

play button  Green Festival Expo Video 

 

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The Communities Conference at Twin Oaks, Virginia, Sept 2-5, 2016

The Communities Conference is held Labor Day weekend, Sept 2 – 5, at Twin Oaks Community in Louisa County, Central Virginia.  The event hosts between 150 and 200 participants, including people who are members of, interested in, and new to intentional communities and other kinds of cooperative living and working.

The focus of the event is on intentional communities, although workshops sometimes cover a broader array of topics in cooperative and alternative lifestyles, economics, and organizing. If the workshop is not specific to intentional communities the presenter will  address the topic in relation to intentional communities.

The conference site is rustic and mostly outdoors.

More info about Twin Oaks here: http://www.twinoaks.org/

2016 California Co-op Conference April 29-30 in Sacramento


California Co-op Conference:

Friday, April 29th & Saturday, April 30th, 2016
Co-op Tour: May 1, 2016

Conference Location: Sierra 2 Center
2791 24th Street, Sacramento, CA 95818

The CA Co-op Conference offers tracks for both startup and existing cooperatives that focus on governance, communication, and technical topics for food, worker, housing, and other co-op types. One track is devoted to successful co-op development and another is dedicated to legal education and is MCLE* accredited.

Register now for the conference online or download the
Registration Form!

Keynote Addresses
Friday Keynote Address: Farmworker Housing Cooperatives: Born Out of Crisis & Resilient through Four Decades, Horacio Amezquita will share the story of how San Jerardo Housing Cooperative was born from the farmworker unionization campaign of the 1970’s, and how the cooperative is meeting the challenges it faces today. Horacio’s parents were co-founders of the cooperative and he was raised in the co-op. Today he is the co-op’s manager.Panel: Transforming Communities through co-op development.Saturday Keynote Address: Great Basin Food Co-op: Spinning the Food Web to Strengthen Local Food System, Amber and Nicole Sallaberry. In 2005, with a hand drawn flyer announcing a buying club forming in Reno, the seeds of Great Basin Food Co-op were planted. Today, the cooperative has 7,000 member-owners serving more than 10,000 customers. GBFC is a crucial player in the local food and farming economy, not only because they are creating connections between urban city dwellers and Great Basin farmers and ranchers, but because they are central players in addressing policies affecting organic farmers and ranchers. Amber and Nicole, co-op co-founders and current managers, will share the history of how they got started, how they were able to mobilize local talent to create a beautiful store and innovative tools for linking consumers and farmers.Panel: Echos of the Past–Food System Movement of the 1970s–Panel will help compare experiences of San Francisco collaborations to create healthy food.

Conference Workshops For the workshop descriptions, click on the workshop title

Click Here for:

Friday
SESSION I: Concurrent Workshops

Co-ops 101
Cooperatives and Community Impact
Transitioning your Business to a Worker Co-op MCLE
Be the Change!  Anti-Opression Assessment and Co-op Transformation

SESSION II: Concurrent Workshops

Starting a Cooperative
Union Cooperative Initiatives
Entity Choice Options for Worker Cooperatives After AB 816 MCLE
Co-op Financing Options

SESSION III: Concurrent Workshops

Strategic Tools for Worker Co-op Development in Marginalized Communities
Financing The Cooperative Dream: Smart Borrowing for Co-ops
AB 816- The Worker Cooperative Act MCLE
Tech Co-op Panel

SESSION IV: Concurrent Workshops

Growing the Worker Co-op Movement
Governance: Strengthening your Board of Directors
Member Investment Shares MCLE
Peer Evaluations: Getting Better Every Year

Saturday
SESSION I: Concurrent Workshops
The History of the People’s Food System
Capital Campaigns that Work
Legal Aspects of California Cooperative Corporations MCLE
Financial Strategic Planning for Housing Co-ops

SESSION II: Concurrent Workshops

Discussion Group: Building Community Support for Opening Food Co-ops
Consensus Decision Making
Fair Housing and Member Relation Issues in Housing Cooperatives MCLE
Public Policy for Advancing the Cooperative Movement

SESSION III: Concurrent Workshops
Communication and Conflict Resolution Skills
Feasibility: What is it Really?
Worker Cooperative LLCs MCLE
Crowdfunding for Co-ops
Housing Co-op Workshop

Closing Plenary

 Co-ops 101, Mai Nguyen. This workshop is a primer on the cooperative model, discussing cooperative principles, governance, and finance. Examples from a range of cooperatives will be used to show how cooperatives of different types use the model to meet member needs and how the cooperative business is distinct from other business structures.

Cooperatives and Community Impact, Christina Jennings. This session will look at real cases of cooperative impact in local communities, and examine the community development tools that can help – or hinder – co-op development.

Transitioning your Business to a Worker Co-op MCLE, Alison Ligane, Lars Ortegren, and Sushil Jacob. This workshop will present the process of transitioning your business to a worker co-op by sharing the story of one solar company’s journey. California Solar Electric (CSE), a Grass Valley solar company, is in the process of transitioning its business to a worker-owned cooperative as a member of Project Equity’s Cooperative Business Incubator. While focusing on CSE, alternatives and specific legal elements will be discussed.

Be the Change! Anti-opression Assessment and Co-op Transformation, Marc Mascarenhas-Swan. The work of centralizing anti-oppression values in your co-op is a many layered thing. This workshop will discuss the specific process of anti-oppression assessment of your organization’s internal workings and how the results can be used as a dynamic tool to inform your policies and the direction of your co-op in a meaningful way. Examples of how to use to use these tools in facilitation and communication to promote full participation are included. Participants should come with curious minds and a lot of questions

Starting a Cooperative, Alex Stone. This workshop will cover the critical steps needed to get your co-op up and running, including the creation of bylaws and articles of incorporation, determining the governance structure, how to incorporate, ensuring feasibility and more. We’ll also learn directly from co-opers through a panel of folks with experience starting different types of co-ops.

Union Cooperative Initiatives, Liz Ryder and Gary Holloway. Worker cooperatives have, among their core principles, a democratic workplace. Unions have historically struggled for greater workplace democracy. Recent efforts in Cincinnati and Los Angeles highlight the convergence of these two traditions as “union cooperatives”. Join in a discussion of efforts in those two cities and brainstorm how to do outreach to the labor community in your area to build bridges between the union movement and the worker cooperative community.

Entity Choice Options for Worker Cooperatives After AB 816 MCLE , Sushil Jacob, Tim Huet.
Worker cooperatives have, among their core principles, a democratic workplace. Unions have historically struggled for greater workplace democracy. Recent efforts in Cincinnati and Los Angeles highlight the convergence of these two traditions as “union cooperatives”. Join in a discussion of efforts in those two cities and brainstorm how to do outreach to the labor community in your area to build bridges between the union movement and the worker cooperative community.

Co-op Financing Option, Elena Fairley.
The workshop description will be available soon.

Strategic Tools for Worker Co-op Development in Marginalized Communities, Kim Coontz. This workshop will discuss particular circumstances that make cooperative development among marginalized community members both exciting and challenging and focus on strategies that contribute to development success. The workshop will include rich “co-op stories” as examples.

Financing The Cooperative Dream: Smart Borrowing for Co-ops, Christina Jennings and Estee Segal. The session will address how to plan, structure, and access financing for start-up or expanding cooperative businesses. Drawing on case studies from worker and food co-ops, the interactive session will look at a) factors you should consider when deciding whether to borrow; b) how much you need and how much you can borrow; c) what you can do to qualifying for a loan and understanding how the lender will assess your plans; and d) how to find co-op friendly financing.

AB 816- The Worker Cooperative Act MCLE, Sushil Jacob and Cameron Rhudy. This workshop will introduce AB 816, the Worker Cooperative Law, and put it into context with the existing formation options for CA Worker Cooperatives, including general partnerships, LLCs, stock corporations, mutual benefit corporations and the California Cooperative Corporation.

Tech Co-op Panel, TBD.
This is an exploratory workshop discussing how people engaged in various aspects of tech work can organize as a cooperative and build an alternative to “business as usual.”

Growing the Worker Co-op Movement, Mike Leung. Why are so few startup businesses worker cooperatives? This workshop will explore the strategic issues limiting the growth of the worker co-op community. We will discuss the main reasons for the low rate of startup formation and the rarity of worker cooperatives in capital-intensive industries. We will look at key distinctions between worker cooperatives and non-cooperative businesses and show how the standard framework for business valuations, investments, and accounting has inadvertently restricted the growth of worker cooperatives. We will discuss how reevaluating our assumptions can overcome these barriers.

Governance: Strengthening your Board of Directors, Linda Brockway. This workshop presents the fundamental legal and ethical responsibilities for the elected cooperative leadership: the Board of Directors. Discussion will include the roles of various stakeholders in the co-op, strategies for encouraging board member cohesion, and how to avoid any perception of conflict of interest.

Member Investment Shares MCLE, Therese Tuttle, now a potentially attractive consideration for California Co-ops and their members. This workshop explains the benefits and mechanics of offering preferred-share financing programs for California cooperatives. * This workshop has been approved for 1.25 MCLE credit hours.

Peer Evaluations: Getting Better Every Year, Marc Mascarenhas-Swan.
What would it be like to look forward to your evaluation each year? Unfortunately, too often evaluations end up as places wrought with hurt feeling and conflict because complaints are shared without solutions for growth. Learn how to develop and implement a strong and healthy evaluation system that can strengthen communication, prevent conflict, decrease turnover, and help hold people accountable to the group. Where evaluations nurture a culture of growth and mutual support. This workshop focuses on worker co-ops but can be applicable to other arenas as well.

History of the People’s Food System, Shanta Sacaroff. In the late 1960’s a second wave of cooperatives started in the San Francisco Bay Area through Food Conspiracy Clubs. Over about 10 years, buying clubs, grocery stores, and even a warehouse was developed to create an alternative food system. The attempt to coordinate these activities through the People’s Food System attempted to unite all of the count-cultural players of the era: hippies, communists, cults, even armed revolutionaries. It came apart in dramatic fashion but some individual members gave birth to several cooperatives and businesses that are key players in the cooperative and sustainable agriculture food system today. Panelists who were part of the People’s Food System will share juicy stories from the era, discuss the impact that they have on Northern California’s food system today, and what they see for the future of cooperatives in the next 30 years.

Capital Campaigns that Work, Stuart Reid. New co-ops need money to start their businesses, sometimes a lot of money. Much of that capital will come from your owner-members. Learn how to budget and plan for member loan and preferred share campaigns. We will be introducing Food Co-op Initiative’s new Capital Campaign Workbook with detailed guidance, actual campaign examples and templates you can use for your own campaign. This session is focused on capital for consumer co-ops, but may have applicability for other types of co-ops.

Fair Housing and Member Relation Issues in Housing Cooperatives MCLE, Karen Tiedemann.
This MCLE accredited workshop explores how fair housing and related laws apply to Housing Co-ops. Important topics will include member selection/screening, member “termination,” occupancy restrictions, and membership transfers.

Consensus Decision Making, Kate Sassoon. In this workshop we will explore Consensus as both a Decision Making Process and a ‘decision rule’. We’ll place Consensus within the spectrum of Democratic Decision Making practices, take a decision through a standard Consensus process, and unpack the Pros Cons and Conundrums facing organizations using Consensus. Participants will be encouraged to share experiences, policies, and practices within a safe communication space, and will come away with tools to improve decision making – of any kind – in their cooperative communities.

Discussion Group: Building Community Support for Opening Food Co-ops, Stuart Reid, Luis Sierra. Food Co-op organizers and other supporters will meet to discuss challenges in building community support for opening a food co-op. Each food co-op organizing effort has its own challenge, and we’ll share how we’ve built on our community’s assets to address the different bottlenecks for getting closer to opening day.

Financial Strategic Planning for Housing Co-ops, Linda Brockway. This workshop is a housing co-op essential. It will discuss how to monitor and assure co-op financial health and to plan for the future. Topics will include recommended reserves, the reserve study, tools for projecting the anticipated life of appliances and all physical plant aspects of the co-op, capital improvement plans and other important information.

Legal Aspects of California Cooperative Corporations MCLE, Van Baldwin.
This MCLE accredited workshop will discuss the important legal aspects pertaining to the California Cooperative Corporation Law, normally used by consumer, worker, and some other cooperatives. The presentation will cover legal aspects of this statutory framework, including elements that differentiate cooperatives from other types of corporations (e.g., governance, profit distributions). In addition, there will be a cursory discussion of California securities regulation as it applies to cooperatives. Subchapter T of the Internal Revenue Code, applicable to co-ops distributing tax-deductible patronage refunds, will also be discussed. (Note—this workshop will not discuss in any depth the new worker co-op portion of the law, as that is covered in other workshops.)

Public Policy for Advancing the Cooperative Movement, Christina Oatfield, Ricardo Nuñez, and Camille Kerr. The Sustainable Economies Law Center and the Democracy At Work Institute staff will share about their recent work in the area and facilitate a brainstorm and discussion about possible future policy campaigns to help cooperatives grow and/or foster the creation of new cooperatives, and/or to promote conversion of existing businesses to cooperatives.

Communication and Conflict Resolution Skills, Georgia Kelly. In this interactive workshop, we will discuss and practice techniques for improving our communication skills and respectfully dealing with difference. Areas covered include boundary setting, ground rules, reframing issues that are difficult, and understanding how to approach different types of people. We will also explore meeting facilitation, team building, and group dynamics. If there is time, we will review the Basque Parliament’s Plan for Peace that reflects the Mondragón Cooperatives’ ethics and philosophy. There will be handouts for future reference.

Feasibility: What is it Really? Stuart Reid.
Food Where do dreams, plans, and mission intersect with stark reality? Feasibility. Feasibility is the evidence that your co-op can provide the goods, services, education and everything else you want to offer your community and be successful as a business. We will discuss what must be considered in a feasibility study and what it actually means for a co-op to be “feasible.”

Worker Cooperative LLCs MCLE, Camille Kerr and Sara Stephens.
This MCLE accredited workshop is an in-depth discussion of organizing a worker cooperative as an LLC. It will cover the reasons or circumstances when LLCs may be more appropriate than co-op incorporation or other statutes. Discussion will include the pros and cons using an LLC and how to do it well.

Housing Co-op Workshop, TBD. The workshop description will be available soon.

Crowdfunding for Co-ops, Danny Spitzberg. This workshop will discuss how to build community around a celebration and how to use crowdfunding to raise funds for cooperatives.

Closing Plenary, Kate Sasson.
A great closing with the possibility of games.

With appreciation to the 2016 California Co-op Conference Sponsors:

*This conference is co-sponsored by the Sustainable Economies Law Center (SELC), a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider. SELC certifies that this activity, except as otherwise provided, has been approved for 1.5 hours of MCLE credit per accredited workshop.

 

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Worker-Owned: exploration & play – Sun. Jan. 24, 2016 from 2 – 5pm – Pasadena

ARROYO S.E.C.O. & ANTIOCH UNIVERSITY
invite you to an afternoon of exploration and play about
WORKER OWNED COOPERATIVES
This is a FREE event!
Please RSVP to reserve your space: nancyannneberlin@gmail.com(Donations are gratefully accepted at the door to help us continue our educational programming.)
Sunday, January 24
2-5 pm
The Armory Center for the Arts
145 North Raymond Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91103click here for DIRECTIONS
OWN THE CHANGE is a short film that explains what worker cooperatives are through conversations with worker-owners from Union Cab, Ginger Moon, Arizmendi Bakery, AORTA, New Era Windows and more.
CO-OPOLY: The Game of Cooperatives
Participate in playing the world’s first jumbo version of this excellent board game. In Co-opoly, players start a cooperative, and then, in order to survive as individuals and strive for the success of their co-op, make tough choices regarding big and small challenges that put their teamwork to the test!
 
POTLUCK REFRESHMENTS will be served.
Bring something to share and receive a time credit for your contribution
Potluck contributions from non-members are also appreciated!
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Open House at L.A. Eco-Village, Sunday, April 26, 2015 from 3pm to 8pm

Open House from 3 to 6pm:  Music, tours, workshops, kids’ activities, fun, free raffle with fun prizes.

AND

Veggie Potluck from 6 to 8pm:  Bring any veggie item to share, enough for about 4 to 8 people.  And please bring your own eating utensils.  Let’s keep this a zero waste event.

Please RSVP for veggie potluck to:   membership@urbansoil.net

No reservations required for Open House 3 to 6pm

FREE EVENT

Los Angeles Eco-Villagers will host you for these activities:

L.A. Eco-Village Orientation and MiniTour with Ana Paula and Zoe at 3:30pm, and with AnaPaula and Claire at 5pm

Gardening and greywater with Irma at 4pm and at 5pm

Consensus oriented decision making with Yuki at 4pm

White House Place Learning Garden with Lara at 3:30 and 4:30pm.

Children’s Art Table with Leslie, Daniel and Randy at 4pm and at 5pm

Timebank and Craft Club and Repair Cafe with Leslie and TimeBankers Katie and Ginko & Scoops at 3:30 and 4:30pm

Conflict Resolution with Aurisha at 4:30pm

Food Lobby Co-op with John at 4:30pm

Skill Sharing with Zoe at 4:30pm

Energy Workshop with Somer at 5pm

Closing and Raffle with Adewole and Bruce at 5:30pm

Veggie potluck in Courtyard from 6 to 8pm.  Please bring your own eating ware and a dish of veggie food for 4 to 6 people.  Let’s make this a zero waste event.

Much as we love dogs, please do not bring them to this event.

Please walk, bike or use public transit.  Parking is often very limited in our neighborhood.   More directions here:  http://laecovillage.org/home/directions/

 

 

WestCo | April 24-26, 2015 | Berkeley, CA

WestCo, an annual conference for members of cooperatives in the Western United States and Canada, will be held this year in Berkeley, CA from April 24th through 26th.

WestCo is a space for local cooperators to build community, attend educational workshops and social events, and celebrate their common interests and experiences. This year’s conference is organized by members of the Berkeley Student Cooperative.

More programming details will be released later in March. If you have any questions, please visit NASCO’s WestCo page or contact Zury Cendejas, Berkeley Student Cooperative VP of External Affairs, at vpea@bsc.coop.

More info:
Westco@nasco.coop
http://mail.nasco.coop/mailman/listinfo/westco_nasco.coop

Communify Un-Conference in San Diego, Saturday, March 7, 2015 from 9am to 6pm

Join us at COMMUNIFY San Diego:     Communify un-conference

A gathering of pioneers, seekers, neighbors, organizers, dreamers, trainers, leaders, and activists reclaiming a more sustainable world through intentional communities, cooperative culture, deep democracy, and participatory economics.  

Saturday, March 7, 2015 9am-6pm at San Diego Friends Center  

People in intentional and traditional communities around the world are already living more green, peaceful, and abundant ways of life.

Reclaiming the power of cooperative human connections, people everywhere have been asking questions that lead back to more satisfying lives. We’re busy reinventing what we own, how we spend time, grow food, earn a living, do business, invest money, and participate in our neighborhoods and governments.

Get the jump on Earth Day. Meet, learn, share, and break bread with old and new friends across community movements here in southern California. There’s plenty of time to network and strategize next steps forward.

Sustainable Community is Within Reach!  

Communify San Diego is an unconference.  Using “open space technology” we will convene a marketplace of ideas when everyone can propose sessions on the topics they are most interested in. Sessions can be skills-sharing, discussions, interviews, games, or presentations.  Opportunities to get to know each other will include “Speed Dating” and “Deepening Connection” sessions. Other sessions have been proposed and are invited include:

  • Dealing with Difference – Communication Games and Technologies of Participation
  • Conscious Elders & Aging in Community
  • Wisdom Circles and Restorative Justice
  • Post-Occupy Organizing of the Commons
  • Sacred Economics
  • Slow Money, Crowdfunding, & Participatory Budgeting

We’ll also share opening and closing circles, a panel of special speakers, info tables for partner groups, raffle prizes to benefit Fellowship for Intentional Community and our local host.  Morning coffee, healthy snacks and lunch are provided.

Special Guests & Presenters  

Lois Arkin, Founder of Los Angeles Eco-Village
CASA: Consejo de Asentamientos Sustentables de las Américas
Diana Leafe Christian, author of Creating a Life Together, and Finding Community
Raines Cohen certified Senior Advisor / Cohousing Coach
Betsy Morris, PhD, Cohousing Researchers Network, and author of “Making Cohousing Affordable,” and “Urban Redevelopment and the Emerging Community Sector.”
Plus YOU, bringing the topics you want to learn about or share.

EVENT DETAILS:
Time:
Saturday, March 7, 2015 from 9am to 6pm

Location:
San Diego Friends Center:
San Diego Friends Center
3850 Westgate Pl
San Diego, CA 92105
Google map and directions

Cost:
$65 in advance;  $75 at the door.
Partner discounts, work-trade/volunteer rebates are still available or call 619-457-6198 (voice/SMS) for more information.

Contact:
Betsy and Raines · info@communify.in · 619-457-6198

Will you come?
RSVP on Facebook
AND purchase a ticket here

More info here:
Communify unconference About San Diego

Add-on Events 

Weeknight showing of Within Reach, Friday evening at colab.

Sunday 1:30-6:30pm –  Tour and Half Day Intensive at Emerald Village in Rio Vista,  specifically on the nuts and bolts of developing cohousing and ecovillages — people, place, and process.

Communify San Diego is produced by Cohousing California partners, Cohousing Coaches Betsy Morris & Raines Cohen, of Planning for Sustainable Communities, in Berkeley, CA and the San Diego Local Hosts, Patti Shields, Jonah, Mesritz, Andrea Carter, and Mariah Gayler.

Cohousing California is pleased to promote the work of our organizational partners including the Fellowship for Intentional Community (FIC), Cohousing Association of the US, and CASA, the South American regional association of the Global Ecovillages Network, and CRSP Institute for Urban Ecovillages.

Tax-exempt donations are welcome through our nonprofit sponsor, the Fellowship for Intentional Community (www.ic.org).

 

 

 

Open post

Los Angeles Green Festival Friday Sept 12 thru Sun Sept 14, 2014 at L.A. Convention Center

About the Green Festival.

Check out the 40 page: Preview Guide.

Volunteer Opportunities:  here.

More than 20,000 attended the L.A. Green Festival last year.

Great kids activities too!

Come visit the Los Angeles Eco-Village booth (#550), and so many other organizations you may want to catch up with.

Lots of interesting speakers, demonstrations of all kinds, and a place to run into old friends and colleagues and meet new ones.

FESTIVAL HOURS:
Friday, September 12th from noon to 6:00pm
Saturday, September 13th from 10am to 6:00pm
Sunday, September 14th from 10am to 6:00pm

AT

Los Angeles Convention Center – South Hall G
1201 S Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Buy discounted tickets on-line here:  http://greenfestivals.org/

and Get In Free if:

You come by bike and use the LACBC Bike Valet service
You come by Metro and show your Tap Card.

Green Festival® is a vibrant, dynamic marketplace where companies and organizations come to showcase their green products and services, and where people go to learn how to live healthier, more sustainable lives.

Green Festival is America’s largest and longest-running sustainability and green living event. We bring together the world’s most trusted companies, innovative brands, national and local businesses, pioneering thinkers, and conscious consumers in one place to promote the best in sustainability and green living.

Green Festival offers something for everyone, with the widest selection of products and services to work green, play green and live green from food, fashion and health to energy, construction and design. People can shop and enjoy vegan, vegetarian, organic foods, hands-on demos, educational activities and inspirational speakers.

Mission and Vision:

Green Festival is inspiring and empowering consumers, communities and businesses to work green, play green and live green.

At Green Festival, we are committed to:

  • Showcasing the best and latest green products and services in the market
  • Making ‘green’ practical, viable and accessible to everyone by promoting sustainability in everyday life choices and actions
  • Providing the ultimate marketplace for green brands and consumers who want to integrate sustainability into their lives
  • Striving to be a zero-waste marketplace where consumers can be assured that companies are committed to environmental sustainability
  • Representing a diverse, sustainable community that is socially and environmentally responsible
  • Encouraging companies to adopt green and fair trade principles through Green America’s certification process
  • Supporting vegan-vegetarian diets that are focused on organic, non-GMO and local artisanal foods as part of a healthy and sustainable lifestyle
  • Serving as a launching pad for Corporate Social Responsibility efforts and consumer programs in sustainability

Much more info about Green Festivals here:   http://www.greenfestivals.org/

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