Apr pril il 23 23, 20 2015 15, 20 2015 15 Vanes essa - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Center enter fo for r Fa Family ily Lif ife Apr pril il 23 23, 20 2015 15, 20 2015 15 Vanes essa Bransburg, urg, LCSW, W, Dir irec ector tor of Coope pera rati tive ve Dev evel elopm opmen ent COOPERATIVE vbran ansburg burg@cfl @cflsp.org sp.org DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM 718 18-633 633-4823, 4823, ex ext. 13 www.cfls .cflsp.org p.org

Why coops work • Coops require its members to become decision makers and have ownership over their workplace • Coops encourage members to think like business owners and invest in learning about what makes their businesses successful • Working collectively makes it more accessible to people who otherwise would not have started their own businesses

Low-income communities: The employment picture • Jobs paying a living wage in a safe and respectful environment are difficult to obtain for many residents of Sunset Park, Brooklyn, a low-income community • Residents report that they have been exposed to exploitation and poor working conditions • They also report a lack of knowledge about their rights as workers, and lack of skill in negotiating job responsibilities or pay rates with employers • Causes include: Level of education , language barriers , immigration status , confidence , and recession-related demand contractions

The Cooperative Development Program (CDP) 4

What is an Cooperative Incubator? • CDP’s mission is to support community residents’ efforts to organize cooperative businesses and establish a platform for achieving economic goals. The mission is achieved through the execution of collective economic strategies that enable individuals to gain personal economic stability and a positive sense of self-agency, which lift up communities and improve the economic success of their residents. • The program assists individuals in the creation of cooperatives that will lead to long-term, stable jobs and a fair wage within a work environment that upholds the values of equity, dignity, and mutual respect for all workers. • CDP helps coordinate the formation and organization of each cooperative, including business consultation and comprehensive support services offered by our bilingual, Spanish/English fluent program staff. Each cooperative develops an internal leadership structure, and the members increasingly assume responsibility for business management. Each cooperative gradually aims to evolve into a fully independent enterprise.

Center for Family Life’s Role DO’S DON’TS • Feasibility study (Market • Make decisions for the research) & recruitment coop • Training & Technical • Sit on the board Assistance • Work more than • Back office support • Provide startup packet members • Connect to resources and • Assume members’ roles & networks responsibilities • Relationship evolves through stages (intensive  consulting) • Financial support 6

Stages of Coop Development Number of tasks Developer and Coop are responsible Year 4+ for Year 2-3 Year 1-2 Stage 1: Stage 2: Stage 3: Incubation Development Maturity Developer Cooperative 7

Coop member demographics Age Range: 20-60 years Average age: 35 years Range of number of children: 1-4 children Retention: 95% to 100% retention Average number of children: 2 children of women are the sole contributors to 22% their households 78% of women in the cooperatives have additional people contributing to their household income 8

Si Se Puede! We Can Do It, Women’s Cooperative, Inc. • Established in June 2006. • Provide house cleaning services in all five boroughs. • 67 Cooperative members • Working on developing their own cleaning product • 99% members are Latinas

• “When I worked alone as a house cleaner, I was often scared about safety or not getting paid my full wage. Then, I earned $8 per hour, but now I average about $20 and feel safe and supported by all the women in the coop.” • – Luz, Member Si Se Puede / We Can Do It! Housecleaning Cooperative

Beyond Care Child Care Cooperative, Inc. • Established in June 2008. • Provide nanny services to families and organizations. • 39 cooperative members.

Golden Steps Elder Care Cooperative • Established in June 2011. • Provide non-medical companionship services for seniors in all five boroughs. • Private pay, insurance not accepted. • 7 cooperative members. • Currently training 15 probationary people.

Trusty Amigos Dog Walking & Pet Care Coop • Established in 2013 • Provide dog walking and pet sitting services • 3 cooperative members • Will be holding “Open House” on 4/29

Prior to Cooperative After Joining Cooperative Most common jobs/sectors prior to Environmentally Conscious coop: Factory work, Cleaning, Sewing Cleaning, Child Care, or Elder Care Potential for exploitation and only a Safe working environment with 100% small percentage of the income going to of payment going directly to member the person providing the service providing the service Average hourly wage prior to coop: Average hourly wage: $22.00 $9.04 (for Si Se Puede/We Can Do It!) Average hours per week: 40+ Average hours per week: 21-40 33% of members had been unemploy- 66% of members happy with the ed between 1-4 years before coops hours they are working now Leadership opportunity and voice to Low-skilled positions make decisions within the cooperative Part-Business Owner who provides Paid employee who works for a boss services to clients 14

Impact on participants • Participants make a substantially higher wage • Employment is an opportunity for human capital development – personal investment in one’s career – not “just a job” • Low to no turnover rate • Participants are part of a team that holds themselves and each other accountable for their work • Higher self-esteem and belief in their own abilities based on proven results • An appetite for further asset-building opportunities of all kinds over time: Career, education, health, financial 15

Impact on local community • Coops build social capital by creating stronger bonds between individuals and in neighborhoods • Stabilizing force on families • Higher income becomes economic multiplier • Women have greater authority and confidence within families 16

Contact Information • Vanessa Bransburg, Center for Family Life (718) 633-4823, vbransburg@cflsp.org • Si Se Puede! Women's Cooperative (718) 633-4823, www.wecandoit.coop • Beyond Care Child Care Cooperative (917) 463-0399, www.beyondcare.coop • Golden Steps Elder Care Cooperative (718) 687-1978, www.goldensteps.coop