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

COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

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www.cfls .cflsp.org p.org

Center enter fo for r Fa Family ily Lif ife Apr pril il 23 23, 20 2015 15, 20 2015 15

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)

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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

• f 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

• ur 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

• Feasibility study (Market

research) & recruitment

• Training & Technical

Assistance

• Back office support
• Provide startup packet
• Connect to resources and

networks

• Relationship evolves

through stages (intensive  consulting)

• Financial support

DON’TS

• Make decisions for the

coop

• Sit on the board
• Work more than

members

• Assume members’ roles &

responsibilities

6

Stages of Coop Development

7

Stage 1: Incubation Stage 2: Development Stage 3: Maturity Developer Cooperative

Number of tasks Developer and Coop are responsible for Year 1-2 Year 2-3 Year 4+

Coop member demographics

8

• f women are the sole contributors to

their households 22% 78% of women in the cooperatives have additional people contributing to their household income 20-60 years Age Range: Average age: 35 years

Range of number of children:

1-4 children

Average number of children: 2 children

Retention: 95% to 100% retention

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

Safe working environment with 100%

• f payment going directly to member

providing the service Potential for exploitation and only a small percentage of the income going to the person providing the service Leadership opportunity and voice to make decisions within the cooperative Low-skilled positions Average hours per week: 21-40 Average hours per week: 40+

14

Prior to Cooperative

After Joining Cooperative

Part-Business Owner who provides services to clients Paid employee who works for a boss 66% of members happy with the hours they are working now 33% of members had been unemploy- ed between 1-4 years before coops Average hourly wage: $22.00 (for Si Se Puede/We Can Do It!) Average hourly wage prior to coop: $9.04 Environmentally Conscious Cleaning, Child Care, or Elder Care Most common jobs/sectors prior to coop: Factory work, Cleaning, Sewing

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
• pportunities 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