Solid State establishes and nurtures co-operative enterprises. Each of these co-operatives takes its own trajectory, eventually becoming semi-autonomous as part of the Solid State network. THERE ARE THREE CORE RATIONALES FOR OUR WORK: We are trying to articulate new narratives around newcomers and racialized migrants, especially youth. We are addressing the endemic lack of opportunity and mobility for marginalized and migrant youth through the co-operative movement, especially workers’ co-ops. We are building a constructive approach to addressing community safety and issues of youth alienation. All too often sensationalist media exercises demonize migrant youth and their communities. We are not suggesting, that newcomer youth are more responsible for crime and violence (this is demonstrably untrue), but the issues of crime and community safety are very real and have disproportionate impacts on newcomer youth and families. We are building a positive narrative focused on the skills, creativity and hard work of youth.
External link for Solid State Community Industries
Solid State hosted its annual Year-End Party this year, bringing everyone together to connect through food, activities, and meaningful discussions. The event was filled with laughter and memorable stories. We look forward to seeing you all again next year! Photo Credits: DDB MEDIA CO-OP . #Surreycommunity #Surreybc #Cooperatives #Buildingcommunities
This year we had the chance to do worker-owner research in field trips to Barcelona, the Basque Region of Spain, and more recently in Baltimore during the Seed Commons annual full cooperative network gathering. This week, we hosted an info session and workshop for our community to reflect on how other co-op stories relate to Solid State's journey. @muryambabar shared stories about co-ops that are completely engrained in their communites like @topmanta_bcn, @ciutatinvisible, @lacomunalsants as well as the governance structure of @mondragoncorporation 's 200+ organization membership. @mariocimet and @katrinamugume shared reflections on the grassroots organizing stories of @bred.baltimore, @afsbuilds, and more. We then collectively imagined how worker-owner stories could inform our activities at Solid State. Field trips have been incredibly informative this year, and we've made so many new connections! A big shout out to @sadiecoutoure for her field trip organizing work! Visit https://lnkd.in/giDhK7JJ to learn more #Spaintrip #Mondragon #Barcelona #Cooperatives #community
Co-op Developers Katrina Mugume and Mario Cimet went to Baltimore in November to attend Seed Commons' annual full cooperative network gathering with representatives from all of the member organizations. Mario and Katrina got to learn about some amazing worker-owner stories from @bred.baltimore, @afsbuilds, @taharkabros, @thewinesource, @redemmas, @merakitchencollective, and Commongrounds Co-op Owners Solid State became part of Seed Commons’ network this year, a partnership which grants us access to a pool of communal capital which can be loaned out in non-extractive agreements to cohorts in our community. “The current system of finance is programmed to extract profit despite the harm this inflicts on the people we care about and the places we call home. It is a system that reinforces historical racial inequities and threatens the health of the planet we all share. That’s why we are creating something different: a cooperative network for non-extractive finance, one that advances workplace democracy and grows the capacity of communities to determine their economic future, starting with the workers the current system excludes.”
Six new groups were accepted in Solid State's 2024 fall intake 🍁 ⭐ 🍂 ! We're excited to work with these groups and to welcome them to our network of now 30 co-ops and social purpose orgs. CultureLinks Co-op (CLC) is a worker-owned co-operative providing specialized translation/interpretation services with the aim of bridging language barriers, fostering cross-cultural connections, and enabling newcomers to achieve their full potential in Canada. African Canadian Agricultural Producers Co-op grows culturally appropriate foods among immigrant African communities in BC. Chicken Coop is a video gaming co-op with the goal of creating accessible opportunities for video game production and creating an alternative model for newcomers to the industry. The Surrey Youth STEAM Academy (SYSA) addresses a critical need for accessible, high-quality education in technology and engineering for marginalized and racialized youth in Surrey. An online platform that connects Black women with local hairdressers. It aims to empower independent hairdressers, enhance their business management, and create a supportive community. FreshTD is a moving and cleaning community service cooperative, an ethical service to peers and tenants living within social housing units or single residential occupancy units to support their moves between shelters, housing, storage units, and treatment facilities. seeks to empower and employ marginalized members of our community. #vancouvercoops #Surreycooperatives #Community #Surreybusinesses
Solid State held a Cohort Appreciation Day on November 16th to celebrate the work of existing cohorts and welcome six new groups accepted during our fall intake! After a welcome by Co-director Mahado Hassan, some mingling, and some food, our 30 cohorts did a popcorn round to introduce themselves and their goals. It was inspiring to see what important work everyone is up to and to see some excitement around Solid State research and governance. #CohortAppreciation #NetworkingEvent #ProfessionalDevelopment #LeadershipCommunity #CollaborativeLearning
We are looking for new and existing projects interested in growing as a co-op in our community. Solid State prioritizes racialized migrant communities, with a focus on refugees, asylum seekers, and first and second generation migrants. Our mission is to help people in these communities build enterprises that create sustainable jobs, working past extractivism and exploitation. These are some of the benefits you will get from Solid State: -Learning about solidarity economy principles. -Identifying your purpose, mission, vision, and values. -Designing your organizations governance and management structure Incorporation. -Business Planning. -Brand and identity, marketing and community engagement. -Fundraising and Financing. -A supportive network full of connections to potential funders, partners, and clients. -A space to work and access to communal meals with our community. Have and idea you'd like to develop with us? Follow the link and fill our Fall 2024 application form: https://lnkd.in/g_gg8d6S