News

Co-ops Around the World: Cuba

WAGES — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 19:55:04 +0000

Around the world, worker-owned co-ops are increasingly becoming recognized as a strategy to develop local economies, strengthen grassroots leadership and improve the lives of workers. In this series, we’ll take a closer look at the global co-op movement, and share this amazing progress with you!

“No other country [besides Cuba] has tried to convert state companies into cooperatives on such a large scale,” according to an article from Reuters. Ever since President Raul Castro took office in 2008, he has been pushing both state and privately owned businesses to make the transition. His initiative has been overwhelmingly successful. Over the past year alone, more than 450 businesses have become cooperatively owned entities.

Havana, Cuba

The new co-ops include businesses in industries across the board, from restaurants to construction firms to furniture manufacturers. Part of the government’s aim is to transition workers off of the state payroll, while at the same time easing into a freer market economy. According to a New York Times Article, they also want to consolidate small entrepreneurs, for example barbers and fishermen who work independently. The result has been that co-ops are popping up everywhere and many have seen great outcomes.

There is a cooperative business that runs a taxi-bus service in Havana

Reuters spotlights Karabali Nightclub in Havana, whose employees took over ownership. Six months later, the workers’ salaries had increased from 250 to 750 pesos. The changes in job quality, wage distribution, and overall business management improved as well. The club faces competition across the city but is regularly packed full, weekend or weeknight. The 21 member-owners have taken a deep sense of ownership; they are proud to be making all of the important decisions, such as how their profits are distributed and which artists to hire. Their salaries have tripled and the business is growing; they even have plans to renovate the venue.

The Karabali Nightclub

Karabali has been quite successful, but there are other new co-ops in Cuba that have work to do before they will see the same type of growth. Because the co-op movement is still young, many co-ops do not have a lot of training or experience. A Cuban economist that Reuters spoke to says, about the government push, “They should put on the brakes a bit, move slowly and put more emphasis on quality over quantity. And most of all, improve training." Another challenge has been that for the state run businesses, the decision to convert to a cooperative structure is made by the government, not the employees, creating a “top-heavy approach.” Even as a nonprofit, this is an obstacle that WAGES has to keep in mind as well. When developing a co-op it is vital to have fair, democratic processes in conjunction with individuals in leadership roles. The future will tell if the Cuban economy continues to see positive results from a growing cooperative influence.

To see our last “Co-ops Around the World” blog post about the co-op movement in Argentina, click here.

Myths of Co-op Development: A Guarantee for Success

WAGES — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 17:48:15 +0000

Worker cooperatives are an emerging strategy to develop local economies and grassroots leadership. However, the field is fraught with many misconceptions. Our "myths" blog series gets beyond assumptions to address what it takes to succeed in co-op development.

Myth #2: Worker co-ops are guaranteed not to fail.

Co-ops are getting a lot of buzz, now more than ever, about their resiliency. We’ve heard (and said!) that they tend to weather recessions better than traditional businesses. We also know that co-ops tend to lay off fewer employees in economic downturns. Sounds like a silver bullet, right?

Well, when you look a little closer, the data shows that yes, co-ops are indeed resilient. But, they do fail. There are loads of examples of failed co-ops, just like any other type of business. In fact, Fagor, one of Mondragon’s flagship manufacturing co-ops, failed last year. In WAGES’ 19 years of experience, we’ve seen two co-ops close their doors. The list goes on.

Yes, co-ops have a unique structure that often makes the employees more invested and more motivated to see the business succeed. However, at the end of the day, co-ops are still businesses that have to compete in the market, which is an unforgiving place. As the oft-cited data point suggests, half of all small businesses fail within the first five years.

So we, as the people growing the co-op movement, need to shift our thinking from “we can’t fail” to “how do we fail better and faster” since we know that some degree of failure is inevitable. Some ideas to consider: spread knowledge so we don’t repeat past mistakes, have clear go/no-go points built into plans, create contingency plans, and educate ourselves so we can spot warning signs early.

At the end of the day, the sooner we embrace failure and use it to our advantage, the stronger the co-op movement will be.

The 5 Phases of WAGES' History

WAGES — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 22:10:49 +0000

As WAGES approaches our 20^th anniversary, we have been reflecting on our history and we realized that we have gone through five distinct phases since our earliest days. Our first phase was the Formation Phase, which is the story of our establishment as an organization. This was followed by the Pilot Phase, the Eco-Friendly Cleaning Niche Phase, the Expansion Phase, and finally the Renewal Phase, where we are now. Read on to learn more about the five phases and see what we have learned and accomplished.

The Formation Phase (1995)
In 1995, two social workers working in East Palo Alto, Gayle Haberman and Anna Olsen, partnered up to form WAGES as a 501c3 nonprofit. Gayle had worked with a cleaning cooperative in their transition from incubation to self-governance; she and Anna wanted to apply that knowledge and their experience in social work to help more low-income communities. They began working with groups of women who were looking for a better alternative to the traditional job market.

Pilot Phase (1996-1998)
The first two cooperatives that WAGES developed were Non-Toxic Professional Housecleaning in East Palo Alto and Fantastic Fiesta, a party supply store, in Redwood City. Although Fantastic Fiesta was unable to compete with big box stores and had to close its doors, the cleaning co-op flourished, helping WAGES narrow our focus on that industry. What was great about this experience was that the founders were eager to learn; they worked hard to build a network of support, engaging in communities that could help WAGES be better moving forward.

Eco-care members in the early days of the co-op.

Eco-Friendly Cleaning Niche Phase (1999-2001)
In 1999 and 2001, two of the currently operating and successful green cleaning co-ops were developed and launched: Emma’s Eco-Clean and Eco-Care Professional Housecleaning (pictured above). During these years, WAGES’ business model became much stronger and the roles and responsibilities of the different people involved in the co-ops were still being defined.

Expansion Phase (2002-2011)
Our confidence in the model continued to grow and the next three co-ops were launched in the 2000s. These co-ops have full-time general managers, and each has a board of directors as well, a new concept for the co-ops. A few challenges that arose in developing these three co-ops were high member turnover, and honing the role of the GM so a democratic structure can still be prioritized.

The founding members of Home Green Home celebrated their launch in 2009.

Renewal Phase (2012-today)
Over the past couple of years we have been exploring a new industry (food!) for new co-ops, developing our field building program, and codifying our model. WAGES has learned so much since our beginnings and we have evolved significantly. Gaining insight and understanding into our past has allowed us to examine challenges we have faced, lessons we have learned, and also to celebrate our accomplishments. This will help us tremendously as we move forward and continue to develop new programs and strategies.

A timeline of WAGES' history and phases.

2015 will mark our 20^th year of working with low-income communities to develop worker-owned co-ops. We are excited to celebrate this landmark and to share more of our history and experiences with you in the months to come.

Thank you to WAGES’ former VISTA Cooperative Development Associate, Claire Calderón, who worked diligently to do the research and heavy lifting for this history project.

Calling all Aspiring Co-op Developers! Apply Now.

WAGES — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 20:54:36 +0000

WAGES is now inviting applicants for The Co-op Readiness Institute, a two-day training event in Oakland, California that will equip participants with tools to assess their readiness to start a worker co-op and a plan to take the next steps.

This event is tailored to staff at community-based organizations that have strong relationships with low-income communities and are considering cooperative development as a grassroots economic development and leadership development strategy. The participants at The Co-op Readiness Institute will leave with a deep understanding of cooperative development, the roles and skills that cooperative development requires, tools to decide whether co-op development is an appropriate strategy for a specific organization and community, and a plan to take the next steps.

The Co-op Readiness Institute

September 29th & 30th from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Oakland, CA

Apply by August 15th!
Click here to apply and for additional logistical information

At this Institute, WAGES will share its experience developing worker co-ops over the past 19 years, including how our model works, best practices, and lessons learned. To present a diverse perspective of cooperative development and a rich conversation, we are partnering with several organizations: The US Federation of Worker Cooperatives, Democracy at Work Institute, Arizmendi Association of Cooperatives, Co-operative News, the Sustainable Economies Law Center, the East Bay Community Law Center, the Mission Economic Development Agency, and the National Center for Employee Ownership.

Space is limited and applications are due by August 15th. Interested individuals should submit an application online. Please email Elena Fairley at [email protected]" style="font-size:10pt;">[email protected] with any questions.

WAGES appears in Yes! Magazine

WAGES — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 00:15:35 +0000

We are honored and excited to have been featured in the press on two separate occasions in recent weeks!

YES! Magazine’s recent article, “These Women-Run Co-ops Push Back Against the ‘Feminization of Poverty,’” by Sarah McKinley and Violeta Duncan, explains the “disproportionate representation of women in low-wage work” as context to support the growing field of women-owned worker cooperatives. The authors praise Seattle’s newly increased minimum wage as a significant move to address living-wage concerns, but also identify that women are consistently underrepresented in higher earning jobs.

The article highlights WAGES, along with a few of our peer organizations, and the impact that our co-ops have had. They say, “These worker-owners have a voice and vote in key business decisions, and share an equal distribution of business profits, creating improved financial security for these women and their families.” Creating an economy where “low-wage” workers no longer exist is not a simple task, but that is our goal. As worker co-ops continue to gain popularity and more legislation like the recent ordinance in Seattle comes to the surface, we will begin to see big changes in our economy. We greatly appreciate the effort of Yes! Magazine to support the worker co-op movement and to make our work with low-income women communities known to its audiences.

The second piece was this article, by Nina Ignaczak, published by Shareable.net on July 16th. Ignaczak discusses the growing worker cooperative movement in the US, a topic that has been echoed in a lot of co-op news sources within the last year. WAGES is discussed as an example of an organization working to develop co-ops. The article also talks about other organizations with strong missions to solve some of the challenges in our communities that are due to economic struggles.

Congratulations to the Arizmendi Association, USFWC, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Cooperative Home Care Associates, The Center for Family Life, the SELC, and Cooperation Texas for having their meaningful work featured as well. We are proud to be recognized among these impactful organizations.

Paleta Co-op gaining momentum towards launch

WAGES — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 20:35:17 +0000

WAGES’ 6^thco-op, which will produce and sell paletas, is getting closer to its launch every day. Jessica Morris, who is leading the project and heading business development, is working hard along with the rest of WAGES’ staff to iron out business details, prepare to initiate founding members, and begin making and selling delicious paletas! We are developing the co-op in partnership with La Cocina, who will be offering their expertise in the food industry and giving us access to their state of the art commercial kitchen space.

A few noteworthy developments:

We just ordered a commercial paleta maker

We established a partnership with Rainbow Grocery, a San Francisco co-op

We have started recruiting founding members

Our new paleta maker will arrive all the way from Brazil in July, allowing the co-op to produce 250 paletas per hour when the time comes to begin selling them en masse. Once the co-op is up and running, we will also need as many avenues as possible to get those paletas to our customers, which is why we are thrilled to have the support and confidence of Rainbow Grocery. We are working closely with Rainbow, a co-op grocery store in San Francisco, to build a mutually beneficial partnership – cooperation among cooperatives! Our third piece of exciting news is that we are now actively recruiting founding members, the soul of this new business. Dedicated worker-owners are essential to a successful cooperative business and we can’t wait to partner with the incoming group of determined, entrepreneurial women to enter the food industry.

We are at a very exciting point in the development of the paleta co-op, with the launch quickly approaching – and we couldn’t have done this alone. We’d like to give a special thanks to our long-time funding partner, the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, which awarded WAGES a $50,000 grant through its AHEAD program to get the paleta co-op off the ground. Thank you for this investment in the incredible entrepreneurial potential of Latina service workers.

With this generous support, we are taking steps every day that bring us closer to selling paletas to our first customers, and creating the conditions for a group of women to realize their dreams.

Make sure to stay tuned for more updates! We will keep you posted along the way.

Cooperatives 101

WAGES — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 19:22:57 +0000

WAGES would like to help you brush up on your cooperative knowledge! These Cooperative 101 flashcards will catch you up to speed on your co-op knowledge, and provide context for the cooperative movement and field.

WAGES has incubated five worker-owned co-ops, which are co-ops owned and democratically governed by their employees.

Can you name the other four different kinds of co-ops?

Can you guess when the cooperative movements first began? Here are the faces and backgrounds of a few influential people in cooperative history around the world!

Here are a few different types of cooperatives and organizations that help provide resources to cooperatives in different countries!

These flashcards were thoughtfully made by Claire Calderón, VISTA Cooperative Development Associate and supporting co-op facilitator.

WAGES’ Vision for a New Economy

Meche Sansores — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 00:28:25 +0000

Dear Friends,

At WAGES, we believe we are in the midst of a renaissance of social movements that address income inequality and create real opportunities for advancement. We have witnessed a deep swell of interest in the worker co-op model as people all over the country increasingly see its value as a vehicle for economic stability, fairness, democratic practices, and civic participation.

We know that our current economy is not meeting the needs of anyone--least of all, the low-wage workers who are the backbone of our society. We are inspired and humbled that many people are choosing worker co-ops as a way to lead a fuller life.

Over the last 19 years, WAGES has made a nearly unparalleled contribution to the cooperative development movement in the U.S., incubating and now sustaining 5 of the estimated 40 immigrant-led worker co-ops in this country. Yet, in many ways, WAGES is still a very young organization that is actively growing and changing.

While honoring our nearly two-decade legacy, we frequently revisit our past assumptions, analyze our historical outcomes, and come away with new insights and fresh ideas. We know that cooperative development is a fundamentally human project, fraught with paradoxes, complications, and challenges. At its core, cooperative development runs against the grain of entrenched systems of power, and faces an uphill battle of turning societal norms on their head.

Historically, WAGES has been seen as a job creation program. However, our impact cannot be measured by job creation alone. Our model hinges on worker-owner personal transformation, that is long-term and cross-generational. Thus, WAGES' model centers on job quality, rather than job creation. We believe this is at the heart of our vision for a new economy.

I strongly believe that in collaboration with others, we can build a new foothold in the US economy like what has already been successfully demonstrated in Italy, Spain and other countries in Latin America. The US has great growth potential, as the co-op movement worldwide is proven as a viable economic model. Our vision is that in partnership with others, WAGES can spark profound change through worker co-ops by rooting wealth in underserved communities, promoting democratic processes, and opening new opportunities for leadership development.

We will continue to share our new developments as part of our commitment to build the field of worker co-ops rooted in low-income communities. To learn more, see our [email protected]&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=2013%20Year%20in%20Review&utm_campaign=Letter%20from%20Meche%3A%20WAGES%27%20Vision%20for%20a%20New%20Economycontent">2013 Year in Review and visit our blog and social media. We look forward to learning, along with the rest of you, to develop an economic renaissance fueled by the development of worker co-ops.

Warm regards,

Meche Sansores
Executive Director

Co-op Spotlight: Trusty Amigos

WAGES — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 17:33:03 +0000

WAGES is continually encouraged by all of the flourishing co-ops in a growing movement of economic justice and solidarity. Today we share an inspiring example of the ever-growing cooperative movement.

Our friends at The Center for Family Life are working with community members of Sunset Park in Brooklyn, New York to launch a new worker cooperative, Trusty Amigos. The hard working co-op members of Trusty Amigos will provide pet care and dog walking services to their clients in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Staten Island. We had the pleasure of chatting with Isaac Meza, one of the founding members, and it became clear that the new business owners are passionate about their work and the success of the new co-op. He says, “We chose the name Trusty Amigos because it shows the commitment we have to our clients and their pets. It is a name that demonstrates that we are both trustworthy and a friend for the people and the animals.”

Trusty Amigos has officially launched their website and is taking client inquiries!

Trusty Amigos is made up of 15 founding members, immigrant men and women, who love pets! The CFL has recruited the ambitious worker-owners and garnered support by being both active in their community and visible as a successful cooperative incubator. Trusty Amigos will be their first co-op to provide pet care services. Meza says, “When CFL first started building cooperatives in the community of Sunset Park, I didn’t know anything about them, but my family and friends started to work with them, and they were successful! They have told me how much they like it because it is life changing to be an owner and a worker. So, when I had the opportunity to open a cooperative that is dedicated to dogs, and I love dogs, I said to myself, ‘I’m doing it!’”

Currently, Trusty Amigos is working with Sunset Park to plan their grand opening event for the business on Saturday, June 7th. They plan to invite members from other CFL cooperatives, local politicians, journalists and, most importantly, dogs from a local animal shelter! The founding members will also be marketing and promoting their business through the rest of June to further boost their client base. There is a lot to do! A recent article from Voices of NY gives insight into the member meetings, describing some of the decisions that need to be made as they iron out the details. The article cites that Trusty Amigos is now the newest of 20 worker-cooperatives currently in operation in New York City.

Sunset Park in Brooklyn, NY is the community where Trusty Amigos' members live and work, where they are holding

their Grand Opening event, and where they will bring many of their clients' dogs.

Meza says that the biggest challenge has been making sure that the cooperative is successful. The members have been working towards the opening of their new business for almost a year now and it will all be put to the test. He is excited to be launching and to begin working with his clients and their furry friends.

Felicidades, Trusty Amigos!

Co-ops Around the World: Argentina

WAGES — Sat, 24 May 2014 00:12:21 +0000

In 2001, Argentina plunged into economic crisis. More than 60 percent of the population dipped below the poverty level; the unemployment rate reached 25 percent. Then a curious thing happened: workers around the country started to take ownership of their businesses and create co-ops.

As part of the “recovered factory movement,” workers occupied the premises of bankrupt businesses and collectively took over operations, running them as worker-owned co-ops. This year, the movement scored big when workers successfully took over a major ceramics company, Zanon, proclaiming it a “Factory Without Bosses.” Under the original founder, employees’ wages were minimized so that profits could be maximized, there were over 300 injuries per year, and workers had no health care, no life insurance, and no voice. After the occupation, everything changed; the number of accidents drastically decreased and workers gained access to those much-needed benefits. There are now more than 200 worker-run factories in Argentina, employing over 55,000 people.

In the 1990s, the large majority of businesses that were able to evade bankruptcy did so by transitioning from a traditional business model to a worker co-op model. Now, cooperatives have become a viable business strategy in their own right; they are no longer merely a last resort to salvage a business. In 2012 alone, more than 6,000 new cooperatives were created, and they have legislative support. With government partnerships in 14 provinces, co-ops focusing on urban infrastructure generated more than 15,000 jobs.

Most of these new co-ops are started by unemployed young people, and many are located in the province of the capital, Buenos Aires. But beyond that, they’re extremely varied, cropping up in all industries—tourism, banking, insurance, education, media and more. Altogether, co-ops now employ nearly 20 million Argentinians.

The co-op movement in Argentina and around the world is growing stronger every day. As workers band together to transform the economy and their lives, we look forward to gaining inspiration from their efforts!

Worker Co-ops in Immigrant Communities

WAGES — Fri, 09 May 2014 23:45:38 +0000

A snapshot of the state of the field

Developing worker-owned cooperatives in immigrant and other underserved communities is an emerging field that has the potential to transform our economy nationwide. Worker co-ops have lifted entire families above the poverty line, providing people with much needed avenues for advancement. Because of this powerful potential, the field of worker cooperatives is growing rapidly in the United States and around the world. With the proper resources at hand and ample preparedness, that potential can be tapped into and negative poverty cycles can be broken.

In 2013 WAGES’ curiosity about the state of the field of cooperative development spurred us to conduct a national survey on the readiness of community organizations to develop worker-owned cooperatives. What we found is that the field, and the interest, are growing much faster than we anticipated. We had over 150 organizations respond to the survey, with a very high 23% response rate. In our survey alone, we identified 63 co-op development projects that were underway last year. Focusing in on co-ops within immigrant communities, a study by Carlos Pérez de Alejo and David Smathers Moore found that 26 of the 40 known immigrant-led cooperatives in the US launched within just the last 6 years. This growing movement is supported by organizations such as the Center for Family Life in New York City, Cooperation Texas, and the Democracy at Work Institute in San Francisco. Two of the largest and most established worker-owned cooperatives are Evergreen Cooperatives in Cleveland and Cooperative Home Care Associates in the Bronx.

There are 40 immigrant-led co-ops operating in the United States (Pérez de Alejo and Smathers Moore).
Click the map for more information.

The second key finding that our survey revealed was that there are self-reported low levels of readiness among those interested in cooperative development. The majority of organizations who participated in our study expressed a limited ability to fundraise and/or staff their projects. Our data also showed that many co-op development projects are started without the understanding of what resources are necessary for success. Success in cooperative development, especially in low-income communities, requires sustained high levels of capital, knowledge, planning, and devotion.

As a co-op incubator, WAGES has learned that it takes years of financial and other business support to launch a worker cooperative. Our strategy includes in-depth market research, business planning, member training and coaching, and three to five years of incubation. With this model we have established a network of five immigrant-led cooperative businesses. Worker cooperatives can provide immigrant and other underserved communities a means to build wealth and leadership skills. What the field needs to move forward is adequate support so that it can reach its potential. Part of WAGES’ aspiration is to help fill these gaps in the field as we move forward to collaboratively expand the movement of worker-owned cooperatives.

Myths of Cooperative Development: Poverty's Quick Fix

WAGES — Mon, 05 May 2014 18:33:05 +0000

Myth #1: Worker co-ops are a quick fix for poverty.

Every month, we receive emails and phone calls from non-profits that go something like this: "We want to help a hard-to-employ group like recent immigrants, the formerly incarcerated, or the chronically unemployed. So, how do we start a worker co-op?”

We love the enthusiasm! But the first step to success is evaluating your strategy and capacity. Co-ops are valuable tools, but they’re not a quick fix to poverty.

It's true that successful worker-owned cooperatives almost always opt to pay their worker-members more than traditional businesses, and that's great for workers. To do that, co-ops have to get results as a business. Cooperatives don't provide any shortcuts.

As worker-owners, co-op members play multiple, complex roles in the business. Beyond their "day job" on the front lines as a worker, they need to understand the financial statements, set policies, and be prepared to sit on the Board of Directors if elected by their peers. These are valuable skills for workers to gain, but most people will need training – and that’s where you come in.

For incubators, it can be a challenge to teach all of these roles, and ensure your business is viable. That’s why it’s crucial to investigate your capacity and expertise before you begin. Are you ready? We’ve created a helpful survey to get you started. Also, consider joining us at our Readiness Institute in September in Oakland, where you can get assistance to create the right plan.

Even if co-ops aren’t the right strategy for you, traditional businesses can choose a mission and policy that has a specific employee population in mind. (Check out The Bread Project and Center for Employment Opportunities).

In addition to good pay, cooperatives can help worker-owners earn equity and develop critical business and leadership skills. It’s a big investment to incubate and launch a cooperative, but the returns are potentially life-changing.

Building Blocks of Cooperative Development

WAGES — Fri, 02 May 2014 18:14:21 +0000

This post is based on a talk by WAGES Field Building and Communications Manager Elena Fairley, from a webinar titled “Social Enterprise in Workforce Development: Outcomes and Experiences from the Field,” hosted by the Aspen Institute’s Workforce Strategies Initiative on April 9, 2014.

Co-op development is emerging in the U.S. as a wealth-building strategy in low-income communities and communities of color. Worker co-ops yield huge benefits for their members: building professional skills and developing personal and social empowerment. But as the field grows, new practitioners are still unclear about what it actually takes to do this work.

In almost 20 years as a co-op incubator, WAGES has identified three major building blocks of cooperative development: business development, democratic development and human development. We believe that all three are crucial to the success of every co-op—and to building the leadership, skill and experience that will allow the cooperative movement to grow with communities themselves at the helm.

Business Development

Co-ops face all the challenges traditional businesses face—and sometimes even more. Step one in co-op development? Go back to business basics. To achieve real impact for your community, the co-op has to operate in a viable market, offer a product or service that people will buy, contain a built-in profit margin, and keep fixed costs low—so the business can divert as much revenue as possible to its owners.

WAGES performs the necessary market research and business planning in our “pre-incubation stage”—before we approach the community and bring members on board. The market is an unforgiving place, and we believe members’ responsibility should grow with their understanding and experience. That’s why in their early stages, co-ops require management. During our “incubation” period, WAGES provides as much support as possible, subsidizing operations, investing in members and hiring a General Manager. But from day one, we’re working ourselves out of a job: by the end of incubation, the co-op will be able to function as an independent, self-sustaining LLC.

Democratic Development

In a worker co-op, all members share responsibility and decision-making power. This is formalized through an Operating Agreement—equivalent to company bylaws—which spells out the governance structure and systems. This way, practical and technical issues get tackled early on, providing a foundation for members to move forward together. But remember, a legal document does not create a democratic culture. Co-op members need to bring democracy to life. Many WAGES co-ops have implemented a committee structure, in which members serve on committees like Finance or Recruiting. Members can also be elected to sit on the co-op’s Board, or simply participate actively in general membership meetings.

Human Development

At the end of the day, co-op development is about enabling people to lead full lives. Human development goes beyond professional development to see the whole person. Human development may focus on soft skills, but it is not just a nice bonus. For a co-op to succeed, all members must master core capacity and competency areas. WAGES facilitates an educational process involving project-based learning, or “learning by doing”, paired with coaching support and training.

What You Need to Start Planning

Skills: Developing co-ops requires a wide set of skill sets and experience, including knowledge of your chosen industry, cultural competence and the ability to tailor your approach when working with members. Start by evaluating your team’s combined skills, and fill in the gaps by working with partners or consultants.

Funding: Costs can vary widely depending on the co-op and the market, but co-op incubation is a long-term and often high-resource investment. WAGES is almost entirely funded by private foundations and corporations with some individual donor support. Identify and secure diverse sources of funding—and if possible, obtain a formal commitment from your Board of Directors so that you can always follow through with your co-ops.

Programs: Co-op development is a young field without standardized best practices, so you’ll need to provide support to your management and training staff. Think of how you can develop the best mentoring curriculum and professional development opportunities for your General Manager so you can set them, and your co-op members, up for success.

Co-op development is a serious undertaking, but good planning can yield profound benefits for women entrepreneurs and their communities. To help practitioners get started, WAGES will soon release four new online tools: “What is Cooperative Development?,” “Business Development,” “Democratic Development” and “Human Development.” Sign up for our newsletter and be the first to know when they’re released!

Start Where You Are

Claire — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 19:04:58 +0000

Claire Calderón, VISTA Cooperative Development Associate and supporting co-op facilitator describes the value of what women already bring to the table.

As a third grade assistant teacher, merely being an adult gave me all-mighty authority status. When a student misbehaved or failed to complete an assignment, I’d point to our posted list of classroom rules and raise my eyebrows. Although they’d usually groan as I passed out their times table worksheets, my students rarely questioned their usefulness or real life application. They accepted that multiplication was simply something they were expected to learn.

The first time I facilitated an activity at a WAGES Co-op, I had only gone so far as to write the subject of the lesson in green block letters on the whiteboard—Understanding Our Communication Styles--when a voice from the small conference table behind me said bluntly, “I don’t get what the point is of learning this today.” Hot-faced and panicked, I shuffled through my notes hoping to stumble upon an appropriate answer. The voice belonged to an immigrant woman twice my age with three young kids, and a full week of hard work ahead of her. While I fiddled with the staple on my packet of papers, she checked the timer on her phone set to remind her when her parking spot was about to expire. In a corner of her notebook she’d drafted her day’s to-do list. This wasn’t third grade anymore. “Because I said so,” just wasn’t going to cut it.

Adult educators are uniquely accountable to their students. Not only do they have to come prepared to execute a quality lesson, but they must also come prepared to address the why motivating it, or perhaps more frankly, the so what. Although this question can be daunting, I have also found that it can serve as a gateway to a learner’s genuinely meaningful engagement with the content of a lesson; a threshold between an abstract concept and a tangible practice. Asking it also encourages the teacher or trainer to step back and consider what the goal of the activity is and whether the timing of it truly suits the learner’s needs.

"WAGES strives to create adult education programming that values

what women already bring to the table."

Unlike my third graders, adult learners show up to trainings or classes with multiple responsibilities competing for their attention at once. In my work as a WAGES facilitator, I’ve found that in our eagerness to offer new trainings and learning opportunities to the worker-owners of our coop network, we run the risk of disregarding what best suits their unique needs and priorities in that moment. An hour-long computer skills class might mean an hour less spent at home with family or a couple more gallons worth of gas to buy that week. When we acknowledge that such factors are real and impactful in adult learners’ lives, we lay the groundwork for a more respectful relationship as well as for lesson content that is more readily applicable and more likely to stick long-term.

Adult learners do not show up with wide eyes and a blank canvas. The multiple hats they wear in their lives influence the way they learn and what motivates them to seek new knowledge. WAGES strives to create adult education programming that values what women already bring to the table. We recognize that building new skills can be a complex journey and that sometimes, rather than starting at the beginning, you have to start exactly where you are.

This article was written by Claire Calderón during her time with WAGES as an AmeriCorps VISTA.

Paletas for a New Economy Launched!

Ruth — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 20:46:26 +0000

WAGES is holding our first-ever crowdfunding campaign, Paletas for a New Economy! Donate today to support the launch of our new paleta cooperative this summer! Our 6th worker co-op will make and sell paletas: freshly made, locally sourced, Mexican popsicles. We are almost ready to launch! But first, we need a commercial juicer that turns delicious fruits and vegetables into a usable ingredient—so we’re turning to you.

WAGES is participating in a crowdfunding campaign hosted by HIPGive. Crowdfunding depends on supporter momentum, and in this case, it’s a contest! To win, we need our campaign to have the largest number of individual donors. The prize? HIPGive will match our donations!

Meche is proud to help promote our paleta co-op. Click to watch our campaign video!

Co-owning a food business will allow low-income Latina women to access transformative opportunities like family-sustaining earnings, asset accumulation, and personal and professional development. A juicer will help the co-op start off with a bang and build success and reputation, creating more opportunities for Latinas to be worker-owners and entrepreneurs.

We can win this contest and increase our impact exponentially, but we need you—and your friends. So we’ve developed our own prizes to show our appreciation. Donate $10, and you’ll get a coupon for paletas from the co-op. With $50, we’ll give you the recipe. And if you donate $1,000, WAGES' co-op manager and professional chef, Jessica Morris, will give you a free one-hour cooking lesson!

Delicious avocado paletas

Working in a successful co-op can empower women to be leaders in their communities, to support their families, and to develop skills for their future. You can help by giving to our campaign. Then get your friends on board, and let’s make some paletas!

Join Us on May 6th for Silicon Valley Gives!

WAGES — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 23:07:46 +0000

On May 6th, 2014, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation is hosting the first 24-hour online giving day, Silicon Valley Gives, to benefit nonprofits throughout Silicon Valley. Donors, champions, and allies are invited to celebrate the power of community-based philanthropy on the 100th anniversary of community foundations with a gift to a nonprofit that's close to their heart.

Silicon Valley Gives is the perfect time to join the movement of community members coming together to build a brighter future for everyone in Silicon Valley. Matches are offered throughout the day - meaning you can double the impact of your gift. (So a $50 donation becomes $100)! Peak times for matching gifts are the hours of 12 am, 12 pm, 6 pm, and 7 pm. We encourage the WAGES donor family to take advantage of the match, and multiply their impact on the lives of the hardworking immigrant women who transform their lives every day in our cooperatives.

Want to join us?

Be an ambassador: Follow is on Facebook and Twitter and share our posts on May 6th
Give on May 6th, and double your impact: Make a donation during peak hours of 12 am, 12 pm, 6 pm, or 7 pm to get your gift matched!
Join our mailing list to receive updates on the day of the event

Please contact Sarah Lightfoot with any questions about Silicon Valley Gives: [email protected]

A Weekend of Cooperation

WAGES — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 22:34:04 +0000

WAGES participated in CCCD's annual California Co-op Conference in April where we united with other cooperative developers and worker owners from all over the state. We were happy to see so many people interested and engaged in the worker cooperative movement and looking for ways to improve and expand the benefits of cooperation.

During the conference, WAGES’ Executive Director, Meche Sansores, spoke on a panel addressing the challenges and strategies of developing worker co-ops in the context of under-served communities. We were honored to present along with Kim Coontz from CCCD, Tezozomoc from South Central Farmers, and Jessica Woiderski from IRC Arizona. The momentum and excitement of emerging cooperative development projects in low-income communities is inspiring.

WAGES’ Meche Sansores speaking with other panel members in the session, “Co-op

Development Strategies in Under-served and Disenfranchised Communities”

We were lucky enough to attend other informative and inspiring sessions at the conference too! Some of the highlights included hearing Melissa Hoover from the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives speak on “Understanding Patronage” and the ways business surpluses are distributed to members. Tim Huet from the Arizmendi Association presented on how to structure cooperatives so they are positioned to grow and create more jobs. We also participated in a session on “Popular Education” where we learned about social biographies by sharing our stories with other cooperators.

The conference’s opening panel discussed how cooperatives promote opportunities in job creation,

immigrant farming, and food security.

We want to give a special thanks to Alvarado Street Bakery and Pachamama (both are co-ops!) for providing delicious food and coffee throughout the weekend.

WAGES speaking at Shift Change screening

WAGES — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 18:17:50 +0000

Did you miss Shift Change the first time it came around? On April 15th, the 2012 documentary on employee-owned businesses, featuring WAGES, will screen at the La Peña Cultural Center in Berkeley, Afterward, WAGES’ Associate Director Sarah Lightfoot and members of the Association of Arizmendi Cooperatives will participate in an audience Q&A. Arizmendi Bakery and Café San Rafael will also run a pop-up! Berkeley residents: this is not to be missed!

Also, for all of our friends near Watsonville, CA there's a screening coming to your community too! As part of the 2014 Reel Works Labor Film Festival, Shift Change will be shown at 6 pm on Sunday, May 4th at the Springfield Community Grange. Following the film, WAGES' Meche Sansores will be speaking on a panel along with representatives from Community Printers and Eco-Farm.

Happy Month of Microfinance!

WAGES — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 17:45:47 +0000

When people learn that WAGES partners with low-income immigrant Latinas to build cooperative businesses, they often ask if we’re a microenterprise organization. Our answer? Not quite.

Simply put, a microenterprise is a (very) small business that runs on a (very) small budget. It may have its roots in microcredit—small loans, often brokered by nonprofits. In the U.S., a microenterprise has five or fewer employees, and sometimes just one—the hardworking micro-entrepreneur.

It’s a great way to open doors for groups often excluded from the market, such as women and people of color. And it’s no surprise that in just 20 years, the microenterprise sector in the U.S. has exploded, from virtual invisibility to a major anti-poverty strategy.

So what’s the difference between microenterprise and what WAGES does? Co-op development also provides economic alternatives for marginalized groups. In co-ops, though, workers jointly own their business and run it democratically.

WAGES has found that for some people, being the sole owner of a business can mean wearing too many hats. But working with a group of equal partners can provide solidarity and support, transforming women’s working lives and expanding their vision of what they can accomplish.

Both models can work wonders in different situations, and each might be the perfect fit for different people. This gives us the exciting opportunity to support each other and work together for a common goal: transforming the lives of low-income, marginalized communities.

In fact, WAGES has looked directly to microenterprise to help our co-ops succeed. When our San Francisco co-op Home Green Home was still getting off the ground, we helped them take out a loan from the Opportunity Fund. With our combined efforts, HGH achieved full maturity last year. They are now a self-sustaining business employing seven proud worker-owners.

Good work, team.

Announcing The Co-op Readiness Institute

Elena — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 22:30:30 +0000

WAGES is delighted to announce that we are hosting a Co-op Readiness Institute! This two-day Institute will equip participants with tools to assess their readiness to start a worker co-op and take initial planning steps. This event is ideal for organizations that are considering co-ops as a strategy for developing local economies and grassroots leadership. Stay tuned for more information, including workshop schedules and application details. Please contact Elena Fairley with any questions at [email protected]">[email protected].

The Co-op Readiness Institute

Delivered by WAGES and partners in the field
September 29-30 in Oakland, CA

Emma's Eco-Clean Turns 15

WAGES — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 22:40:34 +0000

Emma’s Eco-Clean, one of the five co-ops that WAGES has incubated, reached an important landmark today: 15 years in operation!

Emma’s has come a long way since its launch in 1999. Each of the 27 devoted worker-owners is now receiving more benefits and larger profit distributions than ever. One worker-owner, Luz Romero, tells how her life has improved since joining Emma’s, “I was able to buy a house, to buy a car, to travel. I feel very proud to be here.”

Luz stands in front of Emma’s many awards for sustainable practices and community development.

Even more important than receiving a stable income, all of the women at Emma’s are continually learning how to be strong leaders, express their ideas, and be more economically savvy – skills that last a lifetime.

The Emma's Eco-Clean Team

We are so proud of this sustainable co-op! Emma's has grown a local economy, put people above profit, and withstood the test of time.

Women’s History Month: Anna Maria Chávez

WAGES — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 16:47:32 +0000

In commemoration of the profound impact that women have had, and continue to have, on our world, WAGES is celebrating Women’s History Month with a series of blog posts throughout March. We are highlighting important, courageous, and powerful Latinas in order to share this inspiration with you.

Anna Maria Chávez is the CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA and the first person of color to ever lead the organization. She is an award-winning community leader, and a self-proclaimed “champion for girls, cookie connoisseur, data junkie, proud mom, lawyer, and dance aficionado.” Her childhood was largely shaped by her participation with the Girl Scouts, as well as her faith. After growing up in a small town in Arizona, Chávez attended Yale, earning her undergraduate degree in American history and then went on to get her law degree from the University of Arizona.

Before working with the Girl Scouts of the USA, Chávez held multiple positions for both the federal government and the state of Arizona. In Arizona she worked for the Department of Economic Security and then became the deputy chief of staff for Urban Relations and Community Development. In this role she oversaw multiple initiatives, including those related to veteran affairs, faith-based communities, child protective services, and human services. When she chose to work with Girl Scouts of the USA, she was continuing her role as a public service advocate, but devoting herself more specifically to supporting young women.

Anna Maria Chávez with First Lady Michelle Obama during the inaugural summit of the Partnership
for a Healthier America, part of the First Lady's "Let's Move!" campaign.

In 2009 Chávez described the Girl Scouts as “empowering girls to take the lead in their own lives and make a difference in their communities and across the world.” She shares WAGES’ goal of tapping into the leadership potential of Latinas. In 2012 she co-wrote an article for the Huffington Post where she cites that young Latinas “have among the highest levels of self-confidence and aspirations for leadership.” She emphasizes the importance of supporting young Latina women so that those aspirations can become reality.

Anna Maria Chávez signs the pledge at Girl Scouts at 100: The Launch of ToGetHerThere.

Anna Maria Chávez is a role model for young women across the country, and her leadership has given many young Latinas inspiration. Chávez is one of thousands of women to celebrate and recognize during Women’s History Month. This is the last of four articles showcasing outstanding Latinas, but stay tuned for more news coming next week!

Aspen Institute to feature WAGES

WAGES — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 22:10:59 +0000

We are pleased to announce that WAGES will participate in a webinar hosted by the Aspen Institute’s Workforce Strategies Initiative. The webinar, “Social Enterprise in Workforce Development: Outcomes and Experiences from the Field,” will take place on April 9 at 11:00 AM (PDT). Register now!

Our Field Building and Communications Manager, Elena Fairley, will share lessons from WAGES’ 18+ years of experience in the co-op development field. She will present alongside Brenda Palms-Barber, CEO of Sweet Beginnings, LLC, and Christina Garcia, Managing Director of REDF, on their experiences starting, supporting and growing social enterprises.

This is the second webinar in the Aspen Institute’s four-part series on social enterprise. It’s a great opportunity for nonprofits, workforce development practitioners, and general audiences alike to learn more about the worker co-op model and other forms of social enterprise.

Register now
Social Enterprise in Workforce Development:
Outcomes and Experiences from the Field
April 9 at 11:00 AM (PDT)

Update: The webinar recording is now available online - Social Enterprises in Workforce Development

Women's History Month: Sonia Sotomayor

WAGES — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 00:32:43 +0000

In commemoration of the profound impact that women have had, and continue to have, on our world, WAGES is celebrating Women’s History Month with a series of blogs throughout March. Women have been at the forefront of history, advocating for the rights of humanity, changing the landscape of art and literature, and inspiring leadership in women and men alike. We are highlighting important, courageous, and powerful Latinas in order to share this inspiration with you.

Sonia Maria Sotomayor is the first ever Latina/o Supreme Court justice and the third woman to ever serve on the US Supreme Court. Born in the Bronx, NY to Puerto Rican parents, Sotomayor grew up in a modest household. Her mom, Celina, emphasized to her children the importance of going to college and studying hard. Sonia graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University and went on to get her JD from Yale.

Immediately after passing the bar exam, Sotomayor worked as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan. One of her early high profile cases was convicting the “Tarzan Murderer" in 1983. In addition to her work as a lawyer, she devoted her time to philanthropy, including serving on the board of directors for the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund. Politicians began to notice her extraordinary pro-bono work and as a result, President HW Bush nominated her to US District Court Justice for Southern New York City.

After climbing the ladder of government courts, Sonia Sotomayor was nominated to the Supreme Court of the United States in May of 2009 by President Obama. Her appointment received a lot of visibility in the media, and evoked strong opposition along political party lines with no Democrats dissenting and few Republicans confirming her to the seat. She was successfully sworn in on August 8, 2009. Sotomayor’s voting has consistently protected the rights of minority groups, including immigrants. In 2013 she published her inspiring memoir, My Beloved World, in both English and Spanish. On the very first page she writes, “People who live in difficult circumstances need to know that happy endings are possible.” She is right about that!

Sonia Sotomayor has set precedents for Latinas across the field of law. She is a model of supreme leadership and wisdom. Sotomayor is one of many women to celebrate and recognize during Women’s History Month. Keep an eye out for next week’s blog highlighting Anna Chávez.

Co-op Spotlight: Red Rabbit Bakery

WAGES — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 23:58:58 +0000

Have you ever really craved a vegan donut? No? Then you definitely haven’t heard of Red Rabbit Cooperative Bakery. Red Rabbit is a cooperative business in Austin, Texas that specializes in handcrafted yeast-raised vegan donuts. Not only do they bake and sell delicious vegan donuts and other baked goods made from primarily local and organic ingredients, but they are also a worker cooperative. This means no hierarchy with someone sitting on top dictating to the little guys. Their management structure is democratic, using a consensus-based decision making process to ensure that business runs smoothly. Red Rabbit says, “We place a great deal of importance on the well-being of our workers, our impact on the environment, and our connection to the local community.” This sounds quite familiar to all of us here at WAGES!

An important community partnership that Red Rabbit values is with Cooperation Texas, a worker cooperative development center. The involvement of Cooperation Texas was vital to the launch of Red Rabbit in 2011. Red Rabbit has also developed partnerships with local businesses, creating mutually benefitting relationships and spreading the donut love across Austin. Their products are available at coffee shops, groceries, and farmers markets throughout the city. One of their biggest partners is Wheatsville Food Co-op, another successful cooperative and the only retail food co-op in Texas.

Now back to the yummy part: Some of their tastiest donut flavors are maple glazed with walnuts, apple fritters, and Mexican chocolate glazed. They also have rotating specialty flavors like chai tea and death by chocolate. Are you craving a vegan donut yet? You might just have to plan a special trip to Austin.

Women's History Month: Isabel Allende

WAGES — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 19:13:23 +0000

Isabel Allende is a Chilean-American author and one of the first Latina authors to receive substantial recognition for her writing. She has established herself as a feminist, a political voice, a human rights advocate, and a leader in both Latin America and the United States. She writes, “Women of my generation in Chile were not supposed to be creative or successful.” She broke that status quo.

Allende always wanted to be a writer. After enduring a childhood in a firmly patriarchal household where she struggled through adolescence and was expected to conceal her feelings, she had plenty of inspiration for her writing. Her published work spans generations of monumental historical events, is influenced by her curious and unique upbringing, and reflects her commitment to social justice. She started her career as a writer in journalism, and has since published 20 books and earned 50 awards from countries all over the globe, among other accomplishments.

She is also a successful philanthropist. In 1996 Allende founded the Isabel Allende Foundation in memory of her daughter, Paula, who passed away at the early age of 28. Paula was known for her generosity; she spent much of her time volunteering in low-income communities of Venezuela and Spain. In reflection of Paula’s life, the foundation aims to empower and protect women and children and achieve social and economic justice for women. Through her foundation Allende has supported nonprofits in both the San Francisco Bay Area and Chile, including WAGES.

In an article on women’s rights Allende writes, “If this world is going to be a better place for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren, it will be women who make it so.”

Isabel Allende has not only profoundly shaped Latin American literature, but has also been a leader for the women’s rights movement in Latin American communities. She is one of many women to celebrate and recognize during Women’s History Month. Keep an eye out for next week’s blog highlighting Sonia Sotomayor.

Women's History Month: Dolores Huerta

WAGES — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 21:42:00 +0000

Women have been at the forefront of history, advocating for the rights of humanity, changing the landscape of art and literature, and inspiring leadership in women and men alike. In commemoration of the profound impact that women have on our world, WAGES is celebrating Women’s History Month with a series of blogs throughout March. We are highlighting important, courageous, and powerful Latinas in order to share a piece of our inspiration with you.

Dolores Huerta, a third generation Mexican-American, is a prominent leader and activist for workers’ and women’s rights in California and across the country. Raised by her mother, a socially conscious businesswoman, Huerta began advocating for low-income working class Californians at a young age.

In her earliest work she focused on the farming industry and farm workers rights. Her most notable achievement is co-founding the National Farmworkers Association, now known as United Farm Workers, with Cesar Chavez. Originally a workers’ rights organization, UFW now serves as a farmworkers labor union. Through UFW she led a national strike in order to improve worker’s rights in the grape farming industry. As well as supporting widespread movements and rights organizations, Huerta took part in policy advocacy. She was an avid proponent for legislation such as the 1960 bill allowing Californians to take their driver’s exam in Spanish and a 1963 extension to a federal assistance program for children of low-income families.

In September of 1988 Huerta was in San Francisco for a peaceful protest of George H.W. Bush’s proposed policies when she was violently beaten by members of the San Francisco police. She won her case against the SFPD and used the money she won to further support California’s farm workers. After surgery and a long recovery, Huerta returned to her advocacy work, beginning to focus more on women’s rights. She travelled the country on a highly successful campaign to encourage Latin American women to run for public office.

Now in her early 80s, Huerta continues her powerful work. She is president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, a nonprofit promoting leadership development for women and the working poor. She also serves on the board for People for the American Way, Consumer Federation of California, and Feminist Majority Foundation. She has been the recipient of multiple prestigious awards in recognition of her impact and leadership in the community as well. Most notably, she was an inaugural recipient of the US Presidential Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights in 1998 along with Mother Teresa, Margaret Thatcher, Rosa Parks, and Indira Gandhi.

Dolores Huerta is a prime example of leadership and courage in the face of adversity and social wrongs. She has devoted her life to fighting for equal rights and supporting those who face adversity. Huerta is one of many women to celebrate and recognize during Women’s History Month. Keep an eye out for next week’s blog highlighting Isabel Allende.

Bringing in-home work out of the shadows

WAGES — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 20:16:33 +0000

Domestic workers are some of the most undervalued members of our workforce and of our society. Despite doing the critical work of keeping homes clean and safe for families, the Economic Policy Institute reports that 64% of maids cannot make ends meet for their own families. Almost 30% live below the poverty line.

Housecleaners and other in-home workers are especially vulnerable to exploitation and neglect. Actress Misty Upham wrote that some clients “insist you work all day and then refuse to pay you a fair wage, or deny you your wages altogether; [some] fire you without cause or warning, or force you to work overtime with no additional compensation.”

While the tireless activism of workers and organizers like Mujeres Unidas y Activas has won the CA Domestic Worker Bill of Rights, the industry remains relatively unregulated. That can be devastating, particularly for groups like immigrants, Latin@s and women, who often turn to housecleaning in the first place because of the added struggles they face achieving economic mobility.

WAGES’ experience has shown that there is an alternative path for those at the very center of economic disempowerment. Our partnerships with low-income immigrant Latina women have resulted in cooperative businesses that value people over profit. But there’s much more work to be done.

For many domestic workers, Upham writes, “most painful are the employers who don’t seem to see you at all, as if you are not human, less than them.” One of the most important aspects of WAGES’ co-op model is creating communities of solidarity in the workplace—a big step toward transforming the lives of women entrepreneurs.

Let’s keep working to ensure that all people are valued and all work is fairly compensated.

Use entrepreneurial skills for social good.

WAGES — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 21:09:37 +0000

From day one of a WAGES co-op’s life, we’re planning for its graduation, when it becomes an independent and self-sustaining business. We develop the leadership and business skills of worker-owners, ultimately working ourselves out of our jobs. That’s what makes managing a co-op so challenging—and so uniquely rewarding.

At Natural Home Cleaning, 35 worker-owners participate in key business decisions and share all profits. Now, we are seeking a dynamic, committed and experienced General Manager with strong operations experience to oversee operations, finance, and marketing. Most importantly, we are seeking someone who has deep respect for and skill in working with immigrant Latinas, and a desire to help women achieve decent pay, benefits and pride in their work.

This position offers a unique opportunity to combine an entrepreneurial spirit with social and environmental values. Learn more and apply here.

Lupita's Story

WAGES — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 17:58:35 +0000

Lupita is a founding member of Eco-Care, a WAGES-incubated green cleaning co-op. We are telling her story in chapters throughout our annual appeal campaign. Please donate to help create more opportunities for women like Lupita. The impact of your gift will touch the lives of hardworking immigrant women, their families, and their communities.

Part 1: Life before WAGES

As a young woman, Lupita moved from Mexico to the U.S., leaving behind the only home she had ever known. She arrived with little more than her husband and the dream to have a better life.

She began working at an orange packing plant in California and barely earned enough money to pay for food and rent during the harvest season that lasted only seven months out of the year. Despite her best effort to make ends meet, her family was always struggling for the most basic things. Her situation worsened when she had to leave work to take care of her oldest son, who has Down syndrome. He required all of her time and attention, and she had to stay at home to care for him.

Lupita had to find a way to take care of her family. She heard about an opportunity from WAGES, an organization dedicated to building worker-owned businesses that create healthy, dignified jobs for low-income women. At the time, WAGES was recruiting founding members for a new cooperative business in Lupita’s community. She immediately knew that this was the right choice for her and her family, and signed up for what would be one of the most challenging and rewarding ventures in her life.

Lupita (second from left) promoting her co-op in its early years with fellow co-op members and allies.

Part 2: Founding Eco-Care

Lupita is proud to say that she is a founding member of Eco-Care, a successful women-owned green housecleaning business in Morgan Hill, California. In partnership with WAGES, Lupita and a group of eight dedicated immigrant Latinas developed and launched Eco-Care back in 2002. WAGES provided Lupita and her co-founders with training, coaching, operational support, and technical assistance to help make Eco-Care a thriving, self-sustaining business that creates economic stability for its members. Lupita has been at Eco-Care ever since.

She describes the early years with pride, saying, “We worked cooperatively and with a lot of enthusiasm, selling tamales and hosting garage sales in order to raise the start-up capital we needed to open Eco-Care. It all started from there.”

From the very beginning, Lupita liked being a worker-owner. She enjoyed the challenge of co-owning a business, working in an office, and helping to make business decisions. The co-op empowered her and made her feel independent. Even with the many obstacles that come with starting a business, she gained satisfaction in being a worker-owner at Eco-Care, and being a role model for her children.

Lupita (center) accepting a certificate in acknowledgement of her leadership at Eco-Care.

Part 3: Lupita's hard work pays off

When Lupita first joined Eco-Care 12 years ago, she worked as a housecleaner. Over time, she built her leadership and business savvy, and took on more and more responsibilities. Now, she manages the co-op’s operations, speaks English, interacts with clients, and uses QuickBooks and other computer programs—all things she never thought possible.

When prompted to reflect on the hardest part being a worker-owner, Lupita shared that learning office skills has been a huge challenge. When she began, she had little schooling, no relevant training, and little working knowledge. Through training and coaching from WAGES, Lupita has now mastered this role. Today, she looks back on it as one of her greatest accomplishments. Working in the Eco-Care office has brought her great satisfaction and expanded her vision of what she is capable of achieving.

Reflecting on how far she has come since she moved to the U.S., Lupita says, “I didn’t have a lot of schooling, and I felt like I couldn’t do very much here. But now I feel like I have accomplished a great deal and I am very proud and content. I am so thankful for this co-op and this opportunity to grow and learn and help my family.”

Lupita, hard at work in the Eco-Care office.

Part 4: The benefits of cooperativism

For Lupita, the best part of co-owning a cooperative business is the “apoyo mutuo” - or mutual support - that members show to one another. Eco-Care hosts monthly meetings and events that build camaraderie and cooperativism. Many of the members have deep attachments to the co-op, and most have stayed at Eco-Care for many years, including three of the founding members, who have been at the co-op since its founding in 2002.

In Lupita’s words, “Everyone at the co-op has their own personality, their own way of being, but we are all united to help and support one another. For me, it’s the special moments.”

Lupita is grateful for her fellow co-op members who are there for her. She strongly believes that as Latinas, they must help one another in everything they do, as they seek opportunities to move forward.

“Before helping to found Eco-Care, I thought that I wouldn’t be able to achieve much more in my life. But thanks to WAGES, I began asking questions and became active and involved. And that’s not just true for me. Other Latinas like me have an amazing opportunity to feel secure and proud once they’ve benefited from the services that WAGES provides.”

Lupita (standing, 4th from left) with her fellow Eco-Care worker-owners.

Part 5: A healthy and happy Lupita

When she learned about the opportunity to become a founding member at Eco-Care, Lupita was immediately drawn to the business’s commitment to worker health. At the time, she had a 5-year-old son with Down syndrome, and knew that toxic chemicals can worsen medical issues. Eco-Care’s focus on using only eco-friendly products was critical to her, especially when so many other companies were using harmful products.

Lupita no longer cleans houses—she now manages the operations of the co-op—but she is still as passionate as ever about the health benefits of non-toxic cleaning products. “It’s a circle of helping us, our clients, and the environment. Thanks to the help of WAGES we have a way of protecting our health in a natural, environmental way. It has changed my mentality completely, in what I eat, and in what I use.”

Not only has the co-op created a healthy work environment for Lupita, but it has also allowed her to take care of her family’s health needs. “Two years ago my co-op supported my request for a leave of absence when my second son was diagnosed with cancer. My husband’s employer, on the other hand, threatened to decrease his pay and reduce his hours if he took a few hours off of work for important doctor’s appointments. There is just no comparison. To be supported by a stable job with good pay and benefits is a dream.”

It is this ongoing support that makes her co-op a second family she can count on.

Lupita with her husband, daughter, and three sons.

Part 6: Building a strong family

For Lupita, the security of a stable, dignified job has meant that she can create a better life for her family. When describing her greatest achievement, Lupita joyfully shared, “Being a mother and supporting my children in their dreams to receive an education.”

Growing up in Mexico, Lupita did not have the chance to receive much schooling. Her experience at Eco-Care helped her realize the importance of education, and fueled her desire to help her four children to do well in school.

With pride, she reflected on her second oldest son, saying that he always did his best and got good grades. Even as a young child, he would say ‘ I’m going to achieve whatever I want to.’ She had the honor of seeing him graduate from UC San Diego with a degree in Psychology recently, and is supporting her two youngest children in their educational aspirations as well.

Lupita’s commitment to her business reflects her focus on the future. In her words, “I can think of no better way to raise my children than to begin by sharing with them the knowledge that their mother is proud and secure and that she works to preserve the world that they will inherit,” she said.

Lupita (left) at her son's college graduation.

Matching gift offer will double your support!

WAGES — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 17:47:57 +0000

If you’ve never given to WAGES before, there couldn’t be a better time: this year, new supporters’ gifts will be matched 100% by the Sobrato Family Foundation! That's twice as much impact for women, and twice as much co-op growth.

We’re already halfway toward our goal of raising $30,000 from individuals this year. A gift of any size helps bring economic security to more women and their families—especially when it’s matched.

And if you’ve donated to WAGES before, any increase in your gift will be matched too!

Our matching gift challenge will help us meet our goals this year. Join now, and make your support count double!

Congratulations, David!

WAGES — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 20:06:59 +0000

We’re proud of our Director of Cooperative Development, David Smathers Moore, for being reelected to the Board of the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives this year. As the U.S.’s national membership organization for worker cooperatives, USFWC supports and advocates for co-ops and their members.

David is also Board President for the Democracy at Work Institute, a new nonprofit organization affiliated with the USFWC that expands cooperative development to economically and socially marginalized communities.

We’re happy for David and thrilled to be part of such a robust co-op ecosystem!

Join us to transform immigrant women's lives

Meche Sansores — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 21:23:34 +0000

Dear Friends,

This holiday season, we want to express our gratitude to the incredible community of supporters who help us create entrepreneurship opportunities for low-income women.

For over 18 years, WAGES has built five worker-owned green housecleaning cooperatives that sustain healthy, dignified jobs for low-income women. As a result, these women gain economic security and are able to support their families. Next year, we will bring life-changing opportunity to more low-income women through expanded programs, including a new food co-op and increased resources for the co-op field.

Today, I invite you to join us in creating a better life for immigrant women by making a gift to WAGES. Will you consider a gift of $250, $100, or $50 this year? With your support, we can take WAGES’ impact to the next level.

Lupita, a member at WAGES’ Morgan Hill co-op, can attest to the deep impact of our programs: “To be supported by a stable job with good pay and benefits is a dream.”

Here’s what your gift will help make possible for women like Lupita:

Sustainable, women-owned businesses. Our co-ops sustain over 100 job and earn nearly $3.3 million each year!
Healthy, dignified jobs with good earnings & a range of benefits. Members’ personal incomes double and triple after joining!
Asset building opportunities. Members of mature co-ops have average assets of over $9,000.
Women’s entrepreneurship & leadership. In ESL, computer literacy, business operations, and more!

Our goal is to raise $30,000 from donors like you this year to bring powerful entrepreneurship opportunities to more hardworking immigrant women next year. Please take a moment to make a donation today.

Thank you so much for your generosity. This work is only possible with the support of our amazing donor family.

In gratitude,

Meche Sansores
Executive Director
Women's Action to Gain Economic Security

WAGES' Executive Director featured in Truth-Out

WAGES — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 08:00:00 +0000

WAGES is highlighted in Truthout!

We’re proud to help low-income women become cooperative business owners so that they can earn higher incomes, receive better benefits, and spend more time with their families. WAGES’ Executive Director, Meche Sansores, has plenty to say about the benefits of democratic worker-ownership for women.

Thanks to Truthout for highlighting our work creating dignified jobs for women! The author, Taliesin Nyala, is a worker-owner and mother—so she knows how important it is. Read her article, "Work Should Adapt to Mothers: Human Shapes Don't Fit Inhuman Holes."

WAGES' 6th co-op is in development... in the food industry!

WAGES — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 20:50:44 +0000

Last year, WAGES announced our plans to open a new cooperative in an industry beyond our green housecleaning niche. Since then we’ve explored 20+ industries with the potential to create good jobs for low-income women. Now, we are delighted to share some great news with the WAGES community: we are bringing our high-impact co-op model to the food industry!

WAGES is currently developing a co-op that will sell Latin American-inspired food products. This co-op will allow a new group of immigrant women to become entrepreneurs and access all the powerful opportunities that co-op membership provides, including personal and professional development, asset-building, and increased earnings.

Leading this venture is WAGES' Food Co-op General Manager, Jessica Morris (featured below). Jessica brings over 10 combined years in the food industry and a wide array of experiences in the opening and management of restaurants and small food businesses. She has enjoyed learning technical skills and empowering others to become more involved with their food systems, and is thrilled to bring her passions together to launch and manage WAGES' newest co-op.

But we’re not building this co-op alone! Our partners at La Cocina, a San Francisco kitchen incubator, will be providing their expertise and capacity in the food industry, including use of their state-of-the-art commercial kitchen space, food entrepreneurship assistance, market expertise, and recruitment assistance.

We are currently in the product research and recipe testing phase, and are considering products such as tamales, cookies, and paletas. After we complete the research and business planning phase, we will start recruitment with the goal to have founding members in the spring of 2014. To learn more about our plans and our progress, view our timeline.

We’ll keep you up to date during this exciting new chapter of our work and are already eager to share the co-op’s food with you!

Bill Moyers shares WAGES' work

WAGES — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Bill Moyers is spreading the word about WAGES!

We take pride in the transformative impact our programs have on women and their families in the Bay Area. But have you ever wondered how far that impact could go? "10 Ways to Democratize Our Broken Economy" by activists Gar Alperovitz and Keane Bhatt lays out a roadmap to national equality, citing WAGES' model as an inspiring example. Bill Moyers was so taken with their ideas, he highlighted the article on his website.

Thanks to Bill Moyers for helping our imapct spread even further! You can support our work bringing economic opportunity to immigrant women by making a gift to WAGES today.

Three Cheers for WAGES' Internship and Fellowship Program!

Lauren — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 22:35:03 +0000

As you may have noticed, over the past year WAGES has expanded its newsfeed and social media presence. But did you know that often the voice behind the curtain was an intern’s? My name is Lauren Mueller, and for the last year I’ve written for WAGES’ newsfeed and social media as WAGES’ Communications Intern. But today I’m coming out from behind the curtain and am writing a more personal story about WAGES’ exemplary internship and fellowship program!

A haven to those floundering in an inauspicious job market, the WAGES internship and fellowship program equips students and recent graduates with valuable skills and useful work-experience, in an inclusive and empowering work-environment. To paint the picture more fully, I’d like to introduce to you Christian Campos, WAGES’ Fundraising and Development Intern, Nalleli Sandoval, our Salesforce Intern, and Kathy Sun, our Model Dissemination Fellow. Christian, Nalleli, and Kathy joined me at WAGES this summer and together we have tackled substantive projects essential to WAGES’ development as an organization.

More specifically, we’ve made lasting contributions to WAGES by expanding the organization’s communications and media outreach, contributing to strong donor relationships, facilitating WAGES’ implementation of Salesforce, and laying the groundwork for the forthcoming Field Building program.

But if the WAGES internship and fellowship program is a place to develop useful professional skills, it more importantly provides a community of inspiration and support. “My favorite part about being a WAGES intern is being a part of the WAGES community,” Christian observes. “You know you have something special when you truly care for those you are working with . . . They have inspired me, taught me new lessons, while always making me smile.”

For myself, the WAGES community has been a warm and welcoming place stimulating creativity and encouraging resourcefulness. I have often noticed a sense of motivation and enthusiasm driving me to work in the morning, a feeling compounded by a noticeable rise in my overall self-confidence.

Nalleli, Christian, Kathy, and I will complete our stay at WAGES at the end of this summer, clearing the way for the next group of interns and fellows to share in the WAGES experience. We are sorry to leave, but I think I speak for all of us when I say that our experiences at WAGES will inspire and drive us long after we leave — influencing our career paths and future decisions for years to come.

Supporting Personal and Business growth through Popular Education

Monica — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 16:50:02 +0000

Many people ask us, ‘how does WAGES achieve such success in growing its cooperative businesses?’ In short, the behind-the-scenes work we do with members to build their skills is integral. We have the privilege of working with our members holistically in order to promote the healthy growth of businesses as well as provide opportunities for personal transformations.

Take one example: Our youngest co-op, Natural Home Cleaning Contra-Costa (NHC-CC), is currently engaged in an intensive internship aimed at building the toolkits of these members with the goal that they will be fully equipped to take over key aspects of co-op business operations from WAGES. Members participate in trainings for a minimum of six hours a week, with trainings aiming to develop the business, allow space for personal development and reflection, and strengthen group cohesion.

WAGES’ training model uses popular education methods to work with members on business growth, policy formation, positive communication, personal asset building, and many other topics. Popular education is both a philosophy and teaching methodology that aims to build a more just society through empowering historically disempowered people. Learning through popular education is meant to draw on and validate participant’s previous experiences and existing knowledge, and connect their experiences to larger realities. Additionally, popular education reconstructs educational environments through using non-traditional teaching methods, as traditional classrooms have often been oppressive environments for groups who have lacked power.

At NHC-CC every lesson we teach begins with our member’s previous experiences; when viewed through this lens even complicated topics, such as business finances, become accessible to members regardless of the level of education they’ve attained. The ground we cover in the internship ranges from topics as tangible as finance management, to ideas as abstract and philosophical as the distinction between a leader and an authority. In addition, WAGES’ training builds in time for self-reflection, a luxury rarely afforded to people with busy schedules and lives. Members have shared stories of violations of dignity as well as stories of hope, all of which they are able to consider when crafting their hopes for themselves, their businesses, their children, and their communities at large. Building our members’ business skills is, of course, important, but as important is our members’ understanding of their own values and dreams, and their self-perceptions.

We are wrapping up our four-month internship period with NHC-CC, and so far the successes are evident in both business operations and in members’ personal development. Members have been proactive in their decisions to ask WAGES to step away from certain business operations, as their skills have grown. They have crafted new policies that direct scheduling and member evaluation. Furthermore all members have had time to build goals for their lives outside of the co-op, and through careful introspection many members say they feel more open and confident than they have in many years.

After a recent lesson on knowing how and when to ask for a reference on YELP, one of the members came to the next class proudly exclaiming, “After we cleaned one new client’s house, she was so happy that she cried! I immediately asked if she could write us a YELP review, because I knew she’d write a good one!” This member developed the confidence to communicate in English as well as the understanding that she is one of the most powerful assets to her business’s growth, client referrals, and assuming responsibility in growing co-op sales.

There are many environments in which popular education would support individuals in their growth, but this form of education is particularly relevant in the context of a cooperative with immigrant members. It is undeniable that many of our members have struggled due to societal barriers including language, and racial and gender discrimination, yet they are hopeful and open to learning. Popular education assumes that it is possible to change the reality of a group and reduce societal inequities; principles WAGES’ co-ops are built around.

This guest article was written by Monica Balanoff during her time with WAGES as a New Sector Fellow.

Aug 14: Co-op Incubation Webinar

WAGES — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 17:17:31 +0000

Thinking about incubating a worker co-op, but not sure if it’s right for you and your organization? We can help!

Tune in on August 14^th (10-11am) for an engaging interview-style webinar with WAGES’ Executive and Associate Directors, Meche Sansores and Alex Armenta, as they discuss incubating sustainable worker co-ops.

Meche and Alex will:

• Explain how the worker co-op model can address some of the challenges to creating economic opportunity in low-income communities
• Provide key information to help you or your organization decide whether to incubate a worker co-op
• Present the next steps you can take to explore worker co-op projects further

Incubating Sustainable Worker Co-ops
Wednesday, August 14^th
10:00 - 11:00am PDT
REGISTER HERE FOR THE WEBINAR!

Nonprofit Webinars will host this webinar. If you are unable to attend, we encourage you to visit our technical assistance web page for a webinar recording, self-assessment, and a guide to creating community-based worker co-ops.

Story of Hope: Milagros

WAGES — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 17:07:07 +0000

Two years ago Milagros changed her life for love, moving to California to marry her husband. Despite having a college degree and many years of experience as a teacher in Puerto Rico, Milagros found herself cleaning office buildings for work in California, as she cannot yet speak English. Eager to fulfill her dream of prosperity, Milagros searched for an opportunity that would allow her to apply her determination, hard work, and capabilities in an environment that built her skills and provided her with opportunities to learn English.

When she heard of the WAGES-incubated co-op in her community, Natural Home Cleaning Contra Costa (NHC-CC), she was thrilled to find that the co-op sought to fulfill the potential of immigrant women, just like her. She soon joined the co-op, and became a co-owner at NHC-CC. To address some of the challenges as an immigrant, as well as the challenges presented by business ownership, Milagros is currently participating in WAGES’ intensive training program and developing skills in leadership, entrepreneurship, and of course, English! Through this program she has gained confidence both as a facilitator and a public speaker, and has developed her English skills using Rosetta Stone.

As an intelligent, educated, and hard-working woman, stymied by a language barrier, Milagros understands how worker co-ops like NHC-CC provide a great opportunity for Latin-American immigrants to move their lives forward in the face of overarching barriers. “I want there to be more companies like this one,” she explains about NHC-CC, “to help those people who come [to the States for work]… and have a two-fold struggle because they’re Latino.”

Looking to the future, Milagros is excited to continue learning English and to grow more every day, both as a person and in the workplace. She appreciates that the co-op members are all striving to grow their business together, and how they help each other to do their best. Milagros now feels a greater sense of stability, camaraderie, and trust with her new fellow business owners. Above all, as she works to build her new life in California, she eagerly anticipates the not-so-distant day when she, and other immigrants like herself, will at last be able to prosper and thrive.

Create Co-op Opportunities: Take our survey

WAGES — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 23:36:15 +0000

WAGES is asking for the help and input of our partners, allies, and community leaders working to increase the economic security of underserved populations.

To assess the capacity and needs of organizations that may have the potential to incubate successful, sustainable worker co-ops, we have developed a 10-15 minute survey. This survey is designed for community-based organizations including (but not limited to) day labor centers, workforce development organizations, asset-building organizations, community organizations, and economic development centers that are rooted in immigrant and other communities facing limited opportunities in the economy.

Your answers to this survey will enable us to design a greatly expanded technical assistance program that will empower organizations across the U.S. to successfully build worker co-ops in the communities that need them most. By taking this survey you’ll help create real economic empowerment in our communities and contribute to the development of more democratically-controlled workplaces throughout the country.

After 18 years in the cooperative development business, we at WAGES know that worker co-ops can radically alter economic success outcomes for disadvantaged workers. At the co-ops we incubate, we've consistently seen the immigrant Latina members double or triple their incomes, enjoy long-term, stable work with benefits, and accumulate significant business equity assets - nearly $9,000 on average as of 2012. Co-ops can yield healthy, democratically-run workplaces, social cohesion, and leadership opportunities for worker-owners, strengthening the community at large and enhancing the quality of life for all.

We know that through mutual collaboration we can help bring this powerful model to more communities in the U.S. So help us help you! Tell us about your capacity and needs and together we can design a quality technical assistance program bringing opportunities to far greater numbers of immigrant and marginalized workers, in your community and others.

For more information, please contact Elena Fairley at [email protected]">[email protected] or 510 451 3100 ex: 208.

As a token of our gratitude, all survey participants will be entered to will either $500 cash or 8-10 hours of expert co-op technical assistance advising from WAGES staff (valued at $1,000).

UPDATE: OUR SURVEY IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO HELOISA GALVAO OF BRAZILIAN WOMEN'S GROUP FOR WINNING OUR RAFFLE!

Building Co-ops: What Does it Look Like?

WAGES — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:42:53 +0000

WAGES builds worker-owned green business that create healthy dignified jobs for low-income women, and we are always looking for new and creative ways to tell people about it. To illustrate our model, we recently created two new, beautiful publications: a 2012 Year In Review, and an Overview and Results.

Want to know more about WAGES’ latest innovations? Want to see an infographic of how our co-op members grow? Download these two publications, and learn more about the dignified opportunities WAGES is building in our community.

Keep reading to learn more about WAGES’ co-op model and our accomplishments in 2012.

WAGES develops viable, local businesses that are vehicles for opportunity, empowering low-income immigrant Latinas to become entrepreneurs and achieve financial security.

In an innovative new move for WAGES, we laid the groundwork to bring our co-op model to an industry beyond green cleaning. After a year of research we have decided to create a specialty food co-op! Our new co-op will sell masa-based products, such as tamales, tortillas, and sopes. More details to come soon!

Furthermore, we enhanced our field-building focus by launching an online co-op development toolkit and shared our co-op model with over 400 people.

But enough about WAGES. We are also thrilled to report that the five co-ops that WAGES has built displayed great perseverance and entrepreneurial savvy in a challenging economy. New worker-owners at mature co-ops saw their median personal incomes increase by 158% and WAGES’ co-op network sustained 102 jobs.

Meanwhile, the median business equity for co-op members was $9,219: a remarkable sum considering the initial investment was only $400!

Our two youngest co-ops achieved particularly impressive growth this year:

o Home Green Home San Francisco graduated from our incubation program and increased its sales by 25%. It is currently laying the groundwork to introduce healthcare benefits to co-op members and expand its membership!

o Natural Home Cleaning Contra Costa increased sales by 15%, developed a solid operational base, launched a brand new website, and even won an award for Leadership and Sustainability from Sustainable Contra Costa!

To learn more, download WAGES’ 2012 Year In Review, and an Overview and Results, and stay up to date on our community economic development work!

Welcome, David!

WAGES — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:52:19 +0000

WAGES is pleased to announce that David Smathers Moore has joined the WAGES team as the Director of Cooperative Development! David's background and commitment to the co-op development field will help WAGES build strong worker-owned cooperatives and expand our model to more hardworking women. An important addition to WAGES' team, David will oversee the development and implementation of WAGES’ co-op core curriculum and coordinate WAGES’ co-op development programs.

David brings more than 20 years of experience in social justice and economic development work. A native of the Bay Area, he lived in Chicago in the 1990s, where he worked at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Center for Labor and Community Research. It was during this time that he made his first visit to the Mondragon cooperatives in the Basque region of Spain and was inspired to dedicate himself to the development of worker-owned cooperatives. In 2004 he founded the TeamWorks cleaning cooperative and worked as a member-owner doing house cleaning during the first year of operations to understand the challenges of this industry from the workers’ perspective and to help get the new cooperative past its break-even point. In 2011 he was part of the team that launched the TeamWorks landscape cooperative.

As part of his preparation for cooperative leadership, David was trained as a community organizer by the San Jose-based organization PACT, an affiliate of the PICO national network. He is particularly interested in the challenge and promise of adapting popular education (in the tradition of Paulo Freire and Myles Horton et al) to the demands of successfully managing worker cooperatives.

David is a member of the board of directors of the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives (USFWC) and is in the final stages of his candidacy for certification as a peer adviser in the Democracy at Work Network (DAWN). He lives in San Jose with his wife, Kim, and daughter, Magdalena.

We are thrilled to have David on board! To reach out and say hello, email David at [email protected]">[email protected]

Greener Clean, Greener Spring

WAGES — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:01:53 +0000

It is perhaps a bit ironic that the time of year we celebrate Earth Month coincides with the time of year we also tend to increase our pollution. For many people here in the Bay Area, spring cleaning is a natural way to usher in the much-awaited change in season. Unfortunately, as noted by Sharon Gosselin of The Clean Water Program, “spring cleaning often leads to careless use and disposal of common household products.”

Many of us probably don’t think twice when we rinse down the bathtub after scrubbing it with bleach, or water the lawn after coating it with fertilizer. But such inattentiveness with the products we use in our living spaces contributes heavily to water pollution in our own backyard. Commonplace cleaning, polishing, fertilizing, and painting products are infused with pollutants that can contaminate Bay Area waters. Such chemicals make their way from our homes into the San Francisco Bay via storm drains, sewers, household drains, and landfills.

This leads to a growing issue with pollution in the SF Bay Area. As a publication by the Berkeley Department of Public Works has observed, “Each year, more than 85 billion gallons of untreated, contaminated water flows into the Bay from Alameda County storm drain sewers alone.”

Moreover, even when waters are treated for pollution, many unregulated widely-used hormone-disrupting chemicals still make their way into the Bay. In 2002, a nationwide study of man-made chemicals and hormones in 139 American streams revealed that 80% of streams tested were contaminated with these chemicals. Such chemicals are known to disrupt the hormone systems of both animals and people, and pose a threat to local aquatic ecosystems, and fisheries. Consumers are also at risk as they can be further exposed to hormone-disrupting chemicals by eating contaminated fish.

With all these health and environmental risks linked to the improper use and disposal of common household cleaning products in the Bay Area, it becomes more than just good sense to engage in green cleaning practices. It becomes a duty!

Luckily, there are numerous ways to help prevent contamination of Bay Area waters through green cleaning and sustainable living. When shopping for household cleaning products, you can read labels to avoid toxic ingredients. You can also create safe substitutes for off-the-shelf cleaning products using baking soda, salt, borax, vinegar, or elbow grease.

This Earth Month, let’s be cognizant of the pollutants we could be releasing into the environment, and strive to educate ourselves and others about the dangers of careless spring cleaning.

For more tips on how to shop for environmentally friendly products, and how to best use and dispose of them, check out this press release on the City of Berkeley, Department of Public Works webpage.

Why Co-ops?

WAGES — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:14:43 +0000

This Earth Month, we at WAGES thought now would be a great time to reflect on why co-ops are so important to us.

For many, the word “co-op” conjures images of counterculture communes populated by bohemian college students and aging hippies. But as is the case with most stereotypes, little of this is grounded in reality. As many people are now learning, the cooperative model has provided countless new opportunities to workers, consumers, and business owners from many different backgrounds and creeds.

Simply put, a co-op is defined as a democratic organization controlled and owned by its members. Co-ops come in many shapes and sizes: there are worker co-ops, consumer co-ops, producer co-ops, financial co-ops, and housing co-ops, with membership ranging from three members in the smallest, to over a million in the largest.

Among these different types, worker co-ops are especially gaining traction as a high-impact approach to community and economic development. The worker-cooperative is a fantastic economic innovation that has the potential to improve the lives of the less fortunate. Low-wage workers such as cleaners, farm hands, cab drivers, and restaurant employees are especially likely to benefit from the cooperative business model as co-owning a business can be an accessible asset-building approach, and can help to provide such individuals with a pathway out of poverty.

Because every member of a worker-cooperative controls the business democratically, worker-owners are able to review the company budget, share profits, set their own company policies, and determine the benefits provided. This often translates to asset-building opportunities and benefit packages that are well above industry standards.

Co-ops are so much more than a job. They are opportunities for ongoing education and skill development enabling workers to build brighter futures for their families. With increased control over their work-schedules, members of worker-cooperatives can organize their lives around family needs. For example, they can schedule time to care for a sick elder, or take their children to school.

But perhaps most importantly, in addition to improving the lives of countless individuals and their families, the cooperative business model is especially integral to improving entire communities. Co-ops keep money and jobs within the local population, and empower community-members to help each other build a more just, equitable, and democratic local economy. Because the co-op members earn the increased money and benefits, co-ops do not evoke a sense of charity, but rather empower their workers to help themselves.

During times of economic hardship, worker cooperatives have actually proved more resilient than other small businesses since members pull together in solidarity to share the economic burden. The mutually supportive environment and collective pride of business ownership contributes to co-ops’ remarkable survival rate, which a 2008 study suggested is twice as high as other enterprises over a ten-year period.

Thus, in these challenging economic times, we at WAGES believe policymakers and community organizers should take note of the cooperative business model. To assist other groups around the country interested in building worker-owned co-ops, WAGES has created a technical assistance guide and compiled a host of other resources to help facilitate the growth of co-ops. As U.S. unemployment continues to soar, this up-and-coming business model promises to empower individuals, strengthen communities, and raise disadvantaged populations above the poverty line.

Empower Women, Sustain the Earth

WAGES — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 22:26:30 +0000

WAGES’ founding co-op members are true environmental pioneers, using non-toxic cleaning products before anyone knew what they were. For 15+ years, our worker-owners have prevented thousands of pounds of toxins from entering our communities, and educated countless people on the benefits of green cleaning. With Earth Day approaching on April 22nd, help us come together as daughters of mother earth to celebrate women’s innovation in sustainability!

Join our Earth Month Campaign today to help us reach 1,000 Facebook fans and raise $2,500 for our green business programs! Your contribution moves us closer to a dignified, sustainable world for all of us.

How you can grow green, women-owned businesses in the Bay Area:

1) Like our page, and trigger a $5 Donation to WAGES! Help us grow our Facebook family to 1,000 fans. Like our page now, and our Board of Directors will match it with a $5 donation to WAGES (up to $700 total)! You can also change your profile picture to match ours in support of women's empowerment and sustainability!

2) Support our green business development programs by making a gift today. Every donation gets us on our way!

In addition, starting this April, we’re expanding our green practices and moving our communications online. Aside from occasional mailings, we’ll be in touch through email to conserve resources – and protect the planet!

In the future you'll see more frequent emails from WAGES as we go greener. But we promise – we won’t flood your inbox, and you can unsubscribe anytime.

If you'd like to update your email, please contact: [email protected]">[email protected].

WAGES Webinar Recording Now Available

WAGES — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 00:45:19 +0000

Did you miss WAGES' webinar? Want to watch it again? Good news, the webinar is now available for viewing!

Watch the recording to learn what it takes for nonprofit, community-based organizations to develop a worker-owned cooperative successfully. Webinar participants will learn best practices in grassroots economic development and gain access to additional cooperative development resources.

Participants will learn:

• The complex relationship between nonprofit incubators and the cooperatives they build, from pre-launch through maturity
• The challenges and opportunities of cooperative development in low-income communities, and how to determine the feasibility of cooperative development
• The availability of resources and tools to help organizers develop a worker-owned cooperative

The webinar was hosted by the National Cooperative Business Association, and was delivered by WAGES on January 23, 2013.

WAGES Cited in YES! Magazine

WAGES — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 18:00:54 +0000

For our dedication to promoting cooperative development, WAGES was recently cited in an article published by YES! Magazine titled “6 Ways to Fuel the Cooperative Takeover.” In an in-depth look at the rise of the Co-op movement, the article lists 6 ways for organizations to help move the co-op economy forward.

Highlighted among organizations working to promote cooperative development, WAGES is presented as an inspiration for those looking to learn more about how co-ops work, why they’re important, how to support them, and how to start and manage one.

The 6 strategies are as follows:

Find Money
Convert to a Co-op
Hook Up with Big Partners
Be Co-op Curious
Shop Co-op
Make Co-op Friendly Laws

The article also calls attention to ShiftChange, a co-op documentary, and Co-opoly: The Game of Cooperatives, both of which feature WAGES.

To read the online article further please click here.

Job Announcement: Food Co-op General Manager

WAGES — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:57:22 +0000

Women’s Action to Gain Economic Security (WAGES) seeks a dynamic and committed entrepreneur possessing strong food industry business growth experience to manage the launch of a cooperative business that will produce a specialty food product. The planning and development of this new cooperative is being managed by WAGES as it goes through incubation at La Cocina. The General Manager has primary direct responsibility for product, business, and member skill development, and will have collaborative responsibility for finance, personnel, marketing, and customer service. This position offers a unique opportunity to combine entrepreneurial spirit, social and sustainable community values, and a passion for great food – in the context of WAGES’ and La Cocina’s innovative and proven economic development models.

We are seeking someone who:

· Is an effective leader who brings out the best in others.

· Has significant culinary product development experience and an excellent eye and taste for quality food that will generate customer loyalty.

· Has the drive and capacity to create the efficient production processes necessary to grow this new cooperative quickly and create opportunities for more women to join the cooperative.

The Position: The General Manager has primary responsibility for the launch and growth of the new cooperative, leading it through a three-year “incubation phase” that culminates with the co-op’s graduation from WAGES’ and La Cocina’s programs. S/he reports to WAGES’ Executive Director and will serve as the primary liaison between WAGES, La Cocina, and the founding members of the cooperative. This position is fulltime and requires availability for night and weekend activities related to member training and business operations needs.

For more information, please see our full job announcement.

WAGES Featured in National Forum on Poverty

WAGES — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:08:53 +0000

One of the leading forums addressing poverty in the U.S., Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity, published a commentary on Monday highlighting WAGES as a resilient model with the capacity to lift low-income individuals out of poverty —even in the midst of an economic downturn.

The commentary, written by WAGES’ Executive Director, Meche Sansores, details the financial, professional, and personal benefits afforded by the the worker-owned cooperative business model. She notes that,

• Co-owning a business can be a pathway out of poverty and an accessible asset-building approach for low-wage workers.

• Co-ops are resilient. Research suggests that the survival rate of co-ops is twice as high as other enterprises over a ten-year period.

• Co-ops are an extremely high-impact approach to asset-building and skill-building. Yet, they are underutilized—there are only 300 worker-co-ops in the U.S., and only a portion of them explicitly serves low-income individuals.

Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity is a leading non-partisan initiative bringing together diverse political, policy, and advocacy perspectives to find solutions to poverty in America. It has gained recognition from public figures of all political stripes who write for the website’s exclusive commentary section, participate in webcasts, and rely on the one-stop shop website for the latest news, research, data and commentary about poverty and opportunity.

We are very excited to see co-ops as a part of the national dialogue on poverty alleviation. We think there is a need in our communities for more worker co-ops and we hope to see more and more develop across the country!

Read the article, “Worker-Owned Cooperatives—A Resilient Model for Grassroots Economic Development” on Spotlight’s website today.

Hear US Roar! Friday's International Women's Day

WAGES — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:38:29 +0000

Since its inauguration in 1911, International Women’s Day has highlighted the efforts and achievements of women across the globe, and helped to raise awareness for their continuing struggles for equity and inclusion. Now celebrated annually on March 8^th in thousands of events held in countries ranging from Afghanistan to Zambia, this day of celebration sees both men and women honoring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with the respect and appreciation they deserve.

One of the best things about International Women’s Day is how it can be celebrated in so many different ways. The San Francisco Bay Area offers a cornucopia of events, performances, rallies, and other activities for you to take part in as you stand up in solidarity with the women of the world. Check out these listing below for some of the ways you can celebrate this weekend.

Also, keep in mind that you can always show your support of women and women’s empowerment by donating to WAGES!

BAY-AREA INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY EVENTS:

SAN FRANCISCO

• In San Francisco, the International Visitor Leadership Program is hosting a community mixer. Connect with leading women and men working on women’s leadership around the globe at the Hilton in the San Francisco Financial District 750 Kearny Street on March 8th.

• The Vagina Monologues are playing all weekend at the Women’s Building of San Francisco 3543 18^th Street in San Francisco. Tickets are $20-$35.

OAKLAND

• In Oakland the Show and Tell Concept Shop gallery is hosting an International Women’s day mixer from 7-9pm at the Show and Tell Concept Shop 1300 Clay St. #160 Oakland. They invite women entrepreneurs, creative, small business owners, artists, community activists, and friends to celebrate together at this informal mixer.

BERKELEY

• Golden Threads Productions in Berkeley presents a theatrical celebration of women's day titled What Do Women Say? featuring Leyla Modirzadeh’s solo-con-puppet comedy, excerpts from Kathryn Haddad’s futuristic super hero play, and Tru Bloo’s poetry performance from the recently published anthology. Location: La Peña Cultural Center 3105 Shattuck Ave.

• The Jazzschool at 2087 Addison St. in Berkeley presents an International Women’s Day celebration featuring vocalist Andrea Claburn who collaborates with some of the most powerful, adventurous, and innocative instrumentalists in the Bay Area to celebrate Women in Jazz. This even will be held on Saturday March 9^th from 8-10pm.

Can You Breathe Easy?

WAGES — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 23:07:59 +0000

Everyone likes the sweet smell of a newly air-freshened home, which is why the manufacturers of many household products, from shampoo to cleaners, infuse their products with air freshening and odor masking scents.

But breathing easy has never been so challenging! According to a new report from Women’s Voices for the Earth, tens of millions of Americans, most of them women and children, suffer from serious skin and respiratory allergies caused by fragrance chemicals. According to the report, 20% of the population is sensitized to an allergen, and fragrance is one of the most frequently identified sources.

Allergic reactions to fragrance chemicals are on the rise, especially among children, and because of the perfumed products and cosmetics they use, women are 2-3 times more likely to suffer from fragrance allergies than men.

An obvious solution might be to avoid specific fragrance allergens. But doing so is nearly impossible as companies are permitted by U.S. law to keep their fragrance ingredients secret.

At WAGES we believe no one should have to fear for their health when using basic household products, which is why we are calling on companies to disclose the fragrance ingredients in their products.

Please take a moment to tell the fragrance industry to stop keeping fragrance ingredients a secret. We have a right to know what’s in products so we can avoid certain ingredients if we wish to.

To learn more about hidden fragrance ingredients and what you can do to avoid fragrance, view the infographic in English or Spanish. This report focuses solely on allergies associated with fragrance. However, allergy is neither the only nor the most severe health problem caused by fragrance. While beyond the scope of this report, it should be noted that neurotoxic effects, respiratory effects and immune system impacts are all associated with fragrance and deserve greater investigation and attention.

Whether you’ve developed fragrance-induced allergies yourself, or fear for the health of your loved ones, you now have the power to craft an environment where you can again breathe easy.

WAGES Webinar on Nonprofits in Co-op Development

WAGES — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 19:28:19 +0000

On Wed. Jan. 23, from 2 - 3 pm, Eastern time WAGES is presenting a webinar on the role of non-profits in co-op development. Join us to learn what it takes for nonprofit community-based organizations to successfully develop a worker-owned cooperative. Register here!

This 1-hour online presentation, featuring Alex Armenta, WAGES Associate Director, Fernando Bernasconi, the general manager for Home Green Home, and Elena Fairly, WAGES' Communications and Development Associate, will lay out what nonprofit community organizers must do, learn, and become in order to successfully incubate a worker-owned cooperative. It will also include several of the best practices WAGES has gained in its 17 years of grassroots economic development and provide additional co-op development resources. Participants will gain an understanding of:

The complex relationship between nonprofit incubators and the cooperatives they build, from pre-launch through maturity
The challenges and opportunities of cooperative development in low-income communities, and how to determine the feasibility of cooperative development
The availability of resources and tools to help organizers develop a worker-owned cooperative

Fight poverty with passion at WAGES!

WAGES — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 21:39:02 +0000

WAGES is hiring a Program Associate through the AmeriCorps VISTA program. This is a phenomenal opportunity for a Spanish bilingual college graduate who is interested in women's empowerment, economic development, and social enterprises. Reporting to the Executive Director, the VISTA Program Development Associate will join a team working to advance WAGESʼ program development capacity in 2013-2014, in order to increase the number of living-wage jobs and opportunities for low-income women to acquire and build assets.

We are seeking someone to play a key role in WAGESʼ overall program development, including enhancing WAGESʼ program model, new manuals and development tools, as well as conducting research to assess past program efforts and support the development of new program offerings in the new industry. As part of this effort, the VISTA will work alongside co-op managers, Peer Leaders, and program staff to optimize program content, delivery, and continuous improvement. Spanish fluency sufficient to interact positively and effectively with monolingual coop members and Peer Leaders is essential. In-house and external training will be provided, along with the opportunity to participate in and learn from a dedicated, highly talented and effective team.

For more information, please see the full VISTA Program Associate job description and our employment page.

WAGES Campaign to Build a New Co-op is Underway!

WAGES — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:16:04 +0000

For the first time in WAGES history, we are launching a co-op in a new industry! We are so excited, but we need your help to reach our goal of $30,000. Donate today and support women entrepreneurs!

We want to express our immense gratitude for the community that supports Women’s Action to Gain Economic Security (WAGES), share with you the remarkable impact that we are seeing on the lives of working women and their families, and invite you to join this movement that brings equity to low-income women.

Our mission achieves powerful results. Even amidst the hardship of the recession, WAGES and co-op members are:

Building sustainable businesses. Our co-ops sustain over 100 jobs and earn nearly $3.2 million each year – at a time when California has the worst small business survival rate in the country!
Developing groups of entrepreneurs. Members of our San Francisco co-op, Home Green Home, are celebrating their graduation this fall from WAGES’ incubation program as the 4th co-op to become completely self-sustaining.
Receiving benefits. Co-op members have a range of benefits, including health and disability insurance.
Earning fair pay for a day’s work. Members’ personal incomes grow by 158% after they join a co-op!
Sharing business profits. Members are growing their business equity and savings; these hard-working women now have median personal assets of $5,962.
Creating skilled women leaders. This year, we launched new, enhanced programs tailored to meet members’ needs, like learning English and computer skills, building business savvy, and saving for their children’s education.

We are excited to tell you that for the first time in WAGES’ history, we are preparing to launch a co-op in a brand new industry! Next year, new co-op members will begin “cooking up” a new, exciting, and quite possibly delicious business model to build their financial futures.

We invite you to make a commitment to creating economic opportunity for immigrant women workers – the opportunity that their hard work and dreams of a better life merit. Our goal is to raise $30,000 from committed donors like you by December 31st to build the new co-op in 2013. Will you consider a gift of $250, $100, or $50 this year?

Join us in this new chapter to empower women as they work towards a stable, prosperous future.

We thank you, in advance, for your support and generosity.

NHCCC, a WAGES co-op, wins award for Leadership in Sustainability!

Elena — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 23:11:49 +0000

We are thrilled to announce that Natural Home Cleaning Contra Costa is the proud recipient of Sustainable Contra Costa's award for Leadership in Sustainability in the Small Business category. NHC-CC is an eco-friendly housecleaning cooperative, incubated by WAGES, and housed in The Michael Chavez Center for Economic Opportunity. It is an honor to be recognized for our economic empowerment, care for social-wellbeing, and environmental stewardship. Thank you Sustainable Contra Costa! For more information, and a list of all of the winners, see the Contra Costa Times article that profiled the Awards Gala.

GOOD Magazine: WAGES a great example of co-ops on the rise

Elena — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 21:30:17 +0000

Would you believe that worker-owned businesses are outshining traditional ones in this economic recession? The resiliency of co-ops has caught many an eye, including that of GOOD magazine, which recently published an article citing WAGES as one example of co-ops booming during tough times. Not only are co-ops good for workers, the environment, health, and local economies, but they make smart business sense as well. If you are interested in starting a co-op, check out WAGES' latest technical assistance tool, Foundations of WAGES Cooperatives. Co-ops have never been more relevant or needed!

Our New Website is going live soon

monicadear — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 08:31:03 +0000

We will be launching a revised version of our website soon. Please check back!

WAGES Cited as an Innovator in Entrepreneurship

Elena — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 20:56:26 +0000

WAGES had the honor of presenting at the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED)'s recent Assets Learning Conference in Washington D.C., and many took note of our unique approach to asset building. Blair Benjamin wrote on CFED's blog that WAGES' model stood out at the conference in his article, How Self-Employment Becomes Cooperative Employment. He noted that there are some entrepreneurs who succeed better when working collectively. He cited that WAGES co-op members automatically accumulate savings in the form of retained earnings (the median of which is $3,422 per member at mature co-ops!). Also, because members have the opportunity to take emergency no-interest loans from the co-op, this effectively removes them from the predatory lending world. Thank you CFED for highlighting our work!

A unique opportunity to combine entrepreneurial skills with social and environmental values!

Elena — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 23:46:49 +0000

Please help spread the word about an open position at Natural Home Cleaning. We seek an Operations Manager to work full-time in our Oakland office. The Ops Manager is a key member of our sales and administration team, and must be perfectly bilingual (Spanish-English). Our ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced small business environment and rise to the prospect of furthering our social mission to create healthy, dignified work for Latina immigrants by building our eco-friendly house cleaning cooperative. Please see NHC's website for the full job announcement.

Seeking a bright and creative Communications Intern!

Elena — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 23:49:58 +0000

Help support women's empowerment and microenterprise with this writing-intensive internship. See our employment page for full details.

Contra Costa Co-op Now Recruiting New Members!

Elena — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 00:13:07 +0000

WAGES youngest co-op, Natural Home Cleaning Contra Costa, is growing and is now inviting more women to apply to become a worker-owners. The co-op members receive stable income, healthy working conditions, and eco-friendly cleaning and business training. When the co-op grows, the worker-owners will receive paid medical benefits, and personal time off. This is a fantastic opportunity for immigrant women living in Contra Costa! See this flyer for details.

WAGES Now Hiring RISE Fellow

admin — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 18:09:21 +0000

We are seeking a bright and motivated individual to be WAGES' Resident in Social Enterprise. Our RISE fellow will join a team working to advance WAGES’ training curriculum, cooperative development, and model sharing efforts, in order to increase the number of living-wage jobs and opportunities for low-income women to acquire and build assets. See our employment opportunities page for more information.

WAGES on 91.7 City Visions Radio!

Elena — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:48:55 +0000

Listen here for the City Visions program, "Cooperatives: Workers in Progress." An engaging show with WAGES' Lilly Alvarez providing an on-the-ground, local viewpoint of what it means to be in a worker co-op.

Paid Internship: Support Women's Economic Empowerment & Microenterprise!

Elena — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:09:04 +0000

WAGES is currently seeking three summer interns to support WAGES mission of creating healthy, dignified jobs for low-income women. See our employment page for a full description.

Contra Costa Co-op Seeking Branch Manager

Elena — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:35:02 +0000

WAGES' newest co-op is growing and is now hiring a Branch Manager. This position will primarily be responsible for personnel management, marketing, and operations for Natural Home Cleaning Contra Costa, a growing eco-friendly house cleaning cooperative serving Central Contra Costa clients, and designed to provide stable income and personal growth to low-income Latina immigrants. Click here to see a full job description.

WAGES is Pleased to Announce we are Hiring an Evaluation Associate

Elena — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:10:50 +0000

Reporting to the Director of Development and Evaluation, the VISTA Evaluation Associate will join a team working to advance WAGES’ evaluation and impact assessment efforts in 2012-2013, furthering our mission of increasing the number of living-wage jobs and opportunities for low-income women to acquire and build assets. This is a 1-year AmeriCorps VISTA service position.

For more information please visit our job posting on our Employment Opportunities page.

Seventh Generation and WAGES Usher in New Age of Responsibility

Elena — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:52:05 +0000

The Corporate Social Responsbility Newswire highlighted Seventh Generation and WAGES as innovative models for achieving sustainability and responsibility. These organizations are creating virtuous cycles economically, socially and environmentally through a collaborative partnership. To learn more about this unique model at the forefront of the Corporate Social Responsiblity movement, click here.

Economic Alternatives for the Working Class

wages1 — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:59:42 +0000

WAGES' alternative model of job creation and economic empowerment via worker-owned co-ops is discussed in a recent article - "An Economy Turned Upside Down" - on Shareable.net. Author Mira Luna explores myriad grassroots alternatives to re-building communities and paths to economic freedom for the working class.

An Afternoon of Inspiring Words, Celebration

wages1 — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 21:37:01 +0000

View photos from the July 19th event, Tertulia/Literary Salon Fundraiser, an afternoon of readings from emerging Bay Area authors/activists Sara Campos, Linda Gonzalez, and Irma Herrera that was also a celebration to benefit WAGES' ongoing work with green housecleaning cooperatives.

Co-op members from Natural Home Cleaning Oakland also spoke at the event, providing testimony about the economic security gained through the worker-owner cooperative model as well as the personal and professional skills gained from WAGES' education and training opportunities.

Natural Home Cleaning Professionals, a WAGES affiliate, Part of Richmond Co-op Event

wages1 — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:30:57 +0000

Representatives from Natural Home Cleaning Professionals, a WAGES affiliate, will be joining a variety of other members from surrounding Bay Area worker cooperatives this Thursday at a free, informational co-op event being held in Richmond and sponsored by Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin and the Network of Bay Area Worker Cooperatives (NOBAWC). Join us in learning more about job creation and cooperative development ! More information can be found here.

"Paving the Way for Healthy Futures," WAGES Hailed for Innovation, Job Creation

wages1 — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:49:34 +0000

CFED (Corporation for Enterprise Development) hails WAGES as an "exemplary model of enterprise development" in a recent post on Idea Exchange, a blog for the open-source, collaborative nonprofit Ashoka’s Changemakers. The post profiles CFED's partnerships with nonprofits that are exploring innovative job creation strategies that not only provide viable options for economic empowerment, but also develop long-term healthy local economies.

SVG and WAGES CSR Partnership an Unbeatable Combination

wages1 — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 21:58:16 +0000

Thanks to the ethics and environmentalism blog, Fashion With a Heart, for a mention about Seventh Generation's collaboration and unique partnership with WAGES to promote corporate social responsibility (CSR) and further develop economic opportunities for low-income women. Read more about how WAGES and SVG are teaming up in creative ways to transform business and corporate consciousness.

WAGES Honored With Community Resilience Award

wages1 — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:51:21 +0000

WAGES is proud to have been chosen to receive a Community Resilience Award in the Entrepreneur Leaders category at Roots of Resilience, Bay Localize's 5 Year Anniversary Gala, being held on April 2nd, 2011, in Downtown Oakland. Bay Localize will be celebrating 5 years of inspiring and supporting Bay Area residents in building equitable, resilient communities. WAGES is honored to be a part of the evening. For event and ticket information, click here.

'Shape What's to Come' Community Features WAGES/LEVI'S Inspiration Story

wages1 — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 21:27:11 +0000

Levi Strauss & Co. and the Levi Strauss Foundation have together supported the pioneering work of WAGES, and recently produced a new short film on how WAGES transforms women's lives through economic empowerment. Currently, the WAGES film is being featured on the Shape What's to Come website, an online community where women can share their interests and passions, regardless of age or location. WAGES is truly honored to help spread ideas around the globe and help Shape What's to Come!

Join WAGES at the California Co-op Conference on April 8th & 9th

wages1 — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:35:53 +0000

Registration is now open for the 2011 California C0-op Conference happening in Berkeley on April 8th and 9th, and WAGES invites you to join us at this exciting event as we present two workshops on Saturday, April 9th! The entire schedule of workshops can be found here. There is a fee to attend workshops, but scholarships are available. Information about starting and operating a co-op will be offered, as well as discussion about how cooperatives stimulate economic and community development. All are welcome!

WAGES and Seventh Generation Case Study Included in New Research Report

wages1 — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:03:29 +0000

WAGES is proud to have been included as one of the 23 successful partnerships featured in a new research report released by LBG Associates. The report demystifies the process for building a successful, high-impact corporate-nonprofit strategic partnership, and the case studies reveal more than a dozen best practices for nonprofits and companies alike. The Executive Summary of the report is available for free here.

Home Green Home San Francisco Celebrates 2nd Anniversary!

wages1 — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:40:55 +0000

On February 16th, Home Green Home San Francisco -WAGES' newest cooperative launched in 2009 in partnership with Seventh Generation -celebrated 2 years in business providing high-quality, natural home cleaning service to its clients in the San Francisco area. We at WAGES hope you will join us in wishing Home Green Home SF a very happy 2nd anniversary! Become a client today and visit homegreenhomesf.com for a free estimate or to learn about the number of cleaning options available for your home or small business.

WAGES and Bay Area Co-ops on KDTV Univision Ch.14

wages1 — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 19:32:51 +0000

Spanish-language KDTV, Univision 14 News, featured WAGES and two of its co-ops -- Natural Home Cleaning and Home Green Home -- in a two-part story that explored the model of worker-owner, green cleaning cooperatives and the way WAGES' programs have improved the economic security for the women involved, their families, and their communities.

Natural Home Cleaning Featured as Small Business Success Story

wages1 — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 22:54:17 +0000

Natural Home Cleaning general manager, Deb Goldberg, along with NHC co-op members Norma and Anahi, were featured speakers at a recent ceremony for Opportunity Fund, the Bay Area's leading nonprofit small business lender. The event was an opportunity to showcase small business success stories that have been made possible with the help of Opportunity Fund and its microfinance programs, including a new program, "Green4Green," aimed at further developing the Bay Area's green economy.

WAGES' Hilary Abell Talks Leadership, Innovation on Comcast Newsmakers

wages1 — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 21:58:35 +0000

WAGES' Executive Director, Hilary Abell, joined fellow nonprofit advocate Cynthia Chavez, Executive Director of LeaderSpring, for a sit down conversation with Comcast's Newsmakers, a monthly newscast that features community, nonprofit, and educational leaders. As an alumni of LeaderSpring's Fellowship program for executives of community-based organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, Hilary talked about her experience with the program and the impact of the training on her ability to support WAGES' growth in the coming years.

WAGES Named in "Best of" List of Nonprofits Fighting Poverty in Bay Area

wages1 — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 20:31:11 +0000

In a recent HubPages article, WAGES is named as one of the top local Bay area nonprofits achieving significant impact in building economic empowerment for women and eliminating poverty.

WAGES' 15th Anniversary Event a Resounding Success!

wages1 — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 01:19:08 +0000

Nearly 200 WAGES supporters joined WAGES' co-op members, board, and staff for a remarkable celebration on October 27, 2010, honoring 15 years of success in creating healthy, dignified jobs for low-income women. Check out pictures of the evening's events here.

Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products are Becoming Popular

wages1 — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 20:13:25 +0000

Practically Green featured WAGES' Ivette Melendez as a “Green Cleaning Authority” in a post this week on their blog, which offers people looking to go green concrete changes and take action to make their homes environmentally friendly.

Co-ops Offer Solutions to the Growing Unemployment Rate

wages1 — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:40:42 +0000

WAGES is featured in an SF Public Press article citing the worker-owned co-op movement as a source of employment for low-wage workers during a time of economic despair.

WAGES Co-op members Balance Participatory Management and a Busy Work Schedule

wages1 — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:43:19 +0000

Not only is WAGES generating more green jobs for low-income Latinas, but also it is giving the workers a chance to have “green ownership” over their work. Read more about how the co-op Members sustain their business in the June 2010 report “Growing a Green Economy for All: From Green Jobs to Green Ownership” compiled by The Democracy Collaborative.

Are Worker Co-ops Making a Difference?

wages1 — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:42:59 +0000

Executive Director Hilary joins National Worker-Owned Cooperative Conference keynote speaker Jim Hightower and members of other bay-area co-ops on KALW’s Your Call program on the topic of how worker-owned cooperatives are making a difference. Listen to the radio show online or via podcast at the Your Call blog.

WAGES E.D. selected as Innovator in Residence by CFED

wages1 — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:59:01 +0000

WAGES Executive Director, Hilary Abell, is selected as the sole Innovator in Residence for the Corporation for Enterprise Development. Click here to learn more.

New Remit4Change Program benefits WAGES

wages1 — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:45:04 +0000

WAGES is a beneficiary of the newly-launched Remit4Change project, which provides a fair-priced alternative transaction service for immigrants send to their home communities and leverages a portion of the service’s earnings to invest in select poverty-fighting organizations.

NHC named Best House Cleaning of the Bay Area 2010

wages1 — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:54:50 +0000

Natural Home Cleaning is honored with the “Best of the Bay” award for house cleaning services.

On the Role of Triple-Bottom-Line Cleaning in Modern Home Life

wages1 — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:39:46 +0000

WAGES is featured in a Huffington Post article on the value of housework in family stability and the national economy.

NHC honored with "Innovator" Indie Award

wages1 — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:33:06 +0000

Natural Home Cleaning and WAGES are honored at the Oakland Indie Awards, receiving the “Innovator Award” for 2010. Click here to see the winners and categories.

WAGES on the Seventh Generation Blog

wages1 — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:30:17 +0000

Sheila Hollender of Seventh Generation blogs about her visit with WAGES and the co-ops.

Our training team wowed Rachel Ray's blogger with their green-cleaning-magic

wages1 — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:31:23 +0000

WAGES' green cleaning techniques are featured in "Spring Clean My Kitchen" in "Everyday with Rachel Ray".

WAGES Creates Clean, Green Livelihoods; Looking to Scale

wages1 — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 22:09:40 +0000

triplepundit.com blogger Amie Vaccaro says, "I’m intrigued by WAGES because it is one of very few models I’ve encountered that truly meets the people-planet-profit trifecta of a triple bottom line," calling us a "small but mighty" non-profit incubator of green businesses.

WAGES & Home Green Home Co-op Featured in Green For All's "Women in the Green Economy"

wages1 — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:18:59 +0000

Green For All honors Women’s History Month, with a blog entitled “Women in the Green Economy" which features Evelin Palacios, a founding member of Home Green Home, LLC in San Francisco. Read more: greentheblock.net/blog/green-block-2010-days-action-marchs-theme-women-green-economy

WAGES featured in Business Matters article on worker owned cooperatives.

wages1 — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 21:56:23 +0000

An article entitled "Worker Owned Cooperatives" provides some history to the cooperative movement. Michelle Matos, WAGES' cooperative development trainer is featured. Click here to read more.

WAGES & Natural Home Cleaning Co-op Featured in Race, Poverty & the Environment Fall Issue

wages1 — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:43:25 +0000

An article entitled, "The Case for Holistic Economic Transformation," features Natural Home Cleaning Oakland-based co-op. Click on this link to read more: http://urbanhabitat.org/cj/swan.

New York Times Debut for WAGES!

wages1 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:32:20 +0000

A New York Times business section article entitled, "Green Offshoots", features WAGES' model of small green business development. Click to read more.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/business/smallbusiness/29sbiz.html?_r=1&ref=business

Business Week Article has Praises for WAGES!

wages1 — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:46:53 +0000

An interview with Jeffrey Hollender of Seventh Generation has praises for WAGES. Here's a link to the good news:

www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/aug2009/sb2009085_100107.htm

The Eco-Friendly Cleaning Co-op Network, powered by WAGES!

wages1 — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:14:42 +0000

We celebrated its official launch in the summer of 2009. By combining forces, the member cooperatives and WAGES bring new tools to the fight against recession and poverty; the strength of unity, mutual support, and economies of scale. Check back soon for pictures of our launch celebration.

The Greening of America: A New Deal for Everyone?

editor — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:11:42 +0000

http://www.radioproject.org/archive/2009/2509.html

Bringing green home: One S.F. business, The Thin Green Line

editor — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:33:29 +0000

The cooperative takes the comprehensive view of green jobs: Workers receive training in money management (after all, they're part owners) and in cleaning techniques that minimize strain on the body—which, if you've read Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickel and Dimed, you know is a serious issue among Mini Maid-type companies. Home Green Home also takes pride in seeing how workers educate other members of their communities on how to get things clean without chemical cleaners.

Home Run, Ideal Bite

editor — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:27:24 +0000

You get a cleanup for about the same price as conventional services, the housekeepers make a living wage, and toxic chems stay out of our drains and waterways. It's a hit.

home green home, MomGoGreen

editor — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:24:25 +0000

The worker/owners of Home Green Home have completed intensive training, not just about the health benefits of green cleaning and the best techniques, but also about the intricacies of running a business. They’ve completed workshops in finances and customer satisfaction. The superior training is provided by WAGES, whose mission is to build worker-owned green businesses that create healthy, dignified jobs for low-income women.

Green Jobs for Whom?, In These Times

Sat, 16 May 2009 21:59:42 +0000

In California, Women’s Action to Gain Economic Security has helped low-income immigrant women build four successful green housecleaning cooperatives that employ hundreds. And in Chicago, Growing Home has trained 100 formerly incarcerated, homeless or addicted individuals in organic farming. Sixty-five program graduates are now employed, and 90 have found permanent housing.

Can a Clean House Create Jobs?, 7Gen Blog

editor — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:42:51 +0000

WAGES and the coops they have incubated over the last 14 years have helped raise dozens and dozens of women and their families from poverty. It is an incredibly powerful story, one that involves not simply offering a handout, but instead extending a hand up. The coop members earn a sustainable living while enjoying benefits like healthcare and paid vacations, benefits that are virtually non-existent in their industry. They are trained in the skills necessary to run and own their own businesses, skills that motivate and empower.

Create Your Own Workplace; YES Magazine

editor — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:37:25 +0000

Life changed for Rosales years later when she learned about Women’s Action to Gain Economic Security, or WAGES, a San Francisco Bay-area organization that helps low-income women start businesses. The staff of WAGES invited her to join four other women in starting a cooperative. Under a cooperative business model, each participant is both a worker and an owner of the venture, sharing the costs and profits equally.

Merging Green Cleaning and Social Equity: U.S. Green Building Council e-Newsletter

editor — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:41:21 +0000

Green building practices are changing the way that we design and construct our buildings. But have we forgotten about how we maintain and clean our homes and offices? Implementing an ongoing maintenance program using environmentally responsible cleaning products is an important element to any sustainability strategy. One non-profit business incubator is merging green cleaning practices and social equity by starting cooperatives that improve the lives of low-income workers in Northern California and provide for a truly clean indoor environment.

Small Business Awards 2008: Arthur Jackson Diversity in Business Award SFBG Online

editor — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:43:47 +0000

Based in Oakland, the small WAGES staff helps low-income women form worker-owned cleaning cooperatives by offering leadership training, education, and management until the cooperatives can become self-sustaining. So far three of the cooperatives operate in the Bay Area, and a fourth is slated to open in San Francisco by the end of the year.

Healthy Job, Healthy Body: A Profile of Women’s Action to Gain Economic Security, Breast Cancer Action Newsletter

editor — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:45:45 +0000

WAGES’s success has had a noticeable impact on the housecleaning industry. The group continues to help organize other housecleaning cooperatives in the Bay Area and has helped others form green cooperatives, such as Eco-Bay Landscaping in Oakland, California.Organizations like WAGES and cooperatives like NHC show us that we can have good jobs that are also healthy jobs. Another world is possible, and these women are working toward it.

Forget Mr. Clean, Try Ms. Clean, Terrain Magazine

editor — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:31:10 +0000

Now, in its eleventh year, WAGES members stickto their core business. With cleaning's good profit margins, the women earn a decent income and benefits. Cleaning houses also proved a new front to promote environmental commonsense. Hilary Abell, WAGES' executive director, says that nearly all of the women have stories of acute and long-term health effects from previous cleaning jobs. Abell says that environmentally friendly, nontoxic, or minimally toxic alternatives have changed that grim picture for both workers and clients.

Housecleaning co-op members see income, benefits rise sharply, Rural Cooperatives

editor — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:34:20 +0000

Women's Action to Gain Economic Security (WAGES), a nonprofit organization based in Oakland, Calif., was formed more than 10 years ago to help empower low-income women, both economically and socially, through cooperative business ownership. WAGES serves the greater San Francisco Bay area and specializes in housecleaning co-ops. Because the majority of housecleaners in California are Hispanic, WAGES focuses on helping Hispanic women. With WAGES' support, Latina women are moving out of poverty and into entrepreneurship.

Fair WAGES at work: 7Gen Blog

editor — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:35:17 +0000

Creating the opportunity for women to build a life for them selves and their families on a foundation of secure, respectable, and reasonably-paid employment is a dream that is beyond the reach of many Americans. WAGES is succeeding in creating this new possibility. Working with over 50 Latino women in the East Bay area of San Francisco, they have created three successful, worker-owned home cleaning business cooperatives that have changed lives and created hope.

Microloans Mean Better WAGES for Women, Bay Area Business Woman

editor — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:40:46 +0000

WAGES is on the cutting edge of "greening" the residential cleaning industry. WAGES calculates that the three coops will prevent the release of 4,000 pounds of hazardous materials to the environment in 2005. They are transforming the working lives of their housecleaners who are, in turn, changing their private lives. Claudia, a founding member of Eco-Friendly Cleaning in Oakland, formerly used toxic cleaning chemicals such as bleach all day long. "I would leave work with headaches, allergies, and feeling really tired. I felt really bad all around. Now I don't use chemicals and I'm really happy with my work. I even use natural products at home."

Jon Carroll's column about WAGES, SF Chronicle

editor — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:43:56 +0000

On one side of the corridor is the WAGES office; on the other side Natural Home Cleaning. The separation is important; WAGES is an advisory group, or an enabling group, or something; it does not employ the cleaners. The cleaners are members of a co-op; in addition to cleaning houses, they also meet to discuss profit margins and economies of scale....

GREEN Clean, Green Homes Start with nontoxic cleaners, SFGate

editor — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:48:54 +0000

But with the help of an Oakland-based organization called Women's Action to Gain Economic Security (WAGES), Naranjo became one of the founders of a South Bay housecleaning cooperative called Eco-Care. WAGES helps low-income women form worker-owned cleaning cooperatives by providing training, technical assistance and three years of management services until the cooperatives can become self-sustaining businesses.

Eco-clean Homes; YES! Magazine

editor — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:53:20 +0000

WAGES, a nonprofit organization, opened in 1995 with the aim of enabling low-income women to become cooperative business entrepreneurs. It was WAGES' early trainees who selected the house-cleaning field as a business in which they felt comfortable and experienced. The “eco-friendly cleaning” aspect was added to give the new businesses a special market niche, but, more than that, it promoted cooperative values by emphasizing workplace and client health and community well-being. Now, all of the cooperatives WAGES sponsors are eco-friendly cleaning enterprises. The WAGES training program gave Iglesias skills in communication, business, and decision-sharing with her four co-owners, and also taught her professional techniques for eco-friendly housecleaning.