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Spring is springing. Co-ops, like nature, rely on circular systems to survive and sustain itself. This Spring, think about how co-ops can resemble nature and what can we can do to make co-ops spring🦋
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April Co-op Social - Happy Hour at Black Star

April Co-op Social - Happy Hour at Black Star
Saturday, April 22 · 3 - 6pm CDT

Join us at April's Austin Co-ops Social - Happy Hour at Blackstarl! Whether you are a Austin co-oper, former co-oper, or someone who wants to hang out with co-opers, you're invited. Thanks to all who joined us for the last social.

Join us again for warmer weather at the best little co-op brewpub in the country. We’ll have a few reserved tables on Black Star’s patio. We hope to see you there - drop by any time from 3 PM to 6 PM. Please RSVP here.

Keep your Co-op's Doors Open: Budgeting and Capital Management
Wednesday, April 19 · 6 - 8pm CDT
Este webinar es gratuito y se presentará en inglés con interpretación al español. This webinar is free and will be presented in English with Spanish language interpretation.

This webinar will cover:

How to plan and manage co-op finances
Examples of bookkeeping best practices for co-ops and any small business
Open Book Management tools at tips
How to create in-house trainings for your members
Strategies to identify and access new Capital for your co-op

Class attendees will have the opportunity to schedule FREE coaching and consulting with the instructor and other co-op experts. Event Brite Link

March Co-op Housing Advocacy Committee
Wednesday, March 28 · 6 - 7pm CDT

We have a a Co-op Housing Advocacy committee this week and is monthly. It has been a while since we last met and will have a different meeting cadence than before, so now is a great time to jump on the committee. The housing committee does advocacy work for the housing co-ops in Austin which could look like pushing for city policy changes, looking resources (especially funds) for housing co-ops, how housing co-ops can work together, and more!

You can see our committee calendar and committee Zoom link on our events page.

Women's History Month

Whitehall members, 1956-1957.
Image courtesy of Whitehall Coop History.

March is Women's History Month, and you should know how tied cooperatives are to women and femmes across the world. Women have always been apart and leading cooperatives. For example here in Austin, the housing cooperative movement began with women student cooperatives and their legacy is still present in co-op houses like Whitehall and Halstead. We recommend reading this section and linked articles from New Economy Coalitions' Newsletter "New Economy Roundup" about Black feminist co-ops in the South to see how women and femmes are still leading today.

"Black Feminist Co-ops in the South: Across the South, communities are organizing solidarity economies with a Queer Black Feminist lens. Read reflections from NEC staff member Julian Rose about how the Black Atlanta Solidarity Economy gathering aims to build collective liberation through economic solidarity. Then watch how Project Hustle in New Orleans is celebrating the ways Black women and femmes are building cooperative infrastructure to resist job exploitation and get loved ones free from incarceration."

We highly recommend subscribing to New Economy Roundup newsletter because their content is regular and high quality.

Job Opportunities
College Houses is hiring for a part-time Accountant. This position works under the supervision of the Executive Director, the Interim Finance Director, and the Accounting Director. The Coordinator will work closely with the Accounting Director, who will continue to serve as the lead on all responsibilities for Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable (including rent paid by the student-members that reside at one of the seven houses). The Coordinator will be instrumental in creating the accounting records of several new nonprofit organizations that may be established as part of a proposed restructuring of the College Houses, Inc. organization. The Coordinator will serve as staff liaison to the Finance Committee members. Additionally, the Coordinator will prepare financial forecasting models to assist College Houses, Inc. in managing its residential housing units more efficiently. Check it out here: https://collegehouses.org/employment/.

College Houses is hiring for a Facilities & Operations Coordinator. This position works under the supervision of the Director of Facilities & Operations and is responsible for assisting in the oversight and support of the College Houses Facilities & Operations Master Plan. The Coordinator will also work with the Maintenance Coordinators and other Officers at each of the seven houses to ensure the best possible upkeep of the facilities while educating members on how to properly maintain their buildings. Additionally, the Coordinator will assist in training the Maintenance Coordinators at all houses and will be the primary support for work crews during summer sessions. Check it out here: https://collegehouses.org/employment/.

College Houses is hiring for a Member Wellness Coordinator. This position is responsible for providing leadership, management, and oversight of College Houses’ Member Engagement and the management of its various services. They promote a positive living and learning experience for residents and staff. Check it out here: https://collegehouses.org/employment/.

Key Figures is hiring for a Client Accounting Specialist - This position is ideal for someone who enjoys variety, has strong bookkeeping skills, is excited about working with technology, and loves to geek out on financial data. Folks with an independent spirit who love being part of a team will be a great fit.. Check it out here: https://www.keyfigures.coop/client-accounting-specialist

Key Figures is also hiring for an Administrative Manager - Key Figures seeks an organized and detailed-oriented individual to handle our day-to-day internal administration and data management. Someone who enjoys variety, is rewarded by building and managing administrative systems and workflows, has an independent spirit, and loves being part of a team will be a great fit. Check it out here: https://www.keyfigures.coop/administration-manager

New Economy Coalition is hiring for an Interim IT Manager. NEC is seeking a part-time IT Manager to support our 14-person remote staff. This person would handle daily IT needs, short-term IT projects, and building long-term IT infrastructure. This person would also help cover for the IT Manager while they are transitioning into and out of a 12-week sabbatical this summer. Check it out here: https://neweconomy.net/interim-it-manager/.

Tamarack Media Cooperative is hiring for a Drupal Developer (on ownership track). This position is remote. They are looking for someone experienced in front-end and back-end development of Drupal websites. You’ll be building sites for clients working to connect people with the natural world and fighting for justice. Check it out here: https://tamarackmedia.com/developer.

Tamarack Media Cooperative is hiring for a Designer (on ownership track). This position is remote. They are looking for someone experienced in graphic design for websites, print, video production, and social media, as well as the skill to code website designs. You’ll be building tools for clients working to connect people with the natural world and fighting for justice.. Check it out here: https://tamarackmedia.com/designer.

Guilded Freelancer Cooperative is hiring for an Executive Director. This position is remote. It will responsible for holding and collaboratively developing the vision of Guilded while steering its capacity towards sustainability and scale. As the primary public face of the organization with regard to funders, Guilded’s Executive Director is tasked with raising money, raising Guilded’s profile, and building partnerships that will move the organization and the field forward. Check it out here: https://www.usworker.coop/job/executive-director/.

Shareable is hiring for a Digital Communications Contractor. This position is remote. They are looking for for a proven digital communications professional with previous experience working as an independent contractor. And looking for the person to have a collaborative, innovative spirit and will help us creatively build and strengthen the sharing movement through digital connections & engagement. Check it out here: https://apply.workable.com/shareable/j/0600A78AFB/.

Wheatsville tends to have positions open. You can see openings here: https://wheatsville.coop/co-op/job-opportunities/open-positions.

More Co-op News

The ACBA will be conducting a census of Co-op Businesses in the Austin-area. We started reaching out to business members and other co-ops, as well as, been investigating if there are businesses not on our radar. We want to try to capture collectives, or other models, that could be counted as co-ops/ co-op adjacent. If you have an questions, suggestions, or know of any businesses that may not be on our radar, please email Henrik.Tucker@acba.coop.

Eastern Crescent Food Co-op
Go Austin/Vamos Austin and the ACBA are well under way in the grocery co-op project. If you haven't heard, GAVA and the ACBA is receiving city funding to assist in starting a grocery co-op for the Eastern Crescent of Austin by organizing and educating Eastern Austin residents. We are currently in the phase of doing community meetings to educate the public and recruit residents for the food co-op steering committee, outreach committee, and fundraiser committee. We have been successful in finding community leaders! Stay tuned to hear more updates.

Help sustain our work by joining the Co-op Club with a monthly $25 donation. Support us in staffing up to succeed with our projects and continue growing this movement.

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With Springin' Cooperation,

Henrik "Henny" Tucker (they/them)
Program Coordinator