[P2P-F] Fwd: News from ChiCommons

Thu Aug 13 09:16:31 CEST 2020

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: ChiCommons LWCA <inquiries at chicommons.coop>
Date: Thu, Aug 13, 2020 at 12:24 AM
Subject: News from ChiCommons
To: <michel at p2pfoundation.net>

Read our update about activities at ChiCommons
Monthly News

Vol. 2

August, 2020
ChiCommons' Mission
*To cooperatively foster and grow a people-owned solidarity economy *

Contact Us
<https://chicommons.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4a4b5c7e4610fadec2a0a2a09&id=14f4922260&e=6a71741645>

Cooperative living is older than this tree in the Angkor Wat temple,
Cambodia.
Welcome to ChiCommons

In November of 2018, at a Community Technology event sponsored in
partnership with Chi Hack Night and the Chicago Sustainability Leaders
Network, a participant in one of the breakout sessions raised a question.
"I grew too many tomatoes and want to tell my neighbors I have extra
tomatoes to share. How would I go about doing that?" This question formed
the catalyst for what has now become Chicommons and within it the concept
for Blockshare and our other sharing platforms.

Since then, we have been building ChiCommons, a Limited Worker Cooperative
Association. As the title of the famous book about the Spanish Mondragon
Cooperative states, “We build the road as we travel.” You’re getting this
email because you’ve attended one of our breakout groups at Chi Hack Night,
requested more information from one of our members, or are associated with
the cooperative/solidarity sector in Chicago. You, along with us, are
building the road as we travel.

Our vision is empowered, integrated, equitable, cooperative/solidarity
economies across the Chicago region; connected globally, with
ChiCommons-provided tools, services, and strategies. We realize that the
Chicago area has been beset with longstanding issues of inequality and
access. We, the ChiCommons cooperative, hope to be part of the solutions!
Our Story So Far

Welcome to our second edition of the Chicommons Newsletter. While things
always seem to move slowly in the midst of the work, looking backwards
reveals significant progress.

   - Deanna Franklin of *Attuned Design*
   <https://chicommons.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4a4b5c7e4610fadec2a0a2a09&id=45f6c28456&e=6a71741645>
   has helped us create a complete design system for our branding.  You can
   see (“sorta”, this platform is somewhat limited) the results in this
   newsletter.  We met Deanna through Chi Hack Night, where she designed a
   great logo for another breakout group.

   - ChiCommons is now headlining a Chi Hack Night pre-party every Tuesday,
   where you can join us and share any thoughts, project ideas or burning
   issues you want to get off your chest. *Join our Zoom call*
   <https://chicommons.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4a4b5c7e4610fadec2a0a2a09&id=da2b10eaaa&e=6a71741645>
   on Tuesdays from 6:30-7:30pm
   - We are working on a new round for our website, expect to see something
   soon.  We could use some help from UX people and website gurus. Email us
   about your interest.

Who We Are

We are people with technical and non-technical expertise, so don’t feel
apprehensive if you’re not savvy with technology. Our intent is to co-build
communities from the ground up using technology as one of those tools so if
you have non-technical tools in your tool box we welcome the opportunity to
provide a space where you can put those tools to use.

We are always looking to grow and expand our membership and in order to do
that we are calling on all who have a passion for building communities at
the neighborhood level to join us, especially women and non-binary gendered
individuals. We are looking to recruit  people with all sorts of skills,
skills that can be applied to build communities of all types. If you would
like to join us, please fill out this skills survey
<https://chicommons.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4a4b5c7e4610fadec2a0a2a09&id=78594a6d74&e=6a71741645>
and we’ll get in touch.  We have work, both volunteer and paid.

ChiCommons acts in support of our mission and vision.  We actively support
other cooperative and solidarity organizations.

   - We’re working with Chicago Market
   <https://chicommons.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4a4b5c7e4610fadec2a0a2a09&id=85650f94f7&e=6a71741645>,
   a food cooperative, to explore their options for supporting the Uptown
   neighborhood with some grocery services until they can open the brick and
   mortar store.
   - Nationally/internationally, ChiCommons supports DataCommons
   Cooperative with web hosting services, and our local cooperative map fills
   in their national map for the Chicago region.  Data Commons Cooperative is
   the organization behind *find.coop*
   <https://chicommons.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4a4b5c7e4610fadec2a0a2a09&id=2b2b11af4d&e=6a71741645>,
   a site that documents cooperatives and solidarity entities around the
   world.
   - Some of us are involved in developing the cooperative ecosystem in
   Chicago via the Chicago Cooperative Ecosystem Coalition, a coalition of
   other worker cooperatives.

Our Current Projects

*Solidarity Cooperative Map*

You can read about the origins of the map on our *website page*
<https://chicommons.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4a4b5c7e4610fadec2a0a2a09&id=f7a9cde521&e=6a71741645>.
Until recently, the data was stored and managed in a Google Sheet. To
prepare for our next steps, we’ve migrated our underlying data to mySQL.
We’re now developing interactive Python/React capabilities so entities can
manage their own records. The following skills would help us expedite this
project (and we'll add you to our commercial jobs resource pool, see below
<#m_-8657656942068932350_consulting>):

   - Backend: Python
   - Frontend: React, Javascript
   - Design: UX/CSS

Volunteer Here
<https://chicommons.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4a4b5c7e4610fadec2a0a2a09&id=f26ebb68f4&e=6a71741645>

*BlockShare: Internet Access/Community Internet*

We are also embedding ourselves in our South Shore pilot by connecting with
churches, businesses, and community-based non profit organizations. We are
using these community assets as the bridges to connect the skills and
services being offered at the neighbor to neighbor level. Our intent to
provide the tools so that each resident can thrive.  Our partners such as
Windsor Park Evangelical Lutheran Church is forming a cornerstone for that
with its neighborhood Wi-Fi accessibility hub.

We’re on the verge of implementing our first technology proof of concept
pilot program around the Windsor Park Evangelical Lutheran Church.  We plan
to start deployment of wifi transceivers for buildings within immediate
wifi range of the church so that those neighbors can take advantage of the
church’s Internet Service.  Once we successfully pilot this capability, we
believe that we’ll capture the neighborhood’s attention and be able to
start rolling out BlockShare.  Of course, we need the help with GIS
expertise (QGIS/Leaflet), wifi networking (Mikrotik/Ubiquiti), and
applications developers (mobile/desktop/web-based).

Sign up to help
<https://chicommons.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4a4b5c7e4610fadec2a0a2a09&id=757aeac291&e=6a71741645>
ChiCommons Consulting

As we published before, we started a consulting agency with our talented
worker-owners to subsidize operations and internal projects. Between our
worker-owner skills and expertise and our connections with organizations
like Chi Hack Night, ChiCommons can offer significant resources for any
project from strategic planning services and conflict resolution to total
IT outsourcing and website design.  We'd all be better off if you joined
us.

It’s another month into our consulting services startup, and we’ve picked
up some more customers.  Our free-lancers are seeing the benefit of working
with a larger, more diverse team and starting to bring their existing
clients into the agency.

A broad selection of deep skills and expertise will ensure that ChiCommons
continues to grow and become self-sustaining.  You can add to our service
catalog and get business by joining us. Start by telling us about your
skills.
Join our team
<https://chicommons.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4a4b5c7e4610fadec2a0a2a09&id=e621e97113&e=6a71741645>
Contact Us
<https://chicommons.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4a4b5c7e4610fadec2a0a2a09&id=b8cab09f44&e=6a71741645>
[image: Website]
<https://chicommons.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4a4b5c7e4610fadec2a0a2a09&id=1e5b4742f9&e=6a71741645>
*Copyright © 2020 ChiCommons LWCA, All rights reserved.*
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.

*Our mailing address is:*
ChiCommons LWCA
4750 N Sheridan Rd # 710
Chicago, IL 60640-7528

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