Tightshift Laboring Cooperative February 2019 Update |
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February 2019 Update Happy new year to the Tightshift family! We're excited to share what we've been up to and what we have in store for 2019 and beyond. - Truck: Thanks to your generosity, we were able to buy our own 16' 2018 box truck last November! We are so grateful to have our own equipment, and to spend less time and money at those Uhauls. Now we just need to get a wrap so our colorful logo and vision can be driven throughout the DC region. In addition to using funds from the crowdfunding campaign, we borrowed $20k in order to purchase a newer truck that we don't expect to have nearly as many maintenance issues.
- Housing: Since we started our work 2 years ago, a big obstacle for our members to show up to jobs rested and on time was a lack of stable housing. To overcome this, we rented a home where we have housed 5 members and member apprentices throughout the year. Members decided that a music studio would be a healing and community building project, so we used our resources to build a booth and buy studio equipment for the basement of the Healing House. We created a time bank where people in the community can access studio time in exchange for helping with volunteer tasks. We also host meditation, yoga, movie nights, cook healthy food several times a week, and have an apothecary of herbs to support the minds and bodies of our community.
- Healing: Tightshift members and member apprentices have faced significant trauma in their lives, including neglect, childhood sexual abuse, and being exposed to extreme violence. People who are a part of the Tightshift community are not accessing other support, often because social services can feel isolating or irrelevant to their lives. As we grow our resources for this work, Tightshift is creating healing programming rooted in relational culture building, storytelling, creating beloved community, trauma-informed therapy, herbalism, meditation, and more. Part of the healing work needed is the opportunity for members to reconnect with the earth in a safe and supported environment. In 2018, Tightshift established a partnership with the School of Living Land Trust and gained access to 70 acres of land through an affordable, 99 year lease. We are raising funds in order to build a dormitory, outdoor kitchen, and capacity for the creation of healing programming.
We need your support!
While there are some historical examples, in recent times we see very few models for economic democracy (like worker cooperatives) truly accessible to people who have been incarcerated and others who have been most marginalized in our society. During Tightshift's first two years, we have learned a tremendous amount about the intersection of cooperative work, housing, and healing. We're excited to continue to learn and grow in community in a way that can be scaled and replicated wherever incarceration is an issue.
- Connect: Would you be willing to invite us to speak at your home, workplace, or congregation? Do you have personal connections with funders who may be in a position to donate a larger amount? Fill out this form to let us know if so!
- Love: We feel so much love from you all, and want you to know your positive vibrations give us strength. Through working with us, referring us to friends, helping us with our website, giving us feedback and ideas, trusting us, donating and inviting us to meet your colleagues, your acts have done so much to get us to where we are today. Please let us know how we can support your dreams.
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Tightshift hosts its first team retreat at Potomac Vegetable Farm! In November 2018, we held our first Tightshift team retreat where we explored land, shared stories, helped build a yurt and a greenhouse, meditated, ate healthy delicious food, and played on golf carts. It was strengthening to each person and our collective. A huge thank you to our friends Julia, Stephen, and Sophia at Potomac Vegetable Farm (check out their upcoming gourd making workshop and childcare job opportunity!), and to Richael Faithful for their beautiful contributions. |
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Tiny House Building Workshop In January, Tightshift members learned how to build a tiny house workshop put on by Shelter 2.0, a group of people passionate about making building simple and affordable. We also visited the farm of one of the training organizers, Thelonius, and took home some fresh produce we picked ourselves! |
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Who is Tightshift Laboring Cooperative? Tightshift Laboring Cooperative is a healing community and worker-owned laboring service specializing in moving, hauling, cleaning and landscaping services. Through this model, we can use our power to build a world where all communities are free, and nobody needs to spend time behind bars. Our members are primarily formerly incarcerated people and others at risk of entering the criminal justice system. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and tell your friends about our moving, landscaping, and cleaning services! |
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DC Solidarity We love to share about other cooperative and solidarity economy projects in the DC area. And we want to give a special shout out to the good folks at Compersia, a deeply sharing intentional community in DC, for all of the love and partnership over these last months: Courtney for the healing, Telos for the crucial coordinating support, Caroline for the lovely yoga class, Steve for the parking and housing navigating, and Kathryn, G Paul, and Jenny for the support! Cooperative Principle #6 in Action! |
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Co-Founder Interview Learn more about the inspiriation behind Tightshift from our Co-Founder and one of our Member Apprentices in the video below! |
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