Name: Co-ops for Creatives
Start: 2018-10-27T13:30:00-07:00
End: 2018-10-27T15:30:00-07:00
Location: E-Central Credit Union

Co-ops for Creatives

Southern California Web Designers and Developers (scwdd.org) - Part of Pasadena's Connect Week 2018

Southern California Web Designers and Developers (scwdd.org)

Feeling anxious, disempowered or unsupported as a freelancer/contractor, employee or an entrepreneur? There is a fourth alternative business structure, Worker/Owner Cooperatives (Co-ops).
Find out more and network with like minded people at this event!
<H2>Why Creative Co-ops?</H2>
Creative endeavors like Design and Development can be a good match for the Co-op model because they can be labor and skill intensive without necessarily needing lots of upfront capital. Worker and Owner incentives are aligned because they’re one and the same.
Freelancers have access to a wider range of capabilities because of their team. People who were employees may now have a say so in what, how and why things are done. Entrepreneurs no longer need to have all the answers and burden trying to spin up, incentivize employees, manage and maintain a venture. Essentially it follows a democratic model as opposed to a hierarchical model of governance.
<H2>What is it?</H2>
On a basic level, worker-owner co-ops involve a team of people who band together to create a business in order survive and prosper; not necessarily for shareholder or investor profit. They try to follow the <A HREF="https://www.electric.coop/seven-cooperative-principles%E2%80%8B/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">7 Cooperative Principles</A>, have equal power, decision making and responsibility for the business. They thus reap the rewards and better ride the downturns together because the business only needs to support its members.
<H2>It may not be for everyone, but it’s something to consider</H2>
In many cases, other business structures work perfectly fine. Some people prefer to work in a strict or benevolent business hierarchy or they like the total autonomy of an in-demand freelancer. Some startup founders want to be completely in charge and the prospect of the big dollar exit is too enticing. However, I personally believe that humans can be stronger when they work together and have an equal stake plus a real say so in their long term efforts. 
<H2>What will this event cover?</H2>
<UL>
<LI>
Brief overview of Co-ops
</LI>
<LI>
Discussing advantages and disadvantages compared to other systems
</LI>
<LI>
What legal structures are available (formal coop vs LLC vs Corps)
</LI>
<LI>
How they operate (agreements, financials, coordination, agreements, capital, etc.)
</LI>
<LI>
Tools, Resources and the impact of Technology
</LI>
<LI>
Q&A plus panelist discussion
</LI>
</UL>
 
<H2>Panelists</H2>
We're very happy to have these various panelists particpating remotely from New York, New Zealand and Barcelona! They have years of real world experience running creative tech and design co-ops!
 
<IMG ALT="Mckenzie Jones from CoLab" SRC="https://cdn.evbuc.com/eventlogos/50837032/mckenzie.jpg">
<H3>Mckenzie Jones - CoLab</H3>
McKenzie is an avid lake swimmer and urban cyclist with a passion for raising her sons as consciousness feminists. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Human Development and Family Studies where she lived in a yurt at Penn State University. She went on to receive her Master’s Degree at Cornell University studying Design and Environmental Analysis with a focus on the interactive effects between housing and neighborhood quality on psychological well-being. She has kept a strong interest utilizing the design of physical spaces to improve quality of life in her community and has served as a member of the Ithaca Planning and Development Board since 2012. McKenzie has been invested in cooperatives for many years, including as the President of Ithaca Biodiesel Cooperative and as a founding member of the Aurora Pocket Neighborhood Cooperative where she still resides. She is a project manager and coworking office manager with CoLab Cooperative and feels passionately about worker ownership and workplace democracy.
 
<H3>John Gieryn - Loomio</H3>
<IMG ALT="John Gieryn - Loomio" SRC="https://cdn.evbuc.com/eventlogos/50837032/johnloomio.jpg">
John Gieryn is part of the customer experience team at Loomio, a co-op committed to supporting more people to participate in the decisions that matter to them. John works to amplify voices and catalyze groups to collaboratively reflect, inquire, design, and strategize, and grow their capacity through better communication and group decision-making.
 
<H3>Francesca Pick - Greaterthan</H3>
<IMG ALT="Francesca Pick - Greater Than" SRC="https://cdn.evbuc.com/eventlogos/50837032/francescapick.jpg">
I am working to support a new generation of more collaborative, open and agile organizations. Through my work with OuiShare and Enspiral, I explore new ways of working and governing collaboratively. As co-founder of Greaterthan, I focus on how to create agency in organizations through collaborative financial tools, such as Cobudgeting.
 
<H3>Susan Basterfield - Golden Pandas</H3>
<IMG ALT="Susan Basterfield - Enspiral Golden Pandas" SRC="https://cdn.evbuc.com/eventlogos/50837032/susanbasterfield.jpg">
Having lived and worked in 20 different countries, Susan chose New Zealand as home in 2003. Susan serves the Enspiral Foundation as a Director and Ambassador, and does her work from within an Enspiral Livelihood Pod.
As a catalyst and convener, she helps individuals and organizations release potential through participatory creation—unique manifestations of ways of working and being beyond traditional hierarchical models. These include ongoing experiments in Self-Management, Agile Beyond Tech, Deliberately Developmental Organizations, and Facilitative Leadership. She is a prolific writer and speaker, and has shared her experiences from India to Korea, Canada to Chile, Sweden to Australia and most places in between.
Her broader focus is on building digital learning platforms and communities of purpose and intentional practice, testing her hypothesis that our transition into what’s next will be brought about by and through community. Susan is the co-author of Reinventing Scaleups: Radical Ideas for Growing Companies and creator and convener of the Practical Self Management Intensive at Leadwise Academy.
She holds a BA in Communications, a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning, and in 2015, received the Perkins Award for most exceptional body of work in the second cohort of Seth Godin’s altMBA.
 
<H2>Presenter / Facilitator</H2>
<H3>Mario Noble - SCWDD.org</H3>
<IMG ALT="Mario Noble - Presenter Host" SRC="https://cdn.evbuc.com/eventlogos/50837032/mariopic.jpg">
Mario Noble has been a web designer, front end developer, and UX Designer for over fifteen years and has headed up Southern California Web Designers and Developers for five. He’s worked as a freelancer, in startups, small companies, agencies and in enterprise. He’s enthusiastic about the opportunities for empowerment that worker co-ops present for society and for creatives in his industry.
<H3> </H3>
<H2>Sponsor Info</H2>
 
<H3>Innovate Pasadena - Connect Week 2018</H3>
<IMG ALT="Innovate Pasadena Connect Week 2018 logo" SRC="https://cdn.evbuc.com/eventlogos/50837032/connectweeklogowhitebg-1.png">
During Connect Week we showcase the creativity and ingenuity that’s right here in our own backyard. From October 20-28 local innovators will host independently organized seminars, workshops, and social events all around Pasadena. Join us as we envision the future of tech and design and engage with local startups and industry leaders, and bring your curiosity.
Innovate Pasadena is a volunteer-driven 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening Pasadena’s innovation community through education and resource exchange. We have built a strong network of businesses, academic institutions, and community organizations. We leverage these connections to produce and support a variety of programs that have reached over 60,000 people.
 
<H3>E-Central Credit Union</H3>
<IMG ALT="E-Central Credit Union Logo" SRC="https://cdn.evbuc.com/eventlogos/50837032/ecentrallogo.jpg">
E-Central's history is built on providing exceptional member experience and working tirelessly on behalf of everyone we serve. Our present and future focus on delivering all of the convenient technology you want to maximize the benefits of your membership.
As an E-Central ​Member, you deserve options, flexibility and value when it comes to managing your personal or business finances. We tailor our accounts and solutions to fit your needs, whether your balance is $200, $200,000 or more than $2,000,000. But we go beyond what you expect from a traditional credit union.
We support our comprehensive array of accounts with a full suite of <A HREF="https://www.ecentralcu.org/e-services" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">E-Services</A> that enable you to manage your accounts, conduct financial transactions and much more on your own schedule and in your own space without relying on our branches' traditional working hours. Beyond technology, E-Central caters to you through our partnership with the <A HREF="https://www.ecentralcu.org/about-us/shared-branching" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">CO-OP Shared Branching network</A>, which provides access to in-branch services from credit unions throughout the country whenever you need to deposit, transfer, or withdrawal funds from a teller.
No matter where you live or travel, you can take care of all your financial tasks with E-Central because we understand that your primary financial institution must keep pace by delivering the convenience, responsiveness and personal touch you deserve. 
As a not-for-profit financial institution owned and operated by our ​Members, we'll offer lower rates on loans, pay higher dividends on savings accounts and provide many helpful financial services at little or no cost.
We'll also show our dedication to you now and into the future, adapting our offerings to meet your needs.
 
<H3>Kate Darby from Dovetail X</H3>
<IMG ALT="Dovetail X logo" SRC="https://cdn.evbuc.com/eventlogos/50837032/dovetailxlogo.jpg">
<A HREF="http://bit.ly/2tbXzkX" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Dovetail X</A> a is platform for creative and tech freelancers to assemble pop-up teams and their own creative collectives. Search for people based on their skills, location, experience and availability. Then start your own team with your favourite collaborators so others can hire you, or start a project to bring on different skills for each role. No clipping the ticket (commission fees) involved either.
Kate Darby is a designer and co-founder of Dovetail X, a platform to build creative dream teams. She loves building creative communities, interviewing guests for her podcast, Design Work and film photography. She’s splits her time between New Zealand and the US building Dovetail X.
Parking
There is a designated lot next to the E-Central building and farther beyond across an alleyway to the east. Street parking is also available but be sure to read the signage. There is also a paid parking structure a few block to the north on the westside of the street.
Metro
For those who want to take the Metro, you can take the Gold line to Fillmore Station and then it's about a 9 minute (0.4mi) walk according to Google Maps to E-Central. Please give yourself extra time though since there can be Metro delays on the weekend.
Entry
Check in is at 1:30 but feel free to come a bit early to chat and network. You can enter from the front or we may have signage outside directing you to go around the back. Keep an eye out for the Connect Week banner!

E-Central Credit Union

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