ChiCommons Cooperative is a multi-stakeholder organization that grew out of ChiHackNight and Sustainability volunteer movements for common good. We are a worker-owned cooperative that runs community projects to increase economic solidarity and digital equity. We offer opportunities to get involved as a skills volunteer or co-owner.
ChiCommons
ChiCommons Cooperative
ChiCommons is a multi-stakeholder cooperative organization that grew out of Chi Hack Night (CHN) and local environmental Sustainability movements. Our mission is to, cooperatively, foster and grow a people-owned solidarity economy. We envision empowered, integrated, equitable, cooperative/solidarity economies across the Chicago region; connected globally. People living the “ solidarity economy” practice common values such as cooperation, democracy, equality, justice, ecological sustainability, community, and respect for diversity. We have formed as a self-sustaining Limited Cooperative Worker Association (LWCA) with many ways to get involved.
Our Community Projects and Consulting
Cooperative/Solidarity Ecosystem Map
A crowd-sourced, curated online map of over 800 cooperatives and solidarity entities ranging from community gardens to worker cooperatives to credit unions that put people and planet over just profits
Map Volunteer Needs
- Python
- React
- GIS
- UX/UI
- Subject Matter Experts
- Community Organizers
BlockShare: rebuilding hyper-local community in the digital age
With Blockshare, we offer cooperatively owned and operated Internet Service and a Community Intranet to Chicago Community Areas. Fiber optic-based back hauls provide Internet service which is distributed to neighboring residential and business units via wireless mesh technology. A neighborhood-based server provides a communications hub, where community calendars and news combine with software apps that allow neighbors to share their garden produce, time, talents, tools, rides, and mutual aid.
BlockShare Volunteer Needs
- Wireless Expertise (Mikrotik/Ubiquiti or similar)
- Fiber Optics Installers
- Community Organizers
- Researchers
- Financial Analysts
- Engineers
- Construction/Contractor Management
- GIS experts
ChiCommons Consulting
Chi Commons Consulting, a unique worker-owned cooperative consultancy helps local businesses, movements, nonprofits, and other cooperatives flourish. We provide practical and innovative business and technology consulting services to establish and improve our clients’ Online / web / digital presence – for visibility and survival Customer/ stakeholder experience; for revenue, retention, and reputation Team communication and dynamics; for greater performance Networks and info technology (IT) to stay up and running; for robust operations
We offer worker-owners and sub-contractors paid work. Our worker-owners also help manage the cooperative, but get paid higher rates. Learn more here
ChiCommons Consulting Needs
- Business Services
- Strategic Planning
- Organizational Development
- Conflict Resolution
- Marketing
- Sales
- Operations Management
- Finance and Accounting
- Project Management
- Conflict Resolution
Technology Services
- Infrastructure Development
- Systems Architecture
- DBMS Architecture/Operations
- Full-stack Developer
- Technical Support
- Website Development
Links
| Website | ChiCommons |
| Tags |
Community Digital Equity Worker Cooperative Stakeholders Mesh Networks Asset-based Community Development |
| Creators |
Alvyn Walker Barry Feldman Dave Alverado Elvenord Vertus Felipe Mitchell Graham Livingston Jonathon Rogoff Nurul Eusufzai Ryan Shipp |
| GitHub | https://github.com/Chicommons |
| Launched | June 2016 |