Appalachian Field Services

We have received funding to grow our supportive housing and social enterprise mission. Rochdale Capital provides loan products targeted to cooperative enterprises, small business owners, affordable housing developers, and non-profit organizations that serve under-resourced communities. Appalachian Field Services is receiving a refinance loan of $200,000 and a line of credit for $150,000 at a 6.5% interest rate, which will help alleviate high-interest debts. We're thrilled to be partnering with an emerging #CDFI whose mission is the promotion of cooperative and community ownership.

"Me dió gusto ver tanta gente latina participando en este encuentro. Me sentí cómoda expresándome en mi lengua natal y fue interesante escuchar cómo estos grupos se reúnen, aprenden juntas, pasan por el proceso de incubación y se convierten en cooperativas!" Pueda leer un blog de Yessenia Lidz, nuestra directora financiera Appalachian Field Services acerca de su experienca en Chicago con U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives: https://buff.ly/4hGEw7B ___________ "I was pleased to see so many Latinx people participating in this gathering. I felt comfortable expressing myself in my native language, and it was interesting to hear how these groups come together, learn from each other, go through the incubation process, and become cooperatives!" Read a blog from Yessy, our finance director, about her experience in Chicago at the #usfwc conference: https://buff.ly/4hGEw7B #WorkerCoops #UnitedWeWork #WorkerCooperatives #CooperativasDeTrabajo #Cooperativismo #CooperativasUnidas #PodelLaboral #UnionStrong #WaterBottleCooperative

Jeremy Collins, our media manager, shares a recap from the Chicago conference. "Seeing so many Black folks at the conference who align with the same vision of what we want our collective future to look like was liberating for me, especially in a city like Chicago with a rich history of movement being founded by a Black man. I’m glad to know there’s great work being done all across the country from Boston to the Bay and Black folk are a part of that movement." Read his full reflections at waterbottle.coop/blog

Waterbottle HR Department Leader Xiomara Brown gives us a recap of the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives Conference in Chicago where she talks about the Latino representation, abundance of resources, and working as a mother of a child with autism. La directora de recursos humanos de Waterbottle, Xiomara Brown, nos hace un resumen de la conferencia #usfwc de Chicago. Habla de la representación latina, de la abundancia de recursos y de ser trabajadora y madre de un niño con autismo. #WorkerCoops #UnitedWeWork #WorkerCooperatives #CooperativasDeTrabajo #Cooperativismo #CooperativasUnidas #PodelLaboral #UnionStrong

Hear from Eva Kelley, Project Manager/ Squadron Leader at AFS about her takeaways from the first two days of the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives conference. Eva especially enjoyed the art workshop she attended, where participants had to process through art what they define a cooperative to be and vision for the future.

AFS Skilled Labor/Trainer, Carlos shares his favorite food from Latin America. As we close out Hispanic Heritage Month, what are some of your favorite dishes? Carlos, un trabajador de AFS, comparte su comida favorita de Latinoamérica. Mientras celebramos el final del Mes de la Herencia Hispana, ¿cuáles son algunos de sus platos favoritos? #HispanicHeritageMonth.#HispanicHeritageMonth2024 #latinx #hispanicandlatinoheritagemonth

Our finance director Yessenia Lidz shares her favorite dishes from #ElSalvador like tamales de gallina and fresh fruit like jocote. A fond memory from her country is decorating nativity scenes with her mother during Christmas. #HispanicHeritageMonth.#HispanicHeritageMonth2024 #latinx #hispanicandlatinoheritagemonth

AFS Squadron Leader Jeison tells us about his pride in being Latino and from Venezuela. El jefe de escuadrón de AFS Jeison nos habla de su orgullo de ser Latino y de Venezuela. #HispanicHeritageMonth.#HispanicHeritageMonth2024 #latinx #hispanicandlatinoheritagemonth

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated from September 15 to October 15! Almost half of our co-op (13 folks in total) identify as Latinx. We have co-op members from such countries as Venezuela, El Salvador and Dominican Republic. Seven of our Latinx staff members hold leadership positions, such as director, manager and squadron leader roles. This year's theme, “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together”, highlights the trailblazers who have led the way for future generations through their innovation, leadership, and unwavering dedication to progress in various fields, including education, science, business, the arts, and social justice.

Join BALTIMORE BICYCLE COOPERATIVE LLC for their first co-op social ride! This Saturday 10/5 will be a casual ride around to visit and learn about some of Baltimore's many cooperatives! Gather at Waverly Commons (near the farmers' market) from 9:30-10:00 am- take some time to grab a coffee from Red Emma's Coffeehouse and Bookstore before a brief presentation from members of Red Emma's and heading off to check out other cooperatives. Will be making stops at EnviroCollab, #WaterBottleCooperative, Mera Kitchen Collective, and #baltimorebicycleworks Falls Road before ending Taharka Brothers Ice Cream Corp. *RSVPs aren't required, but they help get a sense of how many people to expect and make sure they have a spoke card for you!