Back around 1975 in DC, the Magic Lantern Cinema began and ran for at least six years. Here is a 1981 article discussing the lessons learned about this kind of film co-op:

“Radio City Music Hall it ain’t,” is how the Washington Star described the Magic Lantern Cinema. “An anti-profit worker-run community film co-op” was the first formulation that Magic Lantern organizers came up with for themselves back in the fall of 1975. Lately, the catchword has become “DC’s alternative film theater” — more vague but also more accurate. During its first five years, Magic Lantern has gone through a number of changes — in philosophy, politics, personnel and program. The general goals, however, have remained fairly constant. We seek to provide a showplace for independent and political films that do not receive theatrical distribution, and to do so in a setting that is “more than a movie house” and that supports and contributes to political education and activity in and around Washington, DC…

Five years ago, Washington DC’s worker-run cooperative community was still strong — a network of food coops, “anti-profit” bookstores, record stores, print shops, plant stores, etc.. At that time, two former film programmers at Catholic University who had become part of the network (one working at a food coop, Glut, and the other at the record shop, Bread and Roses) decided to set up an ongoing film series. Bread and Roses (bankrupted just twelve months ago by slumping sales and a whopping back tax bill) provided $100 as a loan for an experimental film series.

To read further: http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/onlinessays/JC24-25folder/MagicLanternCinema.html

Tune in to WOL 1450 AM on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. for “Everything Coop,” hosted by Vernon Oakes. Fascinating discussions about cooperatives of all sorts. Listen online:  http://tunein.com/radio/WOL-1450-s21725/

http://community-wealth.org/jobs

The Democracy Collaborative (Takoma Park, MD) is seeking a Research Associate to work on the Next System Project, an ambitious new initiative aimed at helping Americans think boldly about what is required to deal with the systemic challenges the United States faces now and in coming decades. Working with a broad group of theorists and activists, and using the best research, understanding and policy thinking, the Next System Project seeks to develop and refine comprehensive alternative political-economic system models and launch a national debate that will put the central idea of system change – and that there can be a “next system” – on the map in a serious way.

The Research Associate will provide administrative and research support for the project’s Executive Director, Joe Guinan, and Co-Chairs Gar Alperovitz and Gus Speth. Candidates for the position should possess strong administrative, organizational, research and writing skills and have a demonstrable interest in alternative political economy and a commitment to transformative political, economic, social and ecological change.

Responsibilities will include:

Providing administrative assistance for the planning and execution of day-to-day project activities, including setting up meetings and events, networking and partnership-building, and generally providing support for the development and expansion of the project;
Research, analysis and writing for broad audiences, including academic, policy-making, and lay audiences, and production of professional reports and memoranda;
Representing the project professionally in a variety of public settings;
Contributing as needed to other priority activities.
Additional Qualifications:

Strong knowledge of political economy issues and related fields;
Superior research skills, especially in qualitative analysis;
Ability to work independently and manage a complex workflow;
Ability to work as part of a collaborative team;
Excellence in both written and verbal communication.
Technical proficiency in working with spreadsheets, databases, and other project management software and tools.
Ability to build relationships with academics, practitioners, activist groups, and other project partners;
A track record of commitment to economic and social justice, diversity and inclusion;
A graduate degree in political science, economics, sociology, public policy or related field would be helpful, but is not required. Salary commensurate with work and academic experience. Job includes health and retirement benefits and three weeks’ vacation. The position is based at the Democracy Collaborative’s office in Takoma Park, MD.
Length of position: Two-year commitment (contingent on satisfactory 90-day and annual review) strongly preferred. Position can extend beyond two years by mutual agreement.

Start date: Summer 2014

To apply: Please email a cover letter, resume and writing sample to jobs@democracycollaborative.org by July 15, 2014. No phone calls please. http://community-wealth.org/jobs

VéloCity Bicycle Cooperative
2111 Mount Vernon Ave.

The friendly spirit of the neighborhood is in high gear at VéloCity, which takes donated bikes, then rehabs and sells them and their parts for a good price. You fix your own bike, with help from experienced volunteers, and use the shop’s tools and supplies for just $10 an hour. “Everyone helps out everyone here,” said volunteer Joe Brown. “I live near Skyline [neighborhood] and am over here all the time. I wish we had something like this.”
http://velocitycoop.org/

From the Washington Post Magazine.

Producers of SHIFT CHANGE, a documentary about worker cooperatives, have been hard at work to bring the film to our public broadcasting system…

Is SHIFT CHANGE airing on a PBS station in your local area??
http://shiftchange.org/new-pbs-broadcast-schedule-summer-2014/

If it’s airing locally, consider having a screening party!!

And if it’s not airing in your community, go ahead and contact your local PBS station and request they air the film. It is the ‘public broadcasting system’ and they actually listen to the public :)

Dear Friends,

There is still room in the ECO City Farm class on Community Composting, this Saturday, 8am-2pm. This is the beginning level class that will continue this fall with 8 sessions on the Advanced Level.

Some people were having difficulty with the registration directions. The directions have been edited and corrected below.

Please note that the class is $165 plus a $7 registration fee. (There is no $20 materials fee in addition, as was stated on one website)
The course number is AGR-320 (not AGR-301).

This class is through PG Community Classes. Future classes will most likely be offered directly through ECO City, which should reduce the price for the follow up sessions.

Contact phone numbers are now listed below, in case you prefer to register over the phone or have problems.
If you prefer to FAX in your registration, just email me at lore (AT) simplicity-matters (DOT) org. I have a partially filled in form which I can email to you.

Thanks,
Lore Rosenthal
Greenbelt Compost Co-op

You can register for the beginner class at http://www.pgcc.edu .

Ø At the very top of your screen, click on Owl Link.

Ø Click the yellow bar on the right that says “Workforce Development & Cont. Ed. Students.”

Ø On the far right, click “Search Cont. Ed. Classes”.

Ø In the box labeled “Course Code Number,” type AGR-320

If you have problems, call

Bree Cosh/Gabriella Hall: 301-322-0964

Lori Jones: 301-322-0033
More information about June 21st is available at

http://www.ecoffshoots.org/education/urban-agriculture-training/urban-agriculture-overview/

Seed Grants for Coops, Participatory Budgeting, and other Solidarity Economy Projects 

I'd like to invite you to apply for a seed grant this year with Shareable. This year, we are focusing on working with lower income communities and tangible, ongoing projects in one specific city. I hope you'll apply or pass it onto other local groups working on these types of projects. We will begin reviewing them starting Thurs and your odds are very good as we are giving away 20-25 grants and only 7 groups have applied so far.

Get support for a local sharing project with a Shareable Seed Grant. Apply today! http://bit.ly/1kLQonC