Our Build Track program is back for its second year, this January – June 2024! (And we’re very excited about the two groups who will join us.) Build Track exists as a Part Two for our Study Circle groups who want to move forward their co-op idea. The Build track selection was available to two groups from previous Study Circles cycles. While the Year One Study track aims for groups to contemplate the role, history, and basics of cooperatives, and to exist in the space of ideation, the Year Two Build Track allows for co-ops to begin pre-development work through Technical Assistance (TA). We work with the selected groups to design a TA program tailored to where they are currently in their business formation. This year’s Study Circles program will continue to focus on the intersections of cooperatives and public space. The William Penn Foundation provides lead support.

We are very excited to announce the two groups we will be working with in Build 2024: a group exploring a multi-use space cooperative and The NESTT!

The NESTT is returning for a second year in the Build track. The NESTT is a partnership between GPHA, Bartram’s Garden, and Woodland Academy. The aim is for it to be a childcare cooperative, as “a nature-focused center for early learning and family support” in Bartram’s Garden. In 2024, we will be continuing to develop their governance and ownership models, financial modeling and planning, and by-laws writing. 

Our second group is a collaboration between a number of BLM Philly members, who came through our Study Circles 2023-22 program. They will be pursuing a co-op which will be a Philly community resource center grounded in Black radical ideology and in the Black radical tradition of community care and mutual aid. The dream of this center is to be multifunctional for space rental usage, potential housing co-op spaces, and general community access for important offerings like food distro. 

We are very excited to work with both of these two great groups to bring their vision closer to reality.