One of PACA’s goals is increasing public awareness about cooperatives—both about existing co-ops in the Philadelphia area and are open to new membership and also how co-ops work and why they are important.

Public service announcements, or PSAs for short, are one medium through which to do this and there is a long history of organizations using PSAs to get the word out about social issues. PSAs are a way of communicating with a wide range of people about an important issue, often with the aim of encouraging public involvement or action.

Over the summer, one of our Philly Co-op Interns, Mowie Freeman, has recorded two PSAs—one 30 seconds long and one 50 seconds long. The focus of these PSAs is to inform listeners of the diversity of existing cooperatives in Philly, including food co-ops, housing co-ops, credit unions, and more. The PSA also encourages people to start or join a co-op so that they, too, can co-own and make decisions about the enterprises where they work, shop and live.

After contacting local radio stations, we have learned that our PSAs will be featured in the coming months on at least two local stations: KYW/CBS Philly and WPEB. We are still in conversation with other stations about broadcasting our PSAs and are hopeful that additional airing will follow.

Below are the scripts and .mp3s  for both PSAs. Check them out and then keep your ears open on the radio for upcoming PACA announcements!

30 second PSA:

Do you want to do something about economic inequality?

Join a co-op, or start your own.

Cooperatives and credit unions are owned and controlled by the people who use them — not by distant shareholders.

Co-ops provide housing, jobs, education, food, banking, energy, and more.

To find a co-op near you, visit the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance website at  www dot philadelphia dot coop. That’s dot c o o p.

50 second PSA:

Voice 1: “I’m tired of having to answer to my boss.”

Voice 2: “My landlord keeps raising the rent.”

Voice 3: “There’s no place to buy affordable fresh food in my neighborhood.”

Voice 4: “My bank is nickel and diming me with extra fees.”

Narrator: Gain control by cooperating with others! Join a co-op, or start your own!

Cooperatives are enterprises that are owned and controlled by the people who use them. At a co-op, democracy happens every day, not just on election day.

Voice 1: “I just joined a worker co-op – now we’re all the boss!”

Voice 2: “No more landlord –  I live in a housing co-op now!”

Voice 3: “I’m going to talk to my neighbors about starting a food co-op.”

Voice 4: “I’m ditching that bank and switching to a not-for-profit credit union.”

Narrator:

To find a co-op near you, visit the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance website at  www dot philadelphia dot coop. That’s dot c o o p.

Do you have ideas about how to distribute the PSA to more radio stations and outlets? Contact caitlin@philadelphia.coop.