Worker-Owned, Industrial-Size, Environmentally Sound Business Rises Up

By Gar Alperovitz and Ted Howard and Michael Williamson, The Nation
Posted on February 11, 2010, Printed on February 17, 2010
http://www.alternet.org/story/145645/

Something important is happening in Cleveland: a new model of large-scale worker- and community-benefiting enterprises is beginning to build serious momentum in one of the cities most dramatically impacted by the nation’s decaying economy. The Evergreen Cooperative Laundry (ECL)–a worker-owned, industrial-size, thoroughly “green” operation–opened its doors late last fall in Glenville, a neighborhood with a median income hovering around $18,000. It’s the first of ten major enterprises in the works in Cleveland, where the poverty rate is more than 30 percent and the population has declined from 900,000 to less than 450,000 since 1950.

The employees, who are drawn largely from Glenville and other nearby impoverished neighborhoods, are enthusiastic. “Because this is an employee-owned business,” says maintenance technician and former marine Keith Parkham, “it’s all up to us if we want the company to grow and succeed.”

“The only way this business will take off is if people are fully vested in the idea of the company,” says work supervisor and former Time-Warner Cable employee Medrick Addison. “If you’re not interested in giving it everything you have, then this isn’t the place you should be.” Addison, who also has a record, is excited about the prospects: “I never thought I could become an owner of a major corporation. Maybe through Evergreen things that I always thought would be out of reach for me might become possible.”

Location: PRC Prentke Romich Co. 1022 Heyl Rd. (Co. Rd. 139), WOOSTER

Explore Your Options & Bring Your Questions!

Get Practical Information about Sustainable Energy Equipment and Systems

With Panelists, passionate about alternative energy, with first-hand knowledge of the benefits and challenges of sustainable/renewable home energy options.

FRED MICHEL, Assoc. Professor, Food, Agr. and Bio. Engineering, OARDC,   Solar Electric (PV/Photovoltaics) Expert

BERNIE CALDWELL, Owner Caldwell Energy Options and High School Teacher Wind Power Expert

MIKE POWERS, Lead Design Engineer, Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems      Solar Thermal & Passive Solar Expert

JOSH LEHMAN, Lehman’s Assistant Store and Stove Department Manager  Wood Stove Expert

Put on by the Wayne County Sustainable Energy Network (www.wcsen.org)

BEYOND COAL COMMITTEE NEWS

Wed February 10 - 7:00 pm  

Rescheduled!: March 4th at 2 pm. Room 4

Akron Public Library - Main Street Branch - Meeting Room 1

Beyond Coal is ramping up on several fronts and we need your support/involvement.  Action areas include:

1.  Stop proposed coal mining operation in Carroll County.

2.  Stop proposed coal washing operation in Harrison County.

3.  Build public pressure campaign to keep local municipalities from pursuing energy contracts with companies planning to build NEW coal plants.

4.  Support alternative energy programs through local education & advocacy.

If one or more of these is of interest to you please join us on 2/10.  For questions contact: Paul Feezelpaul@distractedbynature.com 330-627-7163

Call: 330-308-7434 to Register

Learn practical and affordable ways to save energy, money and the environment including:  reducing cold and hot water use, correcting insulation and air sealing materials and techniques, improving heating and cooling systems, reducing electrical energy use, modifying occupant behavior, and the benefits of and the opportunity to sign up for an energy audit of your home. Save money, energy, & the environment.  See the tools and techniques used in an energy audit.

Program presented by Allen Zimmerman, professor of Energy Efficient Home Building at the Agricultural Technical Institute, The Ohio State University.   

Tools & techniques used in conducting an energy audit presented by Keith Speirs, Architect with Speirs Architectural Design.

In Room 113, in the Science and Technology Building at Kent State University at Tuscarawas.

This program is duplicates the “Saving Home Energy” program offered last December 3rd by Wayne County Sustainable Energy Network (www.wcsen.org), in Wooster, OH.

Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association is having their annual conference on Feb 13th and 14th, in Granville OHIO. The Theme this year is “Growing With Integrity, Eating with Intention”

Check out www.oeffa.org/conference2010.php for more information.

A great conference on sustainable local foods sure to please anyone interested in food or eating!

Athens ODNR, 130 State St., is soliciting comments regarding Forest Use in Ohio. Carpool available to Athens on Thursday. Please contact tuscsustainability (at) gmail.com for more information.

A passive solar, earth bermed home owned by Floyd and Karen McCormick, Stonecreek, will be open for public visitation Saturday, January 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Visitors will also be able to experience the warmth of the home’s primary heat source, a Russian Fireplace, custom built by an area mason. Due to the expansive brick mass of the fireplace, a one-time firing can provide heat for the home for a 48-hour period.  Two cords of wood is enough to heat the home for the winter.  Because of the home’s design, it is also naturally cool in the summer months.  Floyd, along with members of the Tuscarawas County Sustainability Network, will be present to discuss energy efficient building design principles.  The home is located 3/10 mile south of Stonecreek at 6194 Stonecreek Road.  For
 additional information, call 330-339-2127.

From Sierra Club NorthEast News:

OEPA public hearing scheduled for 6:30 pm, Thursday, January 21 at the Horizon Science Academy, 6000 South Marginal Rd, Cleveland 44103 pertaining to the NPDES permit modification request that FirstEnergy Generation Corp, 6800 Marginal Rd, has made to increase the amount of mercury and copper permitted from that plant… affecting water quality of Lake Erie, etc.

For more info, call Pat McKenna, Chair of NorthEast Ohio Sierra Club Group — 248.505.3550

Sustainable Christmas Workshop: Making Christmas a Gift for your family and the Earth

Christmas is a big producer of garbage: from wrapping paper to over-packaged toys, to the too-many presents all the aunts and uncles send. Join the Tuscarawas County Sustainability Network December 10th, from 7-8 pm at Kent State University, Tuscarawas Branch in Room 209 in the Science and Technology building. 

This workshop will share Inexpensive ways to decrease waste and increase meaning of the biggest holiday of the year. Learn ways of finding fair products so everyone (including those who made your gifts) have a very happy holiday, and see local products that support your neighbors and keep money in our community. We’ll give you strategies so your gifts end up always treasured instead of in a landfill. Easy and Fun crafts will also be demonstrated. 

Love your Family, Love your Community, Love the Earth. 

RSVP to 330.308.7434. Limit 25.