This week, Megan McGee writes about some of the grassroots mutual aid that spontaneously emerged following the destruction of Hurricane Helene, with the worker co-op Firestorm Books becoming a hub for Asheville residents to organize and coordinate their relief efforts, and co-op network PODER Emma helping collect and distribute supplies.
Then, an ambitious project in the UK looks to create a community-owned rail line connecting Taunton and Swindon, in what would be a first of its kind for the country.
Grassroots Disaster Relief in Asheville
by Megan McGee
“At that point the roads into and out of Asheville were blocked,” Valance says. “There was literally no aid coming into the city, so any aid being distributed was coming out of people's homes in the first couple of days.” For several weeks after Helene struck Asheville, neighbors would congregate for a daily meeting outside the co-op, occasionally facilitated by staff but usually by community members. Valance says these meetings served as “a space for people to gather, process feelings, get up-to-date information and coordinate relief activities.”
GO-OP: Can a Community Cooperative Run a Railway?
by Green Signals
GO-OP rail is a new type of Open Access operator who may just provide an alternative. It’s local, very community based and with a co-operative ownership model that means it is there to serve passengers and workers. It’s all very laudable but it is credible?Â
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Help Mandela Grocery Meet Urgent Refrigeration Needs
GoFundMe — In January, changes in regulations will require us to replace our refrigerator valves and transition to eco-friendly refrigerants. This upgrade is essential to ensure we remain compliant with state regulations and continue operating sustainably. The total cost for this vital repair is $20,000—a significant and unforeseen expense that we didn’t budget for. This is more than a technical fix; it’s an investment in the people who power Mandela, the community we serve, and the mission we share. Together, we can continue to provide affordable, fresh groceries and uphold our commitment to social and economic justice...
Fighting Gentrification and Creating Community Spaces
Marcus Hessenberg Films (YouTube) — Whilst in New York in September I met lots of interesting people. @verleenkillz linked me with @awo_ifatade who is part of a community of people who started a housing Co op for Black and Brown folks in East New York. They provide affordable housing and event spaces for those who want to have an affordable start to kick off their projects and lives in reaction to the growing costs of living...
Nepal’s co-op crisis: Fallout continues from embezzlement scandal
Co-operative News — There have been a series of high-profile arrests in recent weeks, including the country’s former deputy prime minister, Rabi Lamichhane, head of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party. Lamichhane was arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau from his party office in October – a month after a parliamentary panel found that Galaxy Media, which he vice chairs, borrowed Rs 850m from Pokhara-based Surya Darshan co-op and spent it illegally...
A National Rideshare Cooperative Takes Aim At Uber and Lyft
Z Network — Ji said scaling the cooperative has proven challenging. The Colorado branch launched with about $500,000 donated from local foundations. However, Ji explained that growing that war chest requires carefully seeking out socially responsible investors. She said that if a bank like Wells Fargo approached them and asked to invest, the cooperative would likely reject the offer because the bank is not aligned with its social mission...
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