by Brian Hildebrand
Goal: to create a sustainable center of community activity and outreach.
We want to have a space where people can freely congregate and connect with like minded individuals, engaging in common goals and supporting each other in various community endeavors. There are a couple of ways we would like to do this:
1. Community resource center:
A place where people can come and find ways to productively connect with the community. This will involve both internal programs, such as a jobs connection program for day laborers, similar to the old Teen Jobline that YFS used to host but for workers of all ages, as well as synergistic connections to other community organizations. A long-range goal would be the establishment of a certified community kitchen, where people can come together and pool their resources to create and host meals for the community.
2. Community activity center:
A place where people can come to relax and enjoy the company of others, regardless of financial means. This will incorporate both passive entertainments such as music/movies etc. with perhaps some game tables like pool/ping-pong/foosball available, as well as more organized events and programs, like a dance or a yoga class.
Pretty straightforward, really. The question is, how do we make it happen?
For one thing, there is the challenge of finding consistently available volunteers to host the space, not to mention folks willing to coordinate programs. The other issue is the space itself. What exactly is available, and is there a space that could accommodate all these things?
I don't know the answer to this second question, but I've stewed on ideas for the first and would like to propose a non-profit co-operative model as a way to encourage participation in the creation and stewardship of this program.
My conception is of an organization that does not have set wages that it pays it's employees, but rather a structure where active members are compensated for their contributions to the center through a calculation of hours invested to monthly profits.
For example, let's say that the center has brought in enough money to cover its operating costs and has managed to generate an additional $1000 of profit beyond that. Now, let's say you've got 3 people working at the center that have put in 20, 30 and 50 hours of work during that time. From this profit pool they would then recieve $200, $300 and $500 respectively.
How do we intend to generate this profit and can we count on it being consistent? The benefit of this arrangement is that workers will be directly invested in the productivity of the center; they will be motivated to bring in people through the creation and stewardship of programs and events. This is no guarantee of success, but it will be more of a motivator than simply hiring folks who are counting on a consistent wage regardless of how things go down.
Now, people that are willing to sign up for such an inconsistent guarantee of financial stability are going to be few and far between, but I know for a fact that there are folks out there that haven't got that guarantee to begin with and would appreciate just having a productive space in which to spend there time first and foremost. In fact, I see this as a perfect opportunity to reach out to the less privileged members of our community and offer them a place in something that could ultimately be an incredibly uplifting program, one that would tap into their unique talents and experiences.
The next question is how will money be brought in, particularly if we intend to keep this facility open to those without disposable income? I have a proposition that on the surface may sound extremely naive, but I beg you to bear with me. I would like to propose that we attempt to operate as a secular church of sorts, that is to say that rather than charging a "cover fee" of any kind, or a fee for attending any programs, we instead set up a donation-based exchange.
Like a church does at the end of its service, we could pass around a donation bucket at the end of a program, or just have a secure box with a slot in the top set up at the entrance/exit. I think in doing this we will find that not only will people be more inclined to give generously when they have enjoyed one of our programs, but that folks with less means to give will give in small amounts that will ultimately add up to something substantial, particularly when you consider that we would receive nothing from this demographic were we to price our programs outside of their resources. I would also hope that we would get people who would agree to volunteer with the center in exchange for this access.
I'll admit that there will be folks that will take advantage of such a situation and give nothing, just as often from people with means as those without, but I would like to think that such an arrangement would ultimately balance out well for all involved. Of course, there is no shame in coordinating the standard issue fundraisers and such, so that could also help us balance this thing out. I just want to make sure that no one feels left out of something they would like to be a part of. I know from personal experience how frustrating that can be.
Well, I think that's enough of an info dump from me for right now. I may come back and amend this in the future, but I think that basically says what I'm trying to say. I look forward to any and all feedback.
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