We’ve found a space for Black Coffee on Capitol Hill, and we’re moving in right away! We’re holding a Cooperative gathering that is open to anyone and everyone who wants to join. Here’s what you’re in for if you attend:
- Sneak Peek at the space! Be amongst the first people to see our space, before its even finished, and lend your brilliance and creativity to the development of the space.
- Find ways to support Black Coffee! Learn about how you can support Black Coffee, now and into the future. There are wide opportunities, from becoming a worker-owner to helping us paint some walls.
- Drink some delicious coffee! We’ll have the coffee brewin’ for this meeting, so you can be the first to get a true cup of Black Coffee.
We, the ppl, have a ton of mtgs. What is good mtg behavior? What will be kind and help you out rather than hog space from buying customers? I’m imagining without having been in your feet.
cool question! we really hope to host meetings of activist- and community- groups. We’ve talked about have some sort of minimum order, like, each meeting has to buy $25 worth of stuff, or if they purchase less, just pay the difference.
how does this sound to people?
I honestly think it would be really cool if we could just say people are allowed to book the space for meetings for free with no set rule about needing to purchase anything. I think we can encourage a culture of reciprocation as possible, where it is expected that folks who can contribute contribute as much as they can both in purchases and donations but that nobody is turned away from booking the space for a meeting if they do not have money, especially if they are doing some rad community stuff. It would feel really shitty for me, for example, if we had to turn down some folks from using the space for a meeting if nobody in their group could come up with $25 in donations or purchases. I would be willing to help organize some kind of monthly fundraiser to this end, if that is financially necessary, to just say that people can use the space for free as needed and as it is available. Might have to work something out so that no one single group ends up booking it all the time for everything to the exclusion of other folks though. Whatever the challenges may be though, it is super crucial for me to be able to say “Nobody turned away for lack of funds” when it comes to using the space. I understand it is a capital enterprise as well as as social space and that the continued stable existence of the social space will depend on the financial success, but I think we can guarantee the financial success in ways other than putting any sort of price tag whatsoever on booking the space. To restate what I think I just said about 3 or 4 times above: I would like a policy where people can book the space totally free of charge and they can contribute whatever they are able to/what they feel is appropriate and I would like to completely avoid attaching even a “recommended” contribution or even stating something like “people usually contribute X.” Sorry for redundancy and verbosity/lack of brevity, but I am not going to edit this post =p
Really agree that is becomes much more approachable for anyone and any group organizing if the meeting space(s) do not have an attached “recommended” minimum amount. Some folks really don’t have the funds to contribute and it would serve to not silence them if finding other alternatives to making the rent could be done creatively. And when i say “silence”, i mean this: it is not uncommon for a person to be in a group meeting where there is an expected capital contribution to be made; when that person cannot make a contribution in that way i’ve often noticed that it makes them uncomfortable in the entire group dynamic, resulting in them not feeling comfortable enough to speak up in their meeting.
I am really excited for this spot to open up, to help out as needed, and see the real collectivity it in action. any space for a food garden out front, out back, etc? i know some peeps that would love to jump on that, including myself.
And YES!! for your happiness.
I am a licensed electrician. let me know if you need any help in that dept. pete
Thank you so much Peter! It is likely we’ll be in touch, but how do we contact you?
hmmm. I thought the email was included with the reply ……retep1341@gmail.com
This is FANTASTIC and I am excited to see how I can contribute to your success!
So I have to pay aprox. $25 to attend this meeting?
No, its free. I think Carol was just asking about holding meetings in the cafe in the future.
I’m totally down for help out with painting and cleaning or what ever you need me for!, this is soo exciting!
i have skills, (carpentry, painting, unlicensed everything,) and desire to help. let me know what i can do even though my time availability will be scattered.
Just moved here and I live right down the street…lot’s of free time while I’m looking for work and I can think of nothing better than volunteering to help get this place goin’! See ya on the 8th!
This makes me super happy. We’ll be coming on Halloween. xo
Exciting to read about the number of wonderful people becoming part of the Black Coffee family!