Green Worker Cooperatives
Encyclopedia
Green Worker Cooperatives (GWC) is a non-profit organization that incubates environmentally sustainable worker cooperative
s in the South Bronx of New York City
. The organization, founded in 2003 by Omar Freilla, seeks to create green-collar
jobs and promotes environmental justice
through the creation of cooperatives. GWC is a member of the United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives
.
In 2008, Green Worker Cooperatives started ReBuilders Source, a worker cooperative that reuses discarded building materials. Founder Freilla received the Rockefeller Foundation
’s Jane Jacobs
Medal and $100,000 which he used to finance the organization. Rebuilders Source also received a $70,000 grant from Citgo
.
Worker cooperative
A worker cooperative is a cooperative owned and democratically managed by its worker-owners. This control may be exercised in a number of ways. A cooperative enterprise may mean a firm where every worker-owner participates in decision making in a democratic fashion, or it may refer to one in which...
s in the South Bronx of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The organization, founded in 2003 by Omar Freilla, seeks to create green-collar
Green-collar worker
A green-collar worker is a worker who is employed in the environmental sectors of the economy. Environmental green-collar workers satisfy the demand for green development. Generally, they implement environmentally conscious design, policy, and technology to improve conservation and sustainability...
jobs and promotes environmental justice
Environmental justice
Environmental justice is "the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies." In the words of Bunyan Bryant,...
through the creation of cooperatives. GWC is a member of the United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives
United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives
The United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives is a federation of worker cooperatives in the United States. USFWC was founded at the U.S. Conference of Democratic Workplaces in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May 2004.....
.
In 2008, Green Worker Cooperatives started ReBuilders Source, a worker cooperative that reuses discarded building materials. Founder Freilla received the Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
’s Jane Jacobs
Jane Jacobs
Jane Jacobs, was an American-Canadian writer and activist with primary interest in communities and urban planning and decay. She is best known for The Death and Life of Great American Cities , a powerful critique of the urban renewal policies of the 1950s in the United States...
Medal and $100,000 which he used to finance the organization. Rebuilders Source also received a $70,000 grant from Citgo
Citgo
CITGO Petroleum Corporation is a United States-incorporated, Venezuela-owned refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de...
.