theMGC newspaper Without Bloodshed War
IFAMA Co-Op Growing By Michael McGee Jr.
An African World Festival Revival in 2016? Perhaps! By E. Amari Brown
The Ifama Co-Op has built 3 Hoop houses in Milwaukee thus far with plans to build even more this year. (Photo By free Online Sources)
After three cancellations in a row over the past three years, a local group of activists seeks to reprise the African World Festival model on private property owned by the M.OR.E Group of Milwaukee. (Photo By free Online Sources)
Milwaukee - In the previous article I stated that I would discuss an economic cooperative that was taking place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The name of this cooperative is Ifama Community Economics, which is named after our dearly departed Queen Sister, Ifama Jackson. The name Ifama means, ‘all is well’, in the Ibo language of Western Africa. The reason this co-op is named after Sister Ifama is because she tried to join a co-op the week she unexpectedly passed on. One of the remedies to making, ‘all well’ in our community is to pool our resources together, & determining our own future in order to provide mutual aid and cooperation amongst one another-as did our ancestors and elders. Besides the usual history of Marcus Garvey and W.E.B. Dubois, the Black church is one of the first known American examples of mutual aid and pooling resources. There are also other tried and true examples. Just think of fraternities, your partners-business or otherwise, family-any number of people who work together for the common interest of the whole: they too can be considered a cooperative. Ifama Co-op is a dedicated group of community-minded folks from all walks of life who have united to pool dollars and resources for the improvement of our community. The co-op is interested in owning business in various areas, from agriculture to real estate. Currently co-op members pay $50 annually for discounted prices on any products sold by the co-op. On June 1, 2016, dozens of what are called ‘Revolutionary Raised Beds’ will be delivered to members. These beds will contain 13 herbs and vegetables ranging from Cilantro to Echinacea. Led by a World renowned Urban Farmer, Food is being grown in Urban Greenhouses called ‘Hoop’ houses throughout... (Cont. On Pg.2)
Glendale - Milwaukee has long been heralded as the 'City of Festivals' for its amalgamation of ethnically themed lakefront festivals and more, which occupy for a time the renowned Maier Festival Grounds. In a city which is now 39% African American and in a city that is now a "minority majority" city when the populations of Latino and other ethnic groups are calculated, Milwaukee for the 3rd year in a row will not host an African American World festival. Financial issues related to past debt and an inability to pay them off in full have doomed the African World Festival. In year's past the festival stood as a brilliant testament of the will power and fortitude of Milwaukee's African American community. These days the event itself has become a fond afterthought: a reminder of how great things used to be. But, all is not lost. A core of community leaders and devoted, civic minded residents have been meeting of late to discuss the possibility of reviving the festival on privately owned property. The community's call for a festival has been heard. Whether or not there will be enough time to pull it all together this year remains to be seen. Next week, there will be a meeting, the third of its kind over the past seven days, at the KISS Ultra Lounge7330 N. 76th Street in Milwaukee to discuss a working budget, build out, volunteer assemblage, insurance costs and more. If all can be meted out to the satisfaction of those present, a vote will be held on whether or not to host the event in September of this year on the grounds of the popular venue. No name has been selected as of yet for the mini-version of the African themed event. "No one, singular entity or group has a monopoly on our people's culture or identity. We can bring a festival back. We can make it so", says event volunteer Darnell Monroe. For more information please email us at
[email protected].
theMGC newspaper War Without Bloodshed Education * Literacy * Community * Cooperation * Activism * Support * Respect * Action * Love (Continued from Page 1)....the city. The Ifama Co-op has learned and followed Mr. Will Allen’s lead and is now capitalizing on the products that can be grown in Hoop Houses. Allen is the co-founder of Growing Power which has gained international acclaim for its ability to grow, produce and distribute produce in urban areas throughout Milwaukee and elsewhere. For around Five Hundred dollars ($500) including skilled labor, we have built three hoop houses. Two are being sponsored by Milwaukee rapper and author, Ronnie Bo, and the other by Kiss Ultra Lounge of Milwaukee. The value of pooling resources has countless advantages. In order to alter the negative direction our city has taken, the model of how we operate has to drastically change. Cooperatives offer exactly the kind of revolutionary change that we sorely need to unify our people and circulate some real money within. The International Cooperative Alliance has set a standard that helps to really explain what co -ops are and how they operate : 7 Internationally adopted Co -op Principles for IFAMA Board and it's members to Study: 1st Principle: Voluntary and Open Membership "Co-operatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination." 2nd Principle: Democratic Member Control "Co-operatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary co-operatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and co-operatives at other levels are also organised in a democratic manner." 3rd Principle: Member Economic Participation "Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the co-operative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their co-operative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the co-operative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership." 4th Principle: Autonomy and Independence "Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter to agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their co-operative autonomy." 5th Principle: Education, Training and Information "Co-operatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public - particularly young people and opinion leaders - about the nature and benefits of co-operation." 6th Principle: Co-operation among Co-operatives “Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.” 7th Principle: Concern for Community “Co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.”
Next issue I will discuss, Co-ops vs. Corporations, as well as the hurdles we face leading people towards revolution.
www.mgcnewspaper.com
Have you been Kissed lately, Milwaukee? 262-744-2644
For VIP Service
