Rebirthing Community CHAT ~ Communities Of Light Co-Operative

Solar Generator Workshop

Communities of Light Co-operative, (COL) created the co-op, its workshops and products to help members achieve personal solvency and self-sufficiency as gateways to eliminate isolation, improve physical and spiritual health of the BYI communities.  The co-op model empowers members with tools for energy conservation and independence and experience in new business models and entrepreneurial opportunities.  It also provides the means for employment, financial solvency, and self-sufficiency.

Rebirthing Community is a strong spoke in the BYI CHAT wheel.  We looked at the socio-economic status of the community and assessed that we are healthy when we have personal solvency and self-sufficiency. Our community is in need of these gateways in order to improve physical and spiritual health.

We reached out to our network of internal/external consultants, co-op members, etc. to create a viable model.  For example: MADDADS provide workshop participants and decorates solar lanterns; Minneapolis Transition Charter School  produces the basic solar generator cart; we participated in the last 3 May Day Parades coordinated by In The Heart of the Beast Theatre; participated in MGM”'s Annual Musical Festival where we demonstrated and sold our products and recruited workshop participants.

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Somali Women”'s Health

Our chat is most proud of coordinating

1. Friday Somali girls group
2. Monthly women empowerment group
3. Educational training on drugs and the justice system.  We also host crime prevention activities which include cleaning up streets in our neighborhoods.

(Photo right) Information table at Somali Women”'s Health event

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Latino/a Environmental Health Begins at Home CHAT (Lehbah)

Sample of safe cleaning products used by LEHBAH CHAT members when cleaning or teaching others about safe cleaning methods for their homes.

Some of the highlights of LEHBAH”'s achievements in 2013 include:

The LEHBAH CHAT has largely been comprised of only women in the last several years.  This is most likely because the key activity of the CHAT has   “safe cleaning methods”. However, for the first time, 2 men joined and remained committed to the work of the CHAT.

LEHBAH has moved from just one method of educating about environmentally safe and culturally appropriate cleaning methods to a more flexible approach that considers what might be more comfortable ways for people to take in the information. For example:

hosting a cleaning session where extended family, friends and neighbors can attend so that it feels more like a community gathering than just a cleaning event.

conducting one-on-one sessions. This method works especially well with single men who live alone in apartments or single-room occupancy situations.

LEHBAH has also intentionally added this question to their information exchange sessions: “If you had an emergency in your home or apartment, who would you call?” This simple question has helped people to think about reaching out and getting to know their neighbors and start to build trusting relationships so that their is someone to call in emergency situations such as vandalism, fire, falls, etc.… Read the rest “Latino/a Environmental Health Begins at Home CHAT (Lehbah)”