Meet Ed and Nicole of Rose & Cole's Co-op Transport!
With many in Pittsfield struggling with transportation issues, Ed had found himself increasingly busy bringing friends back and forth to work these past few years. Before long word got around Ed was single-handedly running a mini ride-share service without realizing it. Their participation in the Working Cities Coalition coalesced, that indeed, Pittsfield is in need of transportation services. Nicole, a long time community organizer with Manos Unidas, had become impassioned with the idea of worker co-ops and their ability to empower and mobilize workers via democratic governance, shared capital, and the various other ways co-ops ensured economic member participation. Co-ops adherence to sustainability and their concern for community was also impactful. Having recently founded Roots & Dreams and Mustard Seeds Inc, a Berkshire co-op incubator, Nicole thought that a transportation start-up was a great project to instate. With the support of other staff members from Roots & Dreams, Ed and Nicole began readying themselves to become a full fledged cooperative, adding other worker owners to their team!
....AND as the story continues, fate brought the co-op Terry Moore, a multi talented individual who now serves as our Director of Operations who we met at Harvest of Hope's annual festival. Terry has brought blood, sweat, and tears to this co-op diligently working day in and day out, volunteering up to an additional 20 hours per week to make this co-op work. Transportation had a lot more overhead than we initially expected but thanks to Terry we've overcome many hurdles!
Thank you Terry!
In the last few months we have welcomed Walter, contract manager for our 15 passenger bus, a gift donated to us by Shirley Edgerton and Rope World. Thank you so much Shirley & thank you Walter! Let's not forget Dillan Moore, Karen Hine, Matt Simms, and Michael Hitchcock who also add their skills and time to our team! Thanks to all for your support and dedication! At this time all our workers donate additional hours on top of paid hours so that we can provide discounted rates for EBT customers.
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