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on November 22, 2011
Gregory Allen
Posted project update #12THNKSGVNG @SWTWRKPRJCT
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on September 7, 2011
Gregory Allen
Posted project update #11SWEETWORK PROJECT: WHAT'S GOING ON IN SEPT?
Post CommentHi everyone, we hope the fall is finding you healthy and happy. We just wanted to update everyone about some things we have in the works.
For those of you who have prizes coming to you, we'll be sending out surveys asking for pertinent information (mailing addresses, photos of your pets, etc.) later today. Once more, we'd like to thank Isa Chandra, Aubin Pictures, Hot Chip and Le Tigre, and Johanna Fateman for their generous prize donations, which collectively account for over $6,000 of this campaign's funding!!
Otherwise, there are two major things happening: 1. We are now officially negotiating a lease for the site we wish to rent. We hope to finalize within the month, but let's not jinx it by saying so. Oops! 2. We have applied for a major grant from a program whose mission is practically identical to ours, and the process seems to be going well. We'll keep everyone informed about this, but we're not even going to say ANYTHING to jinx this, because it's potentially too major. In fact we probably don't even have a chance, so never mind.
In media news: we have passed into some other category now, as evidenced by this article, http://bit.ly/oyz2q2, which refers to us casually as just another model to be considered. Thank you Frugivore!!
And finally, a note to all: we can't overstate the impact that you, as backers of this project, have had on the progress we've made; literally, the 417 of you have launched this store. No matter how big we get or successful we become, SWEETWORK PROJECT will always have been born here, on your living room floor— and you were the doula! Messy but beautiful. Sorry, we're getting carried away.
XOXOSWEETWORKPROJECT
www.facebook.com/sweetworkproject
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on August 20, 2011
Gregory Allen
Posted project update #10THE BEGINNING
Post CommentWe'd just like to say thank you to everyone for this amazing experience. We've raised $24,695. We really can't express our gratitude for this, or the feeling that comes from seeing so many people do something so powerful together.
Too many individuals and institutions made this possible to name them all, so we'll leave this with a general thank you, and mention again that we encourage those who supported to continue this journey with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/sweetworkproject), YouTube (www.youtube.com/sweetworkproject), and Twitter (www.twitter.com/SWTWRKPRJCT).
As soon as we have a date for the opening party you'll be the first to know!
KEEP IN TOUCH
XOXOSWEETWORKPROJECT 08/20/2011 9:37AM
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on August 20, 2011Funded!
Pop-Up Co-Op by Gregory Allen
And now for something completely different. The thing you've been wishing for. A worker-owned organic grocery store in Harlem.
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108% funded $24,695 pledged
- 417 backers
- Funded Aug 20, 2011
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on August 19, 2011
Gregory Allen
Posted project update #9OUR LAST 24HRS
Post Commenthttp://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sweetworkproject/pop-up-co-op
Hello, and welcome to the last 24hrs of this campaign!
We won't keep you long, but we'd like to say THANK YOU to everyone who supported this project in ways large and small, and really there aren't any small ways. It all worked to make this happen.
4 ANNOUNCEMENTS:
We have a YouTube account now so that there are more ways for people to find out about us and see our videos! www.youtube.com/sweetworkproject
Some recent press: http://bit.ly/ppqUGn + http://bit.ly/oUl4dJ. Thank you JEFF MAYS and ADRIANA VELEZ!
The video included with UPDATE #8 is new, in case you thought it was the same old video. If you plan to share this project with friends today (and we're sure you are!) don't forget to alert them to this video, which shows the beginning of this project's next phase.
We've overfunded our goal, so things aren't desperate. HOWEVER we do have a wish list, described in the "About this project" section of the main Kickstarter page. Please check it out, and then forward, post, tweet, email, and tell anyone and everyone you know. We could do a lot in 24HRS. Look at what we've done so far!!
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on August 17, 2011
Gregory Allen
Posted project update #8SWEETWORK PROJECT 2: THERESA
Post CommentThere are still 36 hours left before this fundraiser is over! Thank you again everyone for making this real!! And speaking of reality...
We're moving fast. We invited potential hire/potential owner Theresa Dixon to come over and discuss this project. A video document of that occasion is included with this update.
We would like to continue collecting pledges. If we can raise $27,500 that would cover these costs:
1. A 16-week cooperative development course, which Theresa and I could take together. Knowledge building, team-building, and equalizing— that's what this crash course could do.
2. Removal of the exterior signage from the store's site.
3. Hiring of an architect to precisely measure out the space, draw plans, and detail the layout of the store.
4. Hiring of an accountant to do payroll and quarterly taxes.
The full fundraising effort (see the business plan) requires more than a quarter of a million dollars, so... we're not turning down supporters yet!!
Thank you all for all the thought, hard work, scheming, strategizing, spamming, sharing, and sending that you all did; it worked! NOBODY DID THIS BUT US.
XOSWEETWORKPROJECT
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on August 16, 2011
Gregory Allen
Posted project update #7WHAT HAVE WE DONE?!?! SWEETWORK PROJECT + U
Post CommentTHANKS TO YOU today at about 2:30PM THIS PROJECT WAS FUNDED!!!!!
All of our plans, all of the work we've done, and all of you. In just three and a half weeks, SWEETWORK PROJECT went from plan to reality. The store will open, and we will hire a worker, a young person who has recently aged out of youth services in NYC. We will build on the connections we've made and the money we've raised to complete this project to its end— a full-fledged organic grocery store owned by the workers, expanding to its limits, participating in community affairs, advocating for the poor, and exploring ways to diversify its interests to bring maximum benefit to customers and to workers. What have we done?
We intend to bring something to life that HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BEFORE. A futuristic model for community-based capitalism; an alternative to corporate exploitation and job program exploitation; a grassroots solution to a systemic problem; a business model that does not prioritize any bottom line, but that measures success in a more wholistic way (and still makes a bunch of money). In short, we want to create something that will make you proud. The supporters of this project undoubtedly possess a diversity of viewpoints, but we all agree that it is necessary to try this incredible experiment. Now we want to go all out to make good on its promise.
We will update again tomorrow. In the meantime, we want to apologize for this mass email to all the backers who we haven't had a chance to contact yet. We've been hustling, being interviewed, and partying at GAY NOIZ. And shooting some video. For tomorrow.
Quickly, we'd like to thank a few people for pledges, support, shout-outs, and help this week: Harlem Bespoke, MOC Blog (link here; do not click if you don't want to see porn), Sia, Paul Pfeiffer, Audrey Marrs (pictured below, receiving an award), Bethany Fancher, DJ Keili (pictured below), Johanna Fateman, Jibz, CHANDI, MEN, and DNAinfo. To our MATCHING DONORS we are forever grateful. To Mischa, we tried to keep this short. But now look, we had to add two sentences about you! See you soon!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
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on August 9, 2011
Gregory Allen
Posted project update #6UNSCHEDULED ANNOUNCEMENTS! NEW PRIZE/ FEW PRIZE/ NO PRIZE
Post CommentSorry everyone for this unscheduled announcement, but we have to do a NEW PRIZE ALERT!! Here's the blurb:
"Johanna Fateman: entrepreneur, musician, writer, and artist. Beloved by all who know her, and even by some who don't. We were able to convince her to go for the heart, and she has agreed to our suggestion: PET PORTRAITS. Your pet is a person you love in a special way, and Johanna is capable of evoking that love in a gorgeous watercolor portrait.
"Because this work is time consuming, and because Johanna, an artist with a reputation to precede her, has offered to produce these one-of-a-kind portraits for a radical, innovative, and necessary project that needs as much support as possible, this prize is being offered at the $500 PLEDGE LEVEL. One watercolor portrait, on 8.5" x 11" heavyweight paper, will be painted from photographs provided by each project backer who selects this prize. DELIVERED BY CHRISTMAS." (www.johannafateman.com) (see examples below)
ALSO, we still have a few copies of Catherine Gund's WHAT"S ON YOUR PLATE? but they're going fast. Available at the $25 pledge level! Thank you Aubin Pictures!
In other PRIZES news, we happily/sadly report that we are out of ALL SIX OF ISA CHANDRA MOSKOWITZ'S BOOKS. Thanks to Nicole, who will be cooking delicious vegan food for her family for years to come, one recipe at a time. We are also out of all 10 copies of VEGAN WITH A VENGEANCE. Don't worry— you can still see and learn from Isa Chandra at www.theppk.com.
Amazing! While we're here we might as well show you this blog which ran a profile of this project: Harlem Bespoke. Even if you don't live here it's interesting!
And about 5 seconds ago Adrian S. helped us hit the $16,000 mark!! Thank you Adrian!! Keep pushing, keep posting, keep emailing, keep reminding. And thank you all!
SWTWRKPRJCT
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on August 5, 2011
Gregory Allen
Posted project update #5SWEETWORK PROJECT MID-POINT UPDATE: $13,541!!!
Post Commentwww.kickstarter.com/projects/sweetworkproject/pop-up-co-op
Here we are halfway through this campaign and we're so happy with the overwhelming response: $13,451!!! So much has happened since our last update!
1. NEW PRIZE ALERT! For a limited time, backers at the $25 level or above may choose to receive Catherine Gund's brand new book companion to her groundbreaking film WHAT'S ON YOUR PLATE? (see images below). Thanks to Aubin Pictures and Catherine Gund! And we only have two signed copies left of Isa Chandra Moskowitz's VEGAN WITH A VENGEANCE, available at the $100 level. Get ALL SIX OF ISA CHANDRA MOSKOWITZ'S BOOKS with a $500 pledge. Thanks again Isa Chandra!
2. We are so grateful for the awesome shout-outs we got from two very influential New Yorkers: feminist artist/writer/musician Kathleen Hanna (pictured below) and vegan ethicist and fashion icon Joshua Katcher, whose impossibly smart DISCERNING BRUTE website (pictured below) features a guest blog by Sweetwork Project's founder. Thank you Kathleen and Joshua! Here are the links to those sites:
http://www.kathleenhanna.com/sweetworks/
http://www.thediscerningbrute.com/2011/08/03/guest-blogger-sweetwork-projects-head-honcho/
3. We are also so grateful for the support we got from all of you, including the well-known (LCD Soundsystem, Anna Sew Hoy, Hot Chip, Balls to the Wall, Elisabeth Subrin, blogger Melissa Clark, dancer Shauna Mitchell) and the unknown (anonymous supporter nyceverything singlehandedly procured almost $500 in pledges in one day by personally urging 10 friends to support! There's a lesson in there...).
4. From the hellish oops we mean awesome world of social networking: we're suddenly on Twitter @SWTWRKPRJCT, and we're still on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sweetworkproject. These are both great ways to share this project with your friends and family, except for one problem-- what we are now referring to as The Great Facebook Debacle, in which we were the victims of our own success, and Facebook flagged our Kickstarter link as spam because too many people posted it! We'd like to say this is a good problem, but really it's just a snag in our campaign; anyone sharing this link on Facebook must now use either a shortened link (like this one: http://kck.st/q7UnCA) or the web address, www.sweetworkproject.com. Thanks for helping us network, Facebook!
5. Finally, we'd like to discuss the unthinkable, albeit obliquely. Many people have asked us, "What if you can't raise all the money?" Well, dear friends, unfortunately if we do not raise the full amount we will not receive any of it. So keep this in mind as we open the second half of this campaign, which will undoubtedly be more of a struggle than the first half. Perhaps we could all take a page from nyceverything (see #3 above) and spend 30min this weekend personally contacting 10 people to urge them to support this project. If all of us did that, we could probably open the full store and skip the Pop-Up!
SWEETWORK 4EVER!!
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on August 3, 2011
Gregory Allen
commented on a projectrachel i'm gonna look into this! sorry i got this after i just msgd you
Gregory Allen
New York, NY
Sweetwork Project, a neighborhood grocery store that promotes radical access to ownership through an employee buy-in option.
