Independent users: You! We are hoping that Community Collaboratory is something you love and incorporate into your lifestyle. This is a community-powered venture: for our communities, by our communities. If you feel inspired, join with an OPTIONAL monthly membership, $3, $5, $10, $20 a month—whatever feels good/is feasible for you.
Many organizations require a paid membership to access the best features. That would be weird here…only paid users would access the best ways of offering and requesting support? That makes no sense!
Join because this is something you care about. Because this aligns with your values. Because you care. Not because you have to.
Note: as mentioned on the ‘About’ page, we are applying for a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to build the full website/app, but all the funding after that will be by independent users!
Funding supports…
Expanding Community Collaboratory into a nationwide (and eventually) worldwide social network!
Keeping the website/app running #get those code skills
Providing a living wage with benefits to staff
Imagine…
Creating thousands of new jobs in communities:
As more jobs become automated, we need new jobs in our communities. Additionally, there is an increasing need for more Community Health Workers (CHWs), “a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served” (American Public Health Association, 2020).
Community Collaboratory staff are CHWs. We visit you in your home, at your health clinic appointment, and much more. We go to you. Not the other way around (Note: given the COVID-19 situation and social distancing, current staff support is remote).
What if we created a fund that you could draw from when offering and requesting support? For example:
A community member needs a car repair so they can continue commuting to work and not lose their job, but it’s going to cost $1,000. Four local community members cover $200 and our Community Fund covers the rest.
A family needs $4,000 to help pay for their child’s medical expenses from a recent surgery (which insurance has refused to cover…). Twenty community members cover $1,200 and our Community Fund covers the rest.
A parent needs to pay for childcare, but it will cost $2,000 per month
A Community Fund powered by community members within an entire city. We think that sounds pretty amazing. Don’t you?
