Cooperation in Action

Urban Dream Co-op is an event services cooperative that provides live music, a deli style food pop-up, and access to a community cultural center in New Orleans 7th Ward neighborhood. We love Urban Dream! In addition to hosting our seasonal gatherings and workshops in their space, our Loan Fund has been working with the cooperative over the past eighteen months providing technical assistance and exploring financing opportunities. CNO Loan Steward Susan Sakash and interviewed Dr. Lud and Tamah Yisrael, two of the six worker-owners, about their reflections on the basics of cooperation and how they show up in the home, in our neighborhoods, and in our larger communities.

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CNO: What, in your experience, makes for a good cooperator?  

Tamah: Being open to do something different. Most of us are pushed into a box when it comes to solving our own problems.  Being a good cooperator means being willing to learn something different and do something different. 

 

CNO: How does working cooperatively help you individually meet your needs as a worker-owner in this business? 

Dr. Lud:  From my perspective I’ve been working most of my life in cooperation with my family so that we can set something up that builds us up collectively. So it is difficult to not think collectively or as a single unit. We move as a unit. My work is to ensure that all [worker-owners’] needs are met. 

 

CNO: What is your favorite cooperative principle in action? And why? 

Dr. Lud: Autonomy and independence. In a world full of rules and regulations, oppressive systemic control it is more valuable for me to have my autonomy and independence from that social control and social programming. 

Tamah: Education and training. Personally, I have learned so much about being in business and how communities operate though being in a cooperative practice. So education and training is something that has really shaped my journey in cooperatives.

 

CNO: What are the ways that you see Urban Dream (as a business and as a collective of individuals) showing up as a member of this larger cooperative or solidarity economy? 

Dr. Lud: We see Urban Dream as a center for information exchange, as well as a place to support the collective movement.

Tamah: I think Urban Dream can show up as both a partner in the movement and hopefully an example for other families looking for solutions and ways to become self-sustainable. That’s truly our goal.

 

CNO: What is one way folks can show up and support Urban Dream in the next few months and in the year ahead?

Tamah: So many ways! 

• Eat at the New Orleans Food Co-op Deli - Urban Dream currently provides fresh wraps, sandwiches, salads and other grab & go offerings inside the co-op!

• Attend our events at the Neo Jazz Cultural Center.  

  • We host events like concerts, cosplay and karaoke, game nights. Educational workshops and programs that are for the whole family and community. Follow us on social media to hear about our next events!

  • We provide space for small groups up to 75 people for special occasions, showers, dinners and other special events you create.

  • We provide opportunities for our community, local artists, network partners and other cooperatives to have co-working and meeting space at the cultural center.

• Utilize our venue and event services. - The Yisrael Family has been providing live music for special occasions, conferences, venues and festivals for over 20 years. Through Urban Dream, we continue to deliver exceptional live entertainment. We also provide catering packages that include the deli menu, a healthy New Orleans style menu or special menu for your event or office catering needs.

• Find us at @urbandream.coop (IG) or Facebook.com/UrbanDreamCoop (FB) or just email us at urbandream.coop@gmail.com