[Music] I’m tired of going to work and making
I’m tired of going to work and making
I’m tired of going to work and making money for other people and who are those
money for other people and who are those
money for other people and who are those people anyways those people that make
people anyways those people that make
people anyways those people that make money from your work well they’re
money from your work well they’re
money from your work well they’re capitalists they have capital and they
capitalists they have capital and they
capitalists they have capital and they use your labor to make more capital so
use your labor to make more capital so
use your labor to make more capital so if you’re tired of going to work and
if you’re tired of going to work and
if you’re tired of going to work and making money for other people then
making money for other people then
making money for other people then you’re probably likely just tired of
you’re probably likely just tired of
you’re probably likely just tired of capitalism which is ironic because I’m a
capitalism which is ironic because I’m a
capitalism which is ironic because I’m a capitalist I own a small business
capitalist I own a small business
capitalist I own a small business our CEO tires in Compton a few years ago
our CEO tires in Compton a few years ago
our CEO tires in Compton a few years ago when I read Van Jones and he wrote let’s
when I read Van Jones and he wrote let’s
when I read Van Jones and he wrote let’s make green collar jobs in the hood I
make green collar jobs in the hood I
make green collar jobs in the hood I took him really seriously so I
took him really seriously so I
took him really seriously so I co-founded own and operate a tire
co-founded own and operate a tire
co-founded own and operate a tire recycling company and I’m really proud
recycling company and I’m really proud
recycling company and I’m really proud of what we’ve done so far we’ve recycled
of what we’ve done so far we’ve recycled
of what we’ve done so far we’ve recycled a hundred million pounds of rubber
a hundred million pounds of rubber
a hundred million pounds of rubber that’s 21 million gallons of oil
that’s 21 million gallons of oil
that’s 21 million gallons of oil diverted from landfills into new
diverted from landfills into new
diverted from landfills into new products we also employ about 15 guys
products we also employ about 15 guys
products we also employ about 15 guys mostly people of color most of whom are
mostly people of color most of whom are
mostly people of color most of whom are felons and we pay above the minimum wage
felons and we pay above the minimum wage
felons and we pay above the minimum wage and we are now proud members of the
and we are now proud members of the
and we are now proud members of the United Steelworkers union
now our CEO is not a cooperative now a
now our CEO is not a cooperative now a privately held company with community
privately held company with community
privately held company with community minded ownership but I would like it to
minded ownership but I would like it to
minded ownership but I would like it to become I would like for them to fire the
become I would like for them to fire the
become I would like for them to fire the boss that’s me and I’m gonna tell you
boss that’s me and I’m gonna tell you
boss that’s me and I’m gonna tell you why but first let me tell you how we got
why but first let me tell you how we got
why but first let me tell you how we got started so a lot of people ask you know
started so a lot of people ask you know
started so a lot of people ask you know how did our CEO come to be and I have to
how did our CEO come to be and I have to
how did our CEO come to be and I have to be really honest I leveraged my white
be really honest I leveraged my white
be really honest I leveraged my white privilege so here’s how white privilege
privilege so here’s how white privilege
privilege so here’s how white privilege worked for me and our CEO my white
worked for me and our CEO my white
worked for me and our CEO my white grandmother was born on her family’s
grandmother was born on her family’s
grandmother was born on her family’s plantation in Arkansas in 1918 she
plantation in Arkansas in 1918 she
plantation in Arkansas in 1918 she traveled with her white father west
traveled with her white father west
traveled with her white father west following the oil boom and he held
following the oil boom and he held
following the oil boom and he held various Union oil jobs jobs which would
various Union oil jobs jobs which would
various Union oil jobs jobs which would have never been given to my black
have never been given to my black
have never been given to my black great-grandfather had he lived here at
great-grandfather had he lived here at
great-grandfather had he lived here at the time
the time
the time granny became a hairdresser and then
granny became a hairdresser and then
granny became a hairdresser and then used Oh then got a loan with her husband
used Oh then got a loan with her husband
used Oh then got a loan with her husband to build their home in West Los Angeles
to build their home in West Los Angeles
to build their home in West Los Angeles alone which would never have been given
alone which would never have been given
alone which would never have been given to a black family at the time and after
to a black family at the time and after
to a black family at the time and after my grandfather passed away my granny was
my grandfather passed away my granny was
my grandfather passed away my granny was able to keep that house because she had
able to keep that house because she had
able to keep that house because she had his pension and his health care from a
his pension and his health care from a
his pension and his health care from a state job which he held which again
state job which he held which again
state job which he held which again would have never been given to a black
would have never been given to a black
would have never been given to a black man before the anti-discrimination act
man before the anti-discrimination act
man before the anti-discrimination act of the 1960’s so you fast forward 30
of the 1960’s so you fast forward 30
of the 1960’s so you fast forward 30 years and I graduate and I want to start
years and I graduate and I want to start
years and I graduate and I want to start my own business with a pallid debt and a
my own business with a pallid debt and a
my own business with a pallid debt and a credit card and no experience in the
credit card and no experience in the
credit card and no experience in the tire industry but I had what most people
tire industry but I had what most people
tire industry but I had what most people didn’t have I had a clean safe free
didn’t have I had a clean safe free
didn’t have I had a clean safe free place to live
place to live
place to live I moved in with my grandmother and I was
I moved in with my grandmother and I was
I moved in with my grandmother and I was able to rent our first warehouse buy our
able to rent our first warehouse buy our
able to rent our first warehouse buy our first truck pay our first employees
first truck pay our first employees
first truck pay our first employees because I didn’t have to worry about
because I didn’t have to worry about
because I didn’t have to worry about paying myself because I didn’t need to
paying myself because I didn’t need to
paying myself because I didn’t need to feed myself because I am the direct
feed myself because I am the direct
feed myself because I am the direct beneficiary of generations of white
beneficiary of generations of white
beneficiary of generations of white privilege now telling the story of white
privilege now telling the story of white
privilege now telling the story of white privilege is important because very
privilege is important because very
privilege is important because very often people say oh we want more
often people say oh we want more
often people say oh we want more companies like yours we want more our ce
companies like yours we want more our ce
companies like yours we want more our ce o–‘s we want more black owned
o–‘s we want more black owned
o–‘s we want more black owned businesses female-led triple bottom line
businesses female-led triple bottom line
businesses female-led triple bottom line ban the box green manufacturing
ban the box green manufacturing
ban the box green manufacturing companies right but the question we have
companies right but the question we have
companies right but the question we have to ask is where is the wealth where is
to ask is where is the wealth where is
to ask is where is the wealth where is the money where is the capital
the money where is the capital
the money where is the capital communities to build the type of
communities to build the type of
communities to build the type of businesses that we want and in telling
businesses that we want and in telling
businesses that we want and in telling the story of the white side of my family
the story of the white side of my family
the story of the white side of my family I named a dozen ways where blacks were
I named a dozen ways where blacks were
I named a dozen ways where blacks were excluded from the economy whereas the
excluded from the economy whereas the
excluded from the economy whereas the white side of my family was able to gain
white side of my family was able to gain
white side of my family was able to gain access and traction and build wealth
access and traction and build wealth
access and traction and build wealth primarily because racism and capitalism
primarily because racism and capitalism
primarily because racism and capitalism are best taught me but but what that
are best taught me but but what that
are best taught me but but what that means is that when we ask ourselves you
means is that when we ask ourselves you
means is that when we ask ourselves you know why are our communities broke like
know why are our communities broke like
know why are our communities broke like we’re not just broke because we’re broke
we’re not just broke because we’re broke
we’re not just broke because we’re broke or broke for a reason historical context
or broke for a reason historical context
or broke for a reason historical context really does matter but our history tells
really does matter but our history tells
really does matter but our history tells another story as well there’s this
another story as well there’s this
another story as well there’s this incredible book called collective
incredible book called collective
incredible book called collective courage which is the story of how
courage which is the story of how
courage which is the story of how thousands of African Americans have been
thousands of African Americans have been
thousands of African Americans have been able to build businesses and schools
able to build businesses and schools
able to build businesses and schools hospitals farming cooperatives banks
hospitals farming cooperatives banks
hospitals farming cooperatives banks financial institutions entire
financial institutions entire
financial institutions entire communities and sovereign economies
communities and sovereign economies
communities and sovereign economies without a lot of capital and they did it
without a lot of capital and they did it
without a lot of capital and they did it by working together and leveraging their
by working together and leveraging their
by working together and leveraging their community assets and trusting each other
community assets and trusting each other
community assets and trusting each other and putting solidarity first not just
and putting solidarity first not just
and putting solidarity first not just profits by any means necessary and they
profits by any means necessary and they
profits by any means necessary and they didn’t have to wait around for
didn’t have to wait around for
didn’t have to wait around for celebrities and athletes to bring their
celebrities and athletes to bring their
celebrities and athletes to bring their money back to the hood however if you
money back to the hood however if you
money back to the hood however if you are a celebrity an athlete and you’re
are a celebrity an athlete and you’re
are a celebrity an athlete and you’re listening to this please feel free to
listening to this please feel free to
listening to this please feel free to bring your money but they did it through
bring your money but they did it through
bring your money but they did it through cooperative economics because they knew
cooperative economics because they knew
cooperative economics because they knew that capitalism was never going to
that capitalism was never going to
that capitalism was never going to finance black liberation so there’s so
finance black liberation so there’s so
finance black liberation so there’s so many great examples in this book and I
many great examples in this book and I
many great examples in this book and I suggest that everybody just read it
suggest that everybody just read it
suggest that everybody just read it because it answers the question I asked
because it answers the question I asked
because it answers the question I asked earlier which is where we’re gonna get
earlier which is where we’re gonna get
earlier which is where we’re gonna get the wealth to build the types of
the wealth to build the types of
the wealth to build the types of businesses that we want and the answer
businesses that we want and the answer
businesses that we want and the answer is gonna have to be cooperative
is gonna have to be cooperative
is gonna have to be cooperative economics there’s a lot of different
economics there’s a lot of different
economics there’s a lot of different versions of co-operativism what I’m
versions of co-operativism what I’m
versions of co-operativism what I’m talking about today is worker ownership
talking about today is worker ownership
talking about today is worker ownership so you may not have heard of worker
so you may not have heard of worker
so you may not have heard of worker ownership yet but it’s been an
ownership yet but it’s been an
ownership yet but it’s been an incredible tool for black economic
incredible tool for black economic
incredible tool for black economic liberation for a century and it’s also
liberation for a century and it’s also
liberation for a century and it’s also working all over the world right now you
working all over the world right now you
working all over the world right now you may have heard of black Wall Street or
may have heard of black Wall Street or
may have heard of black Wall Street or maybe the zapatistas but I’ll give you
maybe the zapatistas but I’ll give you
maybe the zapatistas but I’ll give you an example that’s a little bit closer to
an example that’s a little bit closer to
an example that’s a little bit closer to home right now today in South Bronx is
home right now today in South Bronx is
home right now today in South Bronx is the country’s largest worker owned
the country’s largest worker owned
the country’s largest worker owned company it’s called cooperative homecare
company it’s called cooperative homecare
company it’s called cooperative homecare associates and it was founded by black
associates and it was founded by black
associates and it was founded by black and Latina homecare workers who are now
and Latina homecare workers who are now
and Latina homecare workers who are now able to pay themselves living wages they
able to pay themselves living wages they
able to pay themselves living wages they have full-time hours they have benefits
have full-time hours they have benefits
have full-time hours they have benefits and a pension through their membership
and a pension through their membership
and a pension through their membership as a unit of SEIU and these women owners
as a unit of SEIU and these women owners
as a unit of SEIU and these women owners now receive a dividend back on their
now receive a dividend back on their
now receive a dividend back on their ownership every year that the company
ownership every year that the company
ownership every year that the company has been profitable which has been most
has been profitable which has been most
has been profitable which has been most years so they’re able to really enjoy
years so they’re able to really enjoy
years so they’re able to really enjoy the fruits of their labor because they
the fruits of their labor because they
the fruits of their labor because they fire the boss they don’t have any big
fire the boss they don’t have any big
fire the boss they don’t have any big investors they don’t have fat cat CEOs
investors they don’t have fat cat CEOs
investors they don’t have fat cat CEOs or absentee owners taking the profit out
or absentee owners taking the profit out
or absentee owners taking the profit out of the company they each pay in about a
of the company they each pay in about a
of the company they each pay in about a thousand dollars over time in order to
thousand dollars over time in order to
thousand dollars over time in order to gain ownership and now they own their
gain ownership and now they own their
gain ownership and now they own their job now there’s hundreds of more
job now there’s hundreds of more
job now there’s hundreds of more examples of companies like this bringing
examples of companies like this bringing
examples of companies like this bringing up all across the country and I’m so
up all across the country and I’m so
up all across the country and I’m so inspired by by what they’re doing
inspired by by what they’re doing
inspired by by what they’re doing because it really represents an
because it really represents an
because it really represents an alternative to the type of economy we
alternative to the type of economy we
alternative to the type of economy we have now which exploits all of us
have now which exploits all of us
have now which exploits all of us it also represents an alternative to
it also represents an alternative to
it also represents an alternative to waiting around for big investors to
waiting around for big investors to
waiting around for big investors to bring chain stores or big box stores to
bring chain stores or big box stores to
bring chain stores or big box stores to our communities cuz honestly those types
our communities cuz honestly those types
our communities cuz honestly those types of developments these steal resources
of developments these steal resources
of developments these steal resources from our communities they put our
from our communities they put our
from our communities they put our mom-and-pop shops out of just out of
mom-and-pop shops out of just out of
mom-and-pop shops out of just out of business they make our entrepreneurs
business they make our entrepreneurs
business they make our entrepreneurs into wage workers and they take money
into wage workers and they take money
into wage workers and they take money out of our pocket and send it to their
out of our pocket and send it to their
out of our pocket and send it to their shareholders so so inspired by all of
shareholders so so inspired by all of
shareholders so so inspired by all of these stories of resistance and
these stories of resistance and
these stories of resistance and resilience that I got together with a
resilience that I got together with a
resilience that I got together with a few people here in Los Angeles and we’ve
few people here in Los Angeles and we’ve
few people here in Los Angeles and we’ve created Lucy Lucy stands for the Los
created Lucy Lucy stands for the Los
created Lucy Lucy stands for the Los Angeles Union cooperative initiative and
Angeles Union cooperative initiative and
Angeles Union cooperative initiative and our objective is to create more worker
our objective is to create more worker
our objective is to create more worker owned businesses here in Los Angeles so
owned businesses here in Los Angeles so
owned businesses here in Los Angeles so far the last year we’ve created two
far the last year we’ve created two
far the last year we’ve created two Pacific Electric an electrical company
Pacific Electric an electrical company
Pacific Electric an electrical company and Vermont gage carwash which is right
and Vermont gage carwash which is right
and Vermont gage carwash which is right near South Central some of you guys
near South Central some of you guys
near South Central some of you guys might be familiar with it this longtime
might be familiar with it this longtime
might be familiar with it this longtime car wash is now owned and operated by
car wash is now owned and operated by
car wash is now owned and operated by it’s 20 workers all of whom are union
it’s 20 workers all of whom are union
it’s 20 workers all of whom are union members
so you might be wondering why the focus
so you might be wondering why the focus on union worker ownership but there’s a
on union worker ownership but there’s a
on union worker ownership but there’s a lot of good reasons why the labor
lot of good reasons why the labor
lot of good reasons why the labor movement is a natural ally to the worker
movement is a natural ally to the worker
movement is a natural ally to the worker ownership movement in order to build
ownership movement in order to build
ownership movement in order to build these companies that we want in our
these companies that we want in our
these companies that we want in our community we’re going to need a few
community we’re going to need a few
community we’re going to need a few things we’re going to need money we’re
things we’re going to need money we’re
things we’re going to need money we’re gonna need people and we’re gonna need
gonna need people and we’re gonna need
gonna need people and we’re gonna need training unions have all of those things
training unions have all of those things
training unions have all of those things America’s working classes and paying
America’s working classes and paying
America’s working classes and paying union dues for decades
union dues for decades
union dues for decades and with it our unions have been
and with it our unions have been
and with it our unions have been building dignified decent and democratic
building dignified decent and democratic
building dignified decent and democratic workplaces for us
workplaces for us
workplaces for us however Union jobs are on the steep
however Union jobs are on the steep
however Union jobs are on the steep decline and it’s time for us to start
decline and it’s time for us to start
decline and it’s time for us to start calling on our unions to really bring
calling on our unions to really bring
calling on our unions to really bring all of their financial and political
all of their financial and political
all of their financial and political capital to bear and the creation of new
capital to bear and the creation of new
capital to bear and the creation of new Union were living wage jobs in our
Union were living wage jobs in our
Union were living wage jobs in our communities also Union halls are full of
communities also Union halls are full of
communities also Union halls are full of union members who understand the
union members who understand the
union members who understand the importance of solidarity and the power
importance of solidarity and the power
importance of solidarity and the power of collective action these are the types
of collective action these are the types
of collective action these are the types of folks that want more union businesses
of folks that want more union businesses
of folks that want more union businesses to exist so let’s build them with them
to exist so let’s build them with them
to exist so let’s build them with them learning from our unions learning from
learning from our unions learning from
learning from our unions learning from our past learning from our peers are all
our past learning from our peers are all
our past learning from our peers are all going to be very very important to our
going to be very very important to our
going to be very very important to our success which is why I’d like to leave
success which is why I’d like to leave
success which is why I’d like to leave you with one last example and a vision
you with one last example and a vision
you with one last example and a vision for the future and that vision is
for the future and that vision is
for the future and that vision is Mondragon Spain Mondragon Spain is a
Mondragon Spain Mondragon Spain is a
Mondragon Spain Mondragon Spain is a community built entirely around worker
community built entirely around worker
community built entirely around worker cooperatives there’s 260 Plus businesses
cooperatives there’s 260 Plus businesses
cooperatives there’s 260 Plus businesses here manufacturing everything from
here manufacturing everything from
here manufacturing everything from bicycles to washing machines to
bicycles to washing machines to
bicycles to washing machines to transformers and this group of
transformers and this group of
transformers and this group of businesses now employs 80,000 people and
businesses now employs 80,000 people and
businesses now employs 80,000 people and earns more than 12 billion euro in
earns more than 12 billion euro in
earns more than 12 billion euro in revenue every year and all the companies
revenue every year and all the companies
revenue every year and all the companies there are owned by the people that work
there are owned by the people that work
there are owned by the people that work in them they’ve also built universities
in them they’ve also built universities
in them they’ve also built universities and hospitals and financial institutions
and hospitals and financial institutions
and hospitals and financial institutions I mean imagine if we could build
I mean imagine if we could build
I mean imagine if we could build something like this in south-central
something like this in south-central
something like this in south-central the actual thought the late mayor of
the actual thought the late mayor of
the actual thought the late mayor of Jackson had a similar idea he wanted to
Jackson had a similar idea he wanted to
Jackson had a similar idea he wanted to turn his entire city into a Mondragon
turn his entire city into a Mondragon
turn his entire city into a Mondragon like cooperative economy calling his
like cooperative economy calling his
like cooperative economy calling his ambitious plan Jackson rising and when I
ambitious plan Jackson rising and when I
ambitious plan Jackson rising and when I look at WonderCon I see really what
look at WonderCon I see really what
look at WonderCon I see really what working-class people can do for
working-class people can do for
working-class people can do for ourselves when we work together and make
ourselves when we work together and make
ourselves when we work together and make decisions for ourselves and each other
decisions for ourselves and each other
decisions for ourselves and each other and our communities and what’s really
and our communities and what’s really
and our communities and what’s really incredible about Mondragon is that why
incredible about Mondragon is that why
incredible about Mondragon is that why we are dreaming about them they are
we are dreaming about them they are
we are dreaming about them they are dreaming about us this community in
dreaming about us this community in
dreaming about us this community in Spain has decided to launch an
Spain has decided to launch an
Spain has decided to launch an international initiative to create more
international initiative to create more
international initiative to create more communities like it all over the world
communities like it all over the world
communities like it all over the world by linking up with unions by supporting
by linking up with unions by supporting
by linking up with unions by supporting organizations like Lucy and by educating
organizations like Lucy and by educating
organizations like Lucy and by educating folks about the worker ownership model
folks about the worker ownership model
folks about the worker ownership model now here’s what you can do to be a part
now here’s what you can do to be a part
now here’s what you can do to be a part of it if you are a union member go to
of it if you are a union member go to
of it if you are a union member go to your union meetings and make sure that
your union meetings and make sure that
your union meetings and make sure that your union has a worker ownership
your union has a worker ownership
your union has a worker ownership initiative and become a part of it if
initiative and become a part of it if
initiative and become a part of it if you’re an entrepreneur if you have a
you’re an entrepreneur if you have a
you’re an entrepreneur if you have a small business or you’re interested in
small business or you’re interested in
small business or you’re interested in starting one then link up with Lucy or
starting one then link up with Lucy or
starting one then link up with Lucy or another organization like us to help you
another organization like us to help you
another organization like us to help you get started on the co-operative model if
get started on the co-operative model if
get started on the co-operative model if you’re a politician or you work for one
you’re a politician or you work for one
you’re a politician or you work for one or you just like talking to them please
or you just like talking to them please
or you just like talking to them please get the city state federal and County
get the city state federal and County
get the city state federal and County legislation passed that we need in order
legislation passed that we need in order
legislation passed that we need in order to fund and support worker owned
to fund and support worker owned
to fund and support worker owned businesses and for everybody else learn
businesses and for everybody else learn
businesses and for everybody else learn about our history learn about our models
about our history learn about our models
about our history learn about our models and seek us out so that you can support
and seek us out so that you can support
and seek us out so that you can support us you can buy from us invest in us lend
us you can buy from us invest in us lend
us you can buy from us invest in us lend to us and join us because it’s really
to us and join us because it’s really
to us and join us because it’s really going to take all of us in order to
going to take all of us in order to
going to take all of us in order to build the more just and sustainable and
build the more just and sustainable and
build the more just and sustainable and resilient economy that we want for
resilient economy that we want for
resilient economy that we want for ourselves and our children and with that
ourselves and our children and with that
ourselves and our children and with that I would like to leave you with a quote
I would like to leave you with a quote
I would like to leave you with a quote from Arundhati Roy and she writes our
from Arundhati Roy and she writes our
from Arundhati Roy and she writes our strategies should not be only to
strategies should not be only to
strategies should not be only to confront the Empire but to lay siege to
confront the Empire but to lay siege to
confront the Empire but to lay siege to it to deprive it of oxygen to mock it to
it to deprive it of oxygen to mock it to
it to deprive it of oxygen to mock it to shame it with our art our literature our
shame it with our art our literature our
shame it with our art our literature our music our brilliance our joy our Sheila
music our brilliance our joy our Sheila
music our brilliance our joy our Sheila let lessness and our ability to tell our
let lessness and our ability to tell our
let lessness and our ability to tell our own stories not the stories that were
own stories not the stories that were
own stories not the stories that were being brainwashed to believe the
being brainwashed to believe the
being brainwashed to believe the corporate revolution will collapse if we
corporate revolution will collapse if we
corporate revolution will collapse if we refuse to buy what they’re selling their
refuse to buy what they’re selling their
refuse to buy what they’re selling their ideas their version of history their
ideas their version of history their
ideas their version of history their Wars their weapons their sense of
Wars their weapons their sense of
Wars their weapons their sense of inevitability because know this they be
inevitability because know this they be
inevitability because know this they be few
few
few and we be many they need us more than we
and we be many they need us more than we
and we be many they need us more than we need them another world is not only
need them another world is not only
need them another world is not only possible she’s on her way and on a quiet
possible she’s on her way and on a quiet
possible she’s on her way and on a quiet day I can hear her breathing thank you
day I can hear her breathing thank you
day I can hear her breathing thank you [Applause]
”
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