We are clean air organizers who have run volunteer "Google Form and Venmo" style events and mutual aid projects in the past, and want to make sure there is an alternative for us to find each other in case Elon, Zuck, or the U.S. government decide to shut down or limit our current organizing infrastructure. It was inspired by the Find the Others business cards you might have encountered in the Seattle area, listing early days COVID-safer social media resources for community building.
Find the Others is now a project by Community Care Labs, LLC, a Washington small business providing tech consulting for chronic illness support, disability justice, and the betterment of public health. Over time, we imagine Clean Air Chambers of Commerce that empower a network of community centers run by a separate sustainable non-profit or co-op style business model — that’s TBD, and could use your vision and support.
If you’d like to get to know us directly, reach out to us here.
We envision a network of community centers that serve as clean air third spaces. Imagine a coworking / childcare / homeschool co-op center by day, turning into an advocacy and events venue by night. A dream come true, right?
Yet a capital-intensive project takes an immense amount of organization to pull off. We need buy-in, fundraising, landlords, HVAC improvements, and a sustainable business model. Not to mention, employees that are paid a living wage.
While we believe this is possible, we don't think a physical space should be a limiting factor. In fact, we'd be more successful if we could establish vibrant Clean Air Chambers of Commerce first, connecting people already offering services and skills with those who would happily support them. Along the way, perhaps we can influence existing third spaces to be clean air friendly instead of building from scratch.
By demonstrating just how large of a loyal following clean air businesses and artists could receive, we could spark an upward spiral of more accessible work, services, and opportunities for joy. To establish this foundation of stability for the community, we have to start by finding the others.
