Firstly, apologies for being late, although I did give Felipe and my fabulous #teamtuesday a heads up that would be the case. Also I’m not sick which is just a disaster. But I digress.
I’m really glad I joined this incubator. First and foremost it has put me into relationship with some phenomenal individuals and fellow justice-seekers that I hope to remain in contact with. We actually already have one follow up set up for December! 🙂 Thank you #teamtuesday for brightening my 6:50am-8:20am tuesdays! Special thanks to Juan for guest starring in #teamtuesday.
Ok, so on to address this prompt:
I have three important meetings set up for the next two weeks which will largely determine whether launching CPA in LA becomes a part-time project for me in January and a central project by 2021, or whether it will need to be a good idea on the backburner until 2021. The short and simple version of this comes down to:
1) Is there seed funding available, and if so, how much? (“Meeting” #1)
2) Are the local IAF affiliate and PICO affiliate willing to put time into credentialing me and/or another contracted individual to conduct feasibility meetings with decision makers within target institutions? (Meetings 2 and 3)
3) Less importantly, but on my mind also is: Are there 2-3 key partners (ideally from the local affiliates but not necessarily) who would be willing to collaboratively guide this process, with me locally.
In filling out the feasibility excel document I decided to make two versions:
- Assuming there is only enough funding
($15,000-$20,000) to support contracting me outside of my full-time employment
to meet with potential members, do the requisite research, and be in a position
by the end of 2020 to launch a steering committee and roll out a first
contract. Below are my best guesses at the type of support that would be needed
at the various month-marks:
- 3 months: Establish hourly rate, payment mechanism and contract, organize data and written resources within a clear folder, 1 on 1s with CPA DC staff and sector-specific tutorials, 30-minute weekly calls to check in.
- 6 months: Site visit to meet with most interesting/interested leaders, dedicated time to workshop first potential contract .
- 12 months: Editing and reviewing first contract, invitation and support in attending CPA-expansion staff meeting over a weekend to discuss lessons learned and workshop issues that are arising.
- Assuming there is enough funding
($100,000-$120,000) to support 3-4 part-time contractors with deep connections
in the community along with one full time organizer getting trained, conducting
feasibility meetings, helping with logistics around emails, group meetings, and
related activities. In this scenario the consultants and staff would function
as a de-facto founding committee and could simultaneously work on founding the
co-operative from an organizational standpoint as well as pushing forward the
first contracts. (This is what I have in
mind before the important meetings and before talking with Juan about his
ideas/commission model, which I’m intrigued to consider) Below are my best
guesses at the type of support that would be needed at the various month-marks:
- 3 months: Establish hourly rates and contract with contractors and staff , payment mechanism, organize data and written resources within a clear folder, zoom meetings with CPA DC staff and sector-specific tutorials, 30-minute weekly calls to check in.
- 6 months: Site visit to meet with most interesting/interested leaders, dedicated time to workshop first potential contract(s) .
- 12 months: Editing and reviewing first contract, invitation and support in attending CPA-expansion staff meeting over a weekend to discuss lessons learned and workshop issues that are arising.
I didn’t make an excel document for it, but there is a third option I have in mind in which over the course of the next two weeks I discover that in fact the only piece of founding CPA in LA missing is funding and for me to make sure the right people have access to the relationships and resources the CPA DC and CPA incubator provide. I would love to continue to be involved, and in order to be held accountable for outcomes and for reasons of economic justice and the high value I place on my time I would need there to be funding to do so. However, if it makes the most sense for me not to be involved, I will be an enthusiastic cheerleader and supporter of the process.
I think whether or not an initial investment could or would be paid back depends on several things I don’t have enough clarity about quite yet. I can imagine CPA LA being asked to chose between an initial investment that gets paid back via yearly dues to the CPA LA/national organization or deciding to repay in full and be independent.
And with that, it is 10pm and I must most definitely sleep. I’m excited and curious to see where this might all lead. Los Angeles is most definitely ready for this model, and I’m very hopeful I can be part of bringing the various actors to the table to make it as impactful as possible. I’m excited to have a community to continue working on it with.
Oh, but I’ve stopped working on my splits. (Shoot.)
CPA Incubator 