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Communities don’t need another report telling them what’s wrong. They need practical anchors to keep their vital systems running, especially when they’re under pressure.

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We don’t do theoretical studies. We provide tangible, physical support to make sure good work doesn’t break down. Here’s what that actually looks like on the ground:

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Micro-infrastructure repair & design

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This is about fixing and fortifying the physical nuts and bolts of community life. It’s hands-on work.

• Example: A women’s waste-picker cooperative can’t efficiently sort materials because their tarp is torn and their sorting tables are broken. We don’t write a report on the economic potential of recycling. We work with them to source durable, affordable materials and co-design a new     sorting station layout that fits their specific workflow, making their daily work safer and more productive.
• Example: A neighborhood’s community-managed water pump breaks down. We help navigate the logistics and costs of getting the right parts and a trusted technician to repair it, ensuring people don’t go back to collecting unsafe water.

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“Field auditors” (Identifying weak spots)

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We are not external evaluators but rather allies who come in, look at the system with a fresh but respectful eye, and help identify points of failure before they break.

• Example: We might sit with a growing cooperative and notice that all financial knowledge is held by one overworked person. We flag this single point of failure and work with them to develop a simple, shared ledger system or cross-training plan to distribute that crucial knowledge and     protect the co-op.
• Example: We might observe that a community’s successful seed-sharing network relies on one elderly keeper of traditional knowledge. We work with them to document those practices and create a digital archive, ensuring that wisdom is preserved and accessible for the next generation.

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We see our role as the practical first responders for community infrastructure. Our goal is to provide the direct support that keeps essential work alive and functioning.

One tool we know isneeded on the field to truly help stabilize systems is what is called Continuity backstopping.

This is when acollective is hit with a crisis, a financial shortfall, a legal threat, or aleadership burnout for example, we would like to help provide emergency support to prevent collapse. This means funds, yes, but also skills on the ground that can help. And for this, we need you! We are building a database of technically skilled individuals who can help small organizations in case of crisis.

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We'll give an example for clarity:

Say a farmers' co-oploses its key coordinator to a family emergency right before a critical harvest loan negotiation. There is a need to provide immediate, interim capacity: a trusted person to manage communications with the bank, ensure data is collected,and keep the process moving until the community can permanently fill the role.

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If you're interestedin sharing your skills pro-bono with those that would need them in difficult times,  e-mail us so we can add you to our database! This is a technological tool we are woking on!

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