Our Resilient Communities Legal Cafe has been running since 2013, and last month, we served our 500th client! That means we’ve currently provided legal support for over 500 cooperatives, cottage food businesses, nonprofits, urban farms, social enterprises, and individuals working to build just and resilient economies.
The People of Color Sustainable Housing Network came to a recent Legal Cafe, and shared their thoughts on the Cafe and their consultation:
Will you partner with us today so we can keep providing accessible legal support to the people and enterprises that are shaping a more equitable economy?
Upcoming Events from Sustainable Economies Law Center (SELC)
(Are you ready? We have a lot going on!)
Resilient Communities Legal Cafe, April-June in the East Bay
The Resilient Communities Legal Cafe provides direct legal advice, workshops, teach-ins, discussions, and legal services to businesses and organizations that are trying to make their communities a better place to live and thrive. Come, ask us your questions, and join others from your neighborhood who are taking their livelihoods, communities, and economies back! See dates and locations here.
Create Your Own Nonprofit: A Legal Workshop, March 16th in Oakland
A step-by-step workshop on getting your nonprofit legal paperwork in order, and in reviewing ongoing legal requirements for nonprofits.
Space is limited so RSVP today.
Align Your Investments with Your Values, March 20th in Oakland
SELC member and friend Marco Vangelisti is an experienced investor, especially when it comes to local and relationship-driven investing. He’s teaching an all day workshop for those who want to learn how to invest with their values. RSVP here.
Teach In: Employee Handbook Basics for Worker Coops & Social Enterprises, March 22 in Oakland
This event is intended for current worker-owners, social enterprises, and non-profits who want to start drafting or improve their organization's Employee Handbook. If you need to develop policies and want to discuss how employee policies have (or have not) been successfully implemented in a worker-centered organization, this teach-in is for you! RSVP here.
Legal Professionals Happy Hour, March 29th in Oakland
Come celebrate the building of community resilience with the SELC staff and cultivate connections at our upcoming legal professionals happy hour! This is SELC's happy hour specifically for legal professionals, budding legal apprentices, law center staff, and those interested in learning how we can cultivate the legal landscape of resilient economies. RSVP here.
Legal Eats: Legal Basics of starting a Food Justice Enterprise, April 2nd in Oakland
Starting a cooperatively-owned cafe, nonprofit urban farm, or cottage food business? Get the low down on the legal basics for starting a food enterprise during a half-day workshop and resource fair hosted by SELC and Berkeley Law School’s Local Economies and Entrepreneurship Project. Click here to RSVP!
Community Capital Conference, April 26-28 in Portland, OR
SELC Policy Director Christina Oatfield and SELC Adviser Michael Shuman will be speaking, along with many other local economy movers and shakers! ComCap16 focuses on how to leverage the new state securities crowdfunding laws to strengthen our nation’s local economies. SELC members can use the discount code THESELC for a 20% discount on tickets! Learn more and buy tickets here.
California Co-op Conference, April 29-30 in Sacramento
Several SELC staff and other local coop experts will present more than 25 workshops on governance, communication, policy, and technical topics for cooperatives. Seven of the workshops are MCLE-accredited. Find out more and RSVP here.
2nd Annual Law & Social Change Jam, May 29 - June 2 in Pennsylvania
“Hurt people hurt people,” as the old adage goes. Nowhere is that more evident than in our legal system. But we also believe that “healed people heal people.” Join 30 other community lawyers and legal professionals from across North America for five days of personal exploration, community building, and skill sharing for a more just and resilient world at the second annual Law and Social Change Jam. Read more and apply here - deadline to apply is April 15th.