At every NASCO Institute, an Active Member Representative is elected for a 1-year term on the NASCO board. This position is elected by the Annual General Meeting Representatives. Our outgoing Active Member Representative is Vanessa Toro. Vanessa has a few words to share before leaving the board. Read Vanessa's Letter below.
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It is with many memories that I say, Adios, or goodbye to the NASCO Education Board this March. I was drawn to the cooperative movement through my experience living at Whitehall Intentional Society in Austin, TX (If you are reading this, I miss y’all!). This “small” cooperative carries with it an enormous history as it is the oldest standing cooperative in Austin. What I loved about my home was that it was a multi-generational community of 14 people who were able to meet with each other every Sunday, share meals, house labor and social time, and engage with other cooperatives. From living at Whitehall, the cooperative world went from our small home to a North American scale when I became the Active Member Representative of NASCO in February 2013. Within the last year as Active Member Representative on the board, I’ve been able to learn just how strong the cooperative sector is, particularly within housing cooperatives.
Similarly, I’ve been able to see and work towards improving its shortcomings, one of which includes having more members hear from NASCO year-round. This newsletter is a step in that direction, a commitment to really connecting with NASCO Active Members. After all, you ARE NASCO. NASCO allows us all to remain linked, to unite together to have a stronger voice and firmer power in how our communities are created. NASCO does this from many lenses like training members to build homes and communities committed to Anti-Oppression and developing affordable housing in our cities through the cooperative model. This impact is all the more powerful because of its involvement of Youth, for we are the leaders of tomorrow.
I am excited to say that although my time with NASCO has come to an end, the tenets of the cooperative movement remain embedded in my future path. I have aspirations for becoming a Latina farmer and working towards creating a cooperative farm that creates dignified jobs for us farmers.