Streetwise Ink, a cooperative screen printing business venture of Homeless Organizing for Power and Equality (H.O.P.E.), will soon be seeking several members for our Advisory Board. In a city where the average length of time people experience homelessness is 10 years, and barriers to safe, dignified and equitable employment abound, the creation of a member-managed, worker-owned print shop is truly a one-of-a-kind act of systemic resistance. We are looking for members who believe in our mission and are willing to be active in their advisory roles. We hope you will consider becoming a nominee.
The Streetwise Ink Advisory Board will be a subcommittee of Mid-South Peace and Justice Center volunteers that will work alongside the current Streetwise Ink Project Coordinator in the overall management and furtherance of Streetwise Ink until such a time that the members have gained the skills needed to become either the member-managed cooperative of Streetwise’s original goals, or until such a time that Streetwise is able to fund it’s own management position(s).
We are currently in the process of training ourselves in all the aspects involved in becoming an LLC and are seeking individuals with training or experience who believe in our mission to assist us on our Advisory Board. Advisory Board members will be a subcommittee of Mid-South Peace and Justice Center volunteers who will meet quarterly and might assist the current project coordinator with the following:
*Continuous marketing efforts
*Pricing and finalizing orders
*Scheduling and overseeing trainings
*Ordering materials
*Scheduling program participants
*Overseeing production
*Reviewing product quality
*Maintaining production manuals
*Evaluting operations
*Setting a path forward with yearly goals
*Facilitating or finding volunteers for several free trainings per year (including topics such as accounting, marketing, pricing, scheduling, time management, communication, and organizational structure)
*Develop partnerships with other non-profits and organizations
*Maintain and review quarterly financial reports
*Transfer and maintain Streetwise Ink’s website
*Begin tracking referral analytics on said site
*Brainstorm seasonal campaign themes for new business and create corresponding language for newsletter blurbs, Facebook posts, etc.
*Create an email signature (specifically encouraging additional donations) for the Streetwise Ink business account
*Brainstorm a list of leads based on personal connections
*Explore partnerships with local shops that feature Memphis-made items
*Write language for two very simple, quick polls: one asking clients about their experience after an order’s been completed and another asking non-converted clients what Streetwise could have done better to earn their business
*Pitch the Streetwise Ink’s story to local media
If you are interested in serving in this way, please send inquiries to streetwise@midsouthpeace.org.