If you’re in the Chicago area, we invite you to attend the BMO Harris Bank Holiday Bazaar on Wednesday, Dec. 7 and Thursday, Dec. 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the lobby of 111 W. Monroe Street. Browse for unique gifts from several local non-profits. Plus, enjoy live music, special appearances and holiday beverages and snacks while you shop. We’ll be there with gourmet food, handbags, home decor and jewelry available for purchase from a sample of our social enterprise partners.

We hope to see you there. Your purchase supports organizations that provide valuable social and job development programming for disadvantaged, hard-to-hire and developmentally and physically challenged individuals.

Happy Holidays from Our Family to yours. 

Our newsletter brings you the latest information from Helping Hand Rewards and our socially responsible partners. This issue includes:

• Meet Our Newest Partner: Yali Derman
• Mercado Global Makes Headlines
• Case Study: Hotel Palomar Chicago Offers Bath Teas from Bright Endeavors

To view the newsletter, click here.

See something you like? Suggestions? Or, perhaps you have a story idea for a future issue. Leave a comment below. We appreciate the feedback!

As a cooperative, Common Thread operates differently from our other partners. All of their members are organizations, not individuals. They are a cooperative of Canadian enterprises and organizations with sewing programs; and they provide brokering and production coordination for their social enterprise members and other producers. The co-op sources street banners and other fabric for re-purposing into colorful and durable tote bags, drawstring bags, aprons, messenger bags, notebook covers and more. Helping Hand Rewards is currently utilizing their services for gift bags and meeting bags.

Melanie Conn is a member of the Common Thread management team and conceived the initial idea and operation of the co-op. As a community economic development teacher and a consultant for people starting cooperatives, she worked with groups using social enterprises to facilitate participation in the economy by their members: people experiencing challenges because they were immigrants and refugees or living with mental illness. She noticed that a number of the groups focusing on women were providing sewing services.

“I thought a producer marketing cooperative that accessed contracts for these (sewing) groups and helped coordinate production would be a way for them to achieve their goals much more successfully,” says Conn. “I researched the idea and talked to groups across North America. Once I was assured about its feasibility, I was able to identify partners in British Columbia who were excited about it.”

She got very involved in the piloting stage, working on the business plan and connecting with members of organizations. Currently, she provides marketing and general management services for the co-op.

Common Thread was officially incorporated as a cooperative in December 2009, but began operations before then. Their first big contract was in the summer of 2009 for the 2010 Winter Olympics when they were contracted by the City of Vancouver to make 1500 drawstring backpacks from pre-Olympic banners. The City then distributed the backpacks to inner-city schools. After the Olympics, the co-op began to focus on producing delegate bags using their ample supply of Olympic banners and other street banner fabric. Their contracts grew because people liked making a purchase that had added social value and also reduced their environmental impact.

At first, individuals from member organizations worked primarily from home. However, Common Thread was able to purchase industrial equipment a year ago which enabled them to move to the next stage of production. Several members of the production network now work rent-free from a corner of The Flag Shop, an organizational member of the co-op. The owner of The Flag Shop is also a member of Common Thread’s board and an enthusiastic supporter of the co-op. Every order The Flag Shop fills is accompanied by information about Common Thread’s ‘banner to bag’ capacity.

Tote bags in production in a corner of The Flag Shop

While still a relatively new enterprise and the grateful recipient of grant funds from time to time, Common Thread’s current goal is to cover their overhead expenses through sales. They don’t pay production work by the hour. Instead, they break down every contract into operations and pay people for what they produce. The payment rate is based on what an experienced worker would be able to produce in an hour.

One major challenge for the co-op has been the balance between the volume of orders and the capacity of the production network.  As the business grows, expenses rise for coordination, as well as other support service the co-op provides.

“In the corporate environment, you aim to hire the cream of the crop. If they don’t perform, you let them go,” says Conn. “But of course that’s not our practice. Since the purpose of the co-op is to provide a flexible work environment, we find ways to adapt it to the strengths and needs of our production network. It’s quite the balancing act since we also need to get the work done! We’ve integrated a core of very good workers into our network to help establish the strong foundation we need to succeed as a business. We’re also moving into training in a big way to help all our sewers develop their skills. We’re thrilled to see how well it’s working.”

For Conn, the challenges presented by the co-op are a welcome opportunity to give those who thrive in a flexible work environment a chance at a good life. With Common Thread, people from all backgrounds are able to come together, work cooperatively and help each other out.

“I am deeply gratified when I see the pleasure and pride people take in their ability to get better at what they do,  and make some money doing it,” says Conn.

Our bi-monthly newsletter brings you the latest information from Helping Hand Rewards and our socially responsible partners. This issue includes:

• Sewing with a Common Purpose – Meet our Newest Partner!
• See Helping Hand Rewards at the ASI Show in Chicago
• Spotlight on Fatemeh Hasani from Common Thread
• New Product Feature – Men’s Shaving Kits from  Pure Eden Spa Products
• HHA Products Debut on “The Joe Show”

To view the newsletter, click here.

See something you like? Suggestions? Or, perhaps you have a story idea for a future issue. Leave a comment below. We appreciate the feedback!

Sherri moved to Colorado from Texas in 2009 in order to be close to family. She hoped to gain employment as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant as she had in her home state. However, she was unable to land a job because of felony records that were more than 20 years old. Sherri came to Women’s Bean Project in May of 2010 and quickly established herself as a hard worker and leader on the production floor. She worked tirelessly to re-establish herself and and set a goal to regain her CNA license in the state of Colorado. With the support of our generous donors, Women’s Bean Project was able to pay for Sherri to go to CNA school and gave her continuous employment while she worked toward this goal.

“Sherri has been a great example for other program participants. She has modeled our philosophy of doing anything we can to help women who are willing to help themselves,” says Bob Macdonald, Program Director.

Now, Sherri has set new goals for herself and her children. She wants to eventually open up a group home for people with disabilities, like her son Rashad. As for advice for new program participants, Sherri says, “If you have a positive outlook and do what you need to do to change your life, the Women’s Bean Project will help you achieve your goals.”

(Sherri’s story was originally told in the newsletter of the Women’s Bean Project, Beanstalk. Since 1989, the Women’s Bean Project has been helping women break the cycle of poverty and unemployment. They are a nonprofit organization that teaches job readiness and life skills for entry-level jobs through employment in gourmet food production and handmade jewelry manufacturing businesses.)

The Fair Tweets campaign automatically inserts a Fair Trade message at the end of a user’s tweet to spread awareness about World Fair Trade Day on May 14. It’s a pretty cool concept! To join the fun, simply visit their website (http://fairtweets.com), type in your Tweet and they automatically fill in the rest! In our example below, we typed the black message and they filled in the rest with the green message.

Unfamiliar with World Fair Trade Day? It’s an initiative of the World Fair Trade Organization and is supported by thousands of citizens, Fair Trade Organizations, social and environmental movements, producers and consumers all around the planet.

On May 14, millions will celebrate World Fair Trade Day. This year’s theme is “Trade for People – Fair Trade Your World.” It encompasses the need to put people and the environment at the heart of trade and consumption.

The World Fair Trade Organization is the global network of Fair Trade Organizations around the planet. It represents more than 400 Fair Trade Organizations from more than 70 countries with highest geographical outreach.

What are you doing to celebrate? Leave a comment and let us know!

Our bi-monthly newsletter brings you the latest information from Helping Hand Rewards and our socially responsible partner organizations. This issue includes:

• Pure Eden Spa Products Opens for Business
• New Product: Eco-friendly Moda Purses (made from pop tabs)
• Vendor Day Kits Available
• Spotlight on Melissa Warren from Bright Endeavors

To view the newsletter, click here.

See something you like? Suggestions? Or, perhaps you have a story idea for a future issue. Leave a comment below. We appreciate feedback!

Through the manufacture of its Dreambean home- and bath-product line, Bright Endeavors provides young mothers with jobs handcrafting and packaging eco-friendly vegetable-wax candles in recycled glass containers, as well as calming bath products fashioned from natural botanicals. Participating in Bright Endeavors’ manufacturing and marketing program helps young women transition into economic self-sufficiency by building a store of personal and professional achievements that will translate into job skills in future careers. Additionally, all proceeds from Dreambean products go to support job training, mentoring, and permanent job placement with local employers for the young mothers who create them.

Expires Oct 8, 2011. 100% of purchase goes directly to Bright Endeavors. Limit 1 per person, may buy 3 additional as gifts. Limit 1 per visit. Not valid for Moda Esperanza products. Donations are automatically applied.

How are tech geeks using the game of ping pong to inspire a social good initiative?

A group called TechiesGiveBack, a nonprofit that looks for ways the tech community could give back, launched an event called BackSpin2011. The idea was to raise money for a charity organization called Child’s Play. No, not the creepy Chuckie movies. Child’s Play is a non-profit organization that provides books, games and video game consoles to hospitals across the country.

So what was BackSpin 2011?

Using Xbox’s Kinect, TechiesGiveBack provided a fun atmosphere with their ping pong tournament. Several tech companies around the NYC area took part in the action, including CollegeHumor.com, Google, The New York Times and Foursquare. Some of the players competed on team levels while a few competed individually. In addition to the virtual table tennis game, TechiesGiveBack also provided an open bar, MCs from CollegeHumor and even some crazy costumes in the mix. Using a virtual tournament provided a more level playing field for everyone involved than hosting a real ping pong tournament.

Was the event a success? Absolutely. The half party/half networking event raised $12,000 for Child’s Play. Who says helping out can’t be fun? More info about the tournament can be found at Mashable.

She estimates that she has made nearly one million clocks.

One of her proudest moments was presenting her mom with one of those clocks that has lasted more than 25 years.

She has been quoted nationally about her work in the Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

Meet Rita McCabe, one of the employees on the assembly line at Lighthouse Industries, a program of The Chicago Lighthouse that holds the official contract for manufacturing clocks for the U.S. government.  Indeed, clocks made at the Lighthouse are displayed in federal offices across the country and around the globe.

A native of Minnesota, Rita, who is totally blind, first came to the Lighthouse in the mid 70s while a member of the Salvation Army.  She joined the agency in 1979 and has been an employee there ever since.

“I enjoy my job,” she smiles.  “I appreciate being able to support myself plus have an opportunity to work with so many wonderful people!”

Rita goes about her daily tasks with much precision a she assembles the clock from components that include the body, movement, dial, hour and minute hands.  She assembles clocks of various sizes and styles, and then places the sub-assembly on the assembly line where the remaining components are assembled.  The end product is fully tested for accuracy, boxed and shipped to destinations far and wide.

In a given year, the Lighthouse, which will celebrate its 105^th anniversary in 2011, manufactures between 160,000 and 200,000 clocks per year.

For employees like Rita, this program has provided steady employment at a time when people who are blind cope with a jobless rate that hovers near 70%.

“She is a fantastic member of our team,” states Jean Claude Kappler, vice president of Lighthouse Industries who oversees the clock-making operation.

“Like so many of our employees who are blind or visually impaired, Rita has a strong work ethic and brings a craftsmanship-like quality to her job.”

He adds that the quality of Lighthouse clocks is one of the reasons the program has been able to thrive for the past 30 years.

When Rita checks out of the factory for the day, she turns her attention to her other interests including volunteer work at her church and rooting for her favorite teams, the Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys and her beloved Chicago White Sox.

A resident of the city’s south side, she makes no bones about being a big White Sox fan.

Asked about her resolutions for the coming new year, Rita responds with a chuckle, “I never make resolutions because I know I can’t keep them!”

Though, she looks forward to making even more clocks in 2011.