Oak Park has long been a leader in progressive policies, social justice, and community-driven solutions. Now, with the launch of Solidora, we have the opportunity to leverage Oak Park’s social, political, and economic capital to drive a bold new vision—not just for our community, but for Illinois as a whole.
At a time when many parts of the country are doubling down on reactionary politics, economic inequality, and environmental destruction, Illinois can chart a different course. By investing in worker-owned businesses, community-led economic development, and sustainable industries, we can build a cooperative economy that serves as a model for the future.
Why Oak Park? Why Now?
Oak Park is uniquely positioned to be the launching point for a new kind of local economy—one that is equitable, sustainable, and designed for long-term prosperity.
🌍 Progressive Social & Political Leadership – Oak Park has been at the forefront of diversity policies, and could be a leader in inclusion and equity. By supporting worker cooperatives, community wealth-building, and sustainable development, we can set an example that resonates across Illinois and beyond.
🏦 Access to Financial & Institutional Support – Illinois is home to progressive funding mechanisms like the Illinois Climate Bank, state-backed cooperative financing models, and mission-driven private investment funds. Solidora can serve as a coordinating hub to direct these resources toward worker-owned enterprises, sustainable housing, and clean energy infrastructure.
🤝 Strong Community Engagement – Oak Park’s residents, businesses, and local institutions are deeply invested in social change. By creating real pathways for shared economic power, we can activate this network to drive long-term, systemic transformation.
Oak Park as a Model for Illinois
Solidora isn’t just about transforming Oak Park—it’s about using Oak Park’s strengths to pilot a cooperative economic model that can scale across Illinois.
Here’s what we can build together:
🏡 Affordable, Community-Owned Housing – With Oak Park’s progressive housing policies as a foundation, we can launch cooperative housing models that provide long-term stability, affordability, and equity—not just here, but statewide.
⚡ Sustainable Energy & Infrastructure – Illinois is already investing in climate-focused economic development, but too often, those benefits don’t reach working people. By positioning worker-owned cooperatives as key players in the clean energy transition, we can ensure that green jobs are good jobs.
🌱 Local Food & Worker-Owned Agriculture – Illinois has some of the most fertile farmland in the country, but our food systems are dominated by industrial agribusiness. Solidora can help launch cooperative food distribution networks, urban agriculture initiatives, and farmworker-owned enterprises that create sustainable, locally-driven food security.
💼 Worker Cooperatives as a Standard Business Model – Illinois can become a leader in cooperative economic policy, setting up statewide funding structures, legal support, and tax incentives for worker-owned businesses. By proving the model in Oak Park, we can help push for state-level policies that make cooperative business ownership the norm, not the exception.
📢 A National Example for Progressive Economic Policy – As states across the country roll back workers’ rights, attack marginalized communities, and funnel public wealth into corporate hands, Illinois can be a national leader in democratic economic transformation. Solidora can be the catalyst that connects labor, policy, and community investment into a replicable model for the rest of the country.
Building a Sustainable Beacon of Hope
At a time when our democracy, economy, and environment are under attack, Illinois has the opportunity to lead by example—and it starts right here in Oak Park. By investing in people-powered solutions, we can make our state a beacon of hope for what’s possible when communities take ownership of their futures.
Solidora is the next step in this movement. By launching here, we can set the foundation for a cooperative economy that benefits workers, small businesses, and entire communities—not just corporate shareholders.
📢 Want to be part of building this future? Sign up for updates, get involved, and help make Illinois the model for a just, sustainable, and community-driven economy.
🚀 The future isn’t written—we build it together.