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COVER STORY ABBEY WOODCOCK
There's only us from page 26 “I happened to be driving by the Madison Oneida Dairy Producers Co-op, which he created in the 1960s because he had a dairy farm,” she said. “It was when big conglomerate dairy farms were coming in. Little guys like him were struggling, so they created the co-op, so they could combine resources and compete with the big guys.” Woodcock said it’s her grandfather’s example she’s following. “That’s exactly what this is! This whole place is like an homage to him,” she said. “Freelancers get together, we have one place where there’s a studio, you have a tax attorney that can work with an accountant, they can serve all the freelancers in the area.” Woodcock’s goal is to make a difference in the community she calls home so that Oneida will continue to thrive as her children grow into adults and beyond.
“What’s the choice? Do something or don’t do something,” she said. “I think that there’s a movement here in downtown that we’re a part of. A lot of the downtown business owners have been working really hard to upkeep their store fronts, the building owners are really committed. We’ve been on this wave that we joined. There is such a group of passionate people here and to be a part of it and to be able to support them and also knowing that we’re supporting the next generation of people that can stay here and that can work here… So that’s kind of the plan. To usher in the next wave of economy here in Oneida and we can be a big part of it”. If you’re interested in learning more about Abbey Woodcock and the Oneida Freelance Co-op, visit www.freelancecoop.org. SWM
FREELANCER COVID-19 EMERGENCY FUND In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many freelancers have had their jobs cancelled. The Freelance Co-op has created an emergency fund to help freelance workers get through this time. “Part of our mission of making creativity sustainable is supporting freelancers in uncertain and unprecedented times,” Freelance Co-op founder Abbey Woodcock wrote on the co-op’s website. “It’s what we do here. We cooperate.” If you’re a freelancer who is in a position to help others, please consider donating to the fund (http://tiny.cc/p3jklz) and being added to our partner listing. If you’re a creative freelancer who has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 virus and resulting public response, you can apply below for temporary assistance through the fund. Examples of funding usage are: 1.) Your child’s school has been closed and you have unexpected childcare expenses. 2.) Your client has cancelled an event or contract and you are unable to pay basic living expenses. 3.) Someone in your family has contracted the virus and you have unexpected medical expenses. This fund is for freelancers specifically affected by the COVID-19 virus or resulting public response. To apply for funding or for more information, visit https://freelancecoop.org/emergencyfund/
“I think that there’s a movement here in downtown that we’re a part of. A lot of the downtown business owners have been working really hard to upkeep their store fronts, the building owners are really committed. We’ve been on this wave that we joined. There is such a group of passionate people here and to be a part of it and to be able to support them and also knowing that we’re supporting the next generation of people that can stay here and that can work here… So that’s kind of the plan.”— Abbey Woodcock April 2020
Women in Business Edition
