The Kola Nut Collaborative

**Context Profile for The Kola Nut Collaborative**

1. **Organization Mission & Cause:**
   - The Kola Nut Collaborative is dedicated to fostering community resilience and economic empowerment through the practice of timebanking. Their mission is to create a sustainable and equitable system where community members can exchange services and skills without the use of money, promoting mutual aid and strengthening community ties. The organization emphasizes the importance of reciprocity and the value of every individual's contributions to the community.

2. **Type of Activities:**
   - **Timebanking Programs:** The core activity revolves around facilitating a timebank where members can trade services and skills.
   - **Community Workshops and Events:** They organize events and workshops to educate and engage the community about timebanking and its benefits.
   - **Networking Opportunities:** The organization provides platforms for community members to connect and collaborate.

3. **Tone of Voice:**
   - The tone is **friendly**, **inclusive**, and **inspiring**. The language used on the website is approachable and community-focused, aiming to encourage participation and emphasize the collective power of community action.

4. **Emoji Usage:**
   - The organization uses emojis sparingly. When used, they are typically community-oriented symbols like the handshake 🤝 or heart ❤️ to emphasize connection and mutual support.

5. **Key Facts:**
   - **Founding Info:** The Kola Nut Collaborative is a relatively new organization, focusing on innovative community-building strategies.
   - **Scale and Impact:** As a new initiative, the organization is in the early stages of establishing its impact metrics but focuses on building a robust network of timebank participants.
   - **Volunteer Info:** The organization likely relies on volunteers for both operational support and as participants in the timebanking system.

6. **Writing Guidelines:**
   - **Language Style:** Use clear, simple, and engaging language that reflects the community-driven nature of the organization.
   - **Focus on Community and Reciprocity:** Highlight stories of community impact and the benefits of mutual aid.
   - **Encourage Participation:** Content should motivate readers to join the timebank and participate in events.
   - **Visuals and Symbols:** Use community-oriented visuals and symbols to reinforce the message of connection and support.

This context profile is designed to help AI assistants generate content that aligns with The Kola Nut Collaborative's mission and values, ensuring that communications are consistent with their community-focused approach.

LXCL:Open access to all participants. Includes:<ul class="lxcl-ul"><li value="1" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">Full-day participation (9 AM – 2 PM)</li><li value="2" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">Offers &amp; Needs Market</li><li value="3" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">Rotating Credit Club</li><li value="4" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">Lunch</li><li value="5" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">Post-event resource access</li></ul>No explanation needed. Just register and show up.

Community Registration

LXCL:Helps cover food, space rental, and accessibility needs. Your contribution supports:<ul class="lxcl-ul"><li value="1" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">Lunch and refreshments</li><li value="2" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">Accessibility accommodations</li><li value="3" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">Materials and supplies</li></ul>

Supporter

LXCL:Supports the broader facilitation and solidarity economy ecosystem in Chicago. Your contribution helps fund:<ul class="lxcl-ul"><li value="1" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">Scholarships for future trainings</li><li value="2" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">Timebank platform maintenance</li><li value="3" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">Community-based facilitator gatherings</li><li value="4" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">Development of future Rotating Credit Clubs</li></ul>

Ecosystem Builder

LXCL:For those who want to invest in long-term infrastructure. Your support helps:<ul class="lxcl-ul"><li value="1" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">Expand Offers &amp; Needs Markets into more communities</li><li value="2" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">Support facilitator training access</li><li value="3" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">Seed future collaborative experiments</li><li value="4" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">Sustain Kola Nut Collaborative ecosystem work</li></ul>(Optional recognition in event materials)

Solidarity Sustainer

The Shaping Change Facilitator Festival returns for its second year as a gathering for facilitators, organizers, cooperative builders, and community leaders committed to strengthening Chicago&rsquo;s solidarity economy ecosystem. Last year, more than 60 participants came together for a powerful day of exchange and relationship-building. Participants described the experience as:<ul fr-original-style="margin-left: 20px " style="margin-left: 20px; box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">&ldquo;A tangible way to connect and build solidarity.&rdquo;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">&ldquo;Welcoming and accessible in a way that fostered closeness and care.&rdquo;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">&ldquo;Simple in structure, but deep and powerful.&rdquo;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">&ldquo;Energizing, inspiring, and healing in times that feel isolating.&rdquo;</li></ul>Dozens of new collaborations were sparked. Skills were exchanged. Resources moved. People left not just inspired&mdash;but connected. In 2026, we build on that momentum. This full-day experience centers the art and practice of facilitation as infrastructure for social transformation. The day begins with a 2-hour Offers and Needs Market (OANM)&mdash;a structured exchange that helps participants surface skills, articulate needs, and form meaningful collaborations. We will then gather for a keynote conversation exploring facilitation as a critical tool for movement-building, democratic culture, and cooperative economic development. In the afternoon, we will host a Rotating Credit Club (RCC)&mdash;a dynamic format learned from Eric Liu during the Chicago Civic Collaboratory&mdash;in which selected participants present a 5&ndash;7 minute overview of a project they are developing, followed by structured commitments of support from the room. The RCC provides concrete offers of social, intellectual, institutional, and, at times, financial capital to move projects forward. Whether you are an experienced facilitator or an emerging community host, this festival offers an opportunity to:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Strengthen your facilitation practice</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Build reciprocal relationships across Chicago&rsquo;s ecosystem</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Move real projects forward through collective support</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Experience tools that grow solidarity beyond rhetoric</li></ul>Come ready to share, ask, commit, and build. Parking&nbsp;There is off-street parking around Experimental Station. Please allow a few extra minutes to find parking and walk over.<p dir="ltr" fr-original-style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.38; margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;"> Public Transportation&nbsp; CTA Bus<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">#59, #171, #172 all stop at 61st and Dorchester, which is 1 block west of Experimental Station.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">#2 stops at 60th and Blackstone, which is 1 block north of Experimental Station&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">#6, #15, #28, and #63 all stop at 59th and Stony Island, which is 2 blocks east of Experimental Station.&nbsp;</li></ul>Metra Rail&nbsp;The Metra Electric has a stop at 59th and University, which is 2 blocks north of Experimental Station.&nbsp; Festival Schedule 8:45 AM &ndash; Doors Open 9:00 &ndash; 9:20 AM &ndash; Welcome &amp; Grounding<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Grounding, context setting, and overview of the day</li></ul>9:20 &ndash; 11:20 AM &ndash; Offers and Needs Market (OANM)<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Structured exchange of skills, resources, and commitments</li></ul>11:20 &ndash; 11:30 AM &ndash; Break 11:30 AM &ndash; 12:15 PM &ndash; Keynote Conversation<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Facilitation as infrastructure for solidarity and systemic change</li></ul>12:15 &ndash; 1:00 PM &ndash; Lunch &amp; Unstructured Connection 1:00 &ndash; 1:50 PM &ndash; Rotating Credit Club (RCC)<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Live project pitches and structured call for commitments of support</li></ul>1:50 &ndash; 2:00 PM &ndash; Closing Circle<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Harvest, reflections, and next steps</li></ul>

Hi <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; color: rgb(42, 42, 196); padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;">First name, Thank you for registering for the 2nd Annual Shaping Change Facilitator Festival! We&rsquo;re excited to gather with you on March 21, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Experimental Station in Chicago. This will be a day centered on connection, reciprocity, and facilitation as infrastructure for social transformation. We&rsquo;re grateful you&rsquo;ll be part of the room. 📍 LocationExperimental Station6100 S Blackstone AveChicago, IL 60637Doors open at 8:45 AM. We&rsquo;ll begin promptly at 9:00 AM. 🚗 ParkingThere is off-street parking available around Experimental Station. Please allow a few extra minutes to find parking and walk over. 🚆 Public TransportationCTA Bus<ul data-end="1141" data-start="955" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li data-end="1019" data-start="955" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">#59, #171, #172 stop at 61st &amp; Dorchester (1 block west)</li><li data-end="1073" data-start="1020" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">#2 stops at 60th &amp; Blackstone (1 block north)</li><li data-end="1141" data-start="1074" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">#6, #15, #28, #63 stop at 59th &amp; Stony Island (2 blocks east)</li></ul>Metra Rail<ul data-end="1232" data-start="1160" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li data-end="1232" data-start="1160" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Metra Electric stops at 59th &amp; University (2 blocks north)</li></ul>We encourage public transit or rideshare if that&rsquo;s accessible for you. 🌿 What to Expect<ul data-end="1459" data-start="1335" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li data-end="1367" data-start="1335" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">2-hour Offers &amp; Needs Market</li><li data-end="1392" data-start="1368" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Keynote conversation</li><li data-end="1417" data-start="1393" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Rotating Credit Club</li><li data-end="1459" data-start="1418" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lunch and intentional connection time</li></ul>There&rsquo;s nothing you need to prepare. Just come ready to share, ask, listen, and build. If you indicated interest in presenting during the Rotating Credit Club, we will follow up separately with additional details. We&rsquo;re looking forward to shaping change together. In solidarity,Mike Tekh StrodeKola Nut Collaborativeconnect@kolanutcollab.org

The Shaping Change Facilitator Festival returns for its second year as a gathering for facilitators, organizers, cooperative builders, and community leaders committed to strengthening Chicago’s solidarity economy ecosystem. Last year, more than 60 participants came together for a powerful day of exchange and relationship-building. Participants described the experience as:<ul><li>“A tangible way to connect and build solidarity.”</li><li>“Welcoming and accessible in a way that fostered closeness and care.”</li><li>“Simple in structure, but deep and powerful.”</li><li>“Energizing, inspiring, and healing in times that feel isolating.”</li></ul>Dozens of new collaborations were sparked. Skills were exchanged. Resources moved. People left not just inspired—but connected. In 2026, we build on that momentum. This full-day experience centers the art and practice of facilitation as infrastructure for social transformation. The day begins with a 2-hour Offers and Needs Market (OANM)—a structured exchange that helps participants surface skills, articulate needs, and form meaningful collaborations. We will then gather for a keynote conversation exploring facilitation as a critical tool for movement-building, democratic culture, and cooperative economic development. In the afternoon, we will host a Rotating Credit Club (RCC)—a dynamic format learned from Eric Liu during the Chicago Civic Collaboratory—in which selected participants present a 5–7 minute overview of a project they are developing, followed by structured commitments of support from the room. The RCC provides concrete offers of social, intellectual, institutional, and, at times, financial capital to move projects forward. Whether you are an experienced facilitator or an emerging community host, this festival offers an opportunity to:<ul><li>Strengthen your facilitation practice</li><li>Build reciprocal relationships across Chicago’s ecosystem</li><li>Move real projects forward through collective support</li><li>Experience tools that grow solidarity beyond rhetoric</li></ul>Come ready to share, ask, commit, and build. Parking There is off-street parking around Experimental Station. Please allow a few extra minutes to find parking and walk over.<p style="font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;line-height:1.38;margin:0pt 0px;width:100%;box-sizing:inherit;max-width:100%"> Public Transportation  CTA Bus<ul><li>#59, #171, #172 all stop at 61st and Dorchester, which is 1 block west of Experimental Station.</li><li>#2 stops at 60th and Blackstone, which is 1 block north of Experimental Station </li><li>#6, #15, #28, and #63 all stop at 59th and Stony Island, which is 2 blocks east of Experimental Station. </li></ul>Metra Rail The Metra Electric has a stop at 59th and University, which is 2 blocks north of Experimental Station.  Festival Schedule 8:45 AM – Doors Open 9:00 – 9:20 AM – Welcome &amp; Grounding<ul><li>Grounding, context setting, and overview of the day</li></ul>9:20 – 11:20 AM – Offers and Needs Market (OANM)<ul><li>Structured exchange of skills, resources, and commitments</li></ul>11:20 – 11:30 AM – Break 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM – Keynote Conversation<ul><li>Facilitation as infrastructure for solidarity and systemic change</li></ul>12:15 – 1:00 PM – Lunch &amp; Unstructured Connection 1:00 – 1:50 PM – Rotating Credit Club (RCC)<ul><li>Live project pitches and structured call for commitments of support</li></ul>1:50 – 2:00 PM – Closing Circle<ul><li>Harvest, reflections, and next steps</li></ul>

The Kola Nut Collaborative

The 2nd Annual Shaping Change Facilitator Festival

6100 S Blackstone Ave

Community Registration

Free

Supporter

$35

Ecosystem Builder

$75

Solidarity Sustainer

$150

Add a donation for The Kola Nut Collaborative