Allegheny Community Childcare Cooperative:Where enlightened families grow together Are you a self-employed parent seeking an affordable-yet-enriching childcare solution--one that allows you to keep your children close by and still work in peace? Unable to find such a place in Pittsburgh, I decided to create my own solution. A shared childcare cooperative and parenting community center would offer a unique service in the Pittsburgh region. My vision is to create a space where parents (our members) could work uninterrupted while our children play downstairs with like-minded parents in a safe, homelike environment. The Cooperative Space: The cooperative playthings would be designed to inspire imagination; made from natural materials; and emphasize art, music, and dance. Members would share both childcare duties and values aligned to foster creative, positive, and inspired experiences for our children. The workspace would offer members desks, wireless Internet and printer/scanner/fax services in a peaceful space--but not too far away to nurse or comfort our children. How It Works: Members will pay a small monthly fee to cover operational expenses of the co-op. The co-op will plan a schedule for members, trading time spent working with time spent in childcare. Each parent will be responsible for no more than 5 children at one time. Parents would be able to drop off children and leave the facility for up to two hours at one time (ideal for medical appointments or client meetings). The Members: To make this dream a reality, I'll need to find a group of families who share this vision. This is where you come in! To organize the cooperative, I'll need information about what works best for parents. If this cooperative sounds interesting to you, please click on this link to complete a brief survey and help us learn about your childcare needs. Make sure to pass this information along to other families who might want to be involved! Thanks so much for your support! Sincerely, Katy Rank Lev www.katyranklev.com