Schillios inspires CUDE, aide to start co-op

TACOMA, Wash. (11/6/07)--The credit union motto of "people helping people" was the inspiration for the Tacoma Art Place, an art cooperative that opened Friday with a ribbon-cutting celebration.

"It was really amazing," said Jamie Chase, an adviser with JayRay, a communications consultancy. She is the former director of communications for the Washington Credit Union League and a credit union development educator (CUDE).

Those who celebrated the ribbon cutting also watched a video about the center's inspiration.

"There were tears in the room," Chase said.

The inspiration for Tacoma Art Place was drawn from a Goodwill Mission trip to Mali that Chase took along with the center's creator, Linda Danforth, and two congressional aides. Danforth is a congressional staffer of Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.).

The trip was documented by the Tacoma World Trade Center.

Chase's expenses were paid for by Woodstone CU, Federal Way; Global CU, Spokane; White River CU, Enumclaw; TAPCO CU, Tacoma; and BECU, Seattle.

During their trip the Mali, the group traveled around the country to visit credit unions. They also visited Here Je Center, an art cooperative run by Carol Schillios. Here Je means "happiness together."

The center brings female students together for two years to teach them about art and business. The goal is to give the students the skills they need to go from "beggars to businesswomen," Chase said.

The center has been in place for three years, and has already graduated one class of women.

Danforth was inspired by the art center, and decided to create one in Tacoma. Tacoma is a manufacturing base, but it has a thriving arts culture, Chase said.

The center is open five days a week, with the intention of bringing in artists to work on projects and share equipment. Microlending may be in the center's future, Chase said.

"It would only make sense to provide business training," she said. "It's an example of why credit unions should provide small business loans in today's economy. They [the artists] wouldn't be profitable for banks."

The video shown at the ribbon-cutting has been sent to credit unions, along with a letter, stating the center's purposes. The Tacoma Art Place is open to lending programs from credit unions.

The cooperative speaks to the credit union mission, Chase said. "When you live the credit union difference, you understand it much better."

To watch the video played at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, use the link.

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