It is nice when we get recognized by folks in Detroit for doing what we do. Every once in a while you need a pat on your back ya know? Well, we got another one and we are doing our best to let it go to our heads. Just kidding, having over inflated egos drags us down when we are trying to bike around. If anything, these pats on the back only let us know we are on the right track and that we need to keep going.
Anyway, we do need to brag though, because that is all part of winning awards! Why have them if you can’t show it off some? This time around Crain’s Detroit Business is honoring us as a winner of their 2012 Salute to Entrepreneurs in their “Social Entrepreneurs” category.
We were featured in their publication this week explaining what sets us apart. I don’t think it was all that easy to explain our collective structure as this is not a usual business model that I think folks see. So having a worker and community owned and run bike shop community space in a business publication is pretty…well, it is pretty awesome really.
I do need to say, that even though I’m featured in the article, I’m not what made The Hub what it is. Sure I’ve helped, but I am one of many on our collective. Also, we’ve been around doing this stuff in different forms for about 13 years! That means all the folks that have been on the collective over all those years helped build this. There is no one “owner” to give an award to. So while we are glad to accept it, this award belongs to…all of us really.
So don’t worry, you won’t see us on the stock exchange anytime soon, but instead maybe we’ll see that economic model crumble and worker owned co-ops and community collectives will emerge as the dominant economic model in our country!
Well…
I can dream right?
– jason x