Other stops included Laughing Horse Books (SE Division & 37th) and record store Q is for Choir (SE 26th & Clinton). The worker-owners of Magpie Messenger Service were also along for the ride. They don't have an office, but presented to the group about what they do. The last stop on the ride was People's Food Co-op (SE 21st & Tibbets), where riders enjoyed strawberry popsicles in the hot sun, and participated in a drawing for prizes from the different businesses. (Riders had cards with them showing all the businesses on a map. People who visited each location and had their card marked were eligible for the drawing.)
Each business presented about its practices and certains themes recurred: sustainability, localization, gender equity, among others. The Red & Black, Back to Back and Redwing cafes seek out local, organic, in-season ingredients for their food. The People's building contains many "green features" including recycled wood for siding, cob infill walls, eco-roofs, and a passive heating/cooling system that draws water from underground. City Bikes and Free Geek make great efforts to attain gender balance in industry sectores (bike repair and computer work) that are typically dominated by males. In other words, the business in PAWC are not only successful traditionally (that is, they are staying afloat and providing people with jobs and Portland residents with goods and services), but they are showing that you can do business in creative ways that seek to do less harm to the earth and address social problems like sexism. If you want to make a positive contribution to your community here in Portland, choosing to support these businesses (and other collectives in town) over their traditional corporate and hierarchal equivalents is a great place to start.
Organizers and participants alike declared the event a fabulous success, and the "World without Bosses" bike tour is likely to become an annual event!
Three videographers were also along for the ride, so hopefully we'll see something at an upcoming Videos from the Resistance showing.
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