The Co-op Q&A With Jamie Burkart and Julie Fredenberg
Julie and Jamie host Sunday night dinners every week in their Brooklyn apartment, that are open to the community. They also post a list of community events at www.wowlist.org. Currently, they’re working to repeal the Cabaret Law and legalize dancing in NYC!
Q: When did you join Greene Hill and what were some of your reasons for joining?
A: Jamie: We joined two to three years ago when our friend Marissa Neroutsos took us to the Co-op after we all had breakfast one morning. We became trial members that day, and we’ve been loving it ever since!
Q: What are your roles in the Co-op?
A: Julia: I work on the floor and Jamie works as a cashier.
Q: What are you working on outside of the Co-op?
A: Julia: Right now, we’re working as part of the
(NYCAC). The coalition advocates for community-driven places like small music venues or the Co-op. We’re currently working to repeal the
which was a 1926 prohibition law that prohibits dancing without a licence. It was originally created to stop interracial dancing, and now it’s inforced in a discriminatory way against spaces that serve people of color.
Jamie: In general, the NYCAC is fighting for preserving community spaces. Increasingly, it feels like the city is only for ultra-elite. What makes NYC such a great place is its people, who meet in all sorts of diverse spaces.
For example, if somebody at the Co-op is playing great music on their shift, and it gets people dancing, we would need to have a cabaret licence. Sadly, dancing is illegal in NYC without it. They pick and choose who gets cracked down for dancing in a way that since the 1920’s has been used against communities of color and LGBTQ people. It’s still used today, often as a trojan horse to get into community spaces, making it difficult for people who have vulnerable statuses to have safe places to socialize. That’s why we’re fighting to legalize dance.
On September 28, we invite you to join us at our town hall meeting, where we’ll be in dialogue with the mayor’s new
. We need to make sure they serve the kinds of cultures that live in NYC, and not just the tourist and developer-minded projects that serve the one-percent.
Q: What is your vision for community-centered spaces like the Co-op in NYC?
A: Julia: I want to see, at a base level, community-centered spaces grow and thrive. I think right now, it’s especially challenging because of the affordability crisis. I want these spaces to remain vital parts of the ecosystem of New York.
Jamie: It’s harder and harder in NYC to have an environment that fosters the kind of community spaces like the Co-op. I think that the Greene Hill is a model community-place in NYC, and I want to see places like our thrive. It’s a great opportunity also to be closer to other people in a meaningful way, where we support each other's’ lives through food.
Q: How can Co-op members get involved?
A: You can become a member of the NYCAC. It’s easy! Just head to http://nycartc.com/ and list your name as a supporter. You’ll get a monthly email and notification about our upcoming town hall as the details emerge.
You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Also, if there are spaces you know of which are seeking support, reach out to us! It can be daunting go it alone, but our artist-driven group facilitates mutual aid and advocacy for community spaces in NYC.