Cooperative Resources and Services Project

The nonprofit organization Cooperative Resources and Services Project, CRSP - pronounced crisp - was founded by Lois Arkin in 1980 as a resource center for small ecological and cooperative communities. CRSP provides a variety of resources on small cooperative ecological communities both locally and nationally.

CRSp is a public-benefit non-profit established to provide educational resources for small cooperatives. The CRSP office and library have been located in the Bimini and White House Place neighborhood since 1980. The transit-rich area is close to a Metro Redline Station, only three miles west of downtown. The two-blocks in Mid-Wilshire/Koreatown are home to a multi-ethnic working class community of about five hundred people.

After the Civil Unrest of April, 1992, CRSP decided to put its resources to work in its own problematical neighborhood in a way that could benefit the city at large and started the Los Angeles Eco-Village demonstration project.

CRSP currently owns the two buildings where the LA Eco-Village is located and provides funds for their basic rehabilitation and ecological retrofitting. This is done trough the Ecological Revolving Loan Fund (ELF).

CRSP applies a whole-systems approach to community development, integrating the social, economic and physical aspects of neighborhood life to demonstrate a healthy urban community. Their plan includes converting housing from rental to permanently affordable cooperative ownership. CRSP intends for its efforts to reduce the burdens of government, while increasing local self-reliance in the areas of livelihood, food production, energy, water, transportation, recreation, waste processing and education.

Membership in CRSP and its Institute for Urban Ecovillages is $35 per year for individuals and $50 per year for organizations. Rates are on a sliding scale basis for both individuals and organizations. No one is turned away for lack of funds. CRSP is a 501.c.3 nonprofit corporation and invites tax-deductible charitable contributions.

Volunteer and Internship Opportunities with CRSP:

If you would like to be a volunteer/intern with CRSP’ emerging Institute for Urban Ecovillages, please see contact below

There are opportunities for people interested in the following areas:

• Community Land Trust Formation Committee Member
• Librarian to maintain our resource rich video and publications materials
• Grants development
• Neighborhood Outreach (Korean and/or Spanish speaking)
• Membership Development and Services
• Tour guides to accommodate drop-in tours eight hours per month
• Outreach and coordinate gatherings and Directory for Los Angeles Communities Dialogue Group
• Stewarding an emerging LETSystem
• Helping to organize an LAEV food co-op
• Trainee for learning CRSP Administrative functions
• Volunteer coordinator
• Archivist
• Liaison between local schools and LAEV
• CRSP Board Members

Watch for Job Openings for:

• Executive Assistant
• Bookkeeper

You could also volunteer at L.A. Eco-Village for various types of work parties, let us know and we will put you on a special notification list.

For information, call or email:

• 117 Bimini Place #221 L.A., CA 90004
• Telephone: 213/738-1254
• Fax: 213/386-8873
• e-mail: crsp@igc.org