Chrome Collective Community
The Chrome Collective Community is a social enterprise that opened its doors in 2021. Founded by Shelley Robinson, it was established to enable people with disabilities to create micro-businesses, as well as make the most of employment opportunities. At Mikro, we firmly believe in Shelley’s goal and understand that social enterprises often require funding to get started.
The story of Chrome Collective Community started in 2020 when Shelley lost faith in a system that had failed her daughter, Ruby. Ruby has Global Development Delay and Autism. This means that she faces a world filled with barriers that can hinder her job prospects. Once people with disabilities leave school, finding paid employment and integrating into a community can be challenging.
After attending a conference in 2020, Shelley sat next to Jane Ford from Parent to Parent and decided to start The Chrome Collective Community. Through the support of people like Jane Ford and Mikro Foundation, Shelley navigated the challenges of forming a social enterprise - both administrative and financial. The result is a cooperative space where people with and without disabilities work together to create and sell locally made goods, learning from each other along the way.
On 17th October 2021, Chrome Collective Community officially opened to Katikati. At Mikro we are excited about this new stage in their adventure and wish Shelley, Ruby, and Jane all the best for the Chrome Collective Community.
Are you pushing towards a goal?
If you’re motivated, committed, and need a hand, we’d love to hear from you.