South Bay abuse survivors launch worker-owned ECOS Cooperative [Video]

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — Seven women who overcame extreme challenges have found a new way to take control of their lives. Together, they’ve just launched a worker-owned cooperative to benefit their community.

The important, long-awaited day finally arrived for the South Bay women Wednesday – it’s called, ECOS Cooperative or Excellent Community Organizing and Services.

Made up of seven women who immigrated from different countries, six were on hand Wednesday to introduce the project they’ve worked so hard to develop and get support for.

But just getting to that point required overcoming incredible hurdles.

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“We’re starting from scratch here in this area. We are survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence,” said cooperative member Siberia Moreno. “We are survivors.”

Together, the women will be providing different services, like office cleaning, event child care, community education and interpretation services. The translation services won’t just be from English to Spanish but also the indigenous …