Our Story

Our cooperative was initially started by two people who met at Northwestern University. One was a climate scientist concerned about carbon emissions in the built environment, and the other was researching the displacement of Black Evanston homeowners after the subprime mortgage crisis.

Both people believed that community is our only immunity from climate change, racism, and inequality, which inspired the creation of our local cooperative in 2018.

Since then, our cooperative movement has grown to seven worker-owners and more than 40 members in the community. Through their support and collaboration, our vision for a green construction co-op became a reality, survived the COVID-19 recession, and proudly serves the Evanston community today.

Our Team

 

Fazel “Peter” Alexander

Worker-Owner & Construction Superintendent

Fazel (Peter) started his construction career over 20 years ago, working for Freise construction and then Zigmill construction, before becoming a licensed General Contractor and starting his own company, Brisley Group Company Inc.

He now uses his network professionalism and expertise as a construction superintendent to take a build from start to finish for our cooperative.

As a lifelong Evanstonian, Fazel (Peter) has a nuanced understanding of how each EDC project fits into the context of its surrounding neighborhood. He is a proud father of three boys. He spends the fair share of his weekends supporting them at soccer games and practices.


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Robinson Markus

Worker-Owner & General Manager

Robinson co-founded EDC in 2018. As EDC’s General Manager, he oversees the cooperative’s day-to-day operations and long-term strategy.

Prior to EDC, Robbie researched the effect of the 2008 recession on homeownership rates by race in west Evanston neighborhoods.

Additionally, his thesis research on participatory budgeting in Ecuador sparked an interest in how autonomous, local democratic mechanisms (like worker co-ops!) can enhance the quality of life for marginalized residents.

He has lived in 5 of 9 Evanston wards and is an avid rock climber and reader.

Mejai Kai Dyson

Project Manager and Estimator

With 25 years of residential and commercial construction management experience on developments in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York, Kai works as EDC’s estimator and project manager.

Kai oversees bidding, negotiations, contracting and procurements with vendors and subcontractors. Additionally, he responds to on-site matters as necessary, coordinating with the EDC team to complete projects within budget and on time.

Occasionally, you can catch Kai out riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Dion Jones

Worker-Owner & Electrician

Dion is the Owner of Tru Power Electric, an electrical services company based in Evanston.

Additionally, he’s member of the North Shore Contractors Cooperative, another construction cooperative in our region.



Our Board of Directors

 

Fazel Alexander

Worker-Owner & Construction Superintendent, EDC

 

Dick Co

EDC Co-Founder & Director of Chain Reaction Innovations, Argonne National Lab

Betty Bogg

Executive Director, Connections for the Homeless

 

Dion Jones

Owner of Tru Power Electric & Worker-Owner with EDC

Bea Echverria

Branch Assistant at the Evanston Public Library Crown Branch

 

Kathy Feingold

Senior Loan Officer at Community Investment Corporation (CIC)