[act-ma] Fri, June 22, at MIT CoLab, BASEN-Sponsored Workshop on Coop Development Models

[R. Wayne Clark]

Sponsored by BASEN, as part of the National Worker Coop Conference:

 

Co-op Development Models: Lessons for Boston

 

On Friday, June 22nd, 2012, at 10:45 AM to 12:30 PM, at the MIT CoLab, the
Boston-Area Solidarity Economy Network (BASEN) will host a workshop on
"Co-op Development Models: Lessons for Boston".

The workshop is part of the Cooperative Development Intensive, a training
conference for co-op developers (see below for details and links to more
information) held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology CoLab on
Friday June 22nd, from 8 AM to 5 PM.  The Development conference opens with
a welcome and introductions @ 8:30, followed by an Opening Plenary on
"DIVERSITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, FUNDING" by the Valley Alliance of Worker
Cooperatives, MadWORC,  and the MIT/CoLab, among others.

The BASEN workshop follows the Plenary session where we will reflect on the
speakers at the Plenary and what we hope to do in Boston.  [Please see below
for links and details.]

These workshops are leading up to the national conference of the U.S.
Federation of Worker Co-operatives on Saturday and Sunday (June 23rd - 24th)
at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.  This conference will
bring together members of worker co-ops from around the country to talk
about ways to develop and expand our movement.  [Please see below for links
and details.]

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Details on Co-op Development Models: Lessons for Boston

 

Friday, June 22nd, 2012, 10:45 AM - 12:30 PM

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT CoLab, Room 3-270 (???)

Co-sponsored by BASEN and Democracy at Work Network

This session will be a space for local people to reflect on the morning's
plenary presenting various styles of large-scale co-op development efforts.

Community leaders who are involved in creating new cooperatives, as well as
those interested in co-op development, will discuss the possibilities for
building a movement and infrastructure for the advancement of worker
ownership in our region.

We will focus on the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches, and
the particular cultural, economic, and historic characteristics of the
Boston area in order to start developing a local strategy for co-op
building.

 

Confirmed participants:

Fred Rose, Wellspring Initiative and Public Policy Program, University of
Massachusetts at Amherst

Juan Leyton, Neighbor to Neighbor

Aaron Tanaka, Boston Workers Alliance

Stacey Cordeiro, Democracy at Work Network

Julie Matthaei, Boston-Area Solidarity Economy Network (BASEN) & USSEN Board
Member

 

The workshop will be structured to allow each "headlining" participant to
give about 5 minutes of response/analysis to the morning's session, and then
basically open it up for discussion.

The conference organizers are also providing a "listener" as well as a
facilitator for each session, and maybe our designated "listener" can use a
flip chart to capture the important issues, debates, cultural & economic
factors, etc.

For more information,
http://conference2012.usworker.coop/sessions/daylong-intensive-cooperative-d
evelopment-massachusetts-institute-technology-register-separ

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Details on the Cooperative Development Intensive:

 

New Directions in Worker Cooperative Development

Friday, June 22, 2012, 8am-5pm

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sponsored and hosted by MIT CoLab

Co-produced by USFWC and Grassroots Economic Organizing (GEO)

 

With interest in worker cooperatives coming from all directions - community
groups, cooperative developers, immigrant communities, unions, cities,
community economic development organizations, and everyday people wanting to
own and control their own businesses - now is the time to continue the
national conversation on worker cooperative development. Our aim is a
multifaceted and critically appreciative conversation that addresses the
deeper issues both animating and challenging worker cooperative development
in 2012. Participants will emerge with a richer understanding of the
landscape of worker cooperative development and a critical analysis of some
development models. We are bringing together cooperative developers,
organizers, academics, policymakers, and people who work in worker
cooperatives to advance a conversation on "how to move boldly, effectively,
and coherently toward establishing a cooperative economy." 

This daylong intensive continues the ongoing development discussion started
by GEO at the Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy in 2011. It will
pick up on five major themes emerging from that discussion:  (1) Growth  (2)
Accountability  (3) Funding  (4) Diversity  (5) Documenting Successful
Practices

For more information, http://conference2012.usworker.coop/coop-dev-intensive

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Details on the USFWC National Conference:

 

Fourth National Worker Cooperative Conference

Saturday, June 23, 2012, 9 AM - 7 PM (or whenever everyone falls asleep)

Sunday, June 23, 2012, 9 AM - 4 PM

Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts

Sponsored by the U.S. Federation of Worker Co-operatives and Co-sponsored by
Equal Exchange, Fund 4 Democratic Communities, the Co-operative Foundation,
Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy, among others.

This fourth national worker cooperative conference is a CELEBRATION of
worker cooperatives, an INVITATION to the public, and a place of
CONGREGATION for worker cooperative members and supporters....and it's
happening in 2012, the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives.

We're creating a big tent for worker cooperatives, cooperative developers,
policymakers, community organizers, academics, and others to come together
to learn and be inspired by the powerful possibilities of cooperatives,
worker ownership and workplace democracy.

The conference is open to the public. It is also a time for members of the
US Federation to come together, share stories and skills, make friends and
connections, and find ways to do business together.  Conference attendees
will find a variety of hands-on practical workshops, opportunities for
thinking about the bigger picture, several stimulating speakers, and of
course -- always -- a good party!

Please join us in Boston to continue building this dynamic, powerful and
pluralistic movement of worker-owners from around the country and the world.

We will provide Spanish translation as well as childcare.

For more information, http://conference2012.usworker.coop/

 

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