Cooperative Economics Intro and Advanced
The course provides learners an intro to cooperatives. Going through the different types of coops (worker, consumer, producer, housing), some of the history of cooperative models, and the different ways cooperatives can be structured and democratically managed.
- Location
- The Baltimore Free School
- Instructor
- Reggie Simms
- Sessions
-
Thursday, September 14, 2017 6:00 - 8:00 PMThursday, September 21, 2017 6:00 - 8:00 PM

The course provides learners an intro to cooperatives. Going through the different types of coops (worker, consumer, producer, housing), some of the history of cooperative models, and the different ways cooperatives can be structured and democratically managed.
Coop Economics Intro Outline
Thursday, September 14, 2017 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Explaining the cooperative concept through different kinds of cooperatives
- Consumer Co-ops
- Worker Co-ops
- Housing Co-ops
- Producer Co-ops
- Purchasing Co-ops
Why coops are different from traditional management
- Illustrate traditional business models
- Illustrate different models of democratic management
Economies of Scale - pooling of resources
History of Coops
Rochdale Principles
History of Colored Farmers' National Alliance and Cooperative Union
Q & A
Thursday, September 21, 2017 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Path to starting a cooperative
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
Explaining different worker co-op business/governance structures
Explaining different decision making models
Strategies of procuring capital for business/worker co-ops
Democratic Management
Federation Model - Mondragon
Vertical Model - Equal Exchange
Horizontal Model - Red Emma’s
Practice collective Decision-Making
Choose a model of decision-making
Role-play
making a decision on the appropriate music to play in a coffeeshop
Thursday, October 12, 20176:00 - 7:30PM
Explaining the cooperative concept through different kinds of cooperatives
Consumer Co-ops
Worker Co-ops
Housing Co-ops
Producer Co-ops
Purchasing Co-ops
Why coops are different from traditional management
Illustrate traditional business models
Illustrate different models of democratic management
Economies of Scale - pooling of resources
History of Coops
Rochdale Principles
History of Colored Farmers' National Alliance and Cooperative Union
Q & A
Thursday, October 19, 2017 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Path to starting a cooperative
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
Explaining different worker co-op business/governance structures
Explaining different decision making models
Strategies of procuring capital for business/worker co-ops
Democratic Management
Federation Model - Mondragon
Vertical Model - Equal Exchange
Horizontal Model - Red Emma’s
Practice collective Decision-Making
Choose a model of decision-making
Role-play
making a decision on the appropriate music to play in a coffeeshop
Instructor Bio:
Reggie Simms
I'm a worker-owner at a cooperatively owned and collectively managed Bookstore in Baltimore named Red Emma's. Founded in 2004 in a tiny basement storefront, Red Emma's expanded into a new 4,500 square foot space in the heart of Baltimore's arts district in 2013, and hosts author events several times a week. I've attended the Unites States Federation of Worker Coops Conference where I was able to receive information and training at several workshops on cooperative economics.