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.

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.