A Message About DAWI's Work in Uncertain Times

"The worker cooperative sector needs your ambition to be not merely a tool or an alternative, but the bones, blood and muscles of a just and healthy economy." Dear colleagues, I’m writing to share some changes in the works at DAWI, to reconnect about our shared work, and see what’s possible in uncertain but critical times. 2020 has a way of showing us stark realities about ourselves. The multiple overlapping crises in our public health, our economy, and our democracy have caused widespread acute pain, but in reality we’ve been running a fever for awhile. The economy is sick, it… more

Co-op Month 2017 — let's build and grow together

The Democracy at Work Institute is happy to celebrate co-op month with the rest of the movement! As we continue to see the growth of worker-owned businesses and a widespread understanding of the model, we renew our commitment to training and equipping leaders in the sector and being the “think and do” tank that helps the worker cooperative movement to grow strategically. We are at a tipping point in awareness of the… more
Seeding Equity Report Cover

Seeding Equity: A New Community-Based Model of Public Investment in Worker Cooperatives for Excluded Workers

In 2021, California launched Social Entrepreneurs for Economic Development (SEED), an innovative grant program fostering high-road business ownership opportunities for excluded workers (individuals who cannot access stable, gainful employment relationships and whose economic opportunities are severely constrained due to their immigration status or other significant barriers to employment).

The Biggest Worker Co-op Conference to Date is Coming Up!

Are you excited to be part of the biggest Worker Co-op Conference to date? Presented by the Democracy at Work Institute and the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives, the 2024 Worker Co-op Conference will be held in Chicago, Illinois. As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of DAWI and the 20th anniversary of the USFWC, we continue to build momentum for bettering people's livelihoods through workplace democracy. This event will be a moment to deepen relationships with like-minded movements and labor allies focused on the solidarity economy. Our Worker Co-op Conference is the largest event for worker co-ops in the United…

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DAWI launches the 2024 Chicago Worker Cooperative Developer Cohort

DAWI and the Chicago Community Wealth Building Ecosystem co-launch the Chicago Worker Cooperative Developer Cohort. Chicago, US – March 11, 2024 – DAWI is proud to announce the launch of the 2024 Chicago Worker Cooperative Developer Cohort, a transformative initiative aimed at strengthening the local cooperative ecosystem and fostering community wealth-building in Chicago communities. In collaboration with the Chicago Community Wealth Building Initiative at the University of Illinois in Chicago (UIC), the program seeks to empower organizations actively engaged in developing worker cooperatives that serve BIPOC and low-income communities. The Chicago Worker Cooperative Developer Cohort is a 12-month training program…

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Celebrate Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Day with DAWI!

The Democracy at Work Institute is Proud to Support America’s SBDC and the 8th Annual #SBDCDay this March 20th As small business owners navigate an ever-changing landscape, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) continue to support and elevate their clients through innovative at-cost training programs and free advising strategies. Nearly 1,000 SBDCs can be found across the United States and its territories, serving clients virtually and from their centers in host institutions like…

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