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

DAWI at the United Nations: Celebrating the International Year of Cooperatives

This July, DAWI joined global leaders at the United Nations to spotlight the power of worker ownership ahead of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025. Our Director of Strategic Partnerships, Anh-Thu Nguyen and our Board President, Christine Curella, brought DAWI’s perspective to the global stage: that worker ownership is not only a strategy for local resilience, but also a model for a more just economy worldwide. Anh-Thu Nguyen, represented DAWI and the…

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Part-Time People and Operations Manager

DAWI is seeking a Part-Time People and Operations Manager. The People and Operations Manager works closely with the Co-Executive Director of Operations and Programs, the Deputy Director, and the personnel committee to ensure that everyone in our mostly-remote organization has the tools and support necessary to do their work effectively and efficiently. This position will set up, monitor, and support good operations systems, ensuring that the Institute’s infrastructure enables effective programs and a happy, productive team.

The School for Democratic Management at DAWI Launches New Online Learning Platform

The School for Democratic Management at DAWI has officially launched a new online learning platform designed to strengthen democratic practices in worker-owned businesses and democratic workplaces. This flexible, bilingual, and self-paced platform offers free practical tools and training for cooperative developers, educators, and worker-owners seeking to deepen their knowledge and leadership skills. With courses on onboarding, facilitation, conflict resolution, governance, and more, the platform helps people access trusted, movement-aligned content that supports long-term cooperative success, without having to build from scratch. Rooted in years of practitioner experience, The School for Democratic Management at DAWI exists to expand access to democratic…

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Democracy at Work Institute Receives New Profit Investment to Expand Economic Opportunity Through Worker Ownership

The Democracy at Work Institute is excited to announce our selection as one of five organizations to join New Profit’s Build Portfolio, which supports organizations “with transformative strategies that advance pathways to income generation and financial health.” DAWI and each of the new Build Portfolio organizations will receive $1.5 million in unrestricted funding, which is provided alongside strategic advisory support. New Profit is a national venture philanthropy organization committed to catalyzing the…

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California Invests $7.5M in Immigrant Entrepreneurship

Funding Approved for Social Entrepreneurs for Economic Development (SEED) 3.0 Grant Program SACRAMENTO, CA – In the new state budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26, the California State Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom approved $7.5 million to continue investing in entrepreneurship for immigrant workers through the Social Entrepreneurs for Economic Development (SEED) program. This funding enables community-based organizations to provide entrepreneurship training, technical assistance, and microgrants to immigrants and individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). The Economic Mobility for All (EM4A) Coalition and SEED co-sponsors - California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC), Immigrants Rising, Inclusive Action for the City, and Democracy at…

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Estado del sector 2023

Estado del Sector 2023

Cubriendo 10 años de avances empresariales, el Estado del Sector de las Cooperativas de Trabajadores y Lugares de Trabajo Democráticos es un reporte sobre los lugares de trabajo de propiedad colectiva y gestión democrática en los Estados Unidos y sus territorios. Esta investigación es una co-producción del Instituto de Democracia en el Trabajo y la Federación de Cooperativas de Trabajadores de E.E.U.U.. Se basa en los desarrollos más recientes del sector, recopilados en el Censo de Empresas Cooperativas de Trabajadores, y es una herramienta esencial para comprender este campo.

expanding your worker cooperative business cover

Expanding Your Worker Cooperative Business: A Guide to Licensing & Franchising

This Guide is for worker owners, cooperative developers, lawyers, technical assistance providers and others thinking about expanding worker cooperative businesses. We focus specifically on expansion through licensing and franchising. Licensing and franchising are ways to allow another business to use elements of your business. New businesses can grow using elements of your business, and together, you may be able to reach economies of scale.