Looking for an alternative to corporate capitalism that works? Interested in the real everyday ways that economic democracy can support real political democracy and social change? This introductory workshop, for those new to worker cooperatives or curious about their basic functioning, will explain the worker-ownership and democratic workplace model that has inspired workers from Argentina and Venezuela to Italy and Spain, and is now a growing movement in the US.

We'll answer some practical questions: What is a democratic workplace, exactly? What is a co-op? What kind of knowledge and skills does it take to work in one? To start or convert your workplace to one? How does a democratic workplace work on an everyday level? What are the benefits and drawbacks? How can democratic workplaces work toegther to grow stronger? How are worker co-ops connected to movements for economic justice, labor rights and sustainability? Is the worker cooperative a good form for you?

We'll make some connections: Worker cooperatives can play an important role in building movements for social change: as institutions where real democracy is practiced on a day to day basis, they are a model for practicing the power we will need to create the change we envision. Few people in this country ever get to experience anything resembling real democracy – not at home, not at school, and not at work. Yet how big can a movement that relies on people power get if most people don’t feel empowered? And worker cooperatives are a real economic alternative for communities that have been exploited and abandoned by neoliberal economic models, meeting people's needs in a practical, sustainable, empowering way, and they are an example of living (and working) the change you want to make in the world.

We'll talk about challenges and strategy: Workplace democracy in the U.S. so far have been small-scale - can they work in bigger industries and on larger scales? Worker cooperatives have a reputation as a hippie utopia - how can established co-ops pass on their resources and knowledge to the new generation of democratic workplaces started by people of color, immigrants, and people organizing traditionally low-wage jobs? What can we learn from international movements?

Participants will leave with a better - and we hope inspiring! - understanding of democratic workplaces and worker ownership as a concrete alternative and a way to organize their jobs and communities to meet their needs.

We will offer handouts in English and Spanish. Presentation will be in English.