By Kenzie Love The problems with AI are well-known, and the promise of this technology is likely overstated. Thus as David Montgomery observes, “it’s risky to leave it in the hands of distant corporations.” As in other instances, however, the work being undertaken by co-ops may offer an alternative to the current domination by a … Co-op AI Aims to Offer an Alternative to Corporate Platforms
By Kenzie Love Lichen Community Systems was founded in 2024 by four people dedicated to growing the practice of community-led design. Building on the principle of “nothing about us without us”, community-led design goes beyond consultation and co-creation. It supports technologies and systems that are designed by, accessible to, and ownable by communities. The Co-op’s … Lichen Celebrates Community-Led Design
The Canadian Worker Co-op Federation (CWCF) offers technical assistance grants to worker co-ops that are, or agree to become, members of CWCF to hire a co-op developer or other professional to help with a challenge that the co-op is facing. Assistance can be sought in any area needed such as marketing, financial administration, governance, conflict … Technical Assistance Grants Help With Co-op Conversions
By Kenzie Love Pansy Club started in Calgary in 2021, inspired by the legacy of previous grassroots queer parties. From modest beginnings, it has since grown to become an important part of the city’s queer culture, with the aim of eventually becoming a queer cafe and social space actually owned by the queer community. Pansy … Pansy Club Helps Queer Community Blossom
By Kenzie Love Amid a growing market for climate change mitigation and adaptation planning, Sustainability Solutions Group (SSG) faces stiff competition when it responds to requests for proposals. The award-winning consultancy already has one significant differentiator from most of its competitors: it’s a worker co-op. But while this should be an indicator that SSG doesn’t … B Corps Are One Piece of a Complex Puzzle
The Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation (“CWCF”) is a national, bilingual grassroots membership organization of and for worker co-operatives, multi-stakeholder co-ops with substantial worker control, and organizations that support the growth and development of worker co-operatives. CWCF was incorporated in 1992, has approximately 65 member cooperatives and an annual budget of approximately $600,000. Activities and services … Request for proposals: strategic plan revision
Board Nominations CWCF is seeking nominations for its board of directors. Serving on the CWCF Board is a great opportunity to help guide the worker co-op movement in this country and for networking with other worker co-operators. To be eligible to run, you must be a worker-member of a CWCF Regular Member (worker co-op or … Call for Board Nominations, AGM Resolutions, and Awards
CWCF has a Racial Justice Action Plan with the long-term objective of a worker co-operative movement in Canada which is racially diverse, inclusive, and just. To help achieve this objective, CWCF has established a racial justice granting pool. This granting pool is allocated to projects led by individuals who are Black, Indigenous or other People … Racial Justice Project Grants Awarded