Cooperative Resources
Center for Community Based Enterprise www.c2be.org
“Scan of Community Based Enterprise Innovations and their Application to Detroit” Published by C2BE in 2007 is a review of worker owned and community-based enterprises from across the country and around the world coupled with a discussion of how those ideas might apply to the economy of Detroit. It provides much more detail on the history and structure of several of the major examples described below.
The Arizmendi Association of Cooperatives is a group of bakery cooperatives in Berkeley, CA that has followed the Mondragon example and used the resources of existing bakeries to organize and launch new cooperative bakeries. An explanation of their history is available at http://oaklandlocal.com/article/arizmendis-worker-owned-bakeries-dish-co-op-success-and-yummy-treats
Below are additional examples of large groups of worker cooperatives created to overcome the sustainability problems of individual worker co-ops. These exemplify the importance and success of various types of cooperatives:
Women's Action to Gain Economic Security (WAGES)
Emilia Romagna
Evergreen Cooperatives
Mondragon
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TESTIMONIAL
Atty. Deb Olson helped us create the articles and bylaws for our new food co-op. We are very happy with the outcome. Her knowledge of other co-ops was quite useful. She was very engaged and responsive to questions. Her responses were prompt. She was willing to work within our financial constraints.” -Katilin Koch & Mia Kania of Marigold Food Co-op
