The Community and Worker Ownership Project (CWOP) is centered on teaching and promoting worker-owned cooperatives, economic democracy, and community engagement to broaden action and study for deepening a Solidarity Economy.
As people around the world call out the deep inequalities of capitalism, we work alongside them to build what’s next: a solidarity economy rooted in care, community, and collective ownership of the things and services we all need to thrive.
Through partnerships with community organizations, unions, and cooperatives, we foster an interconnected ecosystem of social justice work. Our students and partners don’t just study these movements, they join them as thought partners and practitioners, learning by doing as we create more democratic workplaces and communities together.
How do we do this?
College Education: We offer a four-course online graduate-level certificate in Workplace Democracy and Community Ownership (WDCO). Take it on its own or as part of an MA at SLU! Learn more.
Partnerships: Students and faculty cultivate relationships and support projects with labor, community, and businesses to co-create innovations for a cooperative ecosystem. Learn more.
Public Programming and Popular Education: Through one time events and non-credit classes with our partners, we offer learning opportunities that stimulate, encourage and clarify the roles people can play in the next economy now. Learn more.
Research: Students and faculty contribute to the collection of literature with attention to the nexus of unions and cooperatives. We explore and document case studies past and present that explore economic and social justice. See some of our reports! Learn more.
