“AllĀ  dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible.” T. E. Lawrence

This year, NWCDC will begin a new service. The Worker Co-op Academy will provide participants with a fast-paced boot camp to channel their entrepreneurial spirit and move their project from the “dream stage” to possibility.

The ten week program includes a weekly four hour class on Saturdays at NWCDC’s office in Olympia, Washington and simulcast in Skagit County. The class topics are:

Week 1 Introduction to the Co-op Model
Week 2 Governance and Legal
Week 3 Cost Analysis, Accounting and Equity
Week 4 Feasibility and Planning
Week 5 Accountability
Week 6 Decision Making and Dynamic Governance
Week 7 Cultural Competency and Anti-Oppression
Week 8 Marketing
Week 9 Strategic Planning
Week 10 Wrapping Up, Team Presentations, Celebration

Each team will be expected to complete assignments between classes and there will be time to review the work in class before moving to the next topic. At the end of the boot camp, each group should have a functional set of the following:

  • Articles of Incorporation (ready to file) and Bylaws
  • Feasibility Study with Cost Analysis
  • Marketing Plan
  • Business Plan
  • Strategic Plan
  • Guiding Principles or Policy on accountability and managing disputes.

Support for the class goes beyond the class room. NWCDC will provide Technical Assistance throughout the project. After the class ends, NWCDC will be willing to continue working with the co-ops on a client basis.

This first year is a “beta-test” year and, as a result, NWCDC will not be charging a fee. However, the class will be limited to either 4 groups or a total of 15 people. At least two people from each group must commit to attending all 10 sessions.

Applications are closed. We hope to offer a new academy in the fall. Stay tuned!

Apply Here!!