October 11, 2012

Worker Co-op Week at Local Sprouts Cooperative In celebration of Co-op Month and

2012 International Year of Cooperatives

Monday, October 22, 7:30pm
Local Sprouts Cafe, 649 Congress St. Portland, Maine

Shift Change A new documentary of true stories of dignified jobs in democratic workplaces Special Screening with filmmakers Mark Dworkin and Melissa Young At a time when many are disillusioned with big banks and big business, and growing inequity in our country, employee ownership offers a real solution for workers and communities. Shift Change is a new documentary that highlights worker-owned enterprises in North America and in Mondragon, Spain.  The world premier of the film is Oakland, CA on October 18th.

For more info about the film: www.shiftchange.org

Suggested donation of $5-10

— Thursday, October 25

Local Sprouts Cafe, 649 Congress St. Portland, Maine

Creating Worker Cooperatives in our Community An afternoon workshop for people interested in starting worker co-ops and for people that want to support worker co-ops

1-7pm

Worker co-ops around the world are creating jobs, supporting workplace democracy, and promoting a fair economic system.  Local Sprouts Cooperative is excited to share our model, about other worker co-ops and how to start worker co-ops with people in our community.  This afternoon workshop will spark ideas and collaborations to create new cooperatives in Portland.

This workshop is for:

  • People who want to start a worker cooperative
  • Existing businesses that many want to convert to a worker cooperative
  • Economic development professionals
  • Small business consultants
  • Credit unions and local banks
  • Foundations & philanthropists
  • Attorneys
  • Students & teachers
  • Accountants & bookkeepers
  • City officials
  • People interested in a democratic economy

Draft Agenda (more details will be shared before the workshop): 1pm Lunch and Panel Discussion: Worker Co-ops in the Year of the Co-op 2:30pm: Workshops: Starting Worker Co-op: visions to creation Supporting Worker Co-ops: for economic development and business support people 4pm: Financing Worker Co-ops Legal Support for Worker Co-ops Democracy in Action: culture, process, and decision making in cooperatives 5:30pm: Creating Worker Co-ops in our Community:  community discussion sharing ideas and support

People can either stay for the dinner or leave after 6:30pm when the discussion ends

Afternoon Conference & Lunch: Suggestion Donation $15-30

Co-Sponsored by Local Sprouts Cooperative, the Community Building Collaborative and the Southern Maine Worker’s Center

Cooperative Feast a dinner and music celebrating cooperatives, 7pm

Local Sprouts Cooperative cooks will create a delicious dinner and local musicians including Local Sprouts worker-owners will play music. People with worker cooperative ideas are encouraged to share them between (or with) music and through a creative delicious night we will support our community’s new cooperative visions.

Dinner & Music Suggestion Donation: $15-30

For planning purposes please RSVP for the Afternoon Workshop and for the Cooperative Feast.  To RSVP please send an email to food@localsprouts.coop.

For more info go to www.localsprouts.coop or call 207-615-9970

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