Online Cooperative Education as a Tool for Movement Building Morgan Crawford NASCO Director of Education morgan@nasco.coop
Intro to NASCO Founded in 1968, bi-nationally chartered Membership-based Housing Cooperatives Cooperative Businesses Primarily Youth & Students
Intro to NASCO, cont. Mission : The North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO) Family [of associations] organizes and educates affordable group equity co-ops and their members for the purpose of promoting a community oriented cooperative movement.
Intro to NASCO, cont. Programs and Services: Conferences & Events Education & Technical Assistance Networking & Advocacy Resource Development & Sharing Development & Expansion Providing & Managing Affordable Housing
Video Resource Project New website: 2013 Shared Resource Library Completely Rebuilt Open Access to Public Video-Capable Partnership with Toolbox for Education & Social Action (TESA) CHS Foundation - 2014 Cooperative Education Grants Program
Webinars Can Be Cheap!
Connection to Movement Building
Student Co-op Revolving Door 62 NASCO member co-ops 5,500 members 3,200 new members per year High Turnover → Constant Need for Foundational Education High Turnover → Influx of Potential Cooperative Employees, Member-Owners, Worker-Owners Greatest Weakness or Major Asset?
Member Profile: Founded : 1933 Mission : To provide a quality, low-cost, cooperative housing community to university students, thereby providing an educational opportunity for students who might not otherwise be able to afford a university education. Gross Annual Revenue : $10.2 million # of Board Directors : 40 (29 voting)
Member Profile, cont. 1,300 student member-owners 20 units - 17 houses, 3 apartment complexes Each unit has the following compensated positions: Social House Maintenance Manager Manager Manager Recycling Kitchen House Manager Manager President Network Workshift Board Rep. Manager Manager Health Worker
Implications of Student Co-op Turnover Thousands of youth graduating from housing cooperatives into workforce every year High-level governance knowledge Financial literacy Democratic competencies Deep appreciation for cooperative model Many would love to continue working with cooperatives, but lack clear avenue
Role of NASCO Continuously providing foundational cooperative educational resources to youth Ensuring that youth continue to be engaged in cooperatives Supporting the success of new/existing co- ops Connecting passionate youth to the broader cooperative movement
Role of Movement Elders Creating meaningful employment opportunities for upcoming cooperative youth Engaging in mentorship relationships with youth Making space at the table - involving youth in organizational- and movement-level decisions Supporting the work of cooperative organizations that resource youth
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