Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center

Ride-share companies shifted all expenses to drivers — gas, insurance, maintenance, phone. Independent contractors carry everything. That's why drivers co-ops exist. https://youtu.be/PI8homDnRw8 #DriversCoop

Italy's Article 14: companies with 50+ workers must hire from protected categories. Social co-ops make it happen — and then build something bigger. https://youtu.be/9BrlM57q9U0 #SocialCoops #RMEOC

In northern Italy, most public services are run by social co-ops. The democratic governance isn't just structure — it's part of the therapeutic intervention itself. https://youtu.be/mV0zXfNI9Vo #RMEOC

The biggest barrier for home care workers? Childcare. Katrina says co-locate them — cooperative home care and cooperative childcare in the same space. https://youtu.be/0x0QSGCFlAA #CareWorkers #RMEOC

Employee ownership gives LGBTQ+ workers a real voice, shared wealth, and safer workplaces. Learn more: https://rmeoc.org #PrideMonth #LGBTQ #EmployeeOwnership #Coops #ESOP #Colorado

In 1935, 1 in 10 farms had electricity. By 1952, 9 in 10. Federal investment plus community ownership. Joe says that's the model for childcare. https://youtu.be/0x0QSGCFlAA #Childcare #RMEOC

Home care is the fastest growing job in America. It's also one of the worst. No livable wages. No benefits. No advancement. Cooperatives are changing that. https://youtu.be/0x0QSGCFlAA #CareWorkers #RMEOC

"How much to buy in? Zero dollars. Child care workers don't have money to invest." Wood Frog finds childcare deserts and builds co-op centers there. https://youtu.be/0x0QSGCFlAA #Childcare #RMEOC

South Korea has social cooperatives. Italy has them. Quebec has them. Why doesn't America? That simple question started this whole movement. https://youtu.be/jzsHlEjbx30 #SocialCoops #RMEOC

"We lack even a vocabulary of care." We need new social, legal, financial infrastructure to create thousands of caring enterprises — a new social safety net. https://youtu.be/jzsHlEjbx30 #SocialCoops #RMEOC

An Italian co-op veteran's advice: "Do not wait for the government. Build it." They built through the 80s. By 1991, the government said wow, you've got this. https://youtu.be/zPuHUzW6GHE #Cooperatives #RMEOC

Pandora started as a failing kiosk in a poor Milan neighborhood. One worker sold drugs and got arrested. Today? 100 workers, 78 from disadvantaged backgrounds. https://youtu.be/9BrlM57q9U0 #SocialCoops #RMEOC

Italy's Basaglia closed psychiatric hospitals and built communities instead. Davide says the same approach works for prisons. "It's a difficult battle, but we will win it." https://youtu.be/9BrlM57q9U0 #RMEOC

Italy's Article 14: companies with 50+ workers must hire from protected categories. Social co-ops make it happen — and then build something bigger. https://youtu.be/9BrlM57q9U0 #SocialCoops #RMEOC

Italy has 78 percent recidivism. But for prisoners who work with social co-ops? It drops to 2 percent. The data speaks for itself. https://youtu.be/9BrlM57q9U0 #SocialCoops #RMEOC

In Naples, young people can't get into medicine. But when they get certificates, the best jobs and wages come from co-ops — not the public system. https://youtu.be/zPuHUzW6GHE #SocialCoops #RMEOC

"Which government? You're talking about local government — your own neighbors." The Italian model partners with local, not federal. Maybe total autonomy isn't the goal. https://youtu.be/zPuHUzW6GHE #RMEOC

Millions of care workers in precarious labor are about to be automated and commodified out of their livelihoods. They’re considered collateral damage. https://youtu.be/zPuHUzW6GHE #CareWorkers #RMEOC

Social co-ops depend on government or charity capital — powers beyond their control. John Restakis says we need social markets based on reciprocity, not profit. https://youtu.be/jzsHlEjbx30 #RMEOC

Care is work. Ownership is power. This Mother’s Day, let’s build workplaces where moms share in the upside—through employee ownership. Learn how RMEOC supports businesses & workers: https://rmeoc.org #MothersDay #EmployeeOwnership #WorkerCoop #ESOP #ColoradoBusiness

Why do co-ops exist? They solve market failures and strengthen communities. A quick breakdown of the power of cooperation.

John Restakis discovered a hidden history: economics for the common good, based on mutual aid — not atomized, profit-seeking individuals. https://youtu.be/jzsHlEjbx30 #SocialEconomy #RMEOC

John Restakis discovered a hidden history: economics for the common good, based on mutual aid - not atomized, profit-seeking individuals. https://youtu.be/jzsHlEjbx30 #SocialEconomy #RMEOC

Social co-ops in Italy and Quebec go to government and say: we create jobs, they stay local, we don’t need subsidies. That’s a powerful pitch. https://youtu.be/66fkNDU0er8 #SocialCoops #RMEOC

Co-ops say there’s no capital available. Investors say there are no investable deals. Natalia from Second Muse Capital on the mismatch that keeps showing up everywhere. https://youtu.be/66fkNDU0er8 #RMEOC

Co-ops say there's no capital available. Investors say there are no investable deals. Natalia from Second Muse Capital on the mismatch that keeps showing up everywhere. https://youtu.be/66fkNDU0er8 #RMEOC

"The soil is quite rich within the solidarity economy for us to cast these seeds here in the US." Rebecca on where social co-ops belong in America. https://youtu.be/66fkNDU0er8 #SolidarityEconomy #RMEOC

Ready to retire but not ready to sell to a stranger? Employee ownership protects your people, values, and legacy.

"We don't organize owners. We only organize workers." That ideological clash between unions and co-ops still continues. But in Denver, SEIU is partnering with a home care co-op. https://youtu.be/66fkNDU0er8 #RMEOC

Other countries build co-op support at the national level. The US can't — it's too fragmented. So we navigate locally: convincing foundations, democratizing nonprofits. https://youtu.be/66fkNDU0er8 #Cooperatives #RMEOC

You deserve a say at work. This May Day, we celebrate workers—and the power of employee ownership to keep jobs local and build wealth. Learn how RMEOC helps: https://www.rmeoc.org #MayDay #WorkersDay #EmployeeOwnership #WorkerCoop #ESOP #Colorado #WorkerPower #RMEOC

Italy's first social co-op existed years before any law recognized it. Don't wait for permission. Look at Homeboy Industries, Greyston Bakeries — just build it. https://youtu.be/mV0zXfNI9Vo #RMEOC

In northern Italy, most public services are run by social co-ops. The democratic governance isn't just structure — it's part of the therapeutic intervention itself. https://youtu.be/mV0zXfNI9Vo #RMEOC

Young people are excited about co-ops — they haven't been indoctrinated into top-down hierarchy. Watch the full conversation: https://youtu.be/cUZiPx3ELIQ #RMEOC #CoopEducation

Andrew built 40+ co-op workshops with NCBA over 3 years. Then the funding was cut entirely. But the workshops survived. Watch the full conversation: https://youtu.be/cUZiPx3ELIQ #CoopEducation #Resilience

During Italy's 2023 floods, a farm workers co-op said: flood my fields, save the city. They sacrificed their harvest to protect Ravenna. That's what co-ops do. https://youtu.be/mV0zXfNI9Vo #Cooperatives #RMEOC

What happens when consumer and producer members disagree in a multi-stakeholder co-op? Unions can help. Real talk about co-op governance. rmeoc.org #CoopGovernance #WorkerOwnership

The poly-crisis we live in makes multi-stakeholder co-ops appealing — one organization addressing housing, food, energy, and jobs. But every layer adds complexity. rmeoc.org #Cooperatives #PolyCrisis

"I think the biggest challenge is the perceived commitment and just the change of what is expected of how you show up." Kelly Moss is the board president at Empowered Energy Systems — a worker-owned solar cooperative in rural Colorado. She says the shift from employee to owner

Brad and Danielle didn't want to sell their solar company to a stranger. So they chose co-op ownership. "We had high hopes and it delivered." Watch the full story: https://youtu.be/dLnYIVcKwmo #WorkerCoop #EmployeeOwnership #RMEOC

This Earth Day, we’re celebrating employee-owned organizations that put stewardship into action—from environmental education to clean energy. Proud to stand with orgs like Empowered Energy Systems 🌍 Read here: https://www.rmeoc.org/employee-ownership/success-stories/empowered-energy-systems/

Brad couldn't handle the math for engineering. So he got a degree in agronomy. Then had an epiphany — he didn't have to be an engineer to build a solar company. Watch the full story: https://youtu.be/dLnYIVcKwmo #EmployeeOwnership #Solar #RMEOC

"This co-op gives us pride and purpose — it's a game changer." Better pay, more time with family, and being valued as part of a healthcare team.

"You could work at the bakery and make more money. If you sign up for care, you have something within you." One co-op's hiring priority? People who are fun to be with. https://youtu.be/DEpkREre5Tg #SocialCare #RMEOC

The lower the margin, the more workers feel healthcare pain. Essential workers — the ones we clapped for during COVID — are the most common early adopters. https://youtu.be/klURuwgy_MU #Healthcare #RMEOC

Is caregiving about happiness — or something deeper? This clip explores how meaning and purpose shape the caregiving journey.

Democracy in care isn't about board meetings. Northwest Care does weekly socials. Equal Care has "advocate members" — family who participate for loved ones. Watch the full session: https://youtu.be/DEpkREre5Tg #SocialCare #RMEOC

Why do smaller social co-ops work so well? It's not about scaling up — it's about scaling out. Replicating care without losing the mission.

In private care companies, CEO salaries are 6x what care workers earn. Care co-ops flip that with flatter hierarchies and teams that self-coordinate. Watch the full session: https://youtu.be/DEpkREre5Tg #SocialCare #RMEOC

"Co-production" sounds great on paper. But one care user gets a different person every day — no choice at all. Co-ops turn that tick-box into genuine ownership. Watch the full session: https://youtu.be/DEpkREre5Tg #SocialCare #Cooperatives #RMEOC

New Belgium Brewing was employee-owned. Then Kirin offered the right price, and the ESOP trust sold. An EOT would have prevented that. Watch the full conversation: https://youtu.be/Zp8locoNXpQ #EOT #EmployeeOwnership

"Most small businesses shutter when the owners retire." In rural Colorado, this co-op is keeping jobs alive. Watch the full story: https://youtu.be/dLnYIVcKwmo #RuralEconomy #EmployeeOwnership #RMEOC

Pacific Steel had no primary care doc, no nurse navigator, no pharmacy. 44 locations, 9 states, 700 employees. They still transformed their health plan. https://youtu.be/klURuwgy_MU #Healthcare #RMEOC

"They think we're ankle biters they can kick away." Dave Chase compared fixing healthcare to women's suffrage and civil rights — it needs a grassroots movement. https://youtu.be/klURuwgy_MU #Healthcare #RMEOC

95% of employers treat health plan contracts like terms of service — check, I agree. Most plans score 5-17 out of 100. Watch the full conversation: https://youtu.be/klURuwgy_MU #Healthcare #RMEOC

If you just want to maximize profit, an EOT isn't for you. But if you built something worth preserving — for your team, your mission, your community — it might be exactly what you need. Watch the full conversation: https://youtu.be/Zp8locoNXpQ #EmployeeOwnership #EOT #RMEOC

TESA is a worker co-op that makes board games, develops co-op curriculum, and provides technical assistance. Their model wouldn’t exist without worker ownership. rmeoc.org