Co-op Education
At the Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center (RMEOC), we provide educational programs to help individuals and organizations understand, explore, and implement cooperative and employee ownership models. Whether you’re just curious about Employee Ownership (EO) or want a deep dive into cooperative structures, we have resources to support your learning journey.
Why cooperative
education?
Cooperative education is fundamental to upholding the core principles of cooperatives. It requires dedicated and ongoing efforts to guide prospective cooperative members through the stages of launching and sustaining a successful cooperative enterprise.
As Roy Morrison emphasized in We Build the Road As We Travel: Mondragon’s Cooperative Society, "Education is essential for fulfilling the basic cooperative principles. It is fundamentally important to devote sufficient human and economic resources to cooperative education, professional training, and general education of young people for the future."
Our Cooperative Education Initiatives
At the Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center (RMEOC), we are committed to providing comprehensive cooperative education through various programs designed to foster understanding and implementation of cooperative principles:
Monthly EO Workshops
Request a ride anytime, anywhere. Connect instantly with local co-op drivers and enjoy reliable, affordable, and community-owned transportation.
Cooperative Academy
Plan ahead with confidence. Book your rides in advance for work, appointments, or special events—your driver will be there right on time.
Social Cooperative Academy
Set up recurring rides for business or personal needs. From daily commutes to long-term travel arrangements, we make scheduled transportation simple and seamless.
Is Employee Ownership Right For You?
Monthly EO Workshops
Our monthly Employee Ownership workshops are designed for anyone interested in learning about EO and exploring whether it could be a good fit for them. These sessions provide an accessible introduction to the basics of employee ownership, its benefits, and real-world examples of successful implementations.
This monthly session is perfect for:
- Entrepreneurs and business owners curious about EO
- Employees exploring ownership opportunities
- Anyone looking to learn more about the basis of EO models, how they, and get access to resources
Cooperative Academy
The Cooperative Academy is a more in-depth program that explores the ins and outs of cooperatives. Participants learn about the cooperative model and its history and trends, governance and legal structures, financing and how to raise capital, and how to set up and manage a coop.
These academies are not offered on a regular basis, but we plan to provide them occasionally in the future.
These academies are perfect for:
Perfect for:
Community Organizers & Local Leaders
For those working within marginalized communities who want to build power, ownership, and opportunity through cooperative models that center lived experience.
Social Impact Innovators
Ideal for changemakers and entrepreneurs exploring new, equitable ways to do business—where purpose and profit work hand in hand.
Aspiring & Current Co-op Builders
Perfect for anyone looking to start, join, or strengthen a social cooperative, and ready to turn cooperative ideas into lasting community impact.
Cooperative Advocates for Systemic Change
For individuals dedicated to economic justice, worker ownership, and transforming traditional systems into models rooted in equity and shared prosperity.
Watch our past videos
What public policies do we need?
What policy changes would make this work most effective and efficient? Should we start at the local, state, or federal level—or perhaps all three?
Legal and Corporate Formation Challenges
In this session, Jerome Hughes presents legal considerations with this hybrid model (a blend of non-profit and for-profit), including issues of governance, membership categories.
The Promise of Social franchising
What can a social franchising platform offer our work in terms of scalability? Our speakers draw on the experiences of the Center for Family Life (Sunset Park NYC) and the Driver’s Coop (NYC, Denver).
Ready to Get Started?
Embarking on the journey to employee ownership begins with education. We invite you to subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates on our programs, workshops, and webinars. Stay informed and take the first step toward empowering your business and community through cooperative education.
Our education programs are open to anyone interested in learning about employee ownership — including small business owners, workers exploring cooperative models, nonprofits, local governments, and community advocates.
We offer introductory sessions on employee ownership, in-depth trainings for conversion planning, leadership and governance workshops for worker-owners, and custom educational programs designed for your organization or community.
While RMEOC focuses on serving Colorado communities, we occasionally partner with organizations across the Rocky Mountain region and beyond. If you’re located outside Colorado, reach out — we may be able to collaborate or connect you with local partners.
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Social Cooperative Academy
Our Social Cooperative Academy brings together changemakers to explore how social cooperatives—businesses created by and for marginalized communities—can drive equity, dignity, and shared prosperity.
These academies are part of RMEOC’s Social Cooperative Program and highlight how collective ownership can be a powerful tool for addressing systemic inequities while strengthening local economies.
Want to dive deeper?
Visit our program page to explore The Promise and Practice of Social Cooperatives reports and other key resources.
Although our most recent Academy has wrapped up, you can still watch the full series on our YouTube channel.
And the learning doesn’t stop there—our Community of Practice remains active, offering ongoing connection, shared learning, and real-world support for people building social co-ops.