For worker co-ops to be a force for racial and economic justice, working class communities of color need equitable access to the tools of cooperative development. As interest in worker co-ops increases in communities of color, Black-led co-ops have remained isolated due to a lack of local, culturally competent development support and little to no budget for technical assistance.
The USFWC is well positioned to address this gap. We host a peer advisor network that is not restricted by geography, enabling us to connect Black-led projects with Black peer advisors from across the country. And because peer advisors do not need to be embedded within a co-op development agency, our peer network can cultivate local TA leadership by recruiting and training new peer advisors in regions that lack local co-op development support.
This is why, in 2024, we completed a Peer Advisor Fellowship for worker-owners of color. Ten Black, Indigenous, and native Spanish-speaking worker-owners from across the US joined the fellowship to build essential skills, tools, and support systems to serve effectively as peer advisors. With the fellowship transitioning into an apprenticeship program, fellows are being paired with experienced peer advisors on active Co-op Clinic projects, providing subsidized TA to Black-led co-ops. Worker co-ops now have access to a larger network of culturally appropriate TA and training advisors. The business support they can provide ranges from governance and operations planning, to financial readiness and compensation strategies.
2024-2025 Fellowship Impact
- 330 hours of technical assistance
- 20 Apprentices and mentors delivering subsidized or free TA to Black-led co-ops
- 9 active in-depth apprenticeship projects
- 10 additional in-depth projects each year (Once the new Peer Advisors are fully onboarded at the conclusion of the apprenticeship, the Co-op Clinic will be able to support an additional 10 in-depth projects each year)
- 110 instances of technical assistance for Black-led workplaces
- 47% increase in TA provided to Black-led co-ops in 2024
Peer Advisor Fellow Perspectives
“When we wanted to start the cooperative, we didn’t have incubators or developers, but I took part in the advisory clinics [at the Cooperative Clinic]. The little bit of structure we do have comes precisely from that space. I feel like I’m giving back something that I once received. For me, giving and receiving is important.” — Dilcia Margot Molina Sanchez, Escoba Mágica Cleaning Co-op
“I want to express my deep gratitude for the opportunity to be a fellow in the peer advisors fellowship program. This experience is truly transformative for me. Learning directly from other cooperators and hearing their stories and experiences helps me better understand the real impact that cooperatives have in our communities—how they are creating economic power and dignified-wage jobs for families.” – Luz Maria Martinez, Cooperación Santa Ana and Radiate Orange County
