About Consulting at the USFWC
The USFWC’s Consulting program supports values-aligned organizations and businesses undergoing transitions and growth in their workplace policies, structures, programming, and culture to integrate cooperation, workplace democracy, and anti-oppressive values.
USFWC members are innovating every day with exciting and radical approaches to managing their workplaces. The Consulting team draws from the collective expertise of our member organizations and their working-class leaders of color to share our field’s best tools, lessons, and practices with the wider community of nonprofits, businesses, and grassroots organizations.
Our approach draws heavily from popular education and abolitionist and feminist philosophies to catalyze action, justice, and equity. Our team brings diverse experiences as artists, educators, cooperative owners, and organizers for racial, migrant, climate, and economic justice. Our work with clients and members is relational, caring, and strategic to tailor particular approaches to their needs.
Page feature image: Staff and community members of CRECE Urban Farms meet with staff from Black Thumb Farm in Los Angeles, CA to learn about their farm apprenticeship program and talk co-op.
THE TEAM
Our Consulting team includes various USFWC staff members across departments. Depending on the type of work / location / availability, we will assign a qualified USFWC consultant for the project during the proposal phase.
Our team resides on the ancestral unceded Indigenous peoples’ lands including the Powhatan (aka District of Columbia), Fernandeño-Tataviam & Tongva (aka Los Angeles, CA), Piscataway, Pamunkey, Nanichoke, Mattaponi, Chickahominy, Monacan, and Lenape (aka Philadelphia, PA) and Saura, Catawba , Cherokee, Lumbee, Shakori, Eno, Sissipahaw, and Occaneechi (aka Winstom-Salem, NC).
HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR WORK
Clients
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The USFWC team did a phenomenal job not only introducing the concept of cooperatives to my webinar community, they also were able to share key tools that worker cooperatives use that could be applied to the giving circle space... By the end of the webinar the participants left both with a new facilitation tool, but also with a new curiosity about cooperatives... I cannot recommend this team highly enough.
Training Client (on democratic decision making), Jan 2024
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The entire group has commented several times how professional and helpful our USFWC facilitators were. They reflected back what they heard and saw, they made space for our team, and were excellent examples of showing up as their whole selves. I'm so grateful to have USFWC on this journey with us.
Consulting Client, December 2023
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You are really strong at hearing and synthesizing what's being said or where the struggle is - especially in large virtual groups, consider the energy/presence you bring (it's draining for sure but putting in that energy can help a group engage more).
Workshop Participant (on democratic decision making), July 2023
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You are strong facilitators that do a wonderful job of meeting people where they are and advocating for learning in a judgment free zone.
Consulting Client, July 2023
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Thank you for offering us your grounded and intentional presence. You are always focused and present, and actively listening to the group's stories and needs.
Retreat Participant (on Anti-Oppressive Practices), April 2023
Our services
Frequently Asked Questions
It is ideal to have one or more people within your team who have capacity and decision making power to move this work forward in collaboration with our Consulting team. Ideally, there’s a clear purpose for why you need outside support, and if not, we’ll help you get clear through our intake process. Click here to get started.
The USFWC Co-op Clinic and Consulting is part of the same team of Training and Education. Our Co-op Clinic offers technical assistance and training services to primarily worker-owned cooperatives through our Peer Advisor Network. The USFWC Consulting team offers services primarily to non-worker owned businesses and organizations which include philanthropy, nonprofits and collectives who are not worker-owned cooperatives but align with the values and practices of a democratic workplace.
Both members and non-members (with discounts for members) can access the Co-op Clinic and Consulting! If you’re not sure who to reach out to, please email us at consulting@usworker.coop or complete our intake and we’ll guide you to the right place.
Our sliding scale ranges for grassroots organizations to more established, well-resourced institutions depending on the services requested. We also offer a discount to members. To get more information about our rates and services, please get in touch at consulting@usworker.coop.
We do not write grants for clients, but can support with a Letter of Interest (LOI), a project budget and simple proposal to support your grant application (ie. private or public funding) or pitch to a philanthropic partner. When possible, we encourage partnering with foundations who already support your work to help cover the project costs! Through this practice, some of our clients have been able to work with us without an additional cost to their organization. Please reach out to us if you have any questions.
GETTING STARTED
Click 'Get Started' below to fill out our intake form and let us know what consulting services you are interested in.
Contact Us
If you have any questions before you fill out an intake form, please reach out to consulting [at] usworker [dot] coop! We look forward to getting in touch.