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NASCO Institute

Flattening the Pyramid: Establishing Non-Hierarchy in Traditionally Hierarchical Staff Structures

Cooperatives exist in a liminal space within American capitalist socio-economic structures. Externally, hierarchy is seen as a norm and standard to uphold. Internally, strong democratic currents demand individual accountability and participation. Staff can be stuck in the middle, relying on structures familiar to external partners in order to generate relationships while at the same time ensuring the mission and culture of the cooperative is maintained to member standards.

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Fichier Flattening the Pyramid_ Establishing Non-Hierarchy in Traditionally Hierarchical Staff Structures Kyle LaChance.pptx

Where do co-ops cooperate best? Real-life case studies of effective coordination, and dangerous terrain

When do cooperatives work well together, and when do they run into problems? This session uses real stories to explore how co-ops can build stronger networks—and what happens when good intentions hit democratic roadblocks.

We'll dig into the activities that make cooperative federations thrive, like shared buying power, pooled resources, joint advocacy, and member education. But we'll also look at the flip side—times when democratic decision-making led to crippling paralysis.

When Boundaries Get Crossed: A Transformative Justice Approach to Consent Violations

Most co-ops strive to be places of care, community, and consensus, but even in co-ops, boundary crossings happen. How do we handle them in a way that prioritizes safety while treating everyone with fairness and respect? How can we create cultures where consent is so normal that major incidents are rare? We want to hear what happens in your co-ops, cross-pollinate ideas, and share our experience running non-punitive Consent Teams that provide communities with education, emotional support, and mediation.

NASCO Institute 2020 Session Recordings

Below, are the recordings for NASCO Institue 2020 sessions by room. Please share lessons learned with your cooperatives and communities. 

If you did not register for NASCO Institute and you'd like to support free and low-cost cooperative education, please consider contributing a donation amount that feels appropriate for you and/or your cooperative. Your donation makes it possible to offer cooperative education materials and resources free of charge. DONATE HERE.