We use cooperative ownership to teach.

We use education to build cooperative ownership.

We can help you with…

Do you want to start a coop from scratch or strengthen an existing one?
We can help with any form of cooperative organization, from a club to a business to a utility.
We can host and help you organize an event.
We can help you apply for grants for your nonprofit or find financing for your cooperative business.
Come volunteer on one of our projects. It’s the best way to make new friends. We’ll just tell you everything we’re up to and you can decide if anything sounds interesting enough to join.

Learn More

Projects Incubated and Supported

Lamplight Summer Program (2019)

A cooperatively-run free summer program where students learn to become powerful by running the camp themselves. There are now sessions in Birmingham and Guntersville.
Caring Heart Thrift Store and Outreach (2020)

A thrift store that serves the Marshall County area and uses its revenue to support local nonprofits and offers a food pantry for teens and elders.
Glow and Grow (2024)

A fundraising cooperative bringing resources to local nonprofits and training teenagers in critical skills. Over $150,000 in funds raised over two years.
Brick and Barn (2025)

A cooperatively run lecture series and conference uniting city and country across Alabama. Our first season of Brick and Barn brought over 100 people together across events to discuss issues like energy, literature, and social disconnection.
The Forge (2025)

In an era of algorithms and disembodiment, The Forge aims to offer a space where minds and hands work together. Think book club plus shop class. And we’ll do it all – befitting Birmingham’s history – in a beautiful blacksmith shop downtown.
The Alabama Center for Employee Ownership (2024)

Scaling employee ownership through education and outreach. Part of a nation network of 23+ state centers. Featured at Sloss Tech, the City of Birmingham’s Racial Wealth Gap Symposium, the Rotary Club, and the SBDC.
Iron Hills Folk School (2026)

A cooperative school-for-life, building resilient community through self-governance, skill sharing, and play.