ABOUT
We Are A Cooperative
Worker cooperatives are values-driven businesses that put worker and community benefit at the core of their purpose.
Dorchester Art Project is a worker owned cooperative, meaning, those who work at DAP are able to become owners of the cooperative. This cultivates resilience, ensures alignment and offers opportunity. Ownership means decision making power, giving the ability to steer the direction and ensure alignment with the mission and communities needs, as well as the benefit of profit distribution. In addition, ownership and collaboration in the workplace can be a practice ground for taking this framework into your city, your home, your life.
Some key points
- Every owner gets one vote, building a culture of collaboration and resiliency.
- Every owner gets a profit distribution developing the financial power of the community.
- Any person who becomes a worker of Dorchester Art Project has a path to ownership
- Any owner can bring a proposal to the table – a change or addition for the community or to make an improvement for their workstyle at their workplace.
- There are policies in place to ensure that ownership stays within the community in order to keep Dorchester Art Project aligned with the community.
The Seven Cooperative Principles
1. Voluntary & Open Membership
Anyone can join a co-op—they don’t discriminate based on gender, social, racial, political or religious factors.
2. Democratic Member Control
Members control their business by deciding how it’s run and who leads it.
3. Members’ Economic Participation
All co-op members invest in their cooperative. This means people, not shareholders, benefit from a co-op’s profits.
4. Autonomy & Independence
When making business deals or raising money, co-ops never compromise their autonomy or democratic member control.
5. Education, Training and Information
Co-ops provide education, training and information so their members can contribute effectively to the success of their co-op.
6. Cooperation among Cooperatives
Co-ops believe working together is the best strategy to empower their members and build a stronger co-op economy.
7. Concern for Community
Co-ops are community-minded. They contribute to the sustainable development of their communities by sourcing and investing locally.
