@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ summary: What can collective governance look like? What shape does that take?
tags: [collab-gov]
---
<imgsrc="{{ site.baseurl }}{% link assets/fetters-wave.jpg %}"style="float:right; width:50%; padding:10px;"/>Those of us looking to shape our enterprises with methods for collective governance and shared ownership are led to ask: *What can collective governance look like? What shape does that take? What are some of the challenges and freedoms presented in this model?*
<imgalt="Wave image by Katy Fetters" src="{{ site.baseurl }}{% link assets/fetters-wave.jpg %}"style="float:right; width:50%; padding:10px;"/>Those of us looking to shape our enterprises with methods for collective governance and shared ownership are led to ask: *What can collective governance look like? What shape does that take? What are some of the challenges and freedoms presented in this model?*
We spoke with several cooperative-minded experts who offered their insight into these questions, as part of a collaboration with the Action Network, a nonprofit online mobilization platform whose team is seeking to further democratize its operations. Here are a few takeaways from our discussion:
Part of the appeal in being a worker on new gig-economy platforms like Uber or Taskrabbit is the apparent autonomy, the feeling of not having a boss. Sure, an app on your phone is your new boss, and through it a large, transnational corporation whose investors want nothing more than to automate you away, but maybe that beats someone coming out of the corner office to breathe down your neck. For some people, the app-boss is at least a step in the right direction.
**Excerpt—[Read the rest on our Medium page](https://medium.com/medlab/building-spaces-for-belonging-7024f49ab071)**
<imgsrc="{{ site.baseurl }}{% link /assets/katy_fetters.png %}"style="float:left; width: 200px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0px;"/>In recent years, I have struggled to call myself an advocate for those with cerebral palsy. I’ve struggled to understand what that means both online and offline in the disability community.
<imgalt="Katy Fetters" src="{{ site.baseurl }}{% link /assets/katy_fetters.png %}"style="float:left; width: 200px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0px;"/>In recent years, I have struggled to call myself an advocate for those with cerebral palsy. I’ve struggled to understand what that means both online and offline in the disability community.
@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ summary: '"That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you disrupt an industry"'
tags: [internet-of-ownership]
---
<imgsrc="{{ site.baseurl }}{% link /assets/arielle_jordan.png %}"style="width: 100%;"/>
<imgalt="Arielle Jordan" src="{{ site.baseurl }}{% link /assets/arielle_jordan.png %}"style="width: 100%;"/>
I’m the founder and CEO of Curafied. Curafied is a platform that helps digital content creators earn monthly income by charging a low monthly subscription to fans for their content creation and curation directly—not from “patron” donations or advertising sponsorships. We’re exploring a new direction for our startup, and I would like to tell you about it in case you have any feedback or want to help.
@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ summary: Ask not what your co-op can do for its members but what they can do for
tags: [collab-gov]
---
<imgsrc="{{ site.baseurl }}{% link /assets/desjardins.jpg %}"style="width: 100%;"/><br/>
<imgalt="Alphonse Desjardins (photo by Vista Stamps, used without permission)" src="{{ site.baseurl }}{% link /assets/desjardins.jpg %}"style="width: 100%;"/><br/>
<em>Alphonse Desjardins (photo by Vista Stamps, used without permission)</em>
I have been trying for some time to put my finger on the difference---between the stories of co-op origins I read about for years while working on my book, _[Everything for Everyone](https://nathanschneider.info/e4e)_, and what I encounter among many larger cooperatives today. Certain differences are obvious: the scale, the maturity, the technology, the political power, and the global reach of co-ops now are well beyond what the founders could have imagined a century or so ago. But many co-ops have also lost a feature that was their main competitive advantage at their founding.
@ -20,23 +20,23 @@ MEDLab offers consultation services and produces public events. For more informa
### Director
<imgsrc="{{ site.baseurl }}{% link /assets/nathan_schneider.png %}"style="float:left; width: 200px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0px;"/>**[Nathan Schneider](https://www.colorado.edu/cmci/people/media-studies/nathan-schneider)** (assistant professor, Media Studies) is a journalist who works at the intersections of technology and social change. He co-organized the New School in 2015, Platform Cooperativism, and has been a leader in efforts to develop more democratic business models for the online economy. He is the author of three books, most recently _[Everything for Everyone: The Radical Tradition That Is Shaping the Next Economy](https://nathanschneider.info/e4e)_, and he co-edited _[Ours to Hack and to Own: The Rise of Platform Cooperativism, a New Vision for the Future of Work and a Fairer Internet](https://nathanschneider.info/books/books/ours-to-hack/)_. His articles have appeared in publications such as _Harper's_, _The Nation_, _The Guardian_, _Vice_ and _The Catholic Worker_. Find more information at [nathanschneider.info](https://nathanschneider.info/).
<imgalt="Nathan Schneider" src="{{ site.baseurl }}{% link /assets/nathan_schneider.png %}"style="float:left; width: 200px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0px;"/>**[Nathan Schneider](https://www.colorado.edu/cmci/people/media-studies/nathan-schneider)** (assistant professor, Media Studies) is a journalist who works at the intersections of technology and social change. He co-organized the New School in 2015, Platform Cooperativism, and has been a leader in efforts to develop more democratic business models for the online economy. He is the author of three books, most recently _[Everything for Everyone: The Radical Tradition That Is Shaping the Next Economy](https://nathanschneider.info/e4e)_, and he co-edited _[Ours to Hack and to Own: The Rise of Platform Cooperativism, a New Vision for the Future of Work and a Fairer Internet](https://nathanschneider.info/books/books/ours-to-hack/)_. His articles have appeared in publications such as _Harper's_, _The Nation_, _The Guardian_, _Vice_ and _The Catholic Worker_. Find more information at [nathanschneider.info](https://nathanschneider.info/).
### Research fellows
<imgsrc="{{ site.baseurl }}{% link /assets/laura_daley.jpg %}"style="float:left; width: 200px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0px;"/>**[Laura Daley](https://www.colorado.edu/cmci/people/graduate-students/media-studies/laura-daley)** (MA student, Media and Public Engagement) is a digital arts scholar with a strong interest in the politicization of health, particularly for women and marginalized groups, and its relationship with media. With a passion for creative video production and an eye toward social justice, she hopes to create impact-driven media that challenge traditional power structures. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Writing, Rhetoric, & Communication and Spanish Language & Literature from Transylvania University in Lexington, KY.
<imgalt="Laura Daley" src="{{ site.baseurl }}{% link /assets/laura_daley.jpg %}"style="float:left; width: 200px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0px;"/>**[Laura Daley](https://www.colorado.edu/cmci/people/graduate-students/media-studies/laura-daley)** (MA student, Media and Public Engagement) is a digital arts scholar with a strong interest in the politicization of health, particularly for women and marginalized groups, and its relationship with media. With a passion for creative video production and an eye toward social justice, she hopes to create impact-driven media that challenge traditional power structures. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Writing, Rhetoric, & Communication and Spanish Language & Literature from Transylvania University in Lexington, KY.
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<imgsrc="{{ site.baseurl }}{% link /assets/cassandra_dana.jpg %}"style="float:left; width: 200px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0px;"/>**[Cassandra Dana](https://www.colorado.edu/cmci/people/graduate-students/media-studies/cassandra-dana)** (MA student, Media and Public Engagement) is passionate about creating exhibition opportunities for media that features traditionally underrepresented populations. Prior to beginning her degree Cassandra worked as the Production and Marketing Manager for the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival, and as a Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator in Providence, Rhode Island. Cassandra’s interests include queer theory, gender representation and media’s role in norm evolution. Cassandra holds a BA in sociology and film studies from the University of Colorado.
<imgalt="Cassandra Dana" src="{{ site.baseurl }}{% link /assets/cassandra_dana.jpg %}"style="float:left; width: 200px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0px;"/>**[Cassandra Dana](https://www.colorado.edu/cmci/people/graduate-students/media-studies/cassandra-dana)** (MA student, Media and Public Engagement) is passionate about creating exhibition opportunities for media that features traditionally underrepresented populations. Prior to beginning her degree Cassandra worked as the Production and Marketing Manager for the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival, and as a Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator in Providence, Rhode Island. Cassandra’s interests include queer theory, gender representation and media’s role in norm evolution. Cassandra holds a BA in sociology and film studies from the University of Colorado.
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<imgsrc="{{ site.baseurl }}{% link /assets/mark_fairbrother.jpg %}"style="float:left; width: 200px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0px;"/>**[Mark Fairbrother](https://www.colorado.edu/cmci/people/graduate-students/media-studies/mark-fairbrother)** (MA student, Media and Public Engagement) aims to build media productions and products that challenge injustice, promote civil dialogue, and inspire collective action. His interests include entertainment media, dynamic education, and sustainable development throughout the Americas. Prior to his graduate work, he enjoyed lengthy stints in Latin America (y por eso sí habla español). He holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations and leadership from Central Michigan University.
<imgalt="Mark Fairbrother" src="{{ site.baseurl }}{% link /assets/mark_fairbrother.jpg %}"style="float:left; width: 200px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0px;"/>**[Mark Fairbrother](https://www.colorado.edu/cmci/people/graduate-students/media-studies/mark-fairbrother)** (MA student, Media and Public Engagement) aims to build media productions and products that challenge injustice, promote civil dialogue, and inspire collective action. His interests include entertainment media, dynamic education, and sustainable development throughout the Americas. Prior to his graduate work, he enjoyed lengthy stints in Latin America (y por eso sí habla español). He holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations and leadership from Central Michigan University.
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<imgsrc="{{ site.baseurl }}{% link /assets/brady_mcdonough.jpg %}"style="float:left; width: 200px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0px;"/>**[Brady McDonough](https://www.colorado.edu/cmci/people/graduate-students/media-studies/brady_mcdonough)** (MA student, Media and Public Engagement) is interested in media representation of the Queer community in both niche and mainstream markets combined with the development of Queer culture and economy on a societal scale. His undergraduate work focused on subcultural appropriation of normative characters and symbols and performative sexuality. Aside from a service-based career, Brady also worked in radio, finance, and gender equity during his undergraduate experience. Brady holds a BA in Communications – Media Studies, Global Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Superior.
<imgalt="Brady McDonough" src="{{ site.baseurl }}{% link /assets/brady_mcdonough.jpg %}"style="float:left; width: 200px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0px;"/>**[Brady McDonough](https://www.colorado.edu/cmci/people/graduate-students/media-studies/brady_mcdonough)** (MA student, Media and Public Engagement) is interested in media representation of the Queer community in both niche and mainstream markets combined with the development of Queer culture and economy on a societal scale. His undergraduate work focused on subcultural appropriation of normative characters and symbols and performative sexuality. Aside from a service-based career, Brady also worked in radio, finance, and gender equity during his undergraduate experience. Brady holds a BA in Communications – Media Studies, Global Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Superior.
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