Cooperatives have existed for centuries, but in an age of inequality and corporate consolidation, they’re finding new relevance. Across industries — from tech to agriculture to cafés — co-ops are redefining what ownership and leadership can look like. Each of these five organizations offers a lesson in balancing democracy, purpose, and sustainability.

Communication and collaboration frameworks provide structured approaches to handling conflicts, giving feedback, and facilitating discussions in both personal and professional settings. This report compares the Solution Seeking System (SSS) with five other well-known frameworks: Nonviolent Communication (NVC), Crucial Conversations, Radical Candor, Liberating Structures, and Lean Coffee.

Addressing poverty and homelessness requires a combination of effective government policies and innovative community initiatives. Below, we examine countries that have been notably successful in the past decade (and beyond), highlighting their most impactful programs, laws, and practices. For each country, we discuss outcomes, effectiveness, scalability, and how similar strategies might be adapted in the United States.

A Pay It Forward Board is a simple, low-cost way to fight food insecurity, build community loyalty, and highlight your business as a hub of kindness. Customers buy meals (or drinks) for others in advance, and those in need can discreetly redeem them—no questions asked

a workplace built on the Seven Cooperative Principles, the global guidebook for worker-owned businesses. At Beanchain, these principles aren’t abstract ideals; they’re daily practices that shape how we work together, share responsibility, and serve our community.

The Solution Seeking System (SSS) is a structured communication framework designed to help individuals and organizations solve interpersonal problems, navigate conflict, and continuously improve their shared environments. It was developed at Beanchain Coffee—a worker-directed café committed to cooperative principles—as a way to foster understanding, accountability, and trust without relying on traditional hierarchical discipline systems.

This report will explain what a business plan is used for, which sections to include, how to develop a logical structure and flow, recommended lengths for each part, and what a strong final product should look like.

Beanchain Coffee isn’t your ordinary coffee shop. Based in Mesa, Arizona, Beanchain is pioneering a unique model—worker-directed businesses that prioritize fairness, solidarity, and community support. If you share these values, there are plenty of meaningful ways you can get involved in supporting and furthering Beanchain’s mission.

Creating a perfect latte is not just about coffee; it’s an experience that begins with the milk. Steaming milk properly can elevate your latte from good to extraordinary. In this post, we'll cover essential techniques and tips to achieve rich, velvety froth, ensuring every sip is indulgent.

Welcome to a comprehensive 14-month study plan designed to take a Scottish Gaelic learner from basic phrases to conversational fluency. This plan is structured month-by-month, assuming ~3 hours of self-study per week (ideally split into daily 30–45 minute sessions). It emphasizes free or affordable resources (under $100 total) and avoids travel or immersive exchanges, focusing instead on at-home study techniques.