What If… film – We the Owners (2013) (45min)
October 7, 2015 - 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
We the Owners: Employees Expanding the American Dream
In partnership with Cooperative Federal Credit Union and Syracuse Real Food Cooperative October is National Co-op Month.
THE FILM
Successfully thriving in the global economy of the 21st century and beyond will require new business models and strategies to enable the American Dream of opportunity and economic prosperity. One model that is an alternative is the employee-ownership model (e.g. ESOP, stock/stock options, cooperatives). We the Owners captures stories from the founders and employees from New Belgium Brewing, Namasté Solar, and DPR Construction, sharing the worker’s perspectives on shared ownership structures, highly empowering corporate cultures, linked reward and risk incentives, and human-capital innovation models. The film follows as decisions are made on founding the company, expansion, succession, recruitment, and layoffs.
It’s impossible to ignore the current feeling in America of the 99%, a change is being called for, a change in the way businesses are operated and a change in the way people are treated; a change that allows for more than just a top few to be owners. This is a timely documentary that addresses ways that some American firms are implementing such change. The film captures inspiring stories of employee-owners and founders from New Belgium Brewing (CO), Namaste Solar (CO), and DPR Construction (CA) by following their decisions of expansion, succession, recruitment and layoffs. Learn of cultural challenges of sharing responsibility, distributing leadership, and linking risk and reward. Hear approaches to working collaboratively to be profitable, innovative, sustainable, and to addressing wealth inequality.
WHAT IF…
In collaboration with the Rosamond Gifford Foundation, ArtRage Gallery screens films depicting community efforts to improve their communities and the world. The 2015 spring series of three films runs March thru May. Films are selected by community members and are shown twice monthly on different days and locations. Each screening is followed by a facilitated discussion. All films are free to the public. No reservation is required.
The fall series has ArtRage partnering with a variety of local community organizations. We the Owners partners are the Cooperative Federal Credit Union and Syracuse Real Food Cooperative. A second screening of this film will be held on Thursday, October 15 @ the ArtRage Gallery at 6:30pm.