Maximillian Alvarez moderated a panel talking to some Baltimore City folks who are part of the worker-owned cooperative ecosystem. Listen to what it’s like to operate a co-op, the history of how these worker-owners came to their cooperative, and how BRED is part of that process. The Real News Podcast
Author: Nia Hunter
-

The Revival of The Democratic Workplace In Baltimore

Photo by Casey McKeel Did you know that Baltimore has a multi-century history of co-ops? In These Times published an article about the current revival of co-ops, highlighting conversations with baristas who co-own some of the best cooperatives in Baltimore.
-

Co-op Conversion Spotlight On WYPR
One of the things we do here at BRED, is help workers keep their jobs when a business is being sold. How do we do that? It’s called a cooperative conversion. This is when we help the business owner sell the business to the employees, and they all become worker-owners, and the business becomes a co-op! A while ago, WYPR wrote an article about employees taking over their businesses, you can read it here —> Toss your boss to the curb. What happens when workers take over?
-

The Wine Source

We are the premier destination for fine wine, beer, spirits, and specialty foods in Baltimore, Maryland. Twenty years in the making and independently owned, we began as a small shop called Rotunda Wine & Spirits just a few blocks from our current home on Elm Avenue. An unwavering commitment to quality, selection, and customer service has allowed us to grow, serving the Hampden neighborhood and beyond.
The Wine Source team is dedicated to providing a comprehensive, curated selection and expert advice in every category while remaining a friendly, neighborhood spot. Whether you are seeking supplies for a delicious night at home, gems for special occasions, or everyday essentials, stop by and see us – we have you covered.
-

Anytime Taxi

This is Anytime Taxi
Using highly trained and committed drivers who have an ownership stake in the cooperative and state-of-the-art dispatch, we aim to transform taxi service in Montgomery County to increase customer service, driver income, and accessibility for all.
MontCo Union Taxi Co-operative is a project of the Montgomery County Professional Drivers Union, an affiliate of the National Taxi Workers Alliance, AFL-CIO.
-

Ceremony Piercing

What is Ceremony Piecing?
Ceremony Piercing & Fine Jewelry
is a worker-owned, queer-owned cooperative
committed to offering safe piercing practices with the industry’s highest quality materials.We’re dedicated to redefining our industry by
prioritizing ethical practices, continuing
education, community engagement, and the
health and safety of clients and staff alike. -

Common Ground Bakery Cafe
A little about Common Ground:
At Common Ground, we believe that being a food service provider today means owning a much larger responsibility to the health and well-being of people and the world in which we live.
Through worker democracy, we are dedicated to promoting the well-being of our environment, our community, and our fellow workers – especially those who face further oppression on the basis of race, gender, ability, sexuality, or other marginalized status.
We also aim to strengthen solidarity and relationships with other organizing workers, established cooperatives, and our neighbors to further build a world where the needs of people are prioritized over the profits of business.
Our beverage, food, community events, and other projects are crafted to the best of our abilities with all of these objectives in mind.
-

Awaken Wellness

A little about Awaken Wellness:
Our mission is to empower our community by helping individuals connect deeply with their own body’s capacity for healing. We do this by providing a range of transformative therapies, including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and therapeutic bodywork, all rooted in compassion, respect, and a holistic understanding of wellness.
-

EnviroCollab, LLC

EnviroCollab is a women-owned, community-based landscape architecture, urban planning, and social design cooperative focused on engagement, equity, and sustainability.
-

BRED 2024 Impact Report
We are very proud of the work we did last year and would like to share it with you. Below is our 2024 impact report highlighting projects, collaborations, outreach and funding. As always, thanks for supporting BRED and our mission to help create a more equitable future for Baltimore City residents and business owners. Happy 2025!



