Classes in this course are suitable for:Community Newcomers | Community Seekers | Community Starters | Community Residents

Course description and syllabus

What is the relationship between labor, money, creativity, and the goodwill of residents in an intentional community?

Even in community, the discussion of economics is as important as in the mainstream world. How you make money, how income is dispersed, and how you contribute and particpate are important to understand as you determine how your community will operate. In the Labor and Money in Community course, we will move between practical tools and discussions of equity to deepen participants’ understanding of frameworks such as income sharing, sweat equity, and material security.

Participants will learn the basics of how a community assesses its needs for contributions, money, and labor budgets. You will also get an understanding of how to integrate them together.

Instructor Yana Ludwig draws on many years in various community types to bring you a course relevant not only for groups doing income sharing and independent finances but also for any groups with different capacity and needs. You will also put your needs for getting things done through the lenses of equity and cooperative culture development.

Live classes are hosted on Zoom. All classes are recorded and available on our learning platform within 24 hours after each class ends and through 30 days after the last class.

 

Classes and topics in the Labor and Money in Community syllabus include:

Individual classes starting at US $20

April 2: Balancing Give & Take in Community

• What it takes to create a viable community
• What does security mean?
• Physical vs fiscal privilege
• Balancing community needs with individual needs
• When giving gets unhealthy
• Getting in in writing
• Community needs assessment, part 1

April 9: Leveraging Money, Labor & Creativity

• Community needs assessment, part 2
• Skills & Willlingness assessment
• Community hierarchy
• The allure & potential abuses of sweat equity

April 16: Community Finance 101

• Why is money so hard for us to talk about
• Rooting out internalized capitalism
• Basic community budgeting for ongoing needs
• Cross-class cooperation
• Income sharing vs independent finances

April 23: Community Work Systems

• Creating a labor budget
• Key questions for designing a labor system
• The line between giving your all and exploitation
• Examining collective labor
• Who you are vs who you want to become collectively
• Integrating your systems coherently

All Labor and Money in Community classes are held on Wednesdays from 8-9:30m Pacific / 9-10:30am Mountain / 10-11:30am Central/ 11am-12:30pm Eastern. You can view your local time here.

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April 30:Q&A Session

• Ask any additional questions
• Get personalized help
• Networking

The Q&A session is optional and will take place from 8-9am Pacific / 9-10am Mountain / 10-11am Central/ 11am-12pm Eastern. You must register for the full course to attend the Q&A session. The Q&A session will NOT be recorded.

Your instructor

Testimonials