Program Overview
The Kinship Cooperative Action Pod is an experimental cooperative learning and action cohort of engaged community organizers (Kinfolk) from across the 22 counties of Western North Carolina. This initiative focuses on grassroots mutual aid and the creation of regenerative human ecosystems. The 2025 cycle, "After the Flood," builds upon the successes of the 2024 cohort, deepening collective learning, collaboration, and impact.
Program Goals
Kinship is designed to nurture a long-term ecosystem of distributed leadership within the regional mutual aid network. Participants will:
Hone their sense of purpose and strategy.
Learn specialized skills to support cooperative work.
Engage in collective financial management and resource-sharing.
Develop facilitation and relational skills.
Provide hands-on support for each other’s community projects.
Explore and implement systems change to address broader societal challenges.
Support & Resources
The Kinship is structured to support each participant's personal and community work through:
A context of joy, play, rest, and connection.
Access to resources and specialized knowledge for community projects.
Peer mentoring and guidance.
Collaborative decision-making and financial stewardship.
Emotional and relational support within a safe, growth-oriented environment.
Curriculum & Activities
The Kinship curriculum is adaptive and shaped by the needs and interests of the cohort. Initial sessions will help define the group’s direction, with possible activities including:
Rest, retreat, and somatic practices to sustain well-being
Participatory budgeting of the Grassroots Mutual Aid Fund (~$10,000)
Personal and collective theories of change development
Community interviews to facilitate grassroots sense-making and action planning
Facilitation and conflict transformation training
Case studies of cooperative and mutual aid systems worldwide.
Agroecology and permaculture discussions and applications
Cooperative land access workshopping
Engagement with Cooperate WNC’s ongoing initiatives, including cooperative bulk purchasing, savings pools, and collaborative agriculture
The Kinship Cooperative Action Pod is a unique opportunity to deepen relationships, develop leadership skills, and contribute meaningfully to the regional mutual aid network. By supporting each other’s growth and working collaboratively, Kinfolk are strengthening the foundation for long-term, life-giving collective power in WNC and beyond.
The 2025 experimental cohort is an invitation-only opportunity. Please reach out to zev@cooperatewnc.org if you’re interested in participating in a future cohort.