Why we’re a co-op member of Zebras Unite
This weekend I had the great joy of attending Dazzle Camp — an unconference retreat with some of my fellow members of the Zebras Unite Co-Op — a founder-led, cooperatively owned movement creating the culture, capital, and community for the next economy.
After 2+ years of the pandemic, becoming a mom right before it began, and on bed rest pregnant with twins before that, it feels like an eternity since I’ve engaged my being in this way. How refreshing it was for my brain, person, and spirit to be in community once again!
Being a part of a collective that supports founders wanting to redefine how startups are formed, built, and grow — rooted in being 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁-𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 — is increasingly important to me as I get older and now that I’m a mother raising the next generation.
From “Sex & Startups” the post from the ZU founders that inspired it all, “Growth means improving our local communities; promoting our employees’ happiness; acquiring paying, loyal customers; helping users succeed; making and measuring improvements in people’s lives; and spurring cultural change.”
The intentionality, care and 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁, 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁 and the notion of 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 really resonates with me and inspires new ways of structuring, funding, and being in business.
As a founder, I want to be surrounded by and learn from people and organizations that are experimenting and living truths for what this 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗺 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 can be. It feels great to be a part of a group of people that are striving to do the same.
Onwards and upwards my friends!
Candace
