Baltimore Transformative Learning Collective (Bmore Transform) is one of NCBA’s newest members and a worker cooperative creating innovative, community-rooted learning opportunities in Baltimore, Maryland.
Having converted to a worker cooperative in 2024, Bmore Transform describes themselves as a cooperative of abolitionist educators committed to decolonizing Baltimore’s educational ecosystem through comprehensive services and programs that foster authentic connections, champion equity and provide meaningful lessons. As abolitionist educators, they are passionate about sharing the joy of learning how all of us can become free.
Creating an educational landscape reflective of Baltimore’s rich diversity
Bmore Transform offers programs that support youth, educators and community members, creating pathways for curiosity, belonging and collective learning. Their programming helps people expand their worldviews and become more confident changemakers. Their Choose-What-You-Pay approach available for adult-facing clubs and cohorts is designed to keep programming financially accessible while ensuring facilitators are paid fairly, reflecting the co-op’s commitment to equity and sustainability.
Bmore Transform also creates intentional space for educators and youth-adjacent community members to connect and recharge, such as Liberation Libations®, an event series designed to cultivate community, joy and authentic connection among Baltimore educators and youth-focused folks.
“Having a space where educators in every sense of the word can share their work and be in community is so important, so having space where we can connect as multifaceted humans invested in this work in every capacity is both needed and appreciated by us all,” a Doctoral candidate and Professor of Gender Studies at a local HBCU said.
Additionally, their consulting services designed for educational institutions and organizations include personalized and comprehensive support that enables them to equitably and sustainably be more inclusive and transformational spaces.
Gab, one of the Co-founders and a Worker-Partner, admits they often share about the beauty and strength that comes with being a cooperative that also does consulting. “It enables our organization to be much more flexible and sustainable while also meeting the wide breadth of needs an organization or institution might need support with.”
Worker-owned and connected to the broader movement
As a worker cooperative, Bmore Transform is part of the growing national ecosystem of democratic workplaces. They’re listed in the Directory of Worker Co-ops and Democratic Workplaces, a joint project of the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives (USFWC) and the Democracy at Work Institute.
Bmore Transform joined both the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives and NCBA to deepen their connection and commitment to the national worker co-op movement and broader cooperative ecosystem. Victoria, one of the Co-founders and a Worker-Partner, knew the importance of connecting to the greater cooperative movement and said she was excited to join NCBA and USFWC. “It was encouraging to learn from the representatives we met with at the USFWC that they recommend joining both organizations if possible. Both serve the U.S. cooperative community strategically and it seems like they complement each other.”
NCBA is proud to welcome and uplift member co-ops like Bmore Transform that demonstrate how democratic ownership and community-centered services can help shape more resilient, inclusive local economies. Bmore Transform operates in Maryland, a state that authorized the formation of limited worker cooperative associations (LWCAs) through the Maryland Limited Worker Cooperative Association Act in 2025. Previously, guidance and information about how to operate LWCAs were unclear in Maryland, and this bill established rules and procedures for their formation, governance, conversion and dissolution. Both of Bmore Transform’s Co-founders travelled to the State Capitol to witness Governor Wes Moore sign this bill into law.
Leari, a newer Worker-Partner at Bmore Transform, said she feels hopeful for what this means for Baltimore and beyond. “The coalition of folx who were heavily involved in the passing of SB0144 personified the power and importance of advocacy and so as new members of NCBA, we’re committed to finding authentic ways we can begin contributing to the greater cooperative movement.” Baltimore, MD already has a higher-than-average worker cooperative per capita, so the Bmore Transform team is looking forward to seeing how this law will positively impact the cooperative community in Charm City.
We look forward to seeing how Bmore Transform grows and continues to inspire the people of Baltimore, in addition to working together to build a more inclusive economy through cooperatives.
“As new members of NCBA, we’re committed to finding authentic ways we can begin contributing to the greater cooperative movement.” – Leari, Worker-Partner at Bmore Transform