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55 Labor-Focused Social Businesses

From Annual Summer Co-op Festivals to Eco Employment Solutions

— May 22, 2014 — Social Good
Work is an important organizing principle and keyword for entrepreneurship but it often gets muddied, however, these particular labor-focused social businesses know the importance of considering the intricate differences of, say, labor and work. More precisely, the worker is aimed to be at the center of these innovations -- no small feat in an environment that privileges those with the money, that is to say, the buyer.

From annual summer co-op festivals to eco employment solutions, these labor-focused social businesses aren't all work -- they offer some fun, too. Because if it weren't for work, would we even know the definition of pleasure or leisure? While these innovations may not explicitly tackle such philosophical questions, it's a big refreshing sigh to see that the worker is so important in an age of alienation.
4.3
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
55
Worksite Information Forums
Worksite Information Forums
LaborVoices, Inc. Attempts to Foster Accountability and Transparency
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54
Annual Summer Co-op Festivals
Annual Summer Co-op Festivals
The Co-operatives Fortnight is a UK-Based Campaign
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53
Socially Empowering Employment Services
Socially Empowering Employment Services
PLUSS Helps The Disabled To Find Meaningful Employment
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52
Inclusive Business Networks
Inclusive Business Networks
Practitioner Hub is a Place to Share and Network Online
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51
Problem-Oriented Un-Conferences
Problem-Oriented Un-Conferences
Opportunity Collaboration Attempts to Reinvent the Code
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50
Beneficial Business Accelerators
Beneficial Business Accelerators
The Impact Engine Supports Social Enterprise in Chicago
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49
Social Production Initiatives
Social Production Initiatives
The Middle Class Financial Empowerment Project Focuses on Wealth
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48
Tech-Focused Continent Narratives
Tech-Focused Continent Narratives
The Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative Promotes Entrepreneurship
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47
Project-Based Employment Opportunities
Project-Based Employment Opportunities
Pathways-Shropshire Limited is a UK Social Enterprise
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46
Equitable Community Designs
Equitable Community Designs
The Hester Street Collaborative Fosters Local Resiliency
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45
Future-Oriented MDG Responses
Future-Oriented MDG Responses
Business Action for Africa is a Network of Collaborations
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44
Non-Profit Acceleration Headquarters
Non-Profit Acceleration Headquarters
Space with a Soul is Boston's Social Innovation Station
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43
Urban Youth Impact Trusts
Urban Youth Impact Trusts
The GreenLight Fund Supports Nonprofits Benefiting Low-Income Families
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42
Worker-Benefiting Temp Agencies
Worker-Benefiting Temp Agencies
In Every Story Labor Services Supports Precarious Workers
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41
Crowdsourced For-Purpose Conferences
Crowdsourced For-Purpose Conferences
The 2012 Social Good Summit Covers A Range of World Issues
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40
Idea-Promoting Action Organizations
Idea-Promoting Action Organizations
The LAB Attempts to Create Palpable Innovation
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39
Social Innovation Incubators
Social Innovation Incubators
Affinity Lab is a Shared Working Space and Platform in DC
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38
Resilient Community Competitions
Resilient Community Competitions
CSI's Agents of Change Youth Offers Entrepreneur Support
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37
Crowdsourced Peace-Promoting Anthems
Crowdsourced Peace-Promoting Anthems
Peace Mix UK is Creating a Unique Musical Opportunity
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36
Employment-Endeavoring Non-Profits
Employment-Endeavoring Non-Profits
1000 Jobs/Haiti Creates Work Through Its Projects in the Nation
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35
Eco Employment Solutions
Eco Employment Solutions
EMBERS Green Renovations Uses Biodegradable Items for Energy Efficiency
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34
Fashion-Fueled Community Initiatives
Fashion-Fueled Community Initiatives
Royal Dynamite T-Shirts Generate Buzz About Education Issues
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33
Mission-Made Communities
Mission-Made Communities
The Social Venture Network Brings People Together in the Name of Good
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32
Culturally Creative Denim Ads
Culturally Creative Denim Ads
The Diesel + Edun Campaign Celebrates African Performance Art
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31
Positive Impact Promo Products
Positive Impact Promo Products
Ad Spice Promotional Marketing Uses Earth-Friendlier Products
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30
Educationally Empowering Quilts
Educationally Empowering Quilts
Baba Blanket Supports and Helps Girls in Ghana Finish High School
<
29
Democratic Activist Apps
Democratic Activist Apps
Loomio Enables Crowdsourced Decision Making for Protests and Non-Profits
<
28
Mapped Social Business Sites
Mapped Social Business Sites
The Good World Highlights Socially Conscious Companies in the USA
<
27
Indian Social Entrepreneurship Programs
Indian Social Entrepreneurship Programs
The Tata Institute of Social Sciences is Pushing the Scene
<
26
Collaborative Community Spaces
Collaborative Community Spaces
Bombay Connect is a Hub of Social Entrepreneurship
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25
Water-Providing Clothing Lines
Water-Providing Clothing Lines
Blu Democracy Helps Supply Drinking Water To Those In Need
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24
Ethical Sourcing Enablers
Ethical Sourcing Enablers
The Collaborative Group is a New Social Enterprise Out of Chicago
<
23
Collaborative Development Programs
Collaborative Development Programs
Enterprising Non-Profits Enables Growth for Social Businesses
<
22
Labor-Reducing Dairy Farms
Labor-Reducing Dairy Farms
Arohana Works in India to Reduce Dependency
<
21
Sustainable Sporting Apparel
Sustainable Sporting Apparel
GoLite is a Certified B Corporation with Purpose
<
20
Anti Child-Labor Certifications
Anti Child-Labor Certifications
GoodWeave Tackles Exploitation in the Handmade Carpet Industry
<
19
Affordable Working Hubs
Affordable Working Hubs
10 Carden is for Social Innovators Making an Impact
<
18
Community-Bridging Organizations
Community-Bridging Organizations
Youth Social Innovation Capital Fund (YSI) Offers Finance Support
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17
Labor-Oriented Cacoa Production
Labor-Oriented Cacoa Production
The Dandelion Chocolate Bars Team Focuses on Employment Standards
<
16
Malawian Cotton Tees
Malawian Cotton Tees
AFRCN APPRL Funds Sustainable Entrepreneurs in Africa
<
15
Worker-Owned Web Design
Worker-Owned Web Design
CoLab Coop Works Collaboratively for Social Enterprises
<
14
Stuff-Sharing Social Enterprises
Stuff-Sharing Social Enterprises
Unstash Fosters Collaborative Consumption for Sustainability
<
13
Online Urban Activism Platforms
Online Urban Activism Platforms
Brickstarter is a Web Service Connecting Activists and Bureaucracy
<
12
Women in Business Web Platform
Women in Business Web Platform
Young Female Entrepreneurs is a socially minded community
<
11
Collaborative Workspace Launches
Collaborative Workspace Launches
The Center for Social Innovation NYC Opened Earlier This Month
<
10
Fairly Traded Fashion Lines
Fairly Traded Fashion Lines
Good & Fair Clothing Uses Organic Materials and Pays Equitable Wages
<
9
Educational Children's Clothing
Educational Children's Clothing
3c Wear Provides Uniforms and School Supplies to Kids in Need
<
8
Remote Healthcare Technologies
Remote Healthcare Technologies
iKure is a Kolkata-Based Delivery Platform for India
<
7
Female-Focused Enterprises
Female-Focused Enterprises
Women's Bean Project Creates Jobs with Jewelry & Gourmet Food
<
6
Californian Co-Working Spaces
Californian Co-Working Spaces
Impact Hub Oakland Fosters Social Entrepreneurship
<
5
Ethical Hand-Crafted Scarves
Ethical Hand-Crafted Scarves
The Spring 2013 Collection by 'A Peace Treaty' is Vibrant and Bold
<
4
Social Project Shoes
Social Project Shoes
Equal for All Develops Purpose-Driven Initiatives in Paris and Beyond
<
3
Hip Guilt-Free Tees
Hip Guilt-Free Tees
No Nasties Makes Fairly Traded Organic Cotton Shirts in India
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2
Charitable Coffee Shops
Charitable Coffee Shops
The Movement Cafe is an Artsy Space That Hosts Local Performers
<
1
Slow Fashion Shoes
Slow Fashion Shoes
Po-Zu is an Ecological Company Offering Boots and Sandals
<