Stephen Shames. Black Panther party members design leaflets for events. Oakland, CA, 1969. In Comrade Sisters: Women of the Black Panther Party, by Stephen Shames and Ericka Huggins, 58. ACC Art Books, 2022.
Accessed at Community Archival Resource Project, Oakland, CA.
BLACspace offers strategic consulting to businesses, institutions, and organizations navigating transformational moments, from launching a new venture or moving through a leadership transition to redesigning organizational structures, developing a cooperative, or building a coalition.
Our practice is designed for clients ready to invest in thoughtful, sustained work that leads to meaningful change.
Grounded in Black cooperative traditions and BLACspace’s Cultural Reforestation methodology, equity shapes how we approach power, decision-making, governance, organizational design, and community engagement.
Our staff consultants bring lived experience with collective decision-making and cooperative governance, knowledge that sets BLACspace apart from conventionally structured consulting firms. When funders, government partners, and other institutions invest in BLACspace consulting, that investment also circulates through our member economy, strengthening community wealth while supporting organizational transformation.
We work with collectives, organizations, businesses, agencies, and institutions interested in challenging capitalistic ways of doing things and building more creative, cooperative, and community-centered ways forward. In particular, we work with :
Community-based arts, justice movement, and solidarity economy-focused organizations, businesses & cooperatives
Coalitions of organizations or businesses
Private & public funders
Government agencies
We use a cooperative approach to solve problems and build trust within the communities we serve. If that works for you, then we’re in alignment.
We Offer Experience and Expertise
in The Following Areas:
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Formation: We help new organizations turn an early vision into a strong foundation by clarifying their purpose, structure, priorities, and path forward.
Structure & Business Model (re)Design: We help organizations rethink how they are structured, how their work gets done, and how resources flow so their model better supports their mission.
Leadership Transition & Succession Planning: We help organizations prepare for and move through leadership changes by creating a thoughtful plan for transferring responsibilities, knowledge, relationships, and decision-making power.
Downsizing: We help organizations navigate reductions in staff, programs, or expenses with transparency, care, and attention to long-term stability.
Closure: We guide organizations through a heart-focused closing process that addresses practical responsibilities while tending to the feeling space through sharing and ritual.
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Ownership & Legal Structure: We help groups explore ownership and legal structures that reflect their purpose, values, and vision for shared ownership.
Governance Structure: We help cooperatives establish clear roles, responsibilities, decision-making processes, and systems of accountability.
Systems Design: We design practical workflows, policies, tools, and communication systems that help cooperative work run smoothly.
People & Power Structures: We help groups examine and define how leadership, labor, authority, participation, and accountability are shared.
Business Model: We help cooperatives develop sustainable business models that connect revenue, operations, member benefits, and community impact.
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Finding Common Vision and Mutual Goals: We guide partners through a process of identifying the shared purpose, priorities, and outcomes that will hold their work together.
Mutual Aid – Offers & Needs: We create structured opportunities for coalition members to name what they need, share what they can offer, and exchange resources across the network.
Decision-Making: We help coalitions establish clear and inclusive ways to make decisions, navigate disagreement, and move forward together.
Culture: We help coalitions build the shared agreements, practices, relationships, and sense of belonging needed to sustain collaboration.
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Creative Direction: We shape the overall creative vision that connects an organization’s story, audience, goals, and public presence.
Art Direction: We guide the visual look and feel of a project or campaign so every creative element communicates a clear and consistent story.
Campaign Design: We develop campaigns that bring together strategy, messaging, visuals, content, and audience engagement around a shared goal.
Narrative & Brand Strategy: We help organizations define the stories, language, positioning, and core messages that express who they are and why their work matters.
Don’t see the kind of support you need? Email admin@blacspace.ccop, and we’ll help you explore what may be available through the network
We begin by listening closely to understand the moment your organization is in, the people connected to the work, and the deeper systems shaping the challenge.
From there, we work with you to define the goals, design the process, and build a practical path forward.
We combine strategic thinking, facilitation, creative practice, and lived experience with collective governance to create solutions your organization can carry forward.
Modes of Engagement
Group Process Design and Facilitation:
We design and guide multi-session processes that help groups build alignment, make decisions, navigate change, and move shared work forward over time.
Meeting and Retreat Design and Facilitation:
We create focused, engaging gatherings that help teams reflect, strengthen relationships, work through key questions, and leave feeling inspired and with clear next steps.
Individual or Group Coaching:
We provide focused support that helps leaders and teams work through challenges, build new skills, and put their goals into action.
Training:
We lead interactive learning experiences that give participants practical knowledge, shared language, and tools they can use in their everyday work.
Digital Tools and Supported Curriculum:
We develop practical digital resources and curricula, along with guidance that helps teams understand, adapt, and apply them effectively.
When you work with BLACspace, you work directly with our team. BLACspace staff serve as your consultants and bring a community-centered approach shaped by cooperation, creativity, Black feminist values, and systems change.
As a client, you can expect:
A discovery conversation to understand your goals, challenges, and community
A consulting approach shaped around your needs
A clear proposal outlining the scope, timeline, fees, and expected outcomes
A collaborative process that involves the people most connected to the work
Regular communication, check-ins, and opportunities to share feedback
Space to reflect, ask difficult questions, and explore new ways forward
Practical tools, recommendations, or next steps your team can carry forward
Respect for your organization’s knowledge, culture, relationships, and lived experience
BLAC
FAQs
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No. BLACspace consulting services are available to both Coop members and general clients.
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No. We work with a wide range of clients. Our consulting approach is rooted in Black feminist values, cooperative practice, creative thinking, systems change, and practices that honor the spirit, body, and whole person. We ask that clients be open to working in ways that reflect these values and be in alignment with our Points of Unity.
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That’s okay. You don’t need to have everything figured out before contacting us. During the discovery conversation, we’ll help you name the challenge, clarify your goals, and explore what kind of support may be most useful.
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Complete our consulting inquiry form and tell us a little about your organization and what you’re working through. We’ll review your inquiry and contact you to schedule a discovery conversation if the project appears aligned with our offerings.
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We’ll learn more about your goals, needs, timeline, budget, and the people connected to the work. We’ll also explain BLACspace’s approach so we can decide together whether the partnership is a good fit.
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BLACspace staff serve as the consultants and lead the work throughout the engagement. You’ll work directly with our team from the first conversation through the completion of the project.
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Most of our projects are priced at a minimum oft $15K. However, the cost will be estimated depending on the size, length, and needs of the project. Before the work begins, BLACspace will provide a proposal that clearly outlines the scope, timeline, fees, and payment schedule.
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The timeline depends on the project. Some clients may need support for a focused session or short-term project, while others may need a longer engagement. We’ll recommend a timeline based on your goals and capacity.
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Clients contract directly with BLACspace. BLACspace manages the project agreement, invoices, and payment process.
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Our process works best when clients are willing to participate openly, involve the people most connected to the work, share relevant information, and make time for reflection and feedback. We’ll discuss specific roles and expectations before the engagement begins.
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That depends on the work. You may receive a strategy, action plan, recommendations, tools, facilitated sessions, or another agreed-upon outcome. Every engagement is designed around the client’s needs, and all expected outcomes will be included in the project proposal.