The Culture C.O.-O.P

What The Culture C.O.-O.P does

The Culture C.O.-O.P is a Davis, California-based educational services and consulting organization founded in 1991 by Sandy Lynne Holman. It provides equity, diversity, and systemic change programming to schools, nonprofits, government agencies, and community groups, with a stated operating footprint spanning more than 7 countries and recognition through more than 50 awards. Its core offering is the "Paradigm for Transformation," a year-long curriculum designed to support cultural competency and institutional change at the participant level.

The company's product portfolio is content-led and multi-format, comprising educational programs and workshops, original books and music, the documentary "The Cost of Darkness" (licensed to institutions), and live events. It has expanded into theatrical performance through a partnership with Bike City Theatre Company ("Sankofa") and runs a national campaign ("We All Have a Heritage"). A sister organization, United in Unity, extends mission-aligned programming outside the parent entity.

The business model is service- and licensing-driven: revenue comes from custom-priced program engagements (priced per participants, commitment, and organization type), book and music sales, documentary licensing, and event management. There are no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, and no visible VC or PE involvement; operations are lean (11-50 employees, single headquarters) and the public-facing technology footprint is minimal (Squarespace website).

Name

The Culture C.O.-O.P

Legal name

The Culture C.O.-O.P

Website

https://cultureco-op.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Culture C.O.-O.P is a Davis, California-based educational services organization founded in 1991 that provides equity, diversity, and systemic change programs to schools, nonprofits, government, and community groups through workshops, books, music, and documentary licensing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Education Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Change Management & Transformation Leadership (EDABAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), Health & Wellbeing Curriculum (EDAGAAAF), K–12 Digital Curriculum & Interactive Lessons (EDAGAEAA)

Keywords

• Diversity and inclusion training
• Equity consulting services
• Cultural competency education
• Systemic change facilitation
• Youth empowerment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Davis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Educational and Training Services: The organization generates revenue through customized workshops, presentations, keynotes, facilitation services, team-building workshops, and their year-long Paradigm for Transformation program. Services are priced based on commitment level, number of participants, and organization type. Discounts are offered for ongoing partnerships versus one-time engagements.
2. Books and Publications: Sale of children's books including Grandpa, Is Everything Black Bad?, We All Have a Heritage, Grandma Says Our Hair Has Flair, and other titles. Also includes digital books and upcoming publications.
3. Music and Audio Products: Sale of original music including hip hop tracks (42 Laws Of Ma'at, Gumbo, Kmt Rough), songs for various age groups, and educational music content.
4. Documentary Access and Licensing: Access to The Cost of Darkness documentary with facilitation materials, guides, and supplementary learning content.
5. Event Management Services: Organizing and supporting special events including Black History Month celebrations, Juneteenth events, multicultural celebrations, author days, and community gatherings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Culture C.O.-O.P delivers customized educational programs, workshops, and consulting services focused on equity, cultural competency, and systemic change. Its flagship Paradigm for Transformation is a year-long holistic program combining educational content, the award-winning Cost of Darkness documentary, and 8 facilitated sessions covering education, media, environment, healthcare, and criminal justice. The organization also publishes children's books, produces music, and offers targeted organizational services such as Efficiency Audits, Team Building Workshops, and Facilitation Services.

Product overview

The Culture C.O.-O.P offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs, consulting services, media productions, and published works focused on systemic change, equity, diversity, and cultural competency. The core flagship offering is the Paradigm for Transformation, a year-long holistic program supplemented by the Cost of Darkness documentary, Roots of Change Workshops, and S.O.A.R. Assemblies. The organization provides organizational services including Efficiency Audits, Team Building Workshops, and Facilitation for sensitive topics. Their published works include children's books such as 'Grandpa, Is Everything Black Bad?' and 'We All Have a Heritage,' along with creative productions like The Sankofa Play and the Heart of the Matter video series. All offerings are designed to help communities, organizations, and individuals become more inclusive and responsive to the needs of all people.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Paradigm for Transformation Holistic year-long program combining customized education, storytelling, and guided reflection with 8 facilitated sessions built around the Cost of Darkness documentary, designed to help organizations, communities, and schools achieve lasting systemic change.
• Roots of Change Workshops Interactive workshops exploring the historical roots of systemic inequities and their lasting impact, offering practical tools for youth and adults to advance equity and justice within their communities.
• Arts for Systemic Change Creative programs and community partnerships that use the arts to empower the public to build a just and inclusive future.
• The Cost of Darkness Documentary Award-winning documentary examining historical anti-blackness and how it shapes society today, exploring compounded institutional impact across politics, healthcare, media, criminal justice, education, economics, and environment. Designed for 8 facilitated sessions of 2-2.5 hours each.
• Heart of the Matter Video Series A four-part video series produced with Davis Media Access that examines racism and highlights meaningful paths toward change through interviews and discussions.
• S.O.A.R. Youth Life Skills Program and Assemblies Youth empowerment program delivered through assemblies, workshops, mentorship, and community service to help youth develop life skills, overcome adversity, and navigate inequitable environments.
• Efficiency Audit Service identifying inefficient practices and operations hindering impactful outcomes by analyzing workplace policies, practices, and culture.
• Team Building Workshop Full-day facilitated workshop for organizations designed to increase trust and encourage conflict resolution among teams.
• Facilitation Services Forum management services for sensitive topics, providing calm neutral third-party leadership and creating respectful environments for sharing concerns.
• Author Visits Engaging readings and discussions featuring Sandy Holman's nationally recognized books celebrating shared humanity and cultural differences, delivered at schools, bookstores, community organizations, and corporations.
• Staff Retreats Facilitated retreats honoring staff with opportunities to feel appreciated and reenergized about their work.
• Grandpa, Is Everything Black Bad? (Children's Book) Award-winning children's book addressing questions about Black identity and celebrating African heritage. Recognized with the Blackboard Children's Book of the Year (2002), National Book Award at Book Expo, and First Place Writer's Digest Book Award.
• We All Have a Heritage (Children's Book) Children's book celebrating shared humanity while honoring cultural differences, and the foundation of a national campaign promoting cultural competency through quality education and culturally responsive activities.
• Grandma Says Our Hair Has Flair (Children's Book) Children's book promoting self-acceptance and celebrating cultural identity through the lens of hair as heritage.
• Honor Your Elders (Children's Book) Book emphasizing the importance of respecting and learning from elders as a foundation of cultural continuity.
• Love Is The Root Of All People (Book) Book exploring themes of love and human connection across cultures.
• Seven Ways to Promote Systemic Change (Book) Book providing strategies for creating systemic change in communities and organizations.
• The Sankofa Play Original theatrical production adapted from Sandy Lynne Holman's award-winning book exploring African diasporic history and identity, presented in partnership with Bike City Theatre Company and UC Davis Department of Theatre and Dance.
• We All Have A Heritage Initiative National campaign promoting cultural competency through quality education and culturally relevant responsive activities, run jointly with sister organization United in Unity.
• Inspiring Voices Service for individuals and organizations experiencing burnout, providing collaborative reflective practices to recharge and return to goals with fresh perspective.
• Community Events Coordination Service organizing and supporting special events including Black History Month celebrations, Juneteenth events, multicultural celebrations, author days, and community gatherings.
• Business-Community Partnerships Service connecting businesses with local organizations to support and give back to communities, creating healthier environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Year-long program designed to achieve 30-40% saturation rate of cultural competency and efficiency in partner organizations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United in UnitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister organization also founded by Sandy Lynne Holman, designed to promote systemic change, inclusion, equity, cultural competency, diversity, literacy, and quality education for all. The two organizations work together on initiatives including the We All Have A Heritage national campaign.
• Yolo CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Yolo County on Juneteenth Holiday Celebration events in 2021 and 2022 with theme 'Sankofa: The Road to Freedom'. The county-wide celebration featured performances, art demonstrations, and community activities.
• Bike City Theatre CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit theatre company based in Davis, CA that partnered with The Culture C.O.-O.P. to present 'Sankofa', a play adapted from Sandy Lynne Holman's award-winning children's book. Collaboration began with graduate students at UC Davis.
• Davis Media AccesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal media organization that conducted interviews with Sandy Holman and produced the 'Heart of the Matter' documentary series in four parts examining racism and paths toward change.
• Sierra Health FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for art shows and community engagement events.
• UC Davis Department of Theatre and DancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic department at UC Davis that provided support for the Sankofa play production and collaborates on educational theater initiatives.
• City of Davis Arts and Cultural Affairs ProgramminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCity of Davis program that supported the Sankofa play through the Arts and Cultural Affairs Fund.
• Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum (SOJO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican heritage museum in Davis that has partnered on Women's History Month events, museum culture documentation projects, and Sankofa play presentations.
• MLK365 SacramentominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organization that conducted interview with Sandy Holman and collaborates on community justice initiatives.
• Yolo County LibraryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Juneteenth celebrations and community events.
• Travis Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Juneteenth celebrations.
• Yolo ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts organization that provided support for the Sankofa play workshop production.
• Yolo Federal Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial sponsor supporting the Sankofa play workshop production.
• Roberts Family Development CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSacramento-based venue host for the Sankofa Music Experience event.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Teaching for Change: Non-profit that provides educational resources and equity-focused professional development for K-12 educators. Highly comparable in target customer (schools/educators), mission (culturally responsive education and systemic change), and delivery model (workshops, books, classroom materials).
• Pacific Educational Group: Educational equity consulting firm specializing in racial equity professional development for schools and districts. Comparable as a DEI/cultural competency training provider with a K-12 and organizational focus and similar workshop/keynote delivery.
• Cook Ross: DEI consulting firm offering organizational change, leadership development, and inclusion training to corporations and institutions. Comparable in offering customized DEI workshops and transformation programs to organizations seeking systemic culture change.
• Lee & Low Books: Multicultural children's book publisher known for centering diverse voices. Directly comparable product overlap with the company's children's books (Grandpa Is Everything Black Bad?, We All Have a Heritage) targeting K-12 educators and culturally responsive literacy.
• Crossroads Antiracism Organizing & Training: Antiracism training and consulting organization working with schools, nonprofits, and faith communities. Comparable in offering customized workshops, facilitation, and systemic change consulting focused on racial equity and organizational transformation.
• National Equity Project: Educational equity organization that partners with schools and districts on leadership development and systemic change. Comparable in mission (equity-driven education transformation) and in offering professional development for educators and organizational leaders.
• The Winters Group: DEI consulting firm providing leadership development, team building, and organizational inclusion services. Comparable in offering customized organizational training, facilitation, and team-building workshops targeting culture change in businesses and institutions.

Broad incumbents

• Race Forward: National racial equity organization that publishes research, runs training programs, and hosts the Facing Race conference. Comparable in mission (racial equity, systemic change) but operates at a broader policy/cultural level beyond K-12-focused programming.
• Learning for Justice: Education arm of the Southern Poverty Law Center providing free K-12 classroom resources on civil rights and social justice. Comparable in providing culturally responsive educational content and frameworks for schools, though distributed free rather than as paid services.

Emerging players

• Equity Matters: Smaller-scale DEI consulting organization serving schools and community groups on equity-centered professional development. Comparable niche focus on educator-facing cultural competency training, though smaller in scale and brand recognition than the anchor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheCultureCOOP
• Instagraminstagram.com/theculturecoop_
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-culture-co-op

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Culture C.O.-O.P