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People across the country are scrambling to develop sustainable models to fund local journalism.

Jumping forward again to 2018, and I began talking about some of these ideas with Mark Simmonds. Mark is a highly experienced co-operative development professional, and it was fascinating to learn from his perspective and insights. I had been looking at the issues without any real knowledge of what was happening on the ground in terms of co-operative development in the UK, and what was on offer by way of service to people wanting to set up new co-operatives. The picture that Mark painted was concerning.

Darrin Lucas, resident and co-op board treasurer, said they’re trying to bring the park to a higher standard.

“People are taking ownership of the place. It’s not what it used to be,” Lucas said. “For the old owner, this was his business. He wanted it to make money. Now it’s our money working to fix our home.”

Pressure was starting to mount from our current angel investors, and although it was starting to seem like all was about to be lost, proverbial lightning flashed. “Have you ever considered a co-op model for Curafied?” my first angel investor asked me. When I told her I wasn’t sure how it could apply, she introduced me to a literal angel: Rachel Meketon at Co-op Dayton. Rachel and her organization help businesses determine if and how the cooperative model is a viable one for their mission and goals, and provide them with the resources to move forward with the conversion.

The ninth Cooperative Issues Forum was presented at the Cooperative Hall of Fame induction ceremony in May of 2019.

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Around the globe, we are starting to build an alternative economy that benefits the many, not just the few. Our passions, research, and projects challenge platform capitalism and chart a more democratic future. We show that an inclusive economy is not only necessary but already growing among us.

Excited youth milled around under the shade of palm trees in the balmy weather of Zimbabwe. Many were nervous. They were about to explore what they had to offer and what they needed from 150 other young people they didn’t know, as the opening to a weekend of leadership training.

The Co-op Economy is the nation’s only comprehensive report on the UK’s co-operative sector. It reveals turnover, membership and employee figures for thousands of co-op businesses across the UK.

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Carole Rich was given her first garden gnome when the housing co-op that she formed with her neighbours opened, thirty six years ago. “They thought I was crazy so it was a gift for crazy woman” she says.

Please join Green Worker Cooperatives for OWNING OUR POWER: 15 YEARS OF COOPERATION on Thursday, October 17th from 6pm-9pm to celebrate 15 years of building worker power throughout NYC.