The soil represents the collective consciousness around the principles and practices of cooperation.

Our Story

In 2022, the Cooperative Fund of the Northeast (CFNE) announced the launch of the Co-Op Navigator Fellowship, a three-year fellowship for emerging cooperators and co-op developers, dedicating $800,000 to kickstart this initiative.

Inspired by Black, Latinx, and indigenous-rooted organizations involved in regional and national cooperative movements, our journey began with a vision to address our nation’s history of racially motivated economic exclusion and to “change the face of the co-op movement” through community-owned and governed enterprises.

Founded in 2023, Cooperate Connecticut emerged from a collaborative effort to foster cooperative enterprises and solidarity economy initiatives across the state.

Our founding members include a diverse group of Hartford and New Haven-based organizers and entrepreneurs: Constanza Segovia, Gabbie Barnes, Jasmin Agosto, Javier Villatoro, Jeff Devereux, Lindaluz Carrillo, and Slate Ballard. Supported by reSET, a non-profit based in Hartford, Connecticut, whose mission is to advance the social enterprise sector, we embarked on a mission to promote social enterprise and cooperative development. 

Our inaugural event in October 2023 marked our official launch at Trinity College, Hartford, celebrating with a marketplace, music, art, and discussions. Since then, we have focused on building relationships, studying cooperative models, and establishing our brand identity through platforms like @cooperate.ct on social media.

In 2024, we continue to evolve, exploring governance models and legal frameworks to support our growth. As we navigate our path, we are committed to inclusivity and community empowerment in every initiative we undertake.

Pictured from left to right: Gabbie Barns, Javier Villatoro, Constanza Segovia, varun khattar sharma and Jasmin Agosto.