2025 Programs
From networking and peer support spaces to webinars and training intensives Cooperate Connecticut has something for the co-op curious and those already part of cooperatives or other solidarity economy initiatives.
Attendees at Beyond Business as Usual, a conference co-hosted by Cooperate Connecticut and reSET, participate in an exercise exploring everyday ways to practice cooperation facilitated by Kristianna Smith on October 26, 2024. Photo credit: Bizzie Ruth.Networking and
Peer Support Spaces
Cooperation among cooperatives is the sixth internationally recognized principle of cooperatives. This begins with tending to our relationships with each other, human to human.
Cooperate Connecticut is excited to curate spaces, in person and online, for co-op members and supporters to network and practice peer support. We believe this will create the conditions for the kinds of open dialogues, strategic collaborations, principled struggles, and lifelong friendships that are needed to grow and sustain our movement.
Learn more below about our 2025 Networking and Peer Support Offerings
Join our virtual community!
The Parking Lot is a virtual peer learning and support space for members of co-ops, democratic workplaces, and grassroots collectives and coalitions working towards the solidarity economy, co-op developers or service providers, and anyone curious about these topics who live and/or work in Connecticut.
4th Tuesdays, March through November from 6 — 7:30pm
The Parking Lot
Let’s meetup this summer!
This Summer, Cooperate Connecticut is going on a statewide tour! We’re hosting a series of pop-up events to create opportunities for you to visit an existing co-op and to meet other co-op members and supporters!
Between May and August we’ll be visiting: Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, New London, Waterbury and Willamantic!
Stay tuned for official dates, locations, details, and links to RSVP!
Summer 2025 Co-Op Tour
Steph Wiley, worker-owner of Brooklyn Packers and a Fellow with the Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust, and Ashleigh Eubanks, co-op developer with RiseBoro Community Partnership, share stories and insights as part of the closing keynote on cooperative economics and Black futures at the Beyond Business as Usual conference on October 24, 2024. Photo credit: Bizzie Ruth. Education and Training
“Education, Training, and Information” is the fifth internationally recognized principle of cooperatives. In order for co-ops to succeed and remain grounded in the cooperative values, it is essential for member-owners to dedicate time to continuous learning.
This learning can occur through workshops, classes, and conferences, yes, but also through arts and culture events, through networking and peer learning spaces, and, last but not least, through practice.
Learn more below about our 2025 Education and Training Opportunities.
Getting started or looking for a refresher? Join a webinar!
In 2025, we are excited to offer the following 60-minute introductory-level webinars via Zoom:
Solidarity Economy 101- Friday, April 18, 1-2 pm
Co-Op 101- Friday, June 20, 1-2 pm
Democratic Governance 101- Friday, July 18, 1-2 pm
Black Cooperative Histories- Friday, August 22, 1-2 pm
These sessions are designed to be accessible to first-time learners on these topics. You are welcome to simply listen in or to participate using the chat and Q&A function. There will not be interactive activities or breakout rooms and video and audio participation is not required.
Ready to dive deeper? Take an intensive!
This year, we’re also excited to pilot two in-person weekend intensives in partnership with the People’s Saturday School and thanks to generous support from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving’s Resident Engagement program.
Economics 4 Emancipation (E4E)
Saturday 5/17 and Sunday 5/18 from 10 am - 4 pm
In this hands-on, two-day workshop co-facilitated by Emilie Miyauchi from the Cooperative Economic Alliance of New York City and varun khattar sharma from Cooperate Connecticut, we’ll explore the historical and present-day U.S. economy, alternative economic systems, and dynamic tools to dream and build the solidarity economy adapting form a curriculum developed by the Center for Economic Democracy (CED) and the Center for Popular Economics (CPE). You can learn more about E4E and explore the open source curriculum at your own pace here!
Saturday 9/20 and Sunday 9/21 from 10 am - 4 pm
In this hands-on, two-day workshop, we will provide a foundational overview of co-op business models, financial systems, legal and governance structures, and the development process. This is designed to help individuals and small groups in the early stages of exploring a business idea to make an informed decision if a co-op is indeed the right path forward and if so- what the best next steps are towards achieving your goals, what common pitfalls to avoid, and who to lean on for support.
Starting a Co-op
Stay tuned for more details about each Intensive and for links to register!
Attend our Annual Meeting
Since Cooperate Connecticut launched publicly on October 21, 2023, it has been our tradition as a network to host a statewide gathering each October, which happens to be National Co-Op Month.
In 2025, which the U.N. declared International Year of the Cooperative, we are proud to announce our first Annual Meeting. At this day long, in person event, we invite all co-op members and supporters who live and work in the state of Connecticut to join us to connect, learn, make art, develop strategy, and celebrate our progress as a growing movement.
Please save the date!
Saturday, October 18, 2025 from 10 am - 4 pm
Location is TBD.
Are you interested in co-sponsoring, tabling, vending, or volunteering at, or collaborating with us on this event? Please contact us at cooperatect@gmail.com.
