Pictured, from left to right: Tom Beckett, Sam Gray, Paola Eisner, Sarah Kaplan, Alix Devendra, Cheryl Walker, Gowri Krishna, Julian Hill, Maya Ragsdale, Ahmed Mori, Kathy Gregg, Julian Hill, Paola Eisner, Pacyinz Lyfoung.
Lots of fun. A conference highlight was getting together IRL once again and meeting many members of the cooperative community for the first time. A good time was had at several gatherings, including the Federation-hosted party at Sunflower Philly on the second night featuring a drag show and a Borinquen band. Some CPG members were discovered celebrating their harmonic convergence with a shared moment of sonic meditation inspired by Pauline Oliveros, which you can watch here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/vVWd7Jfz97gkoTXu6.
2023 CPG Conference
Are you interested in co-creating an in-person meet-up in 2023? Send ideas and/or sign up to be part of our Conference Circle here: forms.gle/ezPhbxPvRCh1Gf6r8.
Member News and Community Announcements
● Puerto Rican flooding impacts cooperatives. CPG is in touch with co-op lawyers in Puerto Rico who have described the particular devastation that cooperatives, social enterprises and their support organizations are experiencing as a result of the hurricane-related flooding that occurred this week. If you have support you want to offer, the Stewardship Circle can connect you with that group. Please contact Josey Foo at josey@indiancountrygrassroots.org.
● October is cooperative month! The theme this year is “Cooperatives Build Economic Power.” Read more on the coopmonth.coop site.
● NCBA CLUSA’s October cooperative conference. The National Cooperative Business Association will present its 5th Annual Cooperative IMPACT Conference October 5-6, 2022, under the theme “Forward, Together,” with a combination of virtual programming and live, in-person sessions in Washington, DC. Learn more here.
● Job opportunity: The Community Economic Justice Program (CEJ) at the East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC) is seeking a Program Director and Staff Attorney to join us in advancing people-oriented economic development and empowering low-income communities of color to build long-term solutions to poverty. CEJ provides free legal education, advice, and representation to underserved entrepreneurs, cooperatives, and nonprofits that align with CEJ’s mission, and supports grassroots coalitions on local and state level policy advocacy. To learn more and apply, visit: https://eastbaycommunitylawcenter.easyapply.co.
● New tool for deepening solidarity economy principles and practices in cooperatives and nonprofits: Thank you to CPG member Cheyenna Weber for sharing a new toolbox for cooperation, mutualism, democracy, and justice: solidarityeconomyprinciples.org. The site invites individuals to join a community of peers to share the ways the group is applying these principles. CPG notes that this tool complements the ICA co-op principles, and principles held by other co-ops, such as Mondragon’s Co-op Principles or Cooperative Jackson’s 13 Core Principles.
● Free co-op startup education series: The Cooperative Development Institute and Bernstein Shur, a New England law firm, are offering a 5-session co-op law education series. Sessions will be held weekly starting October 5th. Find out more on their website.
● “Everything Co-op” features CPG member Sarah Kaplan: Everything Co-op, a radio show hosted by CPG Supporting Member Vernon Oakes, featured CPG member and Cutting Edge Counsel partner Sarah Kaplan in their September 15, 2022 episode. You can tune in at everything.coop. In addition to being featured on “Everything Co-op”, Sarah Kaplan just became a partner at Cutting Edge Capital –congratulations!
