Cooperative Alliances, Federations, and Networks - Revision history

Ngiszpenc: Added section on Rooted Economy directories that points to a big list of directories maintained by Noemi Giszpenc.

2017-05-13T02:18:53Z

Added section on Rooted Economy directories that points to a big list of directories maintained by Noemi Giszpenc.

Ngiszpenc: /* Other Groups */ removed www from Western conference url

2017-05-13T02:03:44Z

Other Groups: removed www from Western conference url

Ngiszpenc: /* Other Groups */ removed duplicate Western Worker Co-op conference, added website to ECWD and additional Maine.coop website to Cooperative Maine

2017-05-13T02:02:27Z

Other Groups: removed duplicate Western Worker Co-op conference, added website to ECWD and additional Maine.coop website to Cooperative Maine

WikiSysop at 15:31, 24 February 2016

2016-02-24T15:31:50Z

Dfuchise: /* Other Groups */

2014-11-21T20:06:00Z

Other Groups

Dfuchise at 19:36, 21 November 2014

2014-11-21T19:36:39Z

Mjray: add ICA

2013-02-06T16:15:13Z

add ICA

New page

{{Learn edit}}

[[Cooperative]] alliances and networks are groups of cooperatives that associate with one another for financial benefit and/or a common goal to advance cooperative interests within specific regions.

== International Co-operative Alliance ==

The [[International Co-operative Alliance (ICA)]] is the worldwide body for co-operatives, formed in 1895. Its members are mostly the regional and/or national bodies for co-operatives around the world, so [http://ica.coop/en/ica/ica-members its membership list] can be a good way to find co-ops in a specific geographic area.

== United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives ==

The [[United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives|United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives]] was founded in 2004 to serve as the umbrella federation for [[Worker co-ops]] and other democratic workplaces in the country. Its stated mission is “to create stable and empowering jobs and worker-ownership through the development of a thriving cooperative movement. We advance worker-owned, -managed, and -governed workplaces through cooperative education, advocacy and development.”<ref>http://usworker.coop/about/mission</ref>

== Examples of Local Cooperative Networks and Alliances ==

In California, the [[Network of Bay Area Worker Cooperatives (NoBAWC)|Network of Bay Area Worker Cooperatives (NoBAWC)]] “is a grassroots organization of democratic workplaces dedicated to building workplace democracy in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.” This organization offers support to its member cooperatives, develops new worker co-ops, and generally promotes co-op enterprises throughout the region.<ref>http://www.nobawc.org/</ref>

Western Massachusetts is the home to the [[Valley Alliance of Worker Cooperatives (VAWC)|Valley Alliance of Worker Cooperatives (VAWC)]]. Since 2007, this alliance has primarily existed as a loose network of nearly twenty co-ops and allied organizations. Recently, VAWC has begun to evaluate alternative methods of organization in order to evolve into a more formalized association.<ref>http://wiki.valleyworker.org/index.php?title=Valley_Alliance_of_Worker_Cooperatives</ref>

Another examples include the recently launched [[Neighboring Food Co-op Association|Neighboring Food Co-op Association]], which is "a network of [[Food co-ops|food co-ops]] committed to a shared vision of a thriving regional economy, rooted in a healthy, just and sustainable food system and collaboration among co-ops."<ref>http://www.nfca.coop/</ref>

== Non-Geographical Based Networks ==

The long established Cooperative Grocers' Information Network's mission is to serve "all retail food cooperatives by creating community and promoting the sharing and development of resources among members."<ref>http://www.cgin.coop/</ref>

== Other Groups ==

*[[The Portland Association of Worker Cooperatives|The Portland Association of Worker Cooperatives]] (Portland, OR). They do not currently have a website. 
*[[The Federation of Southern Cooperatives|The Federation of Southern Cooperatives.]] The membership of this organization is primarily comprised of agricultural cooperatives and credit unions. Website: http://www.federationsoutherncoop.com/index.html 
*[[Data Commons Project|The Data Commons Project]]. If there is no regional worker cooperative network to hook-up with in your area, you may find this on-line directory of North American worker cooperatives a helpful means for finding like-minded social entrepreneurs. 
*[[Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy|The Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy]]. A non-profit organization, which is managed cooperatively, that was created to assist in the ongoing cultivation of the workplace democracy and worker cooperative movements. The conference takes place every two years. 
*[[The Western Worker Cooperative Conference|The Western Worker Cooperative Conference]] holds conferences on alternating years. The Western conference comes on the odd-numbered years. Website here: http://www.west.usworker.coop/ 
*[[The National Cooperative Business Association|The National Cooperative Business Association]] is the U.S. trade association for all types of cooperatives. Website here: http://ncba.coop 
*[[The North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO)|The North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO)]]. NACO's membership is comprised mostly of [[Housing cooperatives|housing cooperatives]]. However, its membership is growing in [[Types of cooperatives|other sectors]], and it is giving increasing attention to worker co-ops. NASCO holds a yearly institute in Ann Arbor, MI during November. Website: http://www.nasco.coop/ 
*[[The National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives|The National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives]]. Website: http://www.nsacoop.org/ 
*[[The Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute|The Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute]] is a resource center that is affiliated with three big home-based healthcare worker co-ops in the Northeast United States. Website here: http://www.paraprofessional.org/Sections/wedu.htm 
*The ICA Group is a nationwide provider of technical assistance to worker co-ops as well as [[Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs)|ESOPs]]. Website: http://www.ica-group.org/ 

== Spotlighted Discussions ==

These are spotlighted conversations from this page's Discussion Area.

*[[:Talk:Cooperative Alliances, Federations, and Networks#Strengths_of_Forming_Local_Cooperative_Alliances|What are the benefits of local cooperative alliances to co-ops, their members, and their communities?]]
*[[:Talk:Cooperative Alliances, Federations, and Networks#Major_Hurdles_of_Establishing_Cooperative_Alliances_and_Associations|What are some of the major hurdles to establishing local cooperative alliances and associations? What can be done to overcome these difficulties?]]

== References ==

<references />

 

[[Category:Articles]][[Category:Cooperative_alliances_and_networks]][[Category:Cooperation amongst cooperatives]][[Category:Cooperative_basics]]

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 *[[The Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute|The Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute]] is a resource center that is affiliated with three big home-based healthcare worker co-ops in the Northeast United States. Website here: http://www.paraprofessional.org/Sections/wedu.htm<br>
 *The ICA Group is a nationwide provider of technical assistance to worker co-ops as well as [[Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs)|ESOPs]]. Website: http://www.ica-group.org/<br>
 == Spotlighted Discussions  ==

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 *[[Data Commons Project|The Data Commons Project]]. If there is no regional worker cooperative network to hook-up with in your area, you may find this on-line directory of North American worker cooperatives a helpful means for finding like-minded social entrepreneurs.<br>
 *[[Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy|The Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy]]. A non-profit organization, which is managed cooperatively, that was created to assist in the ongoing cultivation of the workplace democracy and worker cooperative movements. The conference takes place every two years on odd-numbered years. Website: http://east.usworker.coop<br>
-*[[The Western Worker Cooperative Conference|The Western Worker Cooperative Conference]] holds conferences on alternating years. The Western conference comes on the odd-numbered years. Website: http://www.west.usworker.coop/<br>
+*[[The Western Worker Cooperative Conference|The Western Worker Cooperative Conference]] holds conferences on alternating years. The Western conference comes on the odd-numbered years. Website: http://west.usworker.coop/<br>
 *[[The New York City Network of Worker Cooperatives|The New York City Network of Worker Cooperatives]] Website: http://www.nycworker.coop/#home
 *[[The National Cooperative Business Association|The National Cooperative Business Association]] is the U.S. trade association for all types of cooperatives. Website: http://ncba.coop<br>

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 *[[SLICE, Strengthening Local Independent Co-ops Everywhere|SLICE, Strengthening Local Independent Co-ops Everywhere]] is a Seattle/Puget Sound based cooperative alliance focused on the "development of a cooperative economy rooted in democratic ownership, social justice, and ecological accountability." Website:http://www.slice.coop/
 *[[Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance|Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance]] Intersectoral cooperative alliance based in Philadelphia. Website:http://www.philadelphia.coop/
-*[[Cooperative Maine|Cooperative Maine]] "Building a democrativ economy rooted in community" Website:http://cooperativemaine.org/
+*[[Cooperative Maine|Cooperative Maine]] "Building a democratic economy rooted in community" Website:http://cooperativemaine.org/ or http://maine.coop
 *[[The Portland Association of Worker Cooperatives|The Portland Association of Worker Cooperatives]] (Portland, OR). They do not currently have a website.<br>
 *[[The Federation of Southern Cooperatives|The Federation of Southern Cooperatives.]] The membership of this organization is primarily comprised of agricultural cooperatives and credit unions. Website: http://www.federationsoutherncoop.com/index.html<br>
 *[[Data Commons Project|The Data Commons Project]]. If there is no regional worker cooperative network to hook-up with in your area, you may find this on-line directory of North American worker cooperatives a helpful means for finding like-minded social entrepreneurs.<br>
-*[[Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy|The Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy]]. A non-profit organization, which is managed cooperatively, that was created to assist in the ongoing cultivation of the workplace democracy and worker cooperative movements. The conference takes place every two years.<br>
+*[[Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy|The Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy]]. A non-profit organization, which is managed cooperatively, that was created to assist in the ongoing cultivation of the workplace democracy and worker cooperative movements. The conference takes place every two years on odd-numbered years. Website: http://east.usworker.coop<br>
 *[[The Western Worker Cooperative Conference|The Western Worker Cooperative Conference]] holds conferences on alternating years. The Western conference comes on the odd-numbered years. Website: http://www.west.usworker.coop/<br>
 *[[The New York City Network of Worker Cooperatives|The New York City Network of Worker Cooperatives]] Website: http://www.nycworker.coop/#home

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Cooperative]] alliances and networks are groups of cooperatives that associate with one another for financial benefit and/or a common goal to advance cooperative interests within specific regions.
@@ Line 55: / Line 53: @@
 <br>
-[[Category:Articles]][[Category:Cooperative_alliances_and_networks]][[Category:Cooperation amongst cooperatives]][[Category:Cooperative_basics]]
+[[Category:Organizations]]

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 == Other Groups<br>  ==
 *[[The Portland Association of Worker Cooperatives|The Portland Association of Worker Cooperatives]] (Portland, OR). They do not currently have a website.<br>
 *[[The Federation of Southern Cooperatives|The Federation of Southern Cooperatives.]] The membership of this organization is primarily comprised of agricultural cooperatives and credit unions. Website: http://www.federationsoutherncoop.com/index.html<br>

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 *[[Data Commons Project|The Data Commons Project]]. If there is no regional worker cooperative network to hook-up with in your area, you may find this on-line directory of North American worker cooperatives a helpful means for finding like-minded social entrepreneurs.<br>
 *[[Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy|The Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy]]. A non-profit organization, which is managed cooperatively, that was created to assist in the ongoing cultivation of the workplace democracy and worker cooperative movements. The conference takes place every two years.<br>
-*[[The Western Worker Cooperative Conference|The Western Worker Cooperative Conference]] holds conferences on alternating years. The Western conference comes on the odd-numbered years. Website here: http://www.west.usworker.coop/<br>
+*[[The Western Worker Cooperative Conference|The Western Worker Cooperative Conference]] holds conferences on alternating years. The Western conference comes on the odd-numbered years. Website: http://www.west.usworker.coop/<br>
-*[[The National Cooperative Business Association|The National Cooperative Business Association]] is the U.S. trade association for all types of cooperatives. Website here: http://ncba.coop<br>
+*[[The New York City Network of Worker Cooperatives|The New York City Network of Worker Cooperatives]] Website: http://www.nycworker.coop/#home
 *[[The North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO)|The North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO)]]. NACO's membership is comprised mostly of [[Housing cooperatives|housing cooperatives]]. However, its membership is growing in [[Types of cooperatives|other sectors]], and it is giving increasing attention to worker co-ops. NASCO holds a yearly institute in Ann Arbor,&nbsp;MI during November.&nbsp;Website: http://www.nasco.coop/<br>
 *[[The National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives|The National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives]]. Website:&nbsp;http://www.nsacoop.org/<br>