Co-op Round-Up

Bridging Art & Farming: Celebrating Black Family Farmers, Landowners, and Cooperatives

In celebration of Juneteenth, the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund mounted an exhibit showcasing photos of the Federation's Black farmers, landowners, and cooperative members. The collection is expected to expand with exhibits of history and life in rural southern regions of the U.S. View the exhibit here.

University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives' Cooperative Governance Research Initiative

Strong governance is essential for the success of cooperatives, but no research has systematically examined governance practices of U.S. cooperatives across sectors over time. UWCC will be launching the Cooperative Governance Research Initiative later this month to collect information on governance practices of U.S. cooperatives. Learn more about the initiative here. The seed funding for this initiative was provided by CDF's CoBank Donor Advised Fund.

Upcoming Co-op Events

54th Annual Meeting and 20th Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner

August 19 - 21

The virtual gathering celebrates the Federation of Southern Cooperatives 54 years of work to become the foremost organization serving Black farmers, landowners, cooperatives and limited resource rural communities across the South. The Federation will also honor Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president emerita of the Children's Defense Fund, as this year's Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Register here.

Cooperative IMPACT Conference: Embracing Our Co-op Identity

October 4 - 8

The 2021 Cooperative IMPACT Conference will challenge cooperators to deepen their understanding of the values and principles that make cooperative enterprise unique. This hybrid event will offer virtual programming throughout the week and in-person programming on October 7 and 8 at the National Press Club. Register here.

Worker Co-op Week

November 3 - 5

Presented by the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives, Worker Co-op Week will be a multi-day virtual convening designed for worker-owners to build skills, organize, and connect with peers. Click here for more information.