Co-op owners are invited to attend this Co-op Cafe! Please reach out to The Merc Co+op Board of Directors for more information and to register for this event.

Deepening Our Commitment to Equity: Are Seven Cooperative Principles Enough?

Join us for an invigorating two-hour conversation with fellow cooperators around the country about how the cooperative principles can advance our commitment to a more equitable future.

The seven cooperative principles are foundational. They provide context and structure for all of the work we do. In response to community needs and aspirations, some cooperative leaders have urged the adoption of additional principles aimed at equity and inclusion.

Do we need an 8th cooperative principle? What do you think? Come to the cafe, and let’s talk!

This session will focus on cooperative principles 4 and 5 (and the possible 8th).

About the Co-op Cafe

For nearly a decade, the Columinate Co-op Cafe has been a way for workers, directors, consumer- owners, and leaders in the cooperative movement to gather, connect, learn, and tackle relevant issues together.

During the 2021 gatherings, cooperators shared stories, reflected on how they’ve adapted to the pandemic, celebrated achievements, and considered the challenges co-ops will face. Co-op Cafe events will use World Cafe© facilitation. People and organizations enrolled in the 2022 Cafe Series will have access to resources to fuel their own community conversations and to continue the conversation between events.

Graphic facilitator Viola Tschendel Clark will return to the Cafe in 2022 to provide artistic representation, creating intricate visual maps tracking the conversations throughout the sessions in real-time.

The Co-op Cafe is made possible by support from National Co+op Grocers.