Power and Purpose of Intercooperation

Building complex networks and co-operative economies

With the United Nations declaring 2025 an International Year of Co-operatives, the timing is right to spotlight the power and potential of co-operatives working together to build complex networks and co-operative economies that deliver well-being for all.

Join us for this engaging short course on intercooperation as we explore practical strategies big and small that create tangible value for your co-operative while reinforcing the co-operative ecosystem.

Effective intercooperation is grounded in trust and familiarity, and the resulting complex networks are strengthened by the presence of reinforcing links at multiple points of relationship.

• Are we familiar with the wealth of co-operatives outside of our co-operative’s industry and membership model?
• Can we make visible points of convergence and congruence with other co-operatives?
• Can we translate the power and potential of intercooperation to our co-operative, members, colleagues, and communities?

Whether you are new to co-operatives or an experienced co-operative professional, this short course will stretch your thinking. You will gain a toolkit of practices, a new network of colleagues, and a deepened appreciation for the potential that intercooperation creates to build more robust, sustainable, and inclusive co-operative economies. 

Objectives

• Consider how you articulate your own co-operative sector within the context of others to build a greater understanding of our collective potential. 
• Gain an understanding of complex networks and their role in building co-operative economies at the conceptual, systems, and applied levels.
• Learn about specific examples of intercooperation, complex networks, and co-operative economies.

Course Instructors and Presenters

• Karen Miner, Managing Director, International Centre for Co-operative Management and Board Vice-President of Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada 
• Júlia Martins Rodrigues, Research Associate and Instructor, International Centre for Co-operative Management 
• Erbin Crowell, Executive Director, Neighboring Food Co-operative Association and Board Member, NCBA CLUSA
• Fred Freundlich, Professor, Faculty of Business and Research Associate, LANKI Institute for Co-operative Research, Faculty of Humanities & Education, Mondragon Unibertsitatea
• Facilitated by Cathy Statz, Outreach Specialist, International Centre for Co-operative Management

Upcoming Offerings

• A pre-2024 Cooperative IMPACT Conference short course will be held on October 1 from 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM at NCB’s head office in Arlington, Virginia, USA. 

Course Fee

$320 USD. If this fee is a barrier, please email Jillian.Stagg@smu.ca to discuss subsidized rates. 

Registration

Register via the NCBA CLUSA IMPACT conference portal. 

Contact Us

For questions, please contact Jillian.Stagg@smu.ca