This week, Lindsay Harris of Propolis Housing Cooperative discusses how her co-op raised over a million dollars through the issuance of community bonds.
Then, Doug Ryan and Tiana Patterson of Grounded Solutions Network report on the recently passed "21st Century ROAD to Housing Act," that broadens the official definition of a community land trust, and recognizes the key importance of shared-equity housing.Â
Community Bonds: A New Way to Raise Funds for Housing Co-ops
by Co-operatives First
In this webinar, Lindsay Harris, Executive Director of Propolis Housing Cooperative, talks about how her Kamloops-based co-op raised $1.1 million using community bonds. She shares key learnings from years of hard work, including navigating the technical aspects of issuing community bonds and building community support.Â
Housing Bill Could Boost Community Land Trusts, But Implementation Is Critical
by Doug Ryan & Tiana Patterson
Congress’s decision to recognize a broader range of shared-equity models expands the tools available to communities for preserving long-term affordability. That flexibility is one of the Act’s greatest strengths, but it also shifts greater responsibility to the practitioners, lenders, local governments, and state agencies responsible for translating federal policy into local practice.
Â
Â
Cooperatives as Incubators of Democracy
The Sustainable Economies Law Center — Anyone who has been part of a collectively run project —an activist group, an organizing project, a worker self-directed nonprofit, a cooperative, an intentional living community — knows that the work of deciding together is rife with disagreement and conflict. Even when the intention is to be collaborative and share leadership, differences in power, rank, role, identity, personality and lived experience make it exceedingly challenging to create cultures and structures that truly allow everyone to contribute fully and fairly. These differences often lead to breakdown — relational disruptions, system failures, stuff not getting done. When stuff breaks down, and there is no boss to call the shots, we have to rely on each other to find the pathway out of the mess...
Introducing Canada Co-op: A New Name for a Stronger, More Visible Sector
Canada Co-op — For more than a decade, Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada (CMC) has served as the national voice for Canada’s co-operatives, credit unions, caisses, and mutuals. On October 11, 2026, we will begin a new chapter as Canada Co-op, adopting a name and visual identity that are clearer, more memorable, and more closely aligned with the organizations we represent...
Co-op Cincy Annual Celebration
Co-op Cincy (MailChimp) — Join Co-op Cincy on Friday, October 16 at the Woodward Theater for our annual celebration, Better Together: Powered by Cooperation. This is our night to bring together the people who make Cincinnati’s cooperative ecosystem possible:  worker-owners, community partners, supporters, friends, and neighbors, and celebrate what we’re building across our region...
6D Co-op: Bringing Big-City Services to a Small Community
Co-operatives First — In 2020, a group of wellness practitioners in Brooks, Alberta noticed residents in their small town were grappling with high levels of stress and tension. In response, they began hosting wellness classes and events as a collective, which were wildly successful. In 2024, these practitioners — who all had their own businesses based out of their homes — continued the momentum by coming together to form 6D Health and Wellness Cooperative, a co-operative that offers holistic health care resources...
Â
Â
Like what you find on GEO?
Make a Donation Today!
Your tax-deductible contribution ensures that GEO can continue to provide independent grassroots content about the cooperative and solidarity economy movements.
Got something to say?
Let us know. Send your comments, suggestions, rants and article submissions to editors@geo.coop.
Follow us on Social Media
Mastodon: social.coop/@GEO_Collective
BlueSky: @geocollective.bsky.social
FB: facebook.com/GEOCollective
Instagram: instagram.com/grassrootsecon
Â
Our mailing address is:
Grassroots Economic Organizing
P.O. Box 115
Riverdale MD 20738-0115
