This week, the Cooperative Maine Business Alliance brings together members of three housing co-ops and one co-op development specialist to share practical guidance for starting a housing cooperative.
Then, Nicolás Chesta writes about Chile's thriving solidarity economy movement, and the many interconnected pieces that have helped make it a success.
Housing Co-op Startups: From Idea to Reality
by Cooperative Maine Business Alliance
In this webinar, our panel shares insights, lessons learned, and practical guidance for starting a housing cooperative. Whether you’re considering a limited-equity co-op, a resident-owned community (ROC), or other shared housing models, this session provides valuable advice to help bring your vision to life.Â
Chile’s Solidarity Economy is Growing
by Nicolás Chesta
Other examples of municipal initiatives include several community-market programs based in Santiago, including Mercado Vintage Lastarria, a vintage market that blends circular economy practices with cultural identity; Acción Errante, a socially engaged collective working to activate local economies through creative collaboration; and Mercado Kimén, which focuses on fair trade and local food systems.
How cooperatives can tackle youth unemployment
Co-op News — The contribution of cooperatives to the country’s economy is well-documented in official economic records and observed in daily life. Yet, a significant demographic gap exists within these cooperatives, as the majority of their membership is comprised of older individuals, while the Kenyan population skews younger. This disparity represents both a challenge and an opportunity in addressing youth unemployment...
Innovative organizations receive $205,000 in grants from National Cooperative Bank and Capital Impact Partners
NCBA CLUSA — “The recipients of this year’s Co-op Innovation Awards are helping to strengthen communities by creating jobs, increasing the availability of affordable housing, expanding access to child care, and providing more of the opportunities that people need to succeed,” said Ellis Carr, President and CEO of Capital Impact Partners and CDC Small Business Finance, both of which are part of the Momentus Capital branded family of organizations...
Lessons from a cooperative businesses conference
The 51st — The 51st is D.C.’s first worker-led nonprofit newsroom. But we’re part of a larger system of cooperative organizations working to build a better world. I got to see what that meant more tangibly this past week, when I spoke on a panel at the 2025 Cooperative IMPACT Conference alongside Jasper Wang. He’s one of the co-founders of Defector, a newsroom our team looked to for inspiration — and advice — before we launched last year...
Elroy Webster Cooperative Studies Now Accepting Applications for 2025 Scholarships!
Ralph K. Morris Foundation — The Ralph K. Morris Foundation is accepting applications for scholarships from the Elroy Webster Cooperative Studies Program. This program provides two scholarships of $2,500 each and honorary awards to graduate students or law students interested in agriculture and cooperatives.  These scholarships are funded by the CHS Foundation...
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