Exploring Cooperatives: Economic Democracy and Community Development in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin
A one-day conference that explores what the urban areas of Philadelphia and Madison, and rural areas in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, can learn from one another about building cooperatives and cooperative networks, and what cooperatives contribute to cities, regions, and states.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Drexel University, School of Medicine
New College Building
245 N. 15th Street (between Race and Vine)
Philadelphia, PA
SPEAKERS
- Gar Alperovitz, Lionel R. Bauman Professor of Political Economy at the University of Maryland, www.garalperovitz.com
- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), author of the National Cooperative Development Act of 2011 (H.R. 3677), http://fattah.house.gov
- Paul Soglin, Mayor, City of Madison, Wisconsin, http://www.cityofmadison.com/mayor/
- Michael Nutter, Mayor, City of Philadelphia, http://www.phila.gov/mayor/ (invited)
- Michael Swack, Professor of Economics and Management, Carsey Institute, University of New Hampshire, http://carseyinstitute.unh.edu/about/staff-fellows/Swack.html
- Jessica Gordon Nembhard, Associate Professor of Community Justice and Social Economic Development, John Jay College Department of African American Studies, http://www.jjay.cuny.edu/departments/african_american_studies/faculty.php?key=[email]=’jnembhard@jjay.cuny.edu’
- Steve Dubb, Research Director, The Democracy Collaborative, http://www.community-wealth.org/about/staff.html
CASE STUDIES
The conference will include breakout sessions and workshops that examine specific cooperatives in detail, comparing those in Pennsylvania (mostly from Philadelphia) and those in Wisconsin (mostly from Madison). Research will be published by the University of Wisconsin Extension.
Case study presentations include:
From Pennsylvania:
- Weavers Way Co-op, www.weaversway.coop
- Mariposa Food Co-op, www.mariposa.coop
- Greensaw Design and Build, www.greensawdesign.com
- Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative, www.lancasterfarmfresh.com
- The Energy Co-op, www.theenergy.coop
- TruMark Financial Credit Union, www.trumarkonline.org
- South Philly Food Co-op, www.southphillyfoodcoop.org
- Kensington Community Food Co-op, www.kcfoodcoop.com
- Ecology Food Co-op (defunct)
- Home Care Associates, www.homecareassociatespa.com
- Childspace, www.childspacedaycarecenters.org
From Wisconsin:
- Willy Street Co-op, www.willystreet.coop
- Regent Market Co-op, www.regentmarketcoop.org
- Isthmus Engineering & Manufacturing, www.isthmuseng.com
- Just Coffee Co-op, www.justcoffee.coop
- Union Cab, www.unioncab.com
- Organic Valley, www.organicvalley.coop
- Summit Credit Union, www.summitcreditunion.com
- Mifflin Street Co-op (defunct)
- Cooperative Care, www.cooperativecare.us
- Riverland Energy, www.riverlandenergy.com
SPONSORS
- Drexel University’s Center for Public Policy, www.drexel.edu/publicpolicy/
- Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance, www.philadelphia.coop
- City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce, www.phila.gov/commerce/
- University of Wisconsin, Center for Cooperatives, www.uwcc.wisc.edu
- Haverford College’s Center for Peace and Global Citizenship, www.haverford.edu/cpgc/
- Weavers Way Co-op, www.weaversway.coop
- Keystone Development Center, www.kdc.coop
- Home Care Associates, www.homecareassociatespa.com
- Mariposa Food Co-op, www.mariposa.coop
- Resources for Human Development, www.rhd.org
- Pennsylvania Credit Union Association, www.pcua.org
- The Energy Co-op, www.theenergy.coop
- Drexel University’s Lindy Center for Civic Engagement, www.drexel.edu/lindycenter/
SCHEDULE
8:30am: Coffee and Welcome
9:00am: Morning Keynote: Gar Alperovitz
10:15am: Concurrent Sessions
- Food Co-ops: Willy Street, Weavers Way, Mariposa, Regent Market Co-op
- Worker Co-ops: Isthmus Engineering, Just Coffee, Union Cab, Greensaw
11:25am: Concurrent Sessions
- Food System Producer Co-ops: Lancaster Farm Fresh, Organic Valley
- Consumer Co-ops and Energy Distribution: The Energy Co-op, Riverland Energy
- Credit Unions and Community Development: Summit Credit Union, TruMark Financial Credit Union
12:30pm: Lunch
1:15pm: Speaker: Madison Mayor Paul Soglin introduced by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter (invited)
2:00pm: Keynote Panel: Steve Dubb, Jessica Gordon Nembhard, Michael Swack
3:15pm: Concurrent Sessions
- Food Co-ops: South Philly, Kensington, Mifflin Street, Ecology
- Worker Co-ops: Home Care Associates, Childspace, Cooperative Care
4:30pm: Closing Remarks: Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA)
5:00pm: Reception
REGISTRATION
http://drexelcoopsconference.eventbrite.com/
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact Charlotte Jackson, ccj34@drexel.edu, (215) 571-3797.