At the NCBA CLUSA 2019 Impact conference, Cooperative Development Institute’s Director of Business Ownership Solutions program, Rob Brown, joined a dynamic panel and showcased CDI’s role in helping to establish a cooperative ecosystem in Maine. The panel, moderated by Cooperative Fund of New England’s Cooperative Business Support Officer, Carolyn Edsell-Vetter, who also serves as CDI’s Board Vice Chair, engaged the audience in a discussion that focused on the important partnerships between co-op developers and co-op focused finance entities that can collaboratively spur the development of both state and local cooperative ecosystems. The panel also included Amethyst Carey, Program Associate, Center for Economic Democracy, Jennifer Bryant, Program Manager, Community Wealth Building Initiatives, Washington Area Community Investment Fund, and Lori Gall, Chief Risk Officer, Vizo Financial Corporate Credit Union.
The panel represented the theme of this year’s conference: Power in Purpose – Building the next economy. By working collaboratively, cooperatives, credit unions and mutual insurance companies can strengthen their communities, and by coordinating effectively, their impact is significantly amplified. This panel discussion explored several cooperative ecosystems around the country and the collaborative efforts that advance multi-sector cooperative development.
Conference attendees learned about the stakeholders, strategies and tactics behind cooperative ecosystems in Maine, Massachusetts and the Washington, D.C. area. The session provided a robust discussion focused on strengthening the relationships among cooperatives, credit unions and mutual insurance companies around the country, and how through collaboration, they can multiply the number of cooperative ecosystems to create a more resilient, equitable economy founded on democratic principles. Conference attendees also learned how such relationships can further racial equity, social impact and enhance the growth and stability of all of the stakeholders.
A special shout-out to NCBA CLUSA’s Greg Irving for helping to organize the panel!