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# Chicago Co-op Convergence

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://www.ccconvergence.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Breaking News](https://www.ccconvergence.org/breaking-news/) - Steve Ediger 2022-11-16
- [New Core Team Assembling](https://www.ccconvergence.org/new-core-team-assembling/) - Hello, some of us have been getting together to start planning a new summit. We hope to host it this fall (September, October, November, 2023). A core group is meeting the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month at 6pm. If you would like to attend, please fill out an inquiry form.
- [Interested in Co-housing?  Join us at the GreenRise Building, March 11 4:30-8:00pm!](https://www.ccconvergence.org/interested-in-co-housing/) - Also, stay tuned for a note about March 21, 6:00pm-9 or 10pm The ICA GreenRise Intentional Community is hosting a gathering. We'll hear from Prairie Johnson, a Dancing Rabbit community resident. Prairie will facilitate several topics related to co-housing: (1) Session One: Community Living; Local Sustainability, 4:30-6:00pm; (2) An informal break with pizza and drinks, etc.,
- [Join Us for a Co-op Networking Meet-up, Sunday January 29, 2023!](https://www.ccconvergence.org/join-us-for-a-co-op-networking-meet-up/) - January 29, 2023, 4pm-6pm Showroom Food Hall, Marriott Marquis Chicago 2121 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, IL 60616 RSVP to: chicago.coop.convergence@gmail.com When you get to the venue, look for a table that has the CCConvergence table tents. We are aiming to have a couple of meetings a month: A networking event for cooperators to meet, share
- [Stay tuned for breaking news](https://www.ccconvergence.org/stay-tuned-here-for-breaking-news/) - We'll publish news about Chicago's Cooperatives and Chicago Co-op Convergence here. If you have some news to share, share it here.
- [Local Co-op folks met at W. Loop hot spot](https://www.ccconvergence.org/co-op-folks-exchange-stories-and-share-a-meal/) - On November 6, a few cooperators around Chicago got together at Time Out Food Hall in Fulton Market. Three Food Cooperatives, several housing cooperatives, some worker cooperatives, a financial service organization, and a news reporter, all joined for a some fine local food, drink, and few hours of animated conversation about the cooperative ecosystem. A

## Pages

- [](https://www.ccconvergence.org/) - Welcome to CCConvergence Breaking News and Events We are Chicago Co-op Convergence a space for cooperatives of all flavors get together to share our bounty, support each other, and have a good time. Add me to the CCConvergence email group Four years ago, 300 Chicago cooperators got together in a Summit to share about our
- [About us](https://www.ccconvergence.org/about-us/) - We are a group of cooperatives and provide a space for all cooperatives in the Chicago Region to come together and share our stories and practices with each other. Some of us were involved with the 2018 Chicago Co-op Economy Summit, where 300 cooperators got together and shared their stories. We get together once a
- [Chicago's 1st Cooperative Economy Summit: 2018](https://www.ccconvergence.org/cces-2018/) - This set of pages was originally published at chi-coop-summit.org. They document the 2018 Chicago Cooperative Economy Summit. On Saturday, August 25, 2018, nearly 300 people gathered in Chicago to share and celebrate ideas about our cooperative and solidarity economies in Chicago. We spent the day in panels, discussion groups, tabling and networking with each other
- [Contact](https://www.ccconvergence.org/contact/) - Please use this form to contact us.
- [Hacking Traditional Capitalist Financing Tools for Rapid Cooperative Growth](https://www.ccconvergence.org/panels/hacking-traditional-capitalist-financing-tools-for-rapid-cooperative-growth/) - We can use traditional and emerging capitalist tools to rapidly grow cooperatives. Notes Termaine embraced the capitalist economy as he worked for a company that invests in fish farming. This work changed the way he looked at wealth and business in America. He is business trained and feels our primary weakness, as a society, is
- [Using Political Office To Increase The Cooperative Economy](https://www.ccconvergence.org/panels/using-political-office-to-increase-the-cooperative-economy/) - This group of politicians is creating new perceptions of cooperativeness in government. From a municipal bank to ward-level cooperative economy support, let's imagine a better world via cooperatives. Notes Carlos represents 55k working people as alderman of the 35 Hermosa, logan square, Albany park and 2 more Prioritize neighborhoods and working families Commitment to ensure
- [Utility Coops of Cook County: What They Are and Can Be](https://www.ccconvergence.org/panels/utility-coops-of-cook-county-what-they-are-and-can-be/) - Citizens Utility Board monitors utilitiesfor equitable civilian service. Solar in the Community is creating a public utility that is people-owned and operated on a web-based platform. Notes What is the Citizens Utility Board and what does it do? represents consumers in things like fighting with utility companies a third party separate from the power companies
- [Building the Chicagoland Ecosystem: Advocating for the Policy Changes that We Need](https://www.ccconvergence.org/panels/building-the-chicagoland-ecosystem-advocating-for-the-policy-changes-that-we-need/) - Owning our workplace is key to building a healthy cooperative ecosystem. Let's identify, build worker cooperatives, from service organizations to producers and support organizations that support each other. Notes Most of the panel will be on worker cooperatives -- how to identify and build organizations that transform the economy? How to reform laws & policies
- [Better Than Roommates: Housing Coops of Cook County](https://www.ccconvergence.org/panels/better-than-roommates-housing-coops-of-cook-county/) - Housing is key to human life, and with that thought, we opened the Summit with a discussion about housing cooperatives with a panel of experts. Brigid Maniates (Qumbya Housing Cooperative General Manager) moderated a panel that included Liz Anderson (North American Students of Cooperation), John Arnold (Interfaith Committee for Detained Immigrants House of Hospitality/ICDI), and
- [Building and Sustaining Food Co-operatives](https://www.ccconvergence.org/panels/building-and-sustaining-food-co-operatives/) - Since food sustains life, we need to create member-owned outlets, so that we can control where and from whom we sustain ourselves. How do we go about establishing this ecosystem? Notes What common reasons that folks provide for wanting to start a co-op? Vanessa: I live and work in the Austin community, a food desert.
- [Breakout Discussions](https://www.ccconvergence.org/breakout-discussions/) - In another room, lively breakout discussions unpacked the findings by the panels and other topics. There never seemed to be enough time cover all the ideas in the room. The excitement generated by this summit will result in the formation of coalitions around Chicago's cooperative and solidarity economies.
- [Interlinking the Cooperative Economy for Growth](https://www.ccconvergence.org/breakout-discussions/interlinking-the-cooperative-economy-for-growth/) - Introductions Carla: The Data Commons Co-op greases the flow of data between communities in the cooperative, solidarity, new, call-it-what-you-will economy. The co-op not only serves these communities, it is owned by them. How do we share data? (technical question) Brel: Expand housing cooperative & raise awareness Madison's housing cooperative sector is growing & interlinking with
- [People's Workshop on Participatory Budgeting](https://www.ccconvergence.org/breakout-discussions/peoples-workshop-on-participatory-budgeting/) - History of Participatory Budgeting (PB) First started in Brazil Chicago first city in US to have it Collaborative effort of UIC Great Cities institute, our city our voice and over 30 other nonprofits and community organizations How does it work? Aldermen traditionally get $1.3 million to use on infrastructure projects Aldermen take $1 million dollars
- [Event Overview](https://www.ccconvergence.org/event-overview/) - Representatives from food cooperatives, housing cooperatives, credit unions, worker's collectives, cooperative support organizations, local government, and the public came together in a multi-voiced affirmation celebrating our cooperative and solidarity economies in the Greater Chicago area and dialoging how to build, sustain, and grow them for broader and deeper impact. We broke the day into concurrent
- [Collaborative Urban Food Systems](https://www.ccconvergence.org/breakout-discussions/collaborative-urban-food-systems/) - Group Introductions Margo teaches youth, and others, how to be agents in their own food system Steph stresses the importance of food sovereignty It is important for city kids to have connection with their food and where it comes from Food ownership is crucial Margo lays out the objectives (focused on fostering a more cooperative
- [Community Land Management](https://www.ccconvergence.org/breakout-discussions/community-land-management/) - – Elisha: Expert in trying things out because we all are; CUB: Citizens utility board African center term: yey bo? yey bo! (all good?, all good!) Hearing affirmation of movement but can have engagement back and forth Thinking work group session to push forth challenges and ideas to share what we know and what we’re
- [Building a Culture of Cooperation in Chicago: Incorporating Solidarity Economy Principles into Our Organizations and Ourselves](https://www.ccconvergence.org/breakout-discussions/building-a-culture-of-cooperation-in-chicago-incorporating-solidarity-economy-principles-into-our-organizations-and-ourselves/) - What's wrong with Chicago? Violence Autocratic power Economy is premised in self-interest often to the detriment of others and co-operation. Aldermanic system Feudelistic; cuts across neighborhoods Hierarchical and centralized Difficult to navigate means of reform Not receptive to community feedback, more receptive to Chamber of Commerce/business Receiving support (for organizations) & channels of distribution is
- [Building More Cooperation In Your Life](https://www.ccconvergence.org/panels/building-more-cooperation-in-your-life/) - Introductions Mike Strode—Kola Nut Collaborative The Kola Nut Collaborative is a time bank, trading time as a currency, using time as an incentive to unpack skills and meet needs. When financial capital is low, cultural and social capital is available Sarah Kaplan—Co-op lawyer Founded vegetarian food cooperative Alex Discusses policy amendments to the cooperative statute.
- [Local Circular Economy Principles](https://www.ccconvergence.org/breakout-discussions/local-circular-economy-principles/) - Linear vs. circular systems Linear economy: products are made, used, and then tossed Recycling is a fake loop / a bandaid for the problem Circular system: waste products should be creatively used to facilitate the creation of something new Redefine what waste means Activity Two types of systems: Forest & Plastic We created concept /
- [Panels](https://www.ccconvergence.org/panels/) - We reserved the largest room for panels composed of people working on specific issues related to the cooperative ecosystem. The panels covered a wide range of topics from specific types of cooperatives to building an cooperative ecosystem and practical advise on how to get started.

## Categories

- [Uncategorized](https://www.ccconvergence.org/category/uncategorized/)