Members are the life of our network!
Consider making a commitment to becoming an official member of Cooperate Connecticut. It is an investment in each other and in our collective future.
Coops
This tier is for established or emerging cooperative entities. This includes worker, producer, housing, consumer, and hybrid or multi-stakeholder cooperatives.
We’ve Got 3 Tiers of Membership
Ecosystem Partners
This tier is for collectives, businesses, and non-profits operating in Connecticut, including but not limited to:
Entrepreneurial support organizations
Organizing and advocacy organizations
Mutual aid networks
Community land trusts
Unions
Employee owned businesses
Worker self-directed non-profits
Social enterprises
Cooperators
This tier is for individual community members.
Not interested in becoming a member but want to support Cooperatives - donate to our fundraising campaign!
Why become a member?
Joining Cooperate Connecticut comes with several benefits such as:
An invitation to be part of a loving, passionate community of cooperators and solidarity economy practitioners.
An opportunity to practice mutual aid, direct democracy, peer support, cost sharing, and collaborative fundraising (i.e. cooperation).
A seat at the table for strategy conversations about how we resist racial capitalism and build the next economy.
A vote in our board elections and major decisions.
Access to communication channels to more easily reach other individuals and organizations in our local co-op and solidarity economy movement.
A growing platform to promote your business, organization, program, or campaign.
A means to give and receive discounts and priority access to goods and services to and from local co-ops and mission aligned businesses and organizations. (e.g. space rental, workshops, childcare, bookkeeping, etc.).
Access to outside resources and opportunities via Cooperate Connecticut’s membership with the New Economy Coalition and affiliations with the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives and the U.S. Solidarity Economy Network.
Not interested in becoming a member but want to support Cooperatives - donate to our fundraising campaign!
What are the
expectations of members?
Pay annual membership dues.
All individual members and at least one official representative of any co-ops and ecosystem partners are expected to:
Attend at least one quarterly General Assembly meeting, held virtually in January, April, and July for 2-3 hours.
Attend at least one in person local Meet Up each year in Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, New London, Waterbury, or Willimantic.
Attend our Annual Meeting in-person in October for 4-6 hours.
Join our WhatsApp Community and Google Group and stay up to date on internal communications.
Vote in our annual board elections.
Members are encouraged to also:
Join a committee or working group.
Review and vote on proposals in between committee and general assembly meetings. Proposals will be shared via email and WhatsApp. Members will be given at least five days to submit a response via a Google form.
Last but not least, members must commit to our values, code of conduct, and conflict resolution policy.
Learn more about becoming a member of Cooperate Connecticut or take the first step and fill out our New Member Interest Form.
Not interested in becoming a member but want to support Cooperatives - donate to our fundraising campaign!