Membership Guide

Published on October 18, 2025

WHO ARE WE?

MISSION
Cooperate Connecticut is a membership-based network catalyzing cooperative ownership and power. We bring co-ops and supporters across the state together to grow our local cooperative ecosystem through increasing access to information, education, training, technical and material support, networking, and collaboration.

VISION
We seek to build an economy that meets the needs of all people and the planet over profit, one that is rooted in autonomy, interdependence, solidarity, and democracy.

VALUES
We are committed to upholding the principles of international cooperative movement and solidarity economy movement,  which includes working to advance economic, racial, gender, environmental, and disability justice; trans and queer liberation; anti-capitalism and anti-imperialism.   

We also also committed to practicing the following values: 

  • Be honest and participate in good faith.

  • Respect people’s autonomy and boundaries. 

  • Embrace diverse perspectives.

  • Dismantle patterns of oppression

  • When harm occurs, support people who’ve experienced harm to meet the resulting needs and support people who’ve done harm to take accountability with the ultimate goal of restoring relationships and transforming conditions In order to prevent violence.

HISTORY
Cooperate Connecticut was launched on October 21, 2023. 

Between 2022-2025, the network was developed and organized by varun khattar sharma, Co-Op Navigator Fellow the Cooperative Fund of the Northeast and reSET, and a volunteer-based board of co-op members, entrepreneurs, service providers, community organizers, and artists including Brad Sheridan, Constanza Segovia, Gabbie Barnes, Jasmin Agosto, Javier Villatoro, Jeremy Woodward, Lindaluz Carrillo, Rebecca Fletcher, Reggy Saint Fortcolin, Sarah Bodley, Sarana Carter, Slate Ballard, and Vetiveah Immanuel. 

LEGAL STATUS
We are currently a fiscally sponsored project of reSET, a nonprofit organization whose mission is advancing the social enterprise sector and providing inclusive entrepreneurial support across Connecticut. 

FUNDING & STAFFING
This project was seeded by funding from the Cooperative Fund of the Northeast from 2022-2024. In 2025, we received support from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. In 2026, our only funding sources are donations and membership dues. Starting in January 2026, we will be volunteer-based for at least the near future until we secure additional funding.