This one-day conference explores what cities can learn from one another about building cooperatives and cooperative networks, and what cooperatives contribute to cities, regions, and states. Our conference also provides an opportunity to learn from US House Representative Chaka Fattah about the National Cooperative Development Act, a bill he introduced into Congress on December 15, 2011. Other speakers include:

Dr. Gar Alperovitz, the Democracy Collaborative at the University of Maryland

Hon. Paul Soglin, Mayor, City of Madison, Wisconsin

Dr. Michael Swack, Carsey Institute, University of New Hampshire

Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard, John Jay College

Dr. Steve Dubb, Democracy Collaborative at the University of Maryland

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). Specific cooperatives that will be discussed include:

From Pennsylvania: Weavers Way, Mariposa, Greensaw, Lancaster Farm Fresh, Energy Cooperative Association of Pennsylvania, TruMark Financial Credit Union, South Philly Food Co-op, Kensington Community Food Co-op, Ecology, Home Care Associates, Childspace

From Wisconsin: Willy Street, Regent Market Co-op, Isthmus Engineering and Manufacturing, Just Coffee, Union Cab, Organic Valley, Summit Credit Union, Mifflin Street, Cooperative Care 

CONFERENCE AGENDA

7:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Registration

8:30 a.m. Welcome and Introductions                           

Richardson Dilworth, Center for Public Policy, Drexel University

Bob Noble, Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance

9 a.m. Keynote Speaker     

Gar Alperovitz, Lionel R. Bauman Professor of Political Economy, University of Maryland

Introduced by Bob Noble, PACA

10:10 a.m. to 11:25 a.m. Concurrent Sessions

Food Co-ops

Chairperson: Allison Turner, West Chester University  

Presentations of case studies on:

Willy Street Co-op (WI) by Courtney Berner, University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives

Weavers Way Co-op and Mariposa Co-op (PA) by Andrew Zitcer, Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University

Regent Market Co-op (WI) by Amy Gannon, School of Business, Edgewood College

Worker Co-ops       

Chairperson: Craig Borowiak, Haverford College

Presentations of case studies on:   

Isthmus Engineering and Manufacturing (WI) by Anne Reynolds, University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives         

Just Coffee Co-op (WI) by Joao Peschanski, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Union Cab (WI) by Trevor Young-Hyman, University of Wisconsin-Madison                            

Greensaw Design and Build (PA) by Dottie Dewey, Geography and Planning Department, West Chester University

11:35 a.m. to 12:25 a.m. Breakout Sessions

Food System Producer Co-ops             

Chairperson: Courtney Berner, University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives                      

Presentations of case studies on:

Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative (PA) by Christian Hunold, Department of History and Politics, Drexel University and Melanie Jeske, Drexel University

Organic Valley (PA) by Esteban Kelly, The Graduate Center, CUNY

Consumer Co-ops and Energy Distribution

Chairperson: Michelle Kondo, University of Pennsylvania

Presentations of case studies on:

The Energy Co-op (PA)by Allison Turner, Department of Political Science, West Chester University

Riverland Energy (WI)by Brady Williams, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Credit Unions and Community Development                                  

Chairperson: Dottie Dewey, Geography and Planning Department,  West Chester University

Presentations of case studies on:

Summit Credit Union (WI) by Amy Gannon, School of Business, Edgewood College

TruMark Financial Credit Union (PA) by Daniel Dougherty, Lindy Center for Civic Engagement, Drexel University

12:30 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. Guest Speaker                                                               

Mayor Paul Soglin, City of Madison, Wisconsin

Introduced by Anne Reynolds, University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives

1:50 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Keynote Panel                             

Chairperson: Craig Borowiak, Department of Political Science, Haverford College

Steve Dubb, The Democracy Collaborative at the University of Maryland

Jessica Gordon Nembhard, Department of African Studies, John Jay College

Michael Swack, The Carsey Institute, University of New Hampshire

Introduced by Alan Greenberger, Philadelphia Department of Commerce

3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Concurrent Sessions

Food Co-ops                         

Chairperson: Esteban Kelly, The Graduate Center, CUNY

Presentations of case studies on:   

South Philly Food Co-op and Kensington Community Food Co-op (PA) by Katharine Travaline, Drexel University

Mifflin Street Co-op (WI) by Molly Noble, University of Wisconsin

Ecology Food Co-op (PA) by Daniel Flaumenhaft, University of Pennsylvania

Worker Co-ops                                     

Chairperson: Andrew Zitcer, Bloustein School, Rutgers University

Presentations of case studies on:   

Home Care Associates (PA) by Linda Stevenson, Department of Political Science, West Chester University

Childspace (PA) by Michelle Kondo, Social Policy and Practice, University of Pennsylvania

Cooperative Care (WI) by Brady Williams, University of Wisconsin

4:30 p.m. Closing Remarks                                

Congressman Chaka Fattah, 2nd District of Pennsylvania

5:00 p.m. Reception

For more conference details visit: http://conference.philadelphia.coop

For more information contact:

Charlotte Jackson

Center for Public Policy

Drexel University

ccj34@drexel.edu

215-571-3797 

This event is hosted by the Drexel University Center for Public Policy and the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives, with support from the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance, the Drexel University Lindy Center for Civic Engagement, the Haverford College Center for Peace and Global Citizenship, and others. A full list of sponsors is below:

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/

Urban Affairs Coalition, www.uac.org