Cooperationworks

CW MEMBERS, A NATIONAL NETWORK OF OVER 30 COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT CENTERS AND MORE THAN A DOZEN INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPERS, WORK TOGETHER TO REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES THROUGH EFFECTIVE COOPERATIVE ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT. MEMBERS PROVIDE EXPERTISE ACROSS ALL ASPECTS OF COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS, BUSINESS PLAN DEVELOPMENT, AND TRAINING AND EDUCATION. CW CONNECTS AND FACILITATES THE NATIONAL NETWORK TO ENABLE COLLABORATION, RESOURCE SHARING, AND BEST PRACTICES TO EMERGE. CW MEMBERS MEET TWICE ANNUALLY FOR A TWO-DAY MEETING THAT INCLUDES BOTH A "BUSINESS DAY" TO KEEP THEM INFORMED OF WHAT THE CW STAFF AND BOARD ARE WORKING ON AND TO HOLD ELECTIONS IF APPLICABLE; AND A "PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT" DAY, OPEN TO NON-MEMBERS, FOR DEVELOPERS TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE, BUILD SKILLS, AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHER OR OTHER FIELD EXPERTS. IN 2021, BOTH OF THESE MEETINGS WERE HELD VIRTUALLY OVER MULTIPLE DAYS - ONE IN MAY AND ONE IN OCTOBER.CW ADAPTED ITS FLAGSHIP COOPERATIVE DEVELOPER TRAINING PROGRAM, THE ART AND SCIENCE OF COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT, TO AN ONLINE FORMAT TO ACCOMMODATE PARTICIPANTS DURING COVID. DUE TO INCREASED INTERESTED IN THE VIRTUAL PROGRAM IN 2020, CW OFFERED BUILDING BLOCKS AS FOUR REGIONAL, VIRTUAL TRAININGS IN A PROGRAM TITLED, "BUILDING BLOCKS FOR A COOPERATIVE ECONOMY." THIS PROGRAM TRAINED 43 PEOPLE NATIONWIDE. TOOLKIT IMPLEMENTATION WAS OFFERED ONLY ONCE OVER 9 DAYS THROUGHOUT NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER AND HAD 15 PARTICIPANTS. FINANCE FUNDAMENTALS, WAS OFFERED IN JANAUARY 2021 TO 22 PARTICIPANTS. CW OFFERED A SERIES OF WEBINARS AT NO COST TO THE PUBLIC ON ASSESSING FEASIBILITY FOR VARIOUS TYPE OF COOPERATIVES BY SECTOR AND INDUSTRY.