Agenda:

Please note that these pages are updated regularly. Check back often for the latest information.

Tuesday July 29th: Optional Welcome Events

Please indicate if you'd like to join us for one or both of these optional welcome events on your registration. 

2-4:30 pm A Whirlwind Tour of Morris

Stretch your legs and learn about Morris. This tour will give you a better sense of the community you are visiting and learn how Morris' long history of cooperation (working together) has led to incredible innovation in sustainability, saving local businesses, and creating a thriving city. We will do a short walkabout in downtown Morris and visit a few local businesses (some organized as cooperatives!), including the Morris Theatre and Pomme de Terre Foods! Then we will board an electric bus to do a whirlwind green tour of Morris. Morris has been nationally recognized for sustainability leadership and its "Morris Model." We will visit solar panels, wind turbines and more!

5-7:30 pm Networking Reception at Prime Steakhouse - SOLD OUT

7 East MN-28, Morris, MN 56267

A dinner reception of heavy appetizers and a cash bar is included with conference registration for those who will be in Morris on Tuesday evening.

Wednesday July 30th: Summit Agenda

8:00 am Networking Breakfast

Join Summit stakeholders for a light breakfast, coffee, and tea for a chance to connect with each other and engage with the resource tables in Oyate Hall at the University of Minnesota Morris.

8:45 am Welcome

  • Anna Wasescha, President, West Central Initiative

9:00 am Opening Remarks

  • Mark Ritchie, Minnesota Secretary of State (2007-2015), Chair, World’s Fair Fund

9:20 am Keynote “Co-operatively Building a Better World”

  • Jerome Warren, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Cologne

10:00 am Co-ops Are All Around Us

We’ll hear lightning talks featuring co-op success stories from various sectors showcasing how powerful, versatile, and sustainable cooperatives can be.

  • Farmer Cooperatives: Chad Friese, Chippewa Valley Ethanol Cooperative

  • Credit Unions: Debra L. Hurston, Arise Community Credit Union

  • Consumer Cooperatives: Ryan Pesch, Manna Foods

  • Real Estate Investment Cooperatives: Leslie Watson, Northeast Investment Cooperative

10:30 am Break

10:45 am Co-op Level Setting

As we are inviting those new to cooperatives to attend this event, we intend to provide the basic elements on cooperatives for more equal participation in the subsequent discussions.

  • Co-ops 101: Everything you wanted to know about a co-op but were afraid to ask: Cathy Statz, National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA CLUSA)

  • How co-ops can increase opportunities for everyone: Christina Nicholson and Nkuli Shongwe, Nexus Community Partners

  • A cooperative policy agenda: what could we tackle together: Senator Aric Putnam

  • Finding funding for your cooperative project: Christina Jennings and Ashley Anderson, Shared Capital Cooperative

  • Your co-op needs you! Kathy Draeger, Agralite Rural Electric Coop and Erik Hatlestad, CURE

Noon: Lunch and International Year of Cooperatives Panel

Hear from world co-op leaders and researchers about why 2025 has been declared the International Year of Cooperatives and how co-ops are uniquely suited to help achieve SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)

  • Moderator: Gretchen Hacquard, International Cooperative Alliance

  • Jerome Warren, University of Cologne

  • Karen Yoshida Weldon, Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships

In the afternoon, attendees will dive deeper into the real-world examples of cooperatives that are meeting deep community needs and learn how to incorporate cooperative strategies to meet the economic and social needs of our state in the years to come.

1:30 pm Breakouts Part 1: Creative Cooperative Solutions for Thorny Community Issues

Co-ops have been and will continue to be key for economic development in our state, from succession planning to incorporating marginalized groups to solving challenges that cannot be done alone. The breakout sessions will dig into six thorny issues that face communities across the state of Minnesota and showcase 2-3 cooperative solutions for each topic that are helping address them.

Breakout options:

  • Housing: Victoria Clark-West, Northcountry Cooperative Foundation, Natividad Seefeld, Park Plaza Cooperative, Dennis Johnson, Cooperative Housing Resources, Gunnar Carlson, Riverton Community Housing

  • Childcare: Nancy Johnson, Gillian Hornberger and Jac Kovarik, Papermoon Childcare Cooperative, Erin Laverdure, Energy Capital Cooperative Child Care, Maria Steen, CAPLP Child Care Connections 

  • Small business changes: Kirsten Kennedy, Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership, Dave Abbott, Terra Firma, John Dally, Cooperative Veterinary Care Vet Care

  • Energy/climate: Dr. Gabe Chan, University of Minnesota, Charlie Rybak, Cooperative Energy Futures, Tom Lambrecht, Great River Energy, Mike Reese, WCROC

  • Agriculture: Ariel Kagan and Justin Stofferahn, Minnesota Farmers Union, Kelsey Zaavedra, Heirloomista, Heidi Hoff and April Prusia, Meatsmith Co-op

  • Homecare, health care, and social services: Electra Skrzydlewski, Minnesota Consortium of Community Developers, Brittney Kline, Advocate Care Solutions, Diane Prickett, Minnesota Lifestyle Solutions, Marie Barry, Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative

2:15pm Break

2:30 pm Breakouts Part 2: Creative Cooperative Solutions for Thorny Community Issues

Co-ops have been and will continue to be key for economic development in our state, from succession planning to incorporating marginalized groups to solving challenges that cannot be done alone. The breakout sessions will dig into six thorny issues that face communities across the state of Minnesota and showcase 2-3 cooperative solutions for each topic that are helping address them.

Breakout options:

  • Housing: Victoria Clark-West, Northcountry Cooperative Foundation, Natividad Seefeld, Park Plaza Cooperative, Dennis Johnson, Cooperative Housing Resources, Gunnar Carlson, Riverton Community Housing

  • Childcare: Nancy Johnson, Gillian Hornberger and Jac Kovarik, Papermoon Childcare Cooperative, Erin Laverdure, Energy Capital Cooperative Child Care

  • Small business changes: Kirsten Kennedy, Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership, Dave Abbott, Terra Firma, John Dally, Cooperative Veterinary Care Vet Care

  • Energy/climate: Dr. Gabe Chan, University of Minnesota, Charlie Rybak, Cooperative Energy Futures, Tom Lambrecht, Great River Energy, Mike Reese, WCROC

  • Agriculture: Ariel Kagan and Justin Stofferahn, Minnesota Farmers Union, Kelsey Zaavedra, Heirloomista, Heidi Hoff and April Prusia, Meatsmith Co-op

  • Homecare, health care, and social services: Electra Skrzydlewski, Minnesota Consortium of Community Developers, Brittney Kline, Advocate Care Solutions, Diane Prickett, Minnesota Lifestyle Solutions, Marie Barry, Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative

3:15pm Break

3:30 pm Wrap-up Activity: What This Means for Minnesota

Taking into account the lessons we have learned from the international cooperative movement, what is possible and what is most needed for this moment in Minnesota.

  • Kelly Asche, Senior Researcher at the Center for Rural Policy and Development

  • Katie Marty and Victoria Clark-West, CoMinnesota

4:15 pm Closing Reception Happy Hour

Close with a toast to the possibilities and learning generated during the Summit. Sponsored by Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative and Cooperative Development Services (in honor of their 40th anniversary this year)!

5:30 pm Adjourn