Agenda:
Tuesday July 28th:
Programming will take place in the Benedictine Commons at The College of St. Scholastica unless otherwise noted.
10:00 AM | Registration opens
Snacks, coffee available
Resource tables are open
10:30 AM | Welcome
Amy Bergstrom, The College of St. Scholastica
Katie Marty, CoMinnesota
Ariel Kagan, Minnesota Farmers Union
Kristi Kane, Arrowhead Regional Development Commission
Zack Filipovich, Northspan
10:45 AM | Co-ops 101: What is a Co-op and Why Does it Matter?
Cathy Statz, Cooperative Educator
11:10 AM | Cooperative Keynote: Meeting the Moment
Doug O’Brien, National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA CLUSA)
12:00 PM | Co-op History: What Can We Learn from the Past to Build for the Future?
Margaret Bau, Former USDA Rural Development Cooperative Development Specialist
Michael Lansing, Augsburg University
Cory Haala, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
12:30 PM | Lunch
Resource tables are open
1:00 PM | Lightning Talks: There’s a Co-op for That
Jennifer Stedt, Northstar Credit Union
Sebastian Rivera, Cooperative Energy Futures
Jane Eastes, Lakes County Service Cooperative
Stephanie Peterson, Central Farm Service
2:00 PM | Co-op Tours of Duluth Area Cooperatives
Coach buses will take attendees around to visit 3-4 local cooperatives each during the co-op tours. Be sure to select the free co-op tour ticket to let us know you’ll be joining the tours when you register.
Participating cooperatives for the tours include:
Farm and Forest Co-op
Whole Foods Co-op
The Golf Cooperative
Halcyon House
Bayfield Foods CSA
Northern Communities Credit Union
Positively 3rd Street Bakery
5:30 PM | Networking Reception at Clyde Iron Works
2920 W Michigan St, Duluth, MN 55806
A dinner reception of heavy appetizers and a cash bar with a brief welcome program and opportunities to meet start-up cooperatives. Be sure to select the free dinner tour ticket to let us know you’ll be joining the tours when you register.
Wednesday July 29th:
Programming will take place in the Benedictine Commons at The College of St. Scholastica unless otherwise noted.
7:45 AM | Networking Breakfast
Breakfast, coffee available
Resource tables are open
8:30 AM | Welcome
8:40 AM | Keynote: Cooperative Development is Economic Development
Tony Sertich, Northland Foundation
9:10 AM | Co-ops as a Path to Economic Opportunity
Nkuli Tabata, Nexus Community Partners
Denise Butler, ACER
Victoria McWane-Creek, Onyx Collective
9:40 AM | Indigenous Cooperative Perspectives
10:30 AM | Break
Resource tables are open
10:45 AM | Keynote: What’s at Stake if We Miss the Moment?
Zephyr Teachout, Fordham University
11:15 AM | Advocacy Panel: Exploring Co-op Policy and Civic Engagement in Minnesota
Jennifer Wickman, Cooperative Network (Moderator)
Senator Aric Putnam, Minnesota State Senate
Liz Olson, McKnight Foundation
Soren Stevenson, Minneapolis City Council Member
12:15 PM | Lunch Sessions
Resource tables are open
Lunch Session A: For those new to co-ops:
What are the First Steps for my Co-op Idea? - Somers Lounge
Margaret Bau, Former USDA Rural Development Cooperative Development Specialist
Lunch Session B: For those familiar with co-ops:
How does Cooperation Amongst Cooperatives Make us all Stronger? - Benedictine Commons
Doug O’Brien, National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA CLUSA) (Moderator)
Joleen Baker, Cooperative Partners Warehouse
Brent Rempe, First Alliance Credit Union
Jill Casper, CTC
1:30 & 3:00 PM | Breakout Sessions: 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 four thorny issues that face communities across the state of Minnesota and showcase cooperative solutions for each topic.
Attendees can attend two different sessions, one at 1:30 p.m. and the other at 3 p.m. There will be a break in between sessions from 2:45-3 p.m.
Breakout Sessions:
Succession planning
Kirsten Kennedy, MNCEO (co-host)
Zach Filipovich, Northspan (co-host)
Sara McGarraugh, The Improve Group
Childcare
Electra Skrzydlewski, MCCD (host)
Char Vrieze, Cooperative Development Services
Courtney Greiner, Esko Minis Childcare and Preschool
Housing
Gretchen Nicholls, Twin Cities LISC (host)
Gunnar Carlson, Riverton Community Housing
Emily Stewart, CoNorth
Marjory Gilsrud, Madelia Mobile Village
Healthcare
Marie Barry, Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative (host)
Susan Rosette, Cardinal Comfort Care Cooperative
4:30 PM | Dreaming Bigger: How Co-ops Build the Future
Cory Neeley, Cooperative Development Services
Theresa Schneider, The Good Acre
Eric Sannerud, GrownBy
4:40 PM | Resources, Opportunities, and Next Steps for Minnesota
Katie Marty, CoMinnesota
5:00 PM | Closing Reception Happy Hour hosted by Members Cooperative Credit Union - Somers Lounge
Featuring Broken Clock Brewing Co-op
6:00 PM | Adjourn