You are the future of the co-op economy!

Cooperative Development Training Program

A free, hybrid (online and in-person) introductory training program for future co-op developers and organizations incubating cooperative initiatives.

Bilingual course offered in English & Spanish.

Enrolling now for Part 1: Getting Started with Co-op Start Ups, our 9 month course beginning in February 2025.
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About the Program

Learn the skills to steward cooperative projects.

This introductory, interactive course will help you build skills as a co-op developer or “Cooperation Steward.” Learn the principles and practices of cooperative development and cultivate your own portfolio of practice. 

This is not a traditional “co-op academy!” Rather than learn how to start your own individual co-op, you will learn how to guide other groups to develop cooperative projects. The goal of this program is to build cooperative development knowledge among partners, who can steward the growth of co-ops and cooperative economies in their local communities. 

Cultivate a community of cooperatives and cooperative developers!

Our unique cohort program brings together individuals and organizations across the Northeast and broader regions to build relationships and cooperative networks. Meet and collaborate with other passionate people working to solve hard economic problems in their local regions through cooperative and solidarity strategies.
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Program Structure

The Cooperative Development Training program is divided into three parts, which are sequential and build in depth. See further below for a breakdown of the course content. We are currently enrolling for Part 1 of the program and will offer Parts 2 and 3 in 2026. Participants in Part 1 are not required to participate in all three parts, but we welcome and encourage you to join for all three. Stay tuned for more details at the end of 2025!

What to Expect

This program is participatory and relationship-based, with interactive discussions and activities. Come prepared to participate and to share your knowledge and experience with your fellow learners. We believe that everyone has knowledge to offer and knowledge to learn.

Sessions will include modest pre-work of approximately 25-40 minutes of video materials to complete before each session. Completing the pre-work is essential for this program. These video materials contain the basic course content, which we will use as the foundation for our group sessions. You may complete the pre-work on your own time, or you can attend optional Zoom watch sessions.

Who Is This Program For?

This program is ideal for: 

  • Individuals interested in the role of a co-op developer, to support others to develop co-ops and cooperative projects. 
  • Individuals with some experience with co-ops and/or co-op development, but who want to bring their skills and practice to the next level. 
  • Individuals new to co-ops but with experience in related work (community organizing, community development, education, business management), who are eager to dive into the world of cooperative development. 
  • Organizations who want to incubate co-ops, and/or seed cooperative and solidarity economies in their local regions. 
  • People who want to practice language justice and learn across multilingual and multicultural communities. 
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Course Overview & Timeline

Part 1: Getting Started with Co-op Start-Ups (Feb-Oct 2025)

In Part 1, we will introduce learners to the principles and practices of cooperative development, covering three of the five development phases and the various models of cooperatives that exist. We will delve into the role of the Cooperation Steward and help learners decide if this role is a good fit for them.

  • 2 in-person Community of Practice sessions (virtual option available)
  • 8 monthly 2 hour online sessions
  • Optional Zoom sessions to watch pre-work video modules
  • Bilingual English/Spanish
  • Handout, slides, and course materials available in our online portal
  • Food, travel reimbursement & some housing available for Community of Practice sessions

Community of Practice 1:
Relationships

In-person | February 22, 2025

1. Intro to Co-ops:
Structure & Membership 

Online | March 18, 2025

2. Intro to Co-ops:
History & Ecosystems

Online | April 15, 2025

3. Being a Developer & Co-op Steward

Online | May 20, 2025

4. Unpacking Skills & Resources

Online | June 17, 2025

5. The Explore Phase

Online | July 15, 2025

6. The Assess Phase

Online | August 19, 2025

7. Business Planning

Online | September 16, 2025

8. The Structure Phase

Online | October 21, 2025

Community of Practice 2:
Co-op Stewardship

In-person | October 2025

Part 2: Tools and Strategies for Implementing and Sustaining Co-ops (TBD 2026)

In Part 2, we will support learners in solidifying their goals and identities as Cooperation Stewards and developing their portfolio and practice. We will also explore the final two phases of cooperative development and learn about the participatory management approach to financial stewardship.

  • 1 in-person Community of Practice session (virtual option available)
  • 4 monthly virtual sessions

Part 3: Taking Cooperation to the Next Level (TBD 2026/2027)

In Part 3, we will support learners in diving deeply into CDI’s tools and ideas surrounding the following: (a) growth and transformation planning for co-ops, (b) transitioning existing businesses to co-ops, and (c) mobilizing ecosystems into cooperative/solidarity economies.

  • 1 in-person Community of Practice session (virtual option available)
  • 4 monthly virtual sessions

Meet your facilitators!

Katherine Bessey
Dir. of Cooperative Business Services
Cooperative Development Institute (CDI)

Katherine leads CDIs co-op business team, providing wrap around co-op development services for clients in the agriculture, childcare, housing, and small business industries. She has extensive knowledge and experience in sustainable development, food systems, and business development. She worked as an Associate Research Analyst for Group Dimensions International for 8 years and contributed to international development research for the World Bank, African Development Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank. She also lived and worked in Italy for two years completing a sustainable agriculture and culture internship. BA - Smith College, Mathematics and Art, Masters of Policy & Planning - Muskie School, University of Southern Maine
Pável Uranga
Dir. of Immigrant Services
Cooperative Development Institute (CDI)

Pável advises and trains emerging workers and cooperatives throughout southern New England. He mainly supports immigrant cooperatives and promotes Language Justice at CDI. He is a radio producer, community journalist, and community organizer with more than 20 years of experience. His experience has enabled him to carry out social justice initiatives, including immigrant rights, community radio, qualitative/participatory research processes, case studies, leadership development training, and collaborative efforts of unions, workers, and grassroots movements.
Andrew Stachiw
Dir. of Curriculum Development & Co-op Education
Toolbox for Education and Social Action (TESA)

Andrew is a co-founder and worker-owner of Toolbox for Education and Social Action (TESA) where he is the Director of Curriculum Development and Cooperative Education. Through his work providing TA through TESA, CDI, and USFWC Andrew provides technical assistance for a wide range of co-ops, and has designed education for cooperative development organizations around the country. Andrew is passionate about cooperative systems that fight for social justice and much of his co-op work has focused on the food system, land access, and the formerly incarcerated.
Addy Schuetz
Cooperative Business Developer
Cooperative Development Institute (CDI)

Addy is a Cooperative Business Developer with a diverse background in non-profit management, youth development, popular and political education, and community organizing work. In 2019, they received a fellowship to study governance models within worker co-ops and democratic organizations across the U.S. Northeast and South. They are passionate about cultivating people’s ability to work collectively and gain skills for democratic and self-governance, especially across differences of lived experience. BA - Brown University, American Studies.
Chris Lepre
Systems and Resources Specialist
Cooperative Development Institute (CDI)

Chris creates systems to increase the efficiency of the organization and curates educational resources for CDI’s technical assistance services and its various training programs. Chris has long been passionate about rectifying systemic racial and socioeconomic inequities and has come to view cooperative economics as an instrumental tool towards that end. Chris has served on the board of his local food co-op, and now serves on the board of the Data Commons Cooperative, working to build digital infrastructure for the global solidarity economy. 
BA - Hamilton College
Cenzontle Language Justice Cooperative
Spanish & English Interpreters & Language Justice Advocates

Our course is offered in both Spanish and English with the assistance of our bi-lingual staff and the support of Cenzontle Cooperative's translators and interpreters.

Cenzontle is a cooperative business providing interpretation and translation for events, webinars, written materials, and more. They also provide trainings  on integrating Language Justice priniciples into movements, organizations, and institutions.

"We believe in uplifting human dignity. As interpreters, translators, and capacity builders we strive to help in creating bridges between communities that are working for liberation." 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I am a good fit for this program?

If you are interested in the role of a co-op developer and learning how to help others to develop co-ops and cooperative projects, this is the program for you!

A diverse range of participants will benefit from this program:
  • Individuals with some experience with co-ops and/or co-op development, but who want to bring their skills and practice to the next level.
  • Individuals new to co-ops but with experience in related work (community organizing, community development, education, business management), who are eager to dive into the world of cooperative development.
  • Organizations or collectives who want to incubate co-ops, and/or seed cooperative and solidarity economies in their local regions.


This program brings together diverse groups and individuals across the Northeast U.S. and beyond. Ideal participants want to practice language justice and learn across multilingual and multicultural communities. 

Can I participate in a different language other than English?

Yes, the course will be taught in both Spanish and English, with videos and materials available in both languages. We creatively use simultaneous interpretation, consecutive interpretation, break out groups, and language justice tools to facilitate an effective multilingual space.

Do we need to commit to attending all the training sessions?

Yes, please plan to attend and participate in all class sessions, although we understand that emergencies occur. All handouts, slides, and course materials will be available on our online course portal.

If you are joining as part of an organization, we ask that at least one person from your team commit to attending and participating in all class sessions.

How much homework is there?

Each monthly session will include modest pre-work of 25-40 minutes of video materials to watch before each session. Completing the pre-work is essential for this program. These video materials contain the basic course content, which we will use as the foundation for our group sessions. You may complete the pre-work on your own time, or you can attend optional Zoom watch sessions that we will host during the same week as the class session.

How much time will we spend networking with peers?

We believe that building our cooperative ecosystem (aka our community of diverse cooperatives that support each other) is essential. We also believe that peer-to-peer learning is vital. Therefore, our program is highly participatory. We will include plenty of discussions, interactive activities, case studies, breakout groups, and networking and Q&A time. We also encourage you to build connections with other participants outside of class!

I am interested in starting a housing co-op. Will this program be applicable to me?

Yes. The processes of developing housing and business cooperatives are largely the same. We will share housing-specific information in this class.

Is there access to professional service providers? (attorney, CPA, etc)

Yes! We will invite experienced Certified Public Accountants and attorneys, and other service providers as needed to consult on projects. We share the information that they have shared with us on topics such as co-op finances, incorporations, and internal systems of accounts and patronage.

Will I complete any projects during this program?

Each participant will complete their own “Co-op Developer Portfolio,” in which you will develop your personal goals and ethos around cooperative development work, map your cooperative ecosystem, develop a database of resources, and more. This portfolio will be a resource for you to use in your future work. After completing CTDP, we will also give you a course completion packet with materials to help support you beyond the end of the class.

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