Hosted by Elias Crim – Every First Wednesday of the Month via Zoom

Join a growing network of practitioners, advocates, and cooperative builders working to reimagine how we organize work, ownership, and care in our communities. The Social Cooperative Program: Community of Practice is a monthly virtual gathering hosted by Elias Crim, RMEOC’s Social Cooperative Program Director, where individuals and organizations come together to learn from each other, explore the emerging field of social cooperatives, and share tools for building democratic, mission-driven workplaces.

Whether you are a startup co-op, a nonprofit exploring democratic governance, a worker-owned business with a social mission, or simply someone who’s passionate about building an economy rooted in care and cooperation—this space is for you.

What is a Social Cooperative?

Social cooperatives are mission-driven enterprises that center both people and purpose. These organizations go beyond traditional worker cooperatives by explicitly integrating care work, social services, or community development into their governance and business model. Social co-ops might include community health providers, immigrant-led mutual aid networks, co-owned early childhood education centers, housing and care co-ops, and others that put social solidarity and democratic control at the core of their operations.

This field is growing across the U.S., inspired by international models in Italy, Spain, and Quebec. As more groups look for alternatives to hierarchical nonprofits or extractive market solutions, social cooperatives offer a practical, values-aligned path to building community wealth and shared power.

What to Expect

Each Community of Practice session is a one-hour virtual gathering on Zoom, held on the first Wednesday of every month. The format includes:

• Peer Learning & Story Sharing – Hear from other practitioners across the country working on co-op development in healthcare, education, disability services, food access, re-entry, and more.

• Open Dialogue & Peer Support – Bring your questions, challenges, and insights. We create space for collaborative problem-solving and collective wisdom.

• Topical Conversations – Every month we focus on a different theme or challenge—from ownership structures and funding models to cultural organizing, governance, and member participation.

• Featured Guests & Case Studies – Learn from co-op developers, legal experts, grassroots leaders, and seasoned cooperators in the field.

• Resources You Can Use – We regularly share tools, frameworks, and guides to help your project grow and thrive.

This community is built for people actively working to start or grow social cooperatives, as well as allies who want to learn and support. Whether you’re just beginning to explore the model or you’re several years into your cooperative journey, you’ll find peers here who understand your context, speak your language, and share your values.

About the Host

Elias Crim is a seasoned cooperative organizer, educator, and advocate for the solidarity economy. As the Social Cooperative Program Director at RMEOC, Elias brings decades of experience in grassroots organizing, faith-based economic justice, and alternative institution-building. His commitment to democratic ownership and collective care guides this Community of Practice, helping participants ground their work in both practical tools and deep values.

Why It Matters

In a time of deepening inequality, worker burnout, and institutional failure, communities are hungry for new models that center dignity, equity, and resilience. Social cooperatives offer a path forward—one that is grounded in local relationships, shared ownership, and mutual aid. But building these enterprises requires not just technical knowledge, but community.

This monthly space is a place to connect, learn, and grow together. It’s a place where solidarity isn’t just a slogan—it’s a practice.

How to Join

The Community of Practice meets virtually via Zoom on the first Wednesday of each month. Sessions are free and open to the public, but registration is required.

We hope you’ll join us and become part of this growing network of cooperative changemakers.