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The 2026 New York Cooperative Summit
“Strengthening and Growing Cooperative Networks: Cultivating a Statewide Movement for Economic Democracy”
The New York Cooperative Summit is a one-day event brings together New York State cooperative members, leaders, organizers, and allies to share practical tools and strategies for starting, sustaining, and scaling the co-op ecosystem across the state. In 2024, the Summit was held in Syracuse and attracted 100 attendees, and last year the event was in Albany and attracted 125. This year we are planning for up to 150 attendees in Schenectady!
Full Day Conference Event: Saturday, October 17th, from 12 noon - 8:30 pm - Registration includes light lunch and snacks, dinner, childcare, and English/Spanish interpretation.
NEW!!! Part-Day Field-Trip Event: Sunday, October 18th, from 9:00 am - 1:30 pm (separate registration) - We'll be visiting a solidarity economy site nearby and holding a tour; then gathering for a tour, closing ceremony and gathering of the whole at Electric City Community Grocery's new location.
Who should attend?
The Summit is for people who are building, supporting, studying, funding, or organizing around cooperative and democratic economic models. This includes cooperative members, workers, boards, managers, developers, technical assistance providers, funders, lenders, foundations, community organizers, attorneys, accountants, bookkeepers, educators, students, researchers, public-sector partners, and people who are new to the cooperative movement. Anyone interested in building a more democratic, community-rooted economy is welcome.
What should I expect from the summit?
The Summit focuses on the practical and political work of building the cooperative economy. Participants can expect workshops, strategy conversations, facilitated networking, and shared learning spaces designed for people who are starting, sustaining, supporting, funding, or organizing cooperatives and democratic economic institutions. The program is shaped by the needs and priorities emerging from the cooperative ecosystem. Topics may include:
starting and growing cooperatives
converting existing businesses to cooperative ownership
cooperative finance and capital access
public policy and state legislation
labor union and cooperative collaboration
cooperative development in immigrant communities
food, worker, housing, credit union, and land-based cooperative models
group decision-making, governance, and conflict management
local cooperative ecosystems across New York
accessibility, language justice, and inclusive organizing
lessons from cooperative movements in other states and regions
shared strategy for building a more powerful statewide movement
The full program, workshop schedule, featured speakers, registration details, and event-day information will be announced as the planning process develops.
Who is organizing the Summit?
The 2026 event is being co-organized by a coalition of leaders from the Adirondack North Country Association, The Alchemical Nursery Project, CNY Community Foundation, Cooperation Buffalo, Cooperative Federal Credit Union, Cooperative Fund of the Northeast, Democracy at Work Institute, Capital Bookkeeping Cooperative, ICA Group, NYC Network of Worker Cooperatives, The Worker Place, Westchester Cooperative Network, and others.
The organizing team brings together people working across several core areas, including finance and sponsorship, logistics, content and workshop planning, marketing and outreach, accessibility, translation, and day-of volunteering.
The Alchemical Nursery Project, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Syracuse, New York, serves as the fiscal sponsor and provides administrative support for the New York Cooperative Summit.
What's the event day schedule?
The Summit agenda is still being developed and will be announced once the workshop and speaker details are confirmed.
The final schedule may include registration and informal networking, welcome and grounding, keynote or featured conversations, workshop sessions, shared meal time, facilitated networking, full-group reflection, and closing remarks. The Schedule blocks will run from approximately
12:00 noon - 8:30 pm on Saturday, October 17th
and
9:00 am - 1:30 pm on Sunday, October 18th
COVID 19
The Coordinating Team of the 2026 New York Cooperative Summit notes that masking is welcome and appreciated, but optional.
When possible, KN95 masks will be available at the registration desk, and hand sanitizer will be available throughout the event space.
Participants are encouraged to take a rapid test before traveling to the Summit as a preventative step. If you are sick, whether with COVID-19 or another illness, please consider staying home and resting instead of attending.
Registration refund policies for illness-related absences will be shared with the event details.
SPONSORS
Sponsorship makes the Summit possible. Sponsor support helps keep the event accessible and sustainable by contributing to costs such as venue rental, food, interpretation, childcare, speaker and organizer support, printing, outreach, registration accessibility, and other event needs.
Sponsors are recognized according to the current sponsorship levels, which may include website recognition, printed program recognition, event registrations, tabling opportunities, logo placement, and acknowledgements during the Summit. Organizations interested in sponsoring, exhibiting, advertising, or otherwise supporting the Summit can find current sponsorship information at: https://newyorkcooperative.org/sponsorship/
$2,800: Cooperative Federal Credit Union via the Alchemical Nursery Project
$2,500: Cooperative Development Fund
$2,000: National Cooperative Bank, The Elias Foundation, and Our Bronx
$1,000: Electric City Community Grocery, CFNE - Cooperative Fund of the North East, CDI - Cooperative Development Institute, Albany Law Community Economic Development Clinic
$500: Local Enterprise Assistance Fund (LEAF), GreenStar, Honest Weight Food Co-op, Lexington Cooperative Market, Mi Oh Mi Farms, Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA), Cornell Cooperative Enterprise Program (CEP), Cooperative Development Institute (CDI), Walden Mutual, Genessee FCU, Democracy at Work Institute
$250: Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region, Alternatives FCU, Research Action Design, Westchester Cooperative Network, NYC NoWC, Cooperation Hudson Valley, Keystone Development Center, Sustainable Economies Law Center (SELC)
By registering for this event, you also agree to receive promotional & event-related emails from the New York Cooperative Summit.
Use SimpleTix for your event. Visit this link, and help us earn a referral bonus to support the Summit events!
======= ESPAÑOL =======
Cultivando un movimiento estatal por la democracia económica
La Cumbre Cooperativa de Nueva York es un encuentro estatal para miembros de cooperativas, líderes, organizadores, instituciones comunitarias, financiadores, proveedores de asistencia técnica y aliados que trabajan para fortalecer el ecosistema cooperativo de Nueva York.
La Cumbre reúne a personas de distintos sectores, regiones y tradiciones cooperativas para compartir herramientas prácticas, construir relaciones, aprender unas de otras y coordinar el trabajo de expandir la propiedad democrática y el poder económico arraigado en la comunidad en todo el estado de Nueva York.
La Cumbre es un espacio de aprendizaje compartido, colaboración práctica y construcción de movimiento dentro de la economía cooperativa de Nueva York.
¿Quién debería asistir?
La Cumbre es para personas que están construyendo, apoyando, estudiando, financiando y organizando modelos cooperativos y económicos democráticos.
Esto incluye miembros de cooperativas, trabajadores, juntas directivas, gerentes, desarrolladores, proveedores de asistencia técnica, financiadores, prestamistas, fundaciones, organizadores comunitarios, abogados, contadores, educadores, estudiantes, investigadores, socios del sector público y personas nuevas en el movimiento cooperativo.
Toda persona interesada en construir una economía más democrática y arraigada en la comunidad es bienvenida.
¿Qué debo esperar de la Cumbre?
La Cumbre se enfoca en el trabajo práctico y político de construir la economía cooperativa.
Las personas participantes pueden esperar talleres, conversaciones estratégicas, espacios de networking facilitado y espacios de aprendizaje compartido diseñados para quienes están iniciando, sosteniendo, apoyando, financiando y organizando cooperativas e instituciones económicas democráticas.
El programa se forma a partir de las necesidades y prioridades que emergen del ecosistema cooperativo. Los temas pueden incluir:
iniciar y hacer crecer cooperativas
convertir negocios existentes en propiedad cooperativa
finanzas cooperativas y acceso a capital
políticas públicas y legislación estatal
colaboración entre sindicatos y cooperativas
desarrollo cooperativo en comunidades inmigrantes
modelos cooperativos de trabajo, vivienda, alimentos, crédito y tierras
toma de decisiones grupales, gobernanza y manejo de conflictos
ecosistemas cooperativos locales en Nueva York
accesibilidad, justicia lingüística y organización inclusiva
lecciones de los movimientos cooperativos en otros estados y regiones
estrategia compartida para construir un movimiento estatal más poderoso
El programa completo, el horario de talleres, las personas invitadas, los detalles de inscripción y la información del día del evento se anunciarán a medida que avance el proceso de planificación.
¿Quién organiza la Cumbre?
El evento de 2026 está siendo co-organizado por una coalición de líderes de Adirondack North Country Association, The Alchemical Nursery Project, CNY Community Foundation, Cooperation Buffalo, Cooperative Federal Credit Union, Cooperative Fund of the Northeast, Democracy at Work Institute, Capital Bookkeeping Cooperative, ICA Group, NYC Network of Worker Cooperatives, The Worker Place, Westchester Cooperative Network y otras organizaciones aliadas.
El equipo organizador reúne a personas que trabajan en varias áreas principales, incluyendo finanzas y patrocinio, logística, planificación de contenido y talleres, marketing y divulgación, accesibilidad, traducción y voluntariado durante el evento.
The Alchemical Nursery Project, Inc., una organización sin fines de lucro 501(c)(3) con sede en Syracuse, Nueva York, sirve como patrocinador fiscal y brinda apoyo administrativo para la Cumbre Cooperativa de Nueva York.
What's the event day schedule?
The Summit agenda is still being developed and will be announced once the workshop and speaker details are confirmed.
The final schedule may include registration and informal networking, welcome and grounding, keynote or featured conversations, workshop sessions, shared meal time, facilitated networking, full-group reflection, and closing remarks. The Schedule blocks will run from approximately
12:00 noon - 8:30 pm on Saturday October 17th
and
9:00 am - 1:30 pm on Sunday October 18th
COVID 19
El Equipo Coordinador de la Cumbre Cooperativa de Nueva York 2026 señala que el uso de mascarilla es bienvenido y apreciado, pero opcional.
Cuando sea posible, habrá mascarillas KN95 disponibles en la mesa de registro, y habrá desinfectante de manos disponible en el espacio del evento.
Se recomienda que las personas participantes se hagan una prueba rápida antes de viajar a la Cumbre como medida preventiva. Si está enfermo, ya sea de COVID-19 u otra enfermedad, le pedimos que considere quedarse en casa y descansar en lugar de asistir.
Las políticas de reembolso por ausencias relacionadas con enfermedad se compartirán con los detalles del evento.
El patrocinio hace posible la Cumbre.
El apoyo de patrocinadores ayuda a mantener el evento accesible y sostenible al contribuir a gastos como alquiler del lugar, comida, interpretación, cuidado infantil, apoyo a ponentes y organizadores, impresión, divulgación, accesibilidad de inscripción y otras necesidades del evento.
Las organizaciones patrocinadoras son reconocidas de acuerdo con los niveles de patrocinio, que pueden incluir reconocimiento en el sitio web, reconocimiento en el programa impreso, inscripciones al evento, oportunidades de mesa, colocación de logotipo y agradecimientos durante la Cumbre.
Las organizaciones interesadas en patrocinar, exhibir, anunciarse o apoyar la Cumbre pueden encontrar la información actual de patrocinio en:
https://newyorkcooperative.org/sponsorship/
$2,800: Cooperative Federal Credit Union via the Alchemical Nursery Project
$2,500: Cooperative Development Fund
$2,000: National Cooperative Bank, The Elias Foundation
$1,000: Electric City Food Co-op, CFNE/Cooperative Fund of the North East
$500: Local Enterprise Assistance Fund (LEAF), GreenStar, Honest Weight Food Co-op, Mi Oh Mi Farms, Cornell Cooperative Enterprise Program (CEP), Cooperative Development Institute (CDI), Walden Mutual
$250: Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region, Research Action Design, Westchester Cooperative Network, NYC NoWC, Albany Law Community Economic Development Clinic
Al registrarse para este evento, también acepta recibir correos electrónicos promocionales y relacionados con el evento de la Cumbre Cooperativa de Nueva York.
