News and Updates

June 14, 2021

Please join us in welcoming the newest members of the NASCO Board of Directors and the NASCO Properties Board of Directors. NASCO's dedicated Directors help us remain responsive to the needs of the co-op movement as we continue to provide resources, direct assistance, and connection to the North American cooperative sector. Pictured from left to right, top to bottom:

 

Emily Tyler
NASCO Board

Emily's experience with the cooperative movement began when she moved into Toad Lane house of the MSU Student Housing Cooperative in East Lansing, Michigan in December of 2017. Since August 2018, she has called Vesta haus home. Emily joined the co-op as a student, and graduated from Michigan State University in May 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in English. In her time as a member-owner of the SHC, she has served in several capacities, including house membership officer, house education officer, officer laborer, and currently the Vice President of Education and concurrently the Executive Vice President of the co-op. She loves reading and writing and spending time with her housemates. Emily looks forward to her service on the NASCO Board of Directors and is eager to see what’s to come!

 

May 21, 2021

 

May 25, 2021 marks one year since George Floyd's murder. Over the last year, NASCO housing co-ops have stood firmly in solidarity with local and global movements for racial justice, economic transformation, and community care. Some co-ops have participated in direct action to end the pattern of unjust, abusive, and racist policing, some have contributed to mutual aid work to support their Black members and community members, and some have prioritized building safer spaces within their own homes by identifying and developing alternatives to calling police and by prioritizing anti-racist culture.

 

Alongside local efforts, NASCO has identified ways in which our work with housing cooperatives now and in the future can have an impact, including:  

May 13, 2021

Summer internship opening for someone passionate about intentional communities and savvy with social media!

 

Advance a career in communications work, while supporting the Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC) through this special opportunity.  The Social Media Intern will work closely with our Social Media Manager to support the ongoing management of our social media channels, including: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. The position involves sourcing content from intentional communities, the media, and partner organizations. 

 

Learn more and apply at https://www.ic.org/social-media-intern/

April 30, 2021

 

NASCO has compiled a Membership Profile report based on two member surveys conducted in 2020: 1) COVID-19 Economic Impacts Survey in March 2020, 2) NASCO Annual Member Survey conducted in the fall.

The report offers an overview of NASCO Active Member Co-ops, member demographics, initial COVID-19 economic impacts, and anti-oppression work. 

Read the full report. 

 

In addition to the findings presented here, our surveying included questions related to members' engagement with NASCO programming. We want to share some of the requests that we heard and the steps that we're taking to address those needs:

March 5, 2021
 

The NASCO Board is opening applications to fill one open board seat. 

This appointment is for a one-year term from April 2021 to March 2022.

January 26, 2021

Co-op Voices Archive

 

 

To access an archive of newsletters from 2015-2022, please email bronwyn@nasco.coop.

 

January 26, 2021

NASCO Co-op Voices Archive

 

2021

  • January | New Member Welcome, Movement News, and Upcoming Events

 

2020

November 10, 2020

On Friday, November 6, 2020 at NASCO Institute online, four cooperators were honored as inductees in the NASCO Cooperative Hall of Fame. The NASCO Hall of Fame, created in 1989, provides broader recognition to individuals who have made a truly significant impact within the cooperative movement. NASCO is proud to honor the 2020 inductees:

  • Janelle Orsi, Leader
    • Janelle Orsi is a cartoonist, lawyer, advocate, and writer focused on cooperatives, land trusts, sustainable agriculture, community-owned energy, shared housing, and the creation of a more just and equitable society. She co-founded and works for Sustainable Economies Law Center. Right now, she is deeply involved in 1) crafting legal structures to permanently remove land and housing from the speculative market (check out the Radical Real Estate Law School), 2) creating tools and organizing people to channel investments, especially retirement savings, away from Wall Street and into our local communities (check out TheNextEgg.org), and 3) creating cartoony legal education resources so that everyone can understand cooperative governance and finances.

October 22, 2020

The North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO) and Student Co-op Homes (SCH) announce that both organizations have opted to join Cooperative Housing International (CHI), a subsidiary organization of the International Cooperative Alliance that promotes cooperative housing on a global scale.

NASCO, as a cooperative federation serving the United States and Canada, and SCH, as a cooperative federation serving the UK, each work towards the stability, strength, and growth of the student housing cooperative sectors in their respective regions. 

Having recognized shared missions, NASCO and SCH adopted a Transatlantic Solidarity Agreement in September of 2019 outlining the intention to develop a mutually supportive partnership; membership in Cooperative Housing International is the first step. Through membership in CHI, NASCO and SCH acknowledge the importance of engaging in cooperation globally through information exchange, collaboration, and raising awareness. 

NASCO and SCH’s stated commitment to international cooperation through CHI membership paves the way for global collaboration and the promotion of a strong and interlinked student housing cooperative movement across borders.

If you would like to learn more about SCH, please visit their website at www.studenthomes.coop.

October 16, 2020

 

  • Grand Rapids Alliance of Cooperative Communities - Grand Rapids Alliance of Cooperative Communities (GRACC) is a housing co-operative open to the general public for membership. GRACC was founded in 2012 with one home in Grand Rapids and now operates four houses with 51 units. GRACC prioritizes low-income households, fosters community, and empowers individuals.  GRACC is committed to improving and expanding opportunities for cooperative housing in the Greater Grand Rapids area. Learn more. 

     

  • The Woodnote - The Woodnote cooperative is a non-profit organization that aims to facilitate access to affordable, inclusive, and democratically-run housing for Concordia students, within a community-focused lifestyle. The Woodnote opened its doors just this past summer. Catch Woodnote support member Megan Quigley share more about how the Woodnote was developed on our keynote panel at NASCO Institute next month. Learn more.