Schedule subject to change as conference sessions are confirmed.
Friday, November 14th
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Pre-Conference Registration
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Staff and Member Leadership Pre-Conference
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM | ICC Ann Arbor Co-op Tour #1
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Registration Open
12:45 PM - 1:45 PM | Lunch Break Social (bring your own meal)
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Connecting Block 1
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM | ICC Ann Arbor Co-op Tour #2
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Presenter Kick-off
Saturday, November 15th
8:00 AM | Registration Opens
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM | Coffee & Connecting (Rogel)
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM | Welcome & Kickoff (Rogel)
10:15 AM - 11:30 AM | Course block 1
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM | Keynote: Emily Kawano - "Solidarity Economy: a way forward in the face of convergent crises" (Rogel)
12:45 PM - 2:15 PM | Lunch on the town
12:45 PM - 2:15 PM | Collective Liberation Congress (lunch provided to CLC members)
2:15 PM - 3:30 PM | Course block 2
3:45 PM - 4:30 PM | Connecting block 2 (including NASCO Board Meet & Greet)
4:45 PM - 6:15 PM | Course block 3
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM | Banquet & Hall of Fame Ceremony
8:30 PM - 10:00 PM | Defend & Unite: Co-op Solidarity Planning
8:30 PM - 10:00 PM | Cooperative Game Night and Art Room Open
Sunday, November 16th
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM | Coffee & Connecting
9:30 AM - 12:45 PM | NASCO Annual General Meeting
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM | Course block 4
11:15 AM - 12:45 AM | Course block 5
12:45 PM - 2:15 PM | Lunch Plenary Panel: “Cooperatives as Tools for Social Transformation”
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM | Course block 6
4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Wrap-up and Goodbyes (and Co-op Swag Raffle!)
6:00 PM | Informal Faculty Dinner on the town
Keynote: Emily Kawano
Solidarity Economy: A Way Forward in the Face of Convergent Crises
In these turbulent and frightening times, with fascism, climate disasters and political/social/economic meltdown bearing down upon us, what are the ways forward? Now is a historic moment where people’s faith in the status quo has been upended and there is an opportunity to push for and build a new world--one that moves beyond capitalism, where all beings live in harmony with each other and Mother Earth. The solidarity economy (SE) is a framework and a global movement to bring this world into being, building on a wealth of existing practices that align with SE values of solidarity, equity, participatory democracy, sustainability and pluralism (many paths). NASCO’s work is well aligned with the solidarity economy and infusing the cooperative housing movement with this transformative vision and movement is both critical and timely.
Emily Kawano is the co-coordinator and co-founder of the U.S. Solidarity Economy Network and served on the Board of RIPESS (the Intercontinental Network for the Social Solidarity Economy) for almost a decade. She is the co-director of Wellspring Cooperative, based in Springfield, MA that is building a local solidarity economy ecosystem, including a network of worker co-ops. She has a Ph.D in economics from UMass, Amherst where she joined the Center for Popular Economics and served as director for nine years. She taught economics at Smith College and was the National Economic Justice Representative for the American Friends Service Committee.
Program Highlights
Sunday Lunch Plenary Panel: Cooperatives as Tools for Social Transformation
Facilitator: Steve Dubb, Nonprofit Quarterly
Panelists:
- Karen Tyler-Ruiz - Executive Director, Center for Community-Based Enterprise, Detroit, MI
- Amaha Sellassie - Board President, Gem City Market, Dayton, OH
- Emily Kawano - Co-Director, Wellspring Cooperative, Springfield, MA
- Cathy Statz - Board Representative, Ralph K. Morris Foundation, Minneapolis, MN
How can we apply cooperative principles and build links of cooperation beyond the confines of our own co-ops? This moderated panel of co-op activists brings together people who have used their work in co-ops to build alliances with broader social movements and advance community-led social change. Come and learn more about a wide range of methods for building a democratic economy (while displacing corporate capitalism at the same time!). Audience participation is encouraged, so please bring your best community building and community organizing questions with you.
Annual Events at Institute 2025 to Look Forward To
Every year co-opers look forward to learning, connecting, and celebrating at our annual events in Institute including:
ICC Co-op Tours: Walking tours to many houses that make up the ICC Ann Arbor houses
Hall of Fame Ceremony: A dinner and celebration of our Hall of Fame Co-opers nominated by fellow co-opers. Look out for nominations and don't miss this special event to honor co-opers.
Staff & Managers Event: Staff and Managers at co-ops have important jobs to keep our co-ops running. Come connect with other staff, managers, and executive directors at housing co-ops.
Annual General Meeting: All Members of NASCO are able to participate and vote in the AGM. This is a space for members to make changes to the NASCO bylaws, to elect the Active Member Representative to the NASCO Board, to hear from Diversity Congress, and to get updates on NASCO’s activities from staff. The AGM is open to all to view, but only AGM representatives can vote.
Identity-Based Caucuses
Caucuses are member-led spaces for participants with shared identities to connect, raise issues, and organize for change within NASCO, their co-ops, and our broader communities.
This year, caucuses will take place online in October before Institute. Each caucus will elect representatives and bring proposals to the Collective Liberation Congress, held in person during Institute. For those who want to connect socially, optional in-person gathering spaces will also be available on Friday.
More information, including the full caucus schedule and registration links, is available here.
Course Tracks:
From Collapse to Cooperation
The theme course track will explore how cooperatives can respond to political, economic, and environmental crises by building systems rooted in equity, mutual aid, and collective care. Sessions may include practical tools for organizing, policy advocacy, and co-op development, alongside space for reflection, storytelling, and strategy-sharing. Together, we’ll examine how co-ops can be both a refuge from collapse and a foundation for a better world.
Staff and Managers
This year’s co-op staff track brings co-op staff together to build strong connections, share best practices, and learn new ways to tackle the unique issues they face, leaning into our conference theme of Mobilizing the Co–op Ecosystem. Sessions include a series of knowledge shares centered around specific staff roles and several opportunities to participate in our popular peer consultation sessions, as well as a number of sessions focused on concrete skills.
Cooperative Fundamentals
Keeping your co-op running smoothly requires a wide range of skills and a wealth of collective knowledge. Workshops in this course track will focus on building essential tools for maintaining your cooperative—from understanding member, board, and staff roles to dynamic facilitation and fair housing. This series is ideal for anyone who hopes to leave NASCO Institute with a foundation of knowledge and concrete skills to take back to their co-op.
Cooperative Leadership
A cooperative approach to leadership connects the human needs of members to a co-op’s mission and the day-to-day work needed to maintain strong organizations. Practicing cooperative leadership requires self-awareness, active listening, and gratitude when receiving criticism. Any cooperator can practice leadership when they uplift the voices of fellow members and actively work to share power equitably. This course track creates space for attendees to learn and practice core leadership skills.
Creating A Co-op
With the cost of living constantly on the rise, the demand for affordable housing solutions—like housing co-ops—is greater than ever. NASCO has pulled together a team of experts to take future co-op founders through the process of starting a new housing co-op, from clarifying the initial concept to drafting your business plan. Workshops in this series provide a comprehensive, step-by-step training program on the development process.
Cooperation Among Cooperatives
Working together with other cooperatives is a core part of what it means to be a co-op (it’s one of the seven Cooperative Principles!). Solidarity between co-ops helps each co-op serve its members most effectively and strengthens the cooperative movement as a whole. This course track features the work of cooperators across different sectors and highlights how housing co-op members can become more involved in the cooperative movement at large. Join us in these sessions to be inspired, expand your horizons, and dream big.