1:00pm to 2:00pm Eastern Time

In our fourth of five webinars, our speakers will discuss legacy business conversions into cooperatives and how existing micro-business can work together in cooperative ways.

Register for Legacy Community Businesses

Speakers:

Shevanthi Daniel-Rabkin, Democracy at Work Institute

Soyun Park, Micro Business Network

Facilitators:

Yvonne Yen Liu, Solidarity Research Center
Yvonne is the co-founder and research director of Solidarity Research Center, a worker self-directed nonprofit that advances solidarity economies. She serves on the board of the US Solidarity Economy Network and was named the 2018 Activist-in-Residence Fellow at the UCLA Asian American Studies Center.

Parag Rajendra Khandhar, Asian American Solidarity Economies Project
Parag is a founding principal of Gilmore Khandhar, LLC, a law firm focused on legal, policy, and advocacy tools to advance economic justice, racial equity, and social transformation. He teaches at George Washington University Law School. Parag co-founded Baltimore Activating Solidarity Economies (BASE) and the Asian American Solidarity Economies Network (AASE).

1:00pm to 2:00pm Eastern Time

As part of the Northern Sustainable Food System Study, FSC is hosting a web discussion (focus group) to get feedback on the tentative findings and policy recommendations developed through the Study thus far.  We want to know whether they reflect the experiences and perspectives of those working directly within food security and sustainable food systems in the North - do they reflect your priorities, did we miss something important, should we take something out? Join the conversation and let us know what you think!

Register for Web Discussion on Findings and Recommendations of Northern Sustainable Food Systems Study

To participate in this web discussion participants need to review the Research Ethics Information Letter (link is external) and Consent Form (link is external), which outline the nature of the Study and how the information collected will be used.  If you have any questions or concerns please contact Amanda (community at foodsecurecanad.org (link sends e-mail)). 

Anyone is welcome to participate, however we are especially interested in hearing from those living and working in the North (defined for the purposes of this Study as Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunatsiavut and Nunavik).  The focus of the conversation will be on the federal policy and program recommendations developed out of the Study.  A copy of these will be sent to those registered in advance and we ask that participants come prepared to discuss them.

You can also participate in the Study by sharing information about key Northern food systems assests and infrastructure in your community - click here to access the survey.

1:00pm to 2:00pm Eastern Time

In our third of five webinars, our speakers will introduce the steps involved in forming a cooperative including deciding on its legal entity, cooperative finances, and governance and decision making.

Register for Forming Cooperatives

Speakers:

Ro McIntyre, Red Emma’s Cafe and Bookstore
Ro has been a worker-owner at Red Emma’s Cafe & Bookstore for 4 years. Through their work at Red Emma’s they co-founded Baltimore Roundtable for Economic Democracy (BRED), a local loan fund for worker-cooperative. BRED provides high touch technical assistance paired with non-extractive financing to help co-ops grow & thrive. Ro is currently the Educational Director at BRED and is happily spreading the good word of cooperatives in Maryland.

Annie Sullivan-Chin, A Bookkeeping Cooperative
Annie has been a worker-owner, bookkeeper, and consultant at A Bookkeeping Cooperative since 2013. She began her work with ABC as an intern with the Democracy At Work Network, helping ABC craft its cooperative bylaws and operations protocols. She is now a certified DAWN Peer Advisor, providing customized technical assistance to worker-owned and democratically-managed organizations throughout the country.

Facilitators:

Yvonne Yen Liu, Solidarity Research Center
Yvonne is the co-founder and research director of Solidarity Research Center, a worker self-directed nonprofit that advances solidarity economies. She serves on the board of the US Solidarity Economy Network and was named the 2018 Activist-in-Residence Fellow at the UCLA Asian American Studies Center.

Parag Rajendra Khandhar, Asian American Solidarity Economies Project
Parag is a founding principal of Gilmore Khandhar, LLC, a law firm focused on legal, policy, and advocacy tools to advance economic justice, racial equity, and social transformation. He teaches at George Washington University Law School. Parag co-founded Baltimore Activating Solidarity Economies (BASE) and the Asian American Solidarity Economies Network (AASE).

In our last of five webinars, our speakers will discuss how to incubate cooperatives as a community-based organization or worker center.

Register for Incubating Cooperatives Webinar

Speakers:

• Lan Dinh, Vietlead
• Lolita Andrada Lledo, Pilipino Workers Center

Facilitators:

Yvonne Yen Liu, Solidarity Research Center
Yvonne is the co-founder and research director of Solidarity Research Center, a worker self-directed nonprofit that advances solidarity economies. She serves on the board of the US Solidarity Economy Network and was named the 2018 Activist-in-Residence Fellow at the UCLA Asian American Studies Center.

Parag Rajendra Khandhar, Asian American Solidarity Economies Project
Parag is a founding principal of Gilmore Khandhar, LLC, a law firm focused on legal, policy, and advocacy tools to advance economic justice, racial equity, and social transformation. He teaches at George Washington University Law School. Parag co-founded Baltimore Activating Solidarity Economies (BASE) and the Asian American Solidarity Economies Network (AASE).

The Social Enterprise movement has been sweeping across Canada for several years, gathering momentum and bringing new hope to communities and individuals. As genuine responses to the failures of the market economy and of governments to bring about lasting social change, Social Enterprise seeks a “third way” where businesses and non-profits invest in people first, solving social problems while providing meaningful employment. Local churches and parishes, too, are discovering the missional power of Social Enterprise.

More information for Social Enterprise: Seeking the Good Society

Be part of this unique discussion and mutual learning opportunity. Save the dates October 11-13, 2018, and plan to attend. Registration details and a complete schedule will be available soon.

Keynote Speaker

Shaun Loney of BUILD, Inc. and Aki Energy, Winnipeg

He is an award-winning social entrepreneur and mentor, an economist, a person of faith, and a visionary for solving Canada’s social and employment problems. His inspiring message is mobilizing real change across Canada. More information about Shaun Loney and his recent book An Army of Problem Solvers

4 days. 200 inspired Nova Scotians. 
Skills & strategies for a future that works.

Something is building in Nova Scotia.

• Pressure to change systems that aren't working.
• Local solutions, economies and lifestyles.
• Voices speaking up from the margins.
• Rethinking what's important. 

Our world is in turmoil.

• We value our quality of life, a refuge in the storm.
• We know we can't take our future for granted.
• We see what's possible, and we know we can't get there alone.​

What would it look like if we aligned our efforts around a future that works for all?

Register for How We THRIVE

We are a network of diverse people and partners who are passionate about our communities and concerned about the future. We believe it is time to think bigger, look deeper, and act smarter. Our goal is to thrive—not just survive—as we take steps towards a future that works for all. ​

How We THRIVE is an experiment in "just doing it." It began with a few people dreaming of an event that would capture the energy and possibilities that are alive in the province right now. Nova Scotians from across networks, communities and walks of life would come together for four days—enough time to get below the surface of challenges that persist, share stories and inspiration, pick up new tools and strategies, and listen to what the future is calling for.

Drawing on the legacy of the Authentic Leadership in Action (ALIA) Summer Institutes (2001-14), Engage Nova Scotia's Stepping Up conference (2015), and the Community Sector Council's Many Hands, Many Voices conference (2017), How We THRIVE is a four-day learning institute that weaves together big-picture thinking, hands-on learning streams, visits to the community, mindfulness, and lots of creative engagement.

After four days we will leave with a richer understanding of how we can accelerate positive change in our communities and province. We will uncover a shared story about how we thrive, now and into the future. And we will have tools and connections we need to move towards that future.