Date:

Friday, May 31, 2024 - 8:00am to Saturday, June 1, 2024 - 5:00pm

Liberty Station Conference Center

2600 Laning Road

San Diego, CA 92106

See map: Google Maps

Info

Save The Date!

The 2024 California Cooperative Conference will convene in San Diego on May 31 and June 1.

Mark your calendars and join us - registration is now available!

Together We'll:

- DISCOVER the cooperative difference

- SHARE the latest developments in cooperatives

- GAIN INSIGHTS to strengthen your cooperative

- NETWORK with other cooperators

Registration

Registration is now open - to register, please CLICK HERE!

Registration Fees
Main Conference	CCCD Members	Non-Members*
Full Conference (5/31 - 6/01)	$320	$350
1-Day Only	$220	$250
Additional Person Discount**	-$20	-$20
Continuing Ed for Attorneys	CCCD Members	Non-Members
MCLE Credit (1 or 2 day conference)	$25	$25

*NOT a member of CCCD? Please join! Besides a considerable savings on conference fees you will be helping to support the cooperative movement.
**Discount off registration fee applies to second and subsequent registrants from the same co-op or organization.

$50 additional fee will apply for registrations after Friday, May 24

Scholarships

Reduced Rate Scholarship Application

A limited number of reduced rate scholarships are available for co-ops, non-profits, community-based organizations, students and low-income individuals. Scholarships are issued based on need, impact, and funds available. Please submit your application ASAP as funds are disbursed on a first come, first served basis. If the application is approved, we will send you payment details.

Sponsorship

Become a conference sponsor today - California Cooperative Conference Sponsorship Form

Workshops

Schedule TBD - workshops sorted by sector for ease of viewing!

Housing

Housing Panel – Learn from those “doing” cooperative housing
A panel of housing co-op resident leaders share about their coop, including successes and challenges. Lots of time for discussion!

Legal Basics of Davis Stirling
The Davis-Stirling Act applies to all forms of residential common interest developments in California, including limited equity housing cooperatives. This workshop discusses fundamental aspects of Davis Stirling, including strategies for remaining compliant, as well as, practices to avoid. The workshop will share relevant additions to the law that went into effect in 2024. Erin Lapeyrolerie and Karen Tiedemann, Goldfarb and Lipman, LLP

LEHC 101
Introduces the Limited Equity Housing Cooperative, how the model works, the legal basics, and how the model offers an effective strategy for affordable home ownership. Hope Williams and Jay Cumberland, Sustainable Economies Law Center (SELC)

Converting Mobile Home Parks to Resident Ownership
Across the state and nation, the last bastion of affordable homeownership – manufactured housing -- is threatened by investor encroachment. Cooperative purchase by park residents is an effective way to preserve these communities while advancing security and democratic control for homeowners. This workshop discusses park ownership through a limited-equity housing cooperative. Relevant aspects of Mobile Home Residency Law, Limited-Equity Housing Cooperative Statute, Davis-Stirling, and Department of Real Estate regulations will be integrated into the discussion. Erin Lapeyrolerie and Karen Tiedemann, Goldfarb and Lipman, LLP

Worker

Cooperatives, A Pathway for Upward Mobility for Excluded Workers
Discusses how cooperatives provide a proven pathway for upward mobility for excluded workers. Developers, technical assistants and others can learn tools to best support workers and workers can learn how to engage with their developers. This symbiotic relationship can foster and strengthen partnerships beyond transactional business for a lasting impact on the community. David Cruz, Starlight Strategies CA, LLC

Business Relations: Expecting the Unexpected
Learn how to avoid or manage issues that small cooperatives may unexpectedly face in an ever-changing professional landscape: membership growth, change of location(s), out-of-state taxes, clientele, price fluctuations and more. David Cruz and Cesar Verastegui, Starlight Strategies CA, LLC d/b/a Radiate Bay Area

Futuro Incubator and Accelerator - Bridging Cooperatives to Opportunities
The workshop shares information about Futuro, a worker-owned cooperative incubator and accelerator, designed to build income and wealth for rural Latine immigrant workers. The project is a part of the non-profit, Ventures, and the workshop will integrate a discussion of their ecosystem building in Central Coast including development of curriculum and training for Latine community consisting of market access, community education, business service provider outreach, policy around procurement and worker pathways, co-op development, capital access, and start-up funds. Brando Sencion and Maria Cadenas

Growing from SEED: The California Worker Owner Collaborative
This workshop will showcase the results of a state grant program that funded an impressive model partnership between California community-based organizations (CBOs) to spearheaded co-op development among excluded workers in low wage industries. Social Entrepreneurs for Economic Development (SEED), culminated in a partnership that incubated and formed worker co-ops in the car wash, child care, taxi cab, and homecare industries. The project led to the formation of the California Worker Owner Collaborative, and this panel will discuss their successes, challenges, and lessons learned – and ultimately, demonstrate the tremendous potential of this model as an equitable workforce development strategy that empowers workers and raises labor standards. Vanessa Bransburg and Mikaiil Hussein, Democracy at Work Institute

Leaning into Accountability
This workshop will invite workshop participants to share, learn, and explore tools for accountability in our co-ops and democratic workspaces that support mediating conflict before it happens and when it does arise. The central question addressed focuses on: - how are accountability processes supportive to preventing conflict, practicing care, and building more democratic workplaces? Eli Tizcareño, U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives; Dominique Pearson, LA Co-op Lab

How Creative Cooperative Employment is Serving Independent Workers
The creative sector is a major stakeholder in the economy, but artists and independent workers are consistently exploited by our ownership systems and institutions. Tribeworks is a worker-owned and artist-run cooperative committed to building a solidarity economy through support of creative workers. With payments, community, and employment enablement, our goal is to help workers stay focused on their craft and their organizations stay focused on their mission. This workshop includes a case study of the Creatives Rebuild New York artist employment program, which Tribeworks is a crucial participant of. McKenzie Jones, Tribeworks

Driver-Owned Co-ops: How We Did It
This is a panel discussion with the United Taxi Workers of San Diego (UTWSD), California Driver’s Cooperative, and The Driver’s Cooperative from Bronx, NY as they share about their experiences and learned lessons. Participants will come away with a framework for building driver-owned cooperatives in their own cities as a tool for system-change in the rideshare gig economy.

Governance (Applicable to all Types of Co-ops)

Decisiones Financieras Informadas (Informed Financial Decisions)
En este taller vamos a revisar un año fiscal en una línea de tiempo en relación a las responsabilidades tanto tributarias como financieras que nuestras cooperativas tienen. No importa qué tipo de cooperativa seas, las finanzas sanas siempre serán un factor para la sustentabilidad. No importa si tu rol es llevar las finanzas de la cooperativa, eres parte de la mesa directiva o tienes otro rol, las decisiones financieras importantes las tomamos todes y los reportes financieros nos ayudan a tomar este tipo de decisiones informades. Daniella Preisler, Colmenar Cooperative Consulting

Cooperatives Culture and Member Engagement
HSC own experience and advices --Strategies to maintain a positive cooperative culture and help members stay involved from start-up through growth and change. Sayde Leos, HSC by Dolores Street Community Services

The Art and Power of Agreement
This workshop focuses on Turning Conflict into Collaboration and strategies to promote the foundational skills that are essential to engage effectively with others. Incorporating a mindset embodied by Resolutionary Thinking, we will discuss how to develop conversational competence to create a culture of sustainable collaboration in your cooperative. The workshop will include opportunities to practice creating “Agreements for Results” and using the “Cycle of Resolution.” Stewart Levine, ResolutionWorks

Tomando Decisiones - Llegando en Acuerdo
Compartimos y reflexionamos sobre modelos de toma de decisiones. (We share and reflect on decision-making models.) Karla Juarez, Cooperacion Santa Ana

Managing Uncooperative Behavior
Uncooperative behavior runs the gamut from breaking small group-process rules to outright criminal actions. When that behavior begins to negatively affect the health and/or existence of a member, a work-team, the organization, or the community as a whole, your group has a big - and often urgent - problem. In this workshop, we break it all down, and co-create a proactive plan to prevent, deal with, and recover from the effects of uncooperative behavior in our communities. Kate “Sassy” Sassoon, Sassy Facilitation

Development and Operational Strategies

How to know When to Let Go: Opportunities and Strategies for Community Ownership Conversions
A key question facing founding teams is knowing when to let go of the business they helped create and enable cooperative ownership. Drawing on findings from a library of 24 ownership conversion case studies created by the Exit to Community Collective,. the workshop provides deep insights into more universal challenges to community ownership conversions and strategies to help enable ownership and governance transitions that serve all stakeholders for the long-term. Three interactive exercises are woven into the presentation to help develop a community ownership roadmap. Participants will come away with key principles for ownership conversions, an introduction to our library, and opportunities to highlight their work with a growing community of practice. Danny Spitzberg, Exit to Community Collective

Increasing Positive Participation in Your Co-op
Keeping your co-op running smoothly involves a lot of participation - but how do we keep that engine of participation running smoothly and positively? In this workshop we discuss how to increase and maintain Member participation in critical "co-operational" activities - like voting, serving on Committees and running for the Board - as well as other methodologies that keep that participation positive. Kate “Sassy” Sassoon, Sassy Facilitation

Corporate Compliance Check-up
eviews best practices to assure that you are operating your cooperative in ways that are legally appropriate. Topics covered include noticing, what should be included in minutes, accounting requirements, quorum, executive session and more! Therese Tuttle, Tuttle Law Grou

Leveling Up: Strategies to Grow Your Co-op's Online Performance
Today's customers, both consumers and businesses, expect a certain level of look, feel, and performance from a company's website. Failing to meet these expectations can cost your co-op lost revenue, relationships, even funding. This workshop will cover the seven most common areas of improvement for websites and five essential rules to follow for social media. All of these are with the goal of helping your co-op compete in the marketplace to achieve its goals of supporting its members, employees, and community. Rob McClinton, Small World

Professional Services Cooperatives in California
The presenters will review case studies of current professional services cooperatives in CA. By “professional services” we mean fields that require a license and involve the sale of services (rather than goods). Examples include architecture, social work, law, and more. The presenters will review how these cooperatives are legally organized and how they function internally. They will then describe the current legal limitations of the CA Corporations Code and professional licensing rules and review ideas about how to modify the law and licensing rules to facilitate more development of professional services cooperatives. (MCLE credit may be available). Ashton Hamm and Alex Glancy, UXO architects

Bringing Joy and Balance to Your Work
Do you wish work could be fun again? Want to create a work environment that inspires you everyday? You work hard. You remain dedicated to the cooperative principles. You remained true to your work, your team, and your values in spite of the challenges of our age. This workshops shares strategies to help find JOY in your work and create an atmosphere that is contagious amongst your staff and customers. This interactive workshop will harness your senses and memory to draw upon your own experience and expertise to transform your day-to-day operations. Participants will collaborate and support each other in guided activities. You will leave with a whole new perspective and call to action. Mark Mulcahy, Columinate/Organic Options and Deborah Yashar, CCCD

Food and Agriculture

Case Study - East End Food Co-op - Why it failed; and what can be learned
This workshop shares the successes, failures and modern-day challenges of The East End Food Co-op, a community co-op for groceries that has been part of the Commercial Drive neighborhood for nearly 50 years in Vancouver, BC. Bradley Boyce, Realize Strategies Co-op

Farmer Co-ops
Hear from Foodshed, a multi-stakeholder farmer-owned and operated cooperative that works directly with 50 farmers, eaters, and entrepreneurs to cultivate an equitable food system in San Diego. Foodshed aggregates fresh produce and distributes to customers through their weekly marketplace and CSA at affordable prices. Learn how their model works to address farmer needs and challenges posed by the climate crisis while addressing food insecurity in low-income communities. Ellee Igoe, Solidarity Farm/Director, Foodshed Cooperative; Jose Alcaraz, La Chispa Farm/Foodshed, Worker Owner; Byron Nkhoma, Hukama Produce/Foodshed, Producer Owner

Building a Robust and Healthy Farmer / Retailer Relationship
A strong and vibrant local food system is at the center of helping to create more access to healthy food and reducing food insecurity in communities across the country. Everyone benefits when we support a local economy that ensures fair prices while paying the true cost of producing food. Cultivating robust relationships with local producers and providing locally grown food in our stores are two key aspects of creating a strong local food system. The workshop will share stories of connecting like-minded folks in producing and procuring food and other products and examples of how to build the most successful Retailer/ Farmer relationship possible. Mark Mulcahy, Columinate/Organic Options

Finance

Basic Bookkeeping Principles for Co-ops
To make good business decisions, you need good financial reports and if you want good reports, you need to start with good bookkeeping. We will review fundamental bookkeeping principles and concepts, common bookkeeping mistakes to avoid, and strategies you can implement to set up your co-op for success. The workshop is designed for co-ops interested in learning how to manage their books on their own or how to better communicate with your bookkeeper. Jamie Duong and Jennifer Attridge, CCCD

Housing Co-op Financing
Learn what kind of funding is needed to launch a successful housing cooperative. We will talk about financing for the cooperative and the members as well as exploring ways to make your cooperative permanently affordable using limited equity models. Esther West and Christina Jennings, Shared Capital Cooperative

Stories from Borrowers
A panel of co-op borrowers share their challenges and success in working with lenders and investors to raise capital for their business or endeavor. Learn what it is like to go through the lending process from the perspective of other borrowers. Esther West, Shared Capital Cooperative

Preparación de Préstamos para Cooperativas
Los participantes aprenderán 1) qué tipo de dinero pueden necesitar para sus negocios, 2) cómo los prestamistas y inversionistas evalúan una solicitud de préstamo, 3) cómo asegurarse de que los miembros propietarios mantengan el control de su capital, y 4) cómo la cooperativa pueden prepararse y representarse mejor a sí mismos a través del proceso. Exploraremos prácticas crediticias saludables. Esta sesión incluirá participación y discusión facilitada. Christina Jennings y Esther West, Shared Capital Cooperative

Cooperative Movement

Cultivating a San Diego Co-op Ecosystem
This workshop will share lessons and insights from US cities with robust co-op economies. While the purpose of the workshop is to identify needs and actions to create a co-op-beneficial ecosystem in San Diego, we welcome people from other cities who are trying to do the same! Mai Nguyen, Zen Trenholm, Sona Desai, and Suparna Kure, Cultivating a San Diego Co-op Ecosystem

The Cooperative Body
As we think about strategies for advancing the cooperative movement, we want to root our understanding in the somatic experiences of cooperators. Mimicking the dynamics of Cooperation among Cooperatives (Principle 6), we explore the conditions needed for cooperation to exist within and among cooperatives. We share lessons learned from starting and scaling cooperatives in the San Diego Landscape. We are also eager to share out experiences as Queer, Trans, People of Color, caregivers, femmes, and organizers in building bridges between systems-level changes while honoring our legacies of struggle, trauma, wins and anti-oppression frameworks. Mai Nguyen and Suparna Kure, CoFED

The Cooperative Difference: Organizational and Stakeholder Culture and Engagement
Provides a robust overview related to the unique and important differences and advantages that co-ops provide to their stakeholders and to their employees, thus creating an equally unique and important strategic advantage in the marketplace and in the workplace. Jeffrey Boian, Morrison

Reimagining Cooperatives: Pioneering a Radically Human-Centric Approach
This transformative session is designed for those intrigued by the potential of cooperatives to redefine societal norms and organizational structures. As we honor the foundational principles established in 1844, we catapult the cooperative movement into the future by integrating cutting-edge insights from neuroscience, integrative law, and collaborative techniques. In this dynamic session, we will delve into the concept of the “Radical Cooperative,” a new model that transcends traditional frameworks to foster deeper human connections and more effective collaboration. We’ll explore how the last 60 years of neuroscientific advancement can enhance the way cooperatives operate, making them more responsive, resilient, and attuned to human needs. Jose Leal, Radical World

Leveraging Cooperative Superpowers
The values that define cooperatives are the ones most desired by consumers and employees in a market where competitive capitalism has overplayed its hand. This workshop will focus on ideas, big and small, of how a co-op can leverage its values to expand its market, increase its member base, and reinforce its resilience. Rob McClinton, Small World

Speakers

Jeffrey Boian
Jeff Boian manages Morrison’s People Solutions practice area, serving clients in industries including agribusiness, manufacturing and processing, distribution, and non-profit, focusing on executive recruiting, organizational development, outsourced and interim human resources management, and human resources advisement. Jeff’s expertise includes organizational leadership, career strategy, leadership training, and professional development.

Melissa Bonilla
Melissa is Mexican and her greatest inspiration is her family. She immigrated to San Francisco in search of opportunities due to the difficult economic situation in her country. In Mexico, Melissa earned a Master's of Science in biology. She is currently studying Business and Administration at City College of San Francisco (CCSF). Currently, she works for the City Dream program at CCSF, where she helps undocumented students get scholarships and resources to continue studying. Melissa is also the manager of Home Support and Companionship, a cooperative that works together with Dolores Street Community Services and is made up of Latino businessmen who care for the elderly, in San Francisco. She is a fellow at Coleman Advocates, helping community college students learn more about school services and opportunities. Melissa runs her own digital marketing business, Tok Tok Digital Marketing, where she creates websites and marketing campaigns for businesses. She is passionate about helping her community so that her children have a better education, regardless of their immigration status or race. Melissa is a DreamSF fellow placed at Mujeres Unidas y Activas (MUA). She feels solidarity with the women MUA serves. In this role, she will support MUA's social media and marketing efforts. Melissa is a woman with many dreams. Her greatest inspiration is her children, who motivate her to fight every day and give the best of herself. She firmly believes that change begins with us, and that is the best legacy that she wants to leave for her children.

Bradley Boyce
With more than twenty-five years of experience in finance and procurement behind him, Brad’s expertise lies in his holistic understanding of the financial ecosystem of community-based organizations. He can interpret financials while focusing on the larger goals, values, and purpose of an institution. Brad has a keen eye for efficiency, making him an expert in building sound organizational foundations and finding creative solutions to financial issues. Brad has worked in the co-op sector for 15 years and is a board member of Brave Technology Co-op and the East End Food Co-operative.

Vanessa Bransburg
Vanessa Bransburg is the Co-Executive Director for Operations and Programs, overseeing all programmatic and operations strategies, including organizational culture building, professional development, and progress toward organizational goals. Vanessa was the founder of the Rapid Response Cooperative Development Project and provides training and consultation to cooperative developers working with vulnerable workers and immigrant communities. Previously Vanessa was the Director of Cooperative Development at the Center for Family Life (CFL) in Brooklyn, NY for 8 years. While at CFL she expanded the program's capacity by tripling the number of staff, spearheaded the worker cooperative incubator program for hundreds of immigrants and low-income residents, established the NYC Cooperative Development Initiative to support NGOs looking to become cooperative incubators, and was one of the founders of the NYC Network of Worker Cooperatives. She also has a background in community organizing and clinical social work. Vanessa has an MSW from Columbia University, a BA in Sociology from UCLA and is an immigrant from Argentina.

Michele Button
Over 20 Years of Commercial and Business Banking Management Experience. Cash Management, Deposit Accounts, Bank Interest Bearing Products.

Maria Cadenas
Maria Cadenas has over 20 years, her focus has been on developing local and global social, business, and philanthropic models to foster equity, community engagement, collaboration, and asset-building. She is the newly elected Chair of California Asset Building Coalition and has served on California’s Children’s Savings Account Coalition Steering Committee since its inception in 2018. Her leadership and advocacy at the County level has resulted in shared understanding of equity and the importance of addressing income/wealth gaps and economic mobility.

David Cruz
David Cruz, an immigrant, co-founder and member-owner of Radiate Consulting Bay Area, brings a wealth of expertise shaped by his personal, professional and academic backgrounds. Holding a B.A. in Linguistics and Politics from U.C. Santa Cruz, he excels in his professional capacity providing translation and interpretation services in both English and Spanish. Simultaneously, he undertakes the role of a business administrator for a technology cooperative and sister company, Radiate Consulting North Carolina. With a strategic focus, David dedicates his efforts to catering to an array of community businesses, including worker cooperatives, housing cooperatives, small enterprises, non-profits, and tax firms. His commitment to linguistic precision and administrative efficiency makes him an invaluable asset to Radiate. Beyond his professional endeavors, David is recognized for seamlessly merging linguistic proficiency with a keen understanding of business dynamics. Radiate Consulting Bay Area thrives under his leadership, benefitting from his multifaceted skill set and dedication to empowering community businesses through effective communication and streamlined administration.

Sona Desai
Sona Desai holds deep relationships with business owners throughout food and farm sector community and led the assessment of San Diego food system business needs and Local Economies Lab that identified cooperatives as a business model priority.

Erik Forman
Erik is a serial social entrepreneur, co-founding The Drivers Cooperative, a driver owned rideshare company, and People's Choice Communications, a worker-owned Internet Service Provider. As the creator of The Drivers Cooperative, Erik led development of the co-op from its inception in a participatory action research project in 2019, through creation of its initial business plans and financial model, raising over $2 million in investment and $1 million in grants, launching grassroots marketing efforts that led to over 60,000 rider app downloads and 12,000 driver app downloads, securing contracts that have generated over 300,000 trips, and management of the development and launch of its new, custom app-based platform (http://drivers.coop/download). Currently, Erik supports drivers and governments in cities across the world seeking to replicate this model to bring about system change in the rideshare gig economy and taxi industry and provides support for initiatives in other sectors as a consultant. He is currently completing a PhD in Cultural Anthropology at the CUNY Graduate Center.

Alex Glancy
Alex Glancy is a partner and founding attorney at GGH LLP, where she practices transactional law. Alex advises startups, social enterprises, impact-oriented companies, and creatives. She counsels on copyright and trademark matters for entrepreneurs and creatives, including negotiating, reviewing, and drafting IP-related contracts of key importance to clients’ IP portfolios. Alex graduated from Harvard Law School, where she participated in the Community Enterprise Project. She holds a bachelor’s degree with honors from Northwestern University in Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences (MMSS) and Anthropology.

Ashton Hamm
Ashton Hamm founded UXO Architects in 2016 and co-transitioned it to California's first architectural cooperative in 2018. They are licensed architects with experience in a range of project types across California. Ashton is committed to expanding cooperatives' role in architecture and recently published a book on the subject.

Chris Hebdon
Berkeley B.A.; Yale M.A.; Yale Ph.D.; Cofounder of the Palestinian Soap Cooperative

Mikaiil Hussein
Organizer of San Diego United Taxi Cooperative and President of SD Taxi Union

Christina Jennings
Christina Jennings (She/her), Executive Director, joined Shared Capital in 2008 where she provides strategic leadership, oversees lending programs, and leads capitalization and fundraising efforts. Jennings has worked for over twenty years in community development finance in the US and internationally. Prior to joining Shared Capital, Jennings ran a city-wide microfinance program in Minneapolis; provided technical assistance to support immigrant-lead nonprofits; and led two international funds that invested in local microfinance organizations in Latin America. Throughout her career, the focus of her work has been on supporting capacity building, working for economic justice and creating equitable access to capital. Jennings holds a Master of Public Affairs degree, focused on Community Economic Development and Nonprofit Management from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs of the University of Minnesota, and she received a BA in Gender and International Development from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. She currently serves on the boards of directors and as Treasurer of Cooperative Development Foundation, the City of Lakes Community Land Trust, and Latino Economic Development Center, a Minnesota CDFI.

Christina Jennings es Directora Ejecutiva de Shared Capital Cooperative, un fondo de crédito y CDFI nacional que especializa en el financiamiento de cooperativas. Christina ha trabajado en Shared Capital desde 2008, donde proporciona liderazgo estratégico, de fondeo y capitalización, y supervisa las actividades de crédito. Ella ha trabajado durante casi veinticinco años en la financiación del desarrollo comunitario en los Estados Unidos e en Centro América. Su trabajo ha sido centrado en el acceso y el control del capital en manos de las personas – mujeres, inmigrantes, personas de color y personas con menos recursos -- quienes generalmente han sido marginalizados y excluidos del acceso y control de capital. Ella tiene experiencia en lanzar y gestionar pequeñas empresas y empresas sociales. Actualmente, Christina sirve en las mesas directivas del National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA-CLUSA), Latino Economic Development Center en Minnesota; City of Lakes Community Land Trust en Minneapolis; y Cooperative Development Foundation en Washington DC.

McKenzie Jones
I am an artist and a cooperative developer. I am a founding member of the Aurora Pocket Neighborhood Cooperative, a co-owned, urban, intentional community where I live in Ithaca, NY. I have been a leader of radical organizations such as the Center for Sustainability in State College, PA and Ithaca Biodiesel Cooperative in Ithaca, NY. I founded and managed The Worker Place, a consulting business that supports worker-owned cooperatives and I am a Peer Advisor with the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives. I have been with Tribeworks since 2022 and was recently appointed as the Director.

Karla Juarez
Karla Juarez es una coordinadora de programa en Cooperación Santa Ana. Karla comenzó como participante y se graduó de CooperAcción Santa Ana 2019. Se unió al equipo en 2020. Lo que más le apasiona es ayudar a los demás. Desde entonces ha ayudado a incubar una cooperativa de cuidado de niñes y ha tomado roles de liderazgo en nuestro trabajo de red cooperativa. Karla ha completado la formación en principios transformadores con Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities, la formación de UCI Popular Education Facilitation y Vision Power Solution para facilitar la planificación impulsada por la comunidad con Community Stewards Learning & Action. Karla es una organizadora comunitaria activa.

Suparna Kure
Suparna is a decolonial educator and immigrant mother living in unceded Kumeyaay lands. She brings with her over 15 years of experience imagining and breathing life into educational programs and leading organizational development. Suparna believes in the power of unraveled unlearning to shift narratives, heal trauma, and transform systems. She is guided by ancestral re-visioning, abolitionist and decolonial praxis, and manifesting collective dreams. Suparna responds to the call to return stolen wealth as the Choreographer of Collective Change by moving money where it can have a critical impact on building a beautiful regenerative food system – into the hands of young QTBIPOC cooperators.

Jose Leal
Jose has founded or co-founded six companies. AutoNet, his third startup, was acquired by a Canadian media conglomerate, where he became the vice president and GM of the English online division. During that time, Jose was also the vice-chair of the Canadian IAB and was highly involved in the industry. After a hiatus from the traditional startup scene, Jose co-founded Radical, a co-owned and co-managed organization helping people create organizations that meet their needs.

Sayde Leos
Sayde Leos is an accomplished Lawyer in Mexico and Paralegal in the US, with 6 years of law experience in both countries. She enjoys using her skills to contribute to the community she works with. Currently, Sayde is the Program Manager for DSCS’s new Worker Cooperative.

Stewart Levine
Stewart improves productivity while saving the enormous cost of conflict using Agreements for Results and Revolutionary conversational models. As a lawyer he realized fighting is ineffective in resolving problems. At AT&T he learned why collaborations fail: people do not create clarity about what they want to accomplish, and how they will get there. He has worked across the organizational spectrum – Fortune 500, small, government and non-profit. His Cycle of Resolution is included in the Change Handbook. His best seller Getting to Resolution: Turning Conflict into Collaboration (Berrett-Koehler 1998, 2009) was named a Best Business Books of the year and called a marvelous book by Dr. Stephen Covey. It has been translated into Russian, Hebrew and Portuguese. The Book of Agreement (Berrett-Koehler 2003) has been endorsed by many thought leaders, called “more practical” than the classic Getting to Yes. He co-wrote Collaborate 2.0 and curated and edited The Best Lawyer You Can Be: A Guide to Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Wellness for the American Bar Association. He teaches communication, relationship management and conflict management skills for The American Management Association. He served as adjunct faculty for the University of California Berkeley Law School and Dominican University Graduate Business School. www.StewartLLevine.com In 2022 he will publish an anthology of his poetry Pilgrims Path: Morning Practice for Seekers.

Rob McClinton
Rob McClinton is CEO of Small World Communications, Inc., supporting co-ops' digital presence, marketing, and performance through SmallWorld.coop. He is a founding member of the cooperative consultancy, The Ajani Group, the co-op media company Everything Co-op Media, and the cooperative Zebras Unite.

Mark Mulcahy
Mark Mulcahy is a member of Columinate and the founder and owner of Organic Options, which provides transformative leadership and consulting services for Co-op’s and Independent natural and organic Retailers, Businesses, Farms and Distributors. An award-winning consultant, educator, mentor and organic advocate, he has spent more than 38 years in the organic produce industry leading, guiding and inspiring others to their fullest potential. Mark is well known for his creative merchandising, effective training techniques, unique and creative approaches to leadership, successful sales growth and promotion strategies, as well as his deep-seated passion for produce and dedication to sustainable agriculture. A Connoisseur of workplace Joy and inspirational retail operations Mark works with managers at every level to reimagine their workplace so it can grow and thrive in the changing marketplace. Mark is an avid baseball fan, Pun Enthusiast®, and lover of Pie!

Mai Nguyen
Mai Nguyen is a co-op developer who specializes in worker cooperative farms and agricultural cooperatives. They have experience as a farmer, co-op member, and co-op developer formerly at CCCD and Minnow, and is an active member of the San Diego food system community.

Dina Omar
Berkeley B.A.; Columbia M.A.; Yale Ph.D.; founder of the Palestinian Soap Cooperative

Dominique Pearson
Dominique is a lover, a fighter, a daughter, and a sister. They are an herbalist, root worker, food and economic justice educator, born and raised in Tongva lands, Compton and Inglewood, CA. They are in love with the land, and the land is in love with them. They believe deeply in the building of alternative realities, and have been working in co-ops for 11 years, now as a Co-op Developer for LA Co-op Lab. They are also the founder of Black Roots Herbals LLC, an EarthForce committed to the practice of culture-keeping, and the dreaming of freedom dreams. A Black Mississippi Chickasha woman, Dominique continues to plant seeds and be in community, building systems for a liberatory future.

Daniella Preisler
Daniella, Chilean, mother of an incredible 21-year-old who has taught her the best lessons about self-love, respect, kindness, compassion and resilience. In 2012 they moved from Chile to San Francisco, California. Looking for a better future for herself and her daughter, she joined a Cooperative where for 7 years she was the worker-owner in charge of the Administration and Finance Committee of the ecological house cleaning cooperative, Home Green Home in San Francisco. During 2017, she completed her one-year cooperative development fellowship with Prospera, receiving hands-on professional development experience as a certified community coach and cooperative developer. She has also collaborated with other organizations, co-facilitating workshops and providing technical assistance in Spanish; with SELC/Prospera facilitating legal cafés in Spanish, with USFWC in the Concilio de Inmigrantes Cooperativistas and the International Committee; with DAWI (Democracy at Work Institute) in Immigrant Cooperatives Collaborative, among others, and is currently a Peer Advisor of the Coop Clinic Program with the USFWC. She was a member of the board of directors of the USFWC for 2 terms (4 years), serving on the Executive Committee as Vice President for 2 years and on various other committees. She is currently the President of CICOPA North America and Vice President of CICOPA Americas. From January 2021 to July 2022, she worked as a Cooperative Development Specialist at Prospera, in charge of “Explora tu Cooperativa'' Program, a 12-session program that she co-elaborated, helped develop and facilitated since 2018. In 2020, she completed the Next Economy MBA 10-month program by Lift Economy and launched a consulting cooperative, Colmenar Cooperative Consulting, inspired to help fill the gap in the Latinx community to access coaching, training and technical assistance to formalize and develop their worker cooperatives, where currently she is working. Since 2023, serving as a board member for Up&Go Cooperative.

Kate “Sassy” Sassoon
Kate “Sassy” Sassoon is the founder of Sassy Facilitation, which provides facilitation, training, and organizational design to innovative organizations. In her 25 years of membership in democratically owned and operated enterprises, Sassy has supported the collaboration of a variety of co-ops, including: housing, childcare, worker-owned businesses, production collectives, community land trusts, and intentional communities of all flavors. She strives to bring inspiration, productivity, and humor to her classes and her clients. You can download free tools, explore Sassy's work, and schedule a free consultation at www.sassycooperates.org.

Brando Sencion
Brando Sencion is a visionary who wears multiple hats as both a successful business owner/entrepreneur and a compassionate leader in the non-profit sector. He sits on the Planning Commission for the City of Watsonville and previously served in the Parks and Recreation Commission. Born and raised in Watsonville, Brando has developed a strong sense of community early in life, which became the driving force behind his commitment to making a positive impact on both the business and philanthropic fronts.

Danny Spitzberg
Danny Spitzberg is the Research Director for the Exit to Community Collective, and the Research Editor for AB2849, a study on expanding worker ownership for California. Most recently he was Lead Researcher at Turning Basin Labs, a California-based staffing co-op based in California, where he trained and managed teams of first-time researchers to conduct studies on job quality, workforce development, and economic mobility. Danny has worked with a variety of community-owned digital tools including Up & Go, a platform for booking home and office cleaning services in NYC. To support economic justice in business development, Danny created the Ownership Model Canvas with the co-op accelerator Start.coop.

Eli Tizcareno
Eli Tizcareño (they/them) resides on the ancestral lands of the Tataviam Peoples and holds ancestral connections to mexico. As Training and Education Director in the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives, their team works to facilitate technical assistance, trainings, and multi-month business and democratic workplace support. Eli brings 12 years of experience with queer and immigrant communities of color to co-create anti-oppressive education spaces, good jobs, collective land access, abolitionist public policy, and food sovereignty. Their decade of training experience includes anti-oppressive facilitation, leadership development, program and curriculum design, conflict management, internal systems development, and urban agriculture. They are co-founders of the R’Garden 4-acre community garden and the BIPOC Agroecology Network. Eli holds BAs in Environmental Science and Gender Studies from the University of California and an MA in Urban Sustainability from Antioch University.

Zen Trenholm
Zen Trenholm has advised on worker ownership municipal policies and has a deep knowledge of employee ownership policies.

Luemara Wagner
Luemara Wagner is an attorney, mediator and practitioner of collaborative law. Her practice focuses on family, business, innovation, startups, and international law. She holds a JD (with honors), MBA and LLM in International Law from the University of Texas at Austin. She attended the Harvard Negotiation Institute and Harvard Law School Program of Instruction for Lawyers where she received training in Mediation, Negotiation, Advanced Negotiation and Deal Design and Implementation. She has a bachelor's degree in economics with additional studies in computer science from the Catholic University in Brazil. Prior to her law career, she managed international projects for Deloitte Consulting and international marketing for Dell Computer.

Brian Walton
15 Years of Commercial and Business Banking Experience. Experienced in Lending (all types), Cash Management, Deposit Accounts, Bank Interest Bearing Products.

Esther West
Esther West (she/her) is a Loan Officer at Shared Capital Cooperative. She has been a worker-owner at Equal Exchange and The Ajani Group and has taught at San Francisco State University. Esther has researched and mapped cooperatives, including Latinx and rural cooperatives, with Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard and as a Cooperative Development Specialist at the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives. Masters are in Urban Planning and Environmental Studies from Cleveland State University.

Esther West es oficial de préstamos en Shared Capital Cooperative. Ha sido trabajadora-propietaria en Equal Exchange y The Ajani Group, y enseñó Estudios Ambientales en la Universidad Estatal de San Francisco. Esther ha investigado y mapeado cooperativas, incluidas cooperativas latinas y rurales, con la Dra. Jessica Gordon Nembhard y como especialista en desarrollo cooperativo en el Centro de Cooperativas de la Universidad de Wisconsin. La maestría es en Planificación Urbana y Estudios Ambientales de la Universidad Estatal de Cleveland.

Deborah Yashar
Deborah is an agriculture and food systems specialist who has dedicated her career to supporting the resiliency of farmers and the organizations that support them. Projects include the development of farmers markets, business and marketing education, and increasing access to healthy, organically produced foods through policy advocacy and on the ground. She has launched a variety of creative campaigns, events, and brands, such as the annual EcoFarm Conference, known as the largest sustainable agriculture conference in the West. Deborah has thrived amongst multiple cultures and languages her whole life, lending her a diverse perspective that is an asset to any team.

Valerie Young
Valerie Young works at Igalia, a worker-owned co-op. She is a software developer specializing in web standards related to accessibility. Outside of work, she has spent her whole adult life participating in non-hierarchical co-operative structures, from housing co-ops to political projects, to academic conferences and community farms. Valerie is endlessly curious about ways to organize work that led to empowerment, self-actualization and joyful collaboration for individuals involved -- she has seen many successes and many failures and would love to hear from you about yours!

Hotel & Transportation

Accommodations

CCCD has reserved rooms at the following hotel with a group rate of $129 USD + tax daily:

Wyndham Garden San Diego near SeaWorld
3737 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego, CA 92110

Reservation link for a 3-night stay (May 30, May 31, June 1); 2 Queen beds: Please click here.

Reservation link for a 2-night stay (May 30, May 31); 2 Queen beds: Please click here.

Reservation link for a 1-night stay (May 30); 2 Queen beds: Please click here.

Reservations can also be made by calling the hotel directly at 619-881-6101.
Please ask to speak with Lauren Rheam and mention that you are with the CCCD group.

The hotel is about 1.3 miles from the conference location.
Room reservations need to be made by Thursday, May 16 to receive this special rate.
Single and double rooms are available at this discounted group rate.
Group rate can be extended for up to three (3) days before and three (3) days after the room block dates, subject to availability
There is an additional $10/day parking fee.

Transportation

We are excited to announce that we are partnering with the United Taxi Workers of San Diego (UTWSD) as our official transporters for the 2024 California Co-op Conference!

Need transportation while you’re in town for the conference? Catch a ride with UTWSD by downloading their union-backed rideshare app, Ride United (available in both Google Play and the Apple App Store).

Why Ride United?

Support unions with all drivers represented by the United Taxi Workers of San Diego (UTWSD).
Trust in fair compensation with 94% of what you pay going directly to drivers themselves.
Go green with 96% hybrid vehicles.
Save money with no surge pricing. EVER.

Be a Sponsor

Become a Conference Sponsor

California Cooperative Conference Sponsorship Form

The California Co-op Conference is the only statewide conference that brings together co-ops from different sectors to share and learn from one another. Cooperatives are a vital tool for creating worker-owned businesses, food cooperatives that promote food security and linkages with local producers, and promoting affordable home ownership and childcare.

Convened by the California Center for Cooperative Development (CCCD), a charitable non-profit, Conference Sponsorship offers a unique opportunity to support co-op education and showcase your organization’s commitment to a democratic business model that promotes local economic development, equity, and community.

Conference sponsorship will:

Make your organization known as an innovative leader and supporter of cooperative enterprises
Allow for Networking and communication directly with clientele in an engaging atmosphere
Impact your community by promoting a business model that embodies triple bottom line economics

Sponsorship Tiers

Cooperative Superstar - $10,000+
This important tier offers all the benefits of the Cooperative Hero level in addition to a special “thank you” placard on each table at the sponsored lunch and social, in addition to one additional complimentary conference registrations (for a total of three).

Luncheon Sponsor - $9,000 OR Meal Sponsor - $4,500
This important tier offers all the benefits of the Cooperative Champion level, “thank you” call out, and a placard noting meal sponsorship on the lunch table or on the spread of the social (your choice), in addition to one additional complimentary conference registration (for a total of two)

Cooperative Hero - $3,500
Your organization / co-op's name and logo will receive prominent recognition at the conference:

Website
Social media content (3x)
Email & print promotion
Printed agenda & promo materials in participant folder
Signage at registration, the podium, & conference hall
Verbal recognition
Two complimentary conference registrations
Complimentary tabling

Cooperative Champion - $2,000
Your organization / co-op's name and logo will receive distinct recognition at the conference:

Website
Social media content (2x)
Email & print promotion
Printed agenda & program
Signage at registration, the podium, & conference hall
Verbal recognition
One complimentary conference registration
Complimentary tabling

Cooperative Accelerator - $1,000
Your organization / co-op's name and logo will be included at the conference:

Website
Social media content (1x)
Email & print promotion
Printed agenda & program
Signage at registration

Cooperative Sparkplug - $500
Your organization / co-op's name will be listed in the conference:

Website
Printed agenda & program
Signage at registration

Cooperative Enthusiast
Donation of any amount welcomed to support the Co-op Scholarship Fund!

Tabling

We invite organizations that want to directly connect with statewide cooperators to share their resources, products, and services at an exhibitor table during the conference. Tabling for the entire duration of the conference costs $250. Alternatively, organizations may opt to table at our evening social and fundraising raffle during the first day of the conference. Tables during the social cost $100 for full tables and $50 for half tables. No sales are permitted.

Donations

We offer a variety of other ways to support our statewide cooperative community at the conference:

CCCD Scholarship Fund: Contribute to the scholarship fund allowing students and those in financial need to attend the conference at a discounted rate. Donations of any amount are welcome.
In-Kind Food and Beverage: Help feed conference attendees by donating food, wine, beer or other beverages for the evening social or one of our conference meals.

Many Thanks to Our Conference Sponsors!