The Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives' (CCSC) monthly Co-op Conversations is an online gathering for co-operative sector professionals to learn from others in the field and exchange information in a casual setting.
This month's Co-op Conversation featured Mario Cimet Dattoli, and his talk, "Solidarity Over Self-Reliance: Why Co-ops Should Raise Capital Together".
For years, access to capital has been cited as one of the biggest challenges facing Canada's co-operative sector. This Co-op Conversation looks at how groups of co-ops can raise and invest capital together, offering investment products that are more accessible to everyday savers, more liquid and better-returning. Mario will argue that a shared, professional investment manager need not come at the expense of local co-ops' power or autonomy; in fact, the two can create a virtuous cycle, in which shared knowledge grows local capacity and stronger local co-ops bring forward better investments. He will draw on the example of Seed Commons, a co-operative of economic development organizations in the United States and Canada that raises capital collectively and invests it through local relationships.
About our speaker
Mario Cimet Dattoli advises co-operatives on raising and investing capital as a member of Community Capital Advisors. He is also a member of Slate Co-op, a worker-owned firm that provides financial administration services to co-ops and solidarity economy organizations, and a founding member of Venue Co-op YVR, which is working to create a permanent community-owned arts and culture space in Vancouver, BC. Previously, as a co-operative developer at Solid State in Surrey, BC, he arranged the first Seed Commons loan in Canada for The Cleaning Co-op.
As these events consist of a presentation, a broad conversation, and small group conversations, for the recording, only the presentation and broad conversation are captured.
Add new comment