The Canadian Worker Co-op Federation (CWCF) will complete their Justice, Equity, Diversity, Decolonization, and Inclusion (JEDDI) Business Conversion Project in a few months! To this end, they are hosting a FREE online webinar on “How to Convert your Business to a Co-operative or Social Purpose Organization (SPO)”. 

The first few stages of the project involved research on the scope of business conversions, Co-ops, and Social Purpose in Canada, raising awareness of conversions as a viable means for business sustainability & as a means for catering to specific needs amongst Equity Denied Groups, and developing resources & sessions on the interactions of marginalized groups with the social purpose/ Co-op model.

As they draw closer to the end of the project, the CWCF is looking to support anyone who has a business they’d like to turn into a Co-op/SPO, as well as those looking to develop a Co-op or Social Enterprise from the ground up (i.e. not a conversion). They have created a database of expert service providers, supported active cases through free early stage consultations, and hosted several in person and online sessions. This event specifically, is geared towards those who are very interested in or who are currently pursuing a business model or land ownership conversion to a Co-op/ SPO. It also features some internationally renowned community ownership and Social Impact specialists.

Anyone who is interested in:

– practical steps to transition their business into one that’s more democratic and socially impactful

– hearing first hand experiences of those who have successfully pursued this conversion process and the resources they used

– the impact of Co-op/ SPOs business economics on Equity-Denied Groups 

– financing options during the process and financial sustainability once in the model

– just supporting the CWCF in general

is most welcome to attend!

Speakers include:

1. Russ Christianson, Co-op Developer and Coach

2. Jennifer Williams, Employee Ownership Specialist

3. Juliet ‘Kego Ume-Onyido, Co-founder of Black Woman Professional Worker Co-op & Whole Woman Network (Co-operatives)

Visit here to register for free: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/how-to-convert-a-business-to-a-co-operative-or-social-purpose-organization-tickets-781509555117?aff=oddtdtcreator

and here for general event information: https://canadianworker.coop/events/how-to-convert-a-business-to-a-co-operative-or-social-purpose-organization-spo/ .

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