Our Symposium is Almost Here!

Our 2023 Union Co-op Symposium is almost here! 

You don't want to miss this unique and inspiring gathering!

The Symposium, our 6th, will take place in-person on Oct 20 and Oct 21 in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio

Sessions will explore topics ranging from workplace democracy to community ownership of solar to cannabis cooperatives.

Learn more and register now: 

Can't make our whole Symposium?

You can still join us on Friday, October 20 for our Cheers to Cooperatives celebration, scheduled for 7-9 p.m. at the Art Academy of Cincinnati.

A $50 ticket includes a free drink and tapas provided by Texas Joe, a catering service run by a third-generation Mexican-American. Additional drinks will be available for purchase.

You'll get a chance to connect with other people interested in creating an economy that works for all.

And you'll hear a profound conversation about balancing economic and social well-being.

Learn more and register:


Symposium Overview


What happens when we co-create a dream that energizes and inspires?

Co-op Cincy and 1worker1vote.org present our 6th Union Co-opSymposium, From Dream to Action: The Transformative Power of Co-ops, Labor, & Community

Dream + Action


Day One (Oct 20) is the day for dreaming.
After a session that opens participants to multiple ways of knowing, we will break into smaller groups to co-create a specific vision (dream) that truly energizes and inspires. 

Day Two (Oct 21) is the action day.
Groups will turn their attention to practices, tactics, and strategies for realizing the specific vision they developed. 

Session facilitators and participants will include cooperative members, labor movement leaders, representatives from the Mondragon cooperative association, faith community members, ESOP leaders, and representatives from finance institutions

Our Cheers to Cooperatives celebration, scheduled for 7-9 p.m. on Friday Oct 20, will include drinks, food, a star studded speaker line-up, and more! 

Learn more and register:


Documentary from Makers of Shift Change to Premiere at Symposium 

Works For All, a documentary on Cincinnati's co-op economy, will premiere on Saturday, October 21 at the Union Co-op Symposium!

Works for All portrays the cooperatives in Co-op Cincy’s network, which are led by people marginalized from the mainstream economy, and Co-op Cincy’s approach to training and ongoing support.

The documentary was produced by Mark Dworkin and Melissa Young, who made the earlier documentary Shift Change about democratic workplaces. 

"Works For All: Cincinnati's Co-op Economy shows us the magic–as well as the hard work, and detailed planning and education–that goes into developing co-ops through Co-op Cincy." 

- Jessica Gordon Nembhard, Professor of Community Justice and Social Economic Development at the City University of New York and author of Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice 

"The Cincinnati union co-op movement should be an inspiration to everyone looking for what racial and economic justice looks like in practice."

- Esteban Kelly, Executive Director of the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives

Learn more and register for our Symposium: