| Do you want to deepen your understanding of the modern co-operative movement? The case of the Rochdale Pioneers is bandied about, but even those who know the themes of the narrative would benefit from this very potent webinar recording featuring a very knowledgeable co-operative leader in the US, and board member for the national co-op apex organization. “On the night of December 21, 1844, a group of working people and community activists opened the doors to a humble, member-owned co-operative grocery store in the North of England. Stocked only with basic items such as butter and oats, the store seemed extremely modest at first, and many mocked their efforts at the time. The local gas company also refused to serve them, so they were forced to light the store with some of the candles from their own shelves. But the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers were not deterred, and the practices that they put in place at their successful co-op were later adopted by the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), building on a movement for economic democracy that today includes more than a billion people around the world. In this webinar developed for the National Farmers Union, Erbin Crowell, Executive Director of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association, discusses the origins of the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers, the challenges that they were trying to address, and how their legacy remains relevant today. Resources for further study are also included. To view this and other webinars, visit the NFCA YouTube Channel. “ (Text from the December 17, 2021 Neighboring Food Co-op Association Newsletter) |
