How can the benefits of living in a co-operative be communicated to today’s youth? That’s the question facing organizers of this week’s Halifax Co-operative World Café, an event designed to inject some new blood into the city’s many co-ops.
“There are very few young people under age of 30 who start co-ops or are involved in existing ones,” says Stuart Neatby, member of a development group called MYDAS and main organizer of the World Café. “Many of the people currently settled in the housing co-op sector are in their 60s, and there are few who have made an effort to involve more youth.”
Part of problem is that few people—especially those Neatby and his associates are hoping to attract—know about the advantages of various sectors of co-ops. In Nova Scotia, there are 57 co-op houses, some providing affordable housing to low-income people. Then there are consumer co-ops like The Grainery on Agricola Street, which stocks groceries for affordable prices and offers employment. According to Neatby, co-ops control over $4 billion in assets and employ 7,000 people in Nova Scotia; across Canada, co-ops control $160-billion in total assets and employ 250,000 people.
“Co-ops are democratically run organizations,” says Neatby. “They’re funded by their members, who buy a share and are thus entitled to a share of the profits. It’s very similar to a corporation, but the purpose is totally different. They exist to fill a need, instead of trying to maximize profits.
“Each member gets one vote, not a portion of votes according to his share. The profits are distributed amongst members in a democratic fashion.”
It’s not about the money, however. More important, stresses Neatby, is the emphasis on “mutual aid to fulfill a need.”
“Co-ops are basically organizations founded on the idea that people—no matter what class or level—know exactly the problems they’re facing, know what their needs are and are willing to work together to find a solution.”
In an effort revitalize the make-up of co-operatives, the World Café will attempt to draw more youth into the fold. It’s the right time, according to John Ure, member of the HeartWood Centre for Community Youth Development.
“We believe that young people are excellent builders of good and healthy communities,” says Ure. “Youth have energy, they’re creative problem solvers, they’re innovative, passionate, more willing to take risks. All those qualities are ones that most organizations are seeking as they think about ways to build or renew themselves.
“Co-ops would be wise to be more aware of this incredible resource they have in their midst, because it’s untapped.”
Ure will be facilitating the Café portion of the event, which aims to bring together people currently living and working in co-ops with youth who have an interest in joining the co-op community. There will be a sketch artist, jazz music and a light dinner.
“It’s a fun and energized way for people to sit down and have conversations with people they might never sit down with otherwise,” says Ure of the format. “It’s a comfortable, safe, provocative kind of atmosphere.”
Becky Lavers, who’s lived for several years in a local co-op and will be attending the World Café, agrees that youth could bring a lot of enthusiasm to co-ops.
“I think that, in a co-op where people have been around for a really long time, it’s really powerful to have new people come in who are excited to be there and bring a lot of energy to the community,” says the twentysomething. “If you stay in a place for a long time, you get used to a sort of routine and simply accept things the way they are. But sometimes, new people come in and change things up and say, ‘Hey, why don’t we try doing things this way?’ And that’s great. Because it’s important to always have new ideas floating around.”
The Halifax Co-operative World Café takes place Monday, September 26, from 6:30pm-9:30 at St. Matthew’s Church Hall, 1479 Barrington Street, free, no pre-registration necessary.
This article appears in Sep 22-28, 2005.