Network Diversity - Centre for the Study of Co-operatives

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N E T W O R K I N G D I V E R S I T Y 17 employment is often seasonal. With the establishment of the Caisse Populaire Kahnawake, the new lending criteria “recognized the cultural realities of the First Nation, thereby providing a mechanism to support personal and business loans, assisting with economic development in the community” (39–40). This is just one of the growing number of examples that demonstrate how co-operatives can be established to meet the needs of diverse groups of people and help build stronger communities. S O C I A L S O L I D A R I T Y CO- O P E R A T I V E S Social solidarity co-operatives cover a broad category of organizations that serve a diverse membership with needs such as housing, employment, food, and education. Membership is composed primarily of people who are usually marginalized in society, and these co-ops have been especially successful in serving the needs of people with disabilities, both mental and physical. A successful example is Winnipeg’s l’Avenir Community Co-operative, which was established with the purpose of providing “the supports which will enable people with mental and/or physical disabilities to live with dignity, fulfillment and security” (Wetherow 2000). This housing co-operative grew out of the desire of people with disabilities to be more involved in the decisions being made about their daily lives. When it became apparent that the combined housing and service provider was not meeting their needs, they started a co-operative. Innovative policies such as allowing “children with disabilities and adults who face extensive communication or decision-making challenges [to] share a joint membership with family members or other designated representatives” (Wetherow) enable a more diverse membership to be involved in the co-operative. On a larger scale, this organization demonstrates that the co-operative model can meet the needs of many diverse people and can be modified to include even more. R E S E A R C H R E P O R T S S E R I E S # 0 6 . 0 1
18 V A N V L I E T C O N C L U S I O N EQUALIT Y A N D D I V E R S I T Y S H O U L D B E C O N S I D E R E D P A R T O F A B E T T E R L I F E for all, and co-operatives should therefore strive to embrace and promote these principles. Co-operatives have the time and the capacity to be patient and to encourage equality and diversity, even if profits do not immediately increase. Co-operative organizations need long-term vision to recognize that equality and diversity will actually lead to stronger businesses. They do not have to abandon hopes of being economically successful, but their economic and the social aspects need to become more balanced. MacLeod (2002) reminds us that if co-ops “are not a very strong and powerful business system, [they] will not be able to do much social good” (28). Co-operatives must not sacrifice the social sphere by allowing themselves to be caught up in globalization’s domination of the economic sphere. They also need to learn how to accept and promote diversity within their organizations if they are to succeed in the new globalized era. Reaching out to diverse groups of people will strengthen co-operatives by inviting innovation, creativity, and fresh perspectives into the organization. Accepting and promoting diversity will allow co-operatives to be more adaptable to change and will strengthen communities by ensuring that the needs and interests of all members are equally represented in the organization. C E N T R E F O R T H E S T U D Y O F C O - O P E R A T I V E S
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Network Diversity - Centre for the Study of Co-operatives

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