Report highlights key findings on Growth of Latinx Co-ops in U.S.

Latinx cooperatives are growing across the United States in both urban and rural places with particular concentration in the worker cooperative and credit union sectors according to a recently published study. Latinx Co-op Power in the U.S. is the result of research conducted by the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives in collaboration with Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard from the John Jay College of the City University of New York. The project was supported by a grant from the Cooperative Development Foundation's Cooperative Education Fund.

The report identified 180 Latinx co-ops with New York and Texas having the largest concentration followed by California and North Carolina. The key findings from the research were:

• Wide Array: There is a wide array of Latinx co-ops in the U.S. They are not limited to one industry, membership type, or region.

• Patterns & Clusters: Clusters of cooperative activity were identified in New York City and within the worker cooperative and credit union sectors.

• Opportunities: There are many potential opportunities for collaboration, joint learning, and mutual support between cooperative and non-cooperative U.S. Latinx communities.

“As a Latina (Xicana) and long-time cooperator, it has meant a great deal to see the exciting array of Latinx representation in the U.S. co-op movement through conducting this research. The findings illuminate the reality that we are part of a broader community using co-ops to creatively build up each other and our communities. Additionally, Dr. Jessica Gordon-Nembhard’s guidance and insights from her research of African American cooperatives was critical to this project, and reflects that we are more powerful together," said Esther West, University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives. View the full report, findings and maps on the Latinx Co-op Research page.

About the CDF Cooperative Education Fund

The CDF Cooperative Education Fund supports cooperative research, sponsors cooperative education events and scholarships, and develops cooperative education materials and programs. The Fund provides $90,000-$100,000 in grants, scholarships, and sponsorships annually. For more information about the fund or to apply for a grant, go to cdf.coop/cooperative-education. The deadline for the 2020 Fall grant cycle is October 1.