Congratulations to Co-op Navigator Fellow, Varun Khattar Sharma, for their launch of Cooperate Connecticut! We are proud of their work in starting a statewide network across Connecticut to foster economic cooperation. Read their recap below:
An emerging statewide network dedicated to fostering economic cooperation and solidarity formally took shape at the launch of Cooperate Connecticut. The gathering on Saturday October 21 included networking and a panel discussion moderated by Varun Khattar Sharma, Co-Op Navigator Fellow at reSET. The Network Launch was made possible by reSET, the Cooperative Fund of the Northeast, the Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut, and the Trinity College Community Action Gateway.
Attendees learned about local efforts to develop cooperatives, unions, mutual aid networks and economic justice movements from:
- Constanza Segovia, co-founder of Arte Popular and Hartford Deportation Defense and organizer with Connecticut For All
- Gabbie Barnes, founder of Free Hart Closet and member of Mutual Aid Hartford and the People’s Saturday School
- Javier Villatoro, worker-owner of Tortilleria Semilla and organizer with the Semilla Collective of New Haven
- Sarah White, attorney with the Connecticut Fair Housing Center and organizer with the Connecticut Tenants Union and the CT Democratic Socialists of America
The event also featured catering by Masem Enyong, a guided meditation and visioning exercise with Jasmin Agosto and Lindaluz Carrillo, a live son jarocho performance from Son Chaneques Rebeldes, printmaking with Hartford Press Co-Op, a farmer photography and storytelling exhibition with Mercado Popular, hands-on activities for children of all ages with Sol Co and Mutual Aid Hartford, an afterparty co-hosted by the Little Lion Collective, and more!
Stay tuned for a recording of the panel and a save the date for our next network gathering!
If you have any questions or are interested in getting involved, please contact Varun at vksharma@resetco.org.