File this under co-ops helping co-ops. The Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance (PACA) is an umbrella organization that includes representatives from several major cooperative organizations in the regions, from credit unions to grocery stores to cooperative housing arrangements.
Last month they held a great event attended by more than 70 people interested in co-ops and credit unions. There was a lot of excitement in the room about the resolution that was passed by the City of Philadelphia and the work that PACA's doing and going to do in support of co-ops in the region.
If you are excited about what the South Philly Food Co-op has accomplished so far and are looking for ways to strengthen the cooperative movement in other sectors of the regional economy, consider volunteering some time with PACA.
They are forming three committees to work on:
- Planning and promoting future events for the Interational Year of Cooperatives, like a celebratory event in October (co-op month!)
- Public policy research and advocacy
- Coordinating local co-op communicators and developing PACA's own communications