The In Our Hands program is looking to partner with immigrant-serving organizations across BC and Alberta to help identify opportunities for newcomer co-operative development.

We have created a short training program to equip partners with the knowledge and resources to recognize and help to cultivate promising co-operative business opportunities that could improve the socio-economic well-being of newcomers in your community and benefit your local economy by:

• Creating quality jobs and career opportunities;
• Addressing gaps in services or support;
• Strengthening social networks and cross-cultural linkages; and
• Cultivating a culture of co-operative entrepreneurship.

<aside> ℹ️ REQUEST A 30 MINUTE INFO SESSION

</aside>

Here’s how the In Our Hands Co-op Development Partnership program works:

<aside> 1️⃣ Info Session (30 minutes): a short introduction to the co-operative model, the In Our Hands Co-op Development Partnership program, and potential opportunities for newcomer co-op development in your community.

</aside>

<aside> 2️⃣ Co-ops 101 Training (1hr): an in-depth training session to equip your team with an understanding of the co-operative model, co-operative principles and values, co-op development process, types of co-ops, examples of how co-operatives can help to address problems and create opportunities for newcomers in your community, and your role in this process.

</aside>

<aside> 3️⃣ Community Engagement: we provide you with tools (e.g. surveys, informational resources) and support to conduct engagement within your local newcomer community to help identify needs, challenges, and business interests.

</aside>

<aside> 4️⃣ Opportunity Discovery: we provide you with tools and support to bring interest groups together around potential co-op opportunities and do some early discovery work.

</aside>

<aside> 5️⃣ Co-op Development: BCCA supports business planning and co-op incorporation for development-ready groups.

</aside>

<aside> ✉️ Iva Jankovic, Program Manager [email protected] 604-365-9884

</aside>

<aside> ✉️ Elaine Flores, Program Coordinator [email protected] 780-964-2736

</aside>