After eight months of intensive study, planning, development and cooperation, the 2024 Cooperative Leaders and Scholars (CLS) cohort has officially concluded their program. These emerging leaders in the cooperative space are now taking the next steps within their respective cooperative careers.
“Moving forward, we can now choose to do differently even when it’s difficult,” noted 2024 cohort member Mu Knowles during the recent virtual presentation of the CLS capstone projects, concluding, “May the solidarity we’re building sustain us in times that may be difficult.”
A program of the Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) and NCBA CLUSA, the Cooperative Leaders and Scholars (CLS) program is a community of peers that exists to build capacity and support networks for new and emerging leaders and scholars engaged in cooperatives and cooperative development. This community empowers and trains its members to build a more inclusive economy in North America, together. CDF is grateful for the cooperative donors who help make this program possible, and welcomes additional sponsors to support the 2025 cohort.
Interested in being part of the 2025 CLS cohort? Apply by February 3
During this year’s CLS program, the cohort participated in virtual and in-person activities to strengthen their knowledge of cooperatives and develop their leadership skills within their community.They also learned about the national cooperative landscape and built a strong peer-to-peer network that includes alumni from previous CLS cohorts.
“Participating in the 2022 cohort… turbocharged my awareness of a national cooperative movement and the pivotal role it has been playing for decades in our society, unbeknownst to the average person,” said a past cohort member. “The value of CLS also extended to providing me with the unique opportunity to spend lots of time with and personally get to know current and up-and-coming leaders in the cooperative movement from across the nation.”
In addition to participating in the virtual seminars, coursework and field visits to different cities to experience cooperatives firsthand, CLS scholars also work on a capstone project that they present to their peers at the end of the program. This year’s capstones ranged from collaborating to plan the Emerging Leaders Symposium at NCBA CLUSA’s 2024 Cooperative IMPACT Conference to enhancing how the cooperative model is introduced to youth throughout North and South Carolina through a co-op camp experience.
“As a past participant in the program, I am always excited to welcome a new cohort to the growing group of CLS alumni,” said Cathy Statz, CLS Coordinator. “In addition to meeting leaders across cooperative industries and learning about creative and strategic solutions offered by cooperatives across the nation, this cohort—like those before it—built a strong cross-sectoral group that will support and inspire each other as they continue their cooperative journey.”
We congratulate the 2024 Cooperative Leaders and Scholars cohort and look forward to witnessing their continued engagement and success in the cooperative ecosystem!