CoMinnesota’s Own It! A Co-op Fest was a lively gathering of co-ops, cooperative-development organizations, and co-op enthusiasts to connect, share, and support each other in our local cooperative ecosystem.
Nexus Program Managers Diana Siegel-Garcia and Leanna Browne repped the Shared Ownership Center @ Nexus, the Minnesota Coalition of Community-Owned Real Estate (MC-CORE), and our North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship.
Our cozy table included MC-CORE members from East Side Community Investment Co-op, South Como Co-op, Taproot Investment Cooperative, and Midway Investment Cooperative. (Check out these real estate co-ops—they’re all seeking new members!)
“It was exciting to share Minnesota Black cooperative history and current local co-op stories through North Star’s Cooperative Gallery Walk, a reflective, interactive experience that engages participants in important moments, people, and cooperative groups in Black cooperative economics,” Leanna says. “I highlighted stories such as Credjafawn, one of the oldest Black social clubs, formed in 1928 and based in St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood, and Rootsprings, a Black- and LGBTQ-led cooperative retreat center in Annandale, Minnesota, on 36 acres of biodiverse farmland. I also uplifted YO MAMA’S HOUSE Cooperative to honor the late Ìyá Amoké Kubat, who founded this art and healing space co-op for mothers of all ages to mother, mentor, and make.”
Also spotted at the Fest was Eme Coffee & Tea handing out samples of cold brew, matcha, and sweet treats. They’re a new worker-owned St. Paul co-op, a 2026 North Star alum, and one of Nexus’ LOCAL Fund grantees!
And facilitating the Fest’s collaborative art project was Branch Out and Bloom, a 2025 North Star alum and emerging cooperative that provides after-school creative programming for Black youth.
Almost 200 co-op curious folks came through. We had a blast hearing people’s big co-op ideas and seeing our co-op friends! The event was such a hit that CoMinnesota is doing it again next year. We can’t wait!
