Agenda Highlights

Don't miss your opportunity to collaborate with limited cohort of leaders in a special convening that blends real-world experiences with hands-on strategy development and peer exchange.

Day One: 

Building Disaster-Resilient Communities
A three-part, hands-on workshop featuring real-world experiences from cooperativas and credit unions that navigated climate disasters and adapted operations and products to serve and protect their communities. Through small working groups, attendees will explore: 

• Short- and long-term recovery and rebuilding strategies
• Personalized resilience ideas tailored to their institutions
• How to turn CDCU business continuity plans into long-range resilience strategies 
• How to forge partnerships with local organizations to support members during crisis

 

Credit Unions Leading in Economic Development and Affordable Housing
A plenary panel followed by a collaborative workshop on building local ecosystems that support lending, homeownership, and small business growth. Attendees will learn: 

• How loan participation models are structured and the benefits and challenges of shared lending
• How to identify community needs that can be translated to new loan products and partnership opportunities
• Map out the stakeholders that participate in homeownership, small business, and other sectors that contribute to local economies 
• How to track the results of these relationships and community partnerships

 

Building Political Resiliency Together
A forward-looking conversation on strengthening political resilience while staying rooted in cooperative purpose and balancing advocacy, adaptability, and collaboration. Attendees will take away the following: 

• Building coalitions, partnerships, and advocacy networks
• Identifying opportunities for influence at local, state, and federal levels
• Withstanding disruption, adapting to rapid changes, and leading through it

Day Two: 

Site Visits for Resilience in Action
Spend the day visiting two leading cooperativas to see firsthand how they anchored communities during crisis and recovery. These immersive visits will highlight practical models in resilience infrastructure, community partnerships, and member-focused innovation.

• Cooperativa La Sagrada Familia in Naranjito - a rural financial cooperative founded in 1959 and Puerto Rico's first financial cooperative to become a certified CDFI. Here attendees will explore: 
  • The "Oasis" community hub with solar power, water access, and off-grid emergency systems
  • Partnerships with health centers, supermarkets, and emergency agencies
  • Resilience-focused product design and member services
  • Long-term rebuilding strategies driven by community need
     
• Cooperativa La Comeriena in Comerio -  A CDFI with more than 6500 member owners and a strong focus on inclusion and recovery. Attendees will learn: 
  • A digital inclusion center offering free public technology access
  • Staff training to serve deaf and hard-of-hearing members
  • Recovery efforts after catastrophic flooding
  • Business continuity improvements and preparedness planning for future events