Columinate launched the Co-op Cafe in 2012, along with National Co+op Grocers (NCG). Since then, the Co-op Cafe has hosted dozens of events and thousands of conversations aimed at strengthening engagement at all levels of the participating co-ops.  

At its origin, says Mark Goehring,

"We saw an opportunity to provide facilitated conversations on topics that matter, at the local, regional, and national levels.  "We wanted to make something extraordinary and highly engaging."

Rather than a format of presenters and receivers of information, Columinate adopted the World Cafe participatory model and acknowledged as much in the Cafe presentations. Co-op Cafe is a registered trademark by Columinate. 

NCG was focused on managers and staff, while Columinate was focused on boards and the board/GM relationship via Cooperative Board Leadership Development (CBLD). Coming together to sponsor (NCG) and produce Co-op Cafe (Columinate) created a whole new opportunity to engage boards, managers, and staff in conversations that matter. 

NCG member co-ops were the primary constituency for the Cafe, and an NCG presentation would typically be included in the day's discussions. Cafe gatherings were held in-person, supplemented over time with a substantial video Library of Cafe documents and proceedings. For a Cafe summary from 2024 and earlier, rich with past recordings, see here. And for visual summaries of several years of past Cafes and accompanying "quilts" of images, see here. 

For many years, Columinate organized up to eight in-person Cafes each year. During the pandemic, the Cafe was presented remotely, and subsequently some Cafe events have continued to be online. Current Cafes are in-person. NCG support makes the Cafe possible. In collaboration, Cafe themes are developed by Columinate, and the local co-ops decide who in their organizations should attend. The invitation includes any people from the local co-op who co-op leaders would like to have practice the conversation in a safe, structured setting. This usually includes board members, managers, and staff.  

Some boards make it a practice for the Co-op Cafe in their area to be on their annual calendar as a full board event. Local presenters are solicited. Then, after presentations, come probing questions and powerful conversations. 

Currently three Cafes are held per year. Here are details of the 2026 Cafe events. Attendance has ranged from as few as fifteen people to eighty! The event is affordable (free or $50 per participant) and close to home.  

Managing the Co-op Cafe has shifted over the years from Goehring to other Columinate consultants, and since 2023 the program has been led by Hether Jonna. Says Goehring, "There is rich learning at each Cafe for Columinate consultants as well," adding to the strengthening of our co-op sector. Local co-op leaders in places across the country continue to draw inspiration and shared understanding through the Co-op Cafe. 

Next month: future directions for Co-op Cafe.