Inclusiv Concludes Third Regional Convening in Puerto Rico

Inclusiv held its third Regional Convening in Puerto Rico on January 27, 28, and 29, bringing together cooperative leaders, public officials, and credit union partners for three days of learning, knowledge sharing, and site visits. 

This event is part of a national Inclusiv initiative to bring together cooperatives and community development leaders through regional convenings, creating spaces for dialogue and collaboration around issues of local and national relevance. The first day of the convening, which was directed at the local cooperativas, brought together 65 leaders representing 48 cooperativas, along with 38 guests from 22 cooperativa organizations and strategic partners within Puerto Rico’s cooperative ecosystem.

Special guests included the President of the House of Representatives, Carlos Johnny Méndez, who joined a panel discussion with cooperative leaders focused on collaboration between government and the credit union movement.

The second day of the convening brought together 66 leaders from 49 cooperativas, credit unions, associations, and allied organizations from Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the U.S. mainland, bringing together the local cooperativa and mainland credit union movements. Sessions focused on climate, economic, and political resilience, as well as growth strategies, and opportunities for development partnerships that support long-term resilience and growth.

During the convening, partners Corporación Pública para la Supervisión y Seguro de Cooperativas de Puerto Rico (COSSEC) and the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York made a historic announcement: for the first time, Puerto Rico cooperativas will be able to apply for admission to the FHLBNY. This will allow access to liquidity and federal tools that support housing and community development programs on the island.

The convening concluded with visits to two cooperativas in the mountain region of Puerto Rico. Both cooperativas are examples of resiliency in action. At Cooperativa La Sagrada Familia in Naranjito, participants toured the OASIS resiliency center and learned about its role in supporting the community. They also learned about Puerto Rico Coopera, Sagrada Familia's initiative to bring together the cooperative and non profit sector to work to solve the Island's pressing social and economic development needs. 

Attendees also shared a meal prepared in the community kitchen by students from Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico. The group then traveled to Cooperativa Comeriena, where staff described how the cooperativa continued operating after much of its branch was damaged by flooding from Hurricane Maria, opening before local banks and providing cash to their community. Participants also visited Comeriena’s virtual library, which provides space for community members to take ASL, English, workforce, and other courses.

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