When we launched Principle 6, we knew we were setting out to do something ambitious—something that had never been done before at this scale. And we also knew one thing for certain: we couldn’t do it alone.

This month’s theme, Breaking Down the Silos, is about exactly that. For too long, too many cooperatives have been working in isolation—doing great work, but without the connections, shared intelligence, and collaborative infrastructure to multiply our impact.

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Early Adopters

If you’re reading this, you’re already part of the community helping us turn Principle 6 from a bold idea into a living, breathing reality. Your participation—whether that’s creating a Member Benefit Statement, contributing to the Dynamic Knowledge Bank, or even just sharing feedback—has shaped our progress in ways you might not realize. Every insight, every story, every best practice you’ve shared helps us build something that serves the whole movement.

Our Ambition: Tools That Empower Collaboration

Breaking down silos starts with practical tools—resources that make it easier for co-ops and federations to work together, share knowledge, and measure their impact. Here’s where we’re starting:

• Member Benefit Statement – Currently in development, this tool will help cooperatives measure and share the tangible value they deliver to their members and communities.
• Cooperative Impact Statement – A public-facing version of the Member Benefit Statement that federations and co-ops can use to communicate their value to stakeholders and the broader public.
• Dynamic Knowledge Bank – Our growing repository of best practices and cooperative wisdom, contributed by members and refined with AI.
• AI-Powered Tools – From the upcoming P6 Cooperative StoryBuilder to the Collaborative Community Engagement Tool, we’re building intelligent, cooperative-specific resources that will help you work smarter and more efficiently.

Each of these tools is designed to do more than just “help you run your co-op.” They’re designed to connect you to others—because connection is where the magic happens.

Why This Matters Now

We’re living in a moment of enormous possibility. Across the world, cooperatives are starting to think bigger, act bolder, and work together in ways that once felt out of reach. Whether it’s joining forces to influence policy, pooling resources to scale impact, or simply purchasing from each other to strengthen local economies—every act of collaboration chips away at the walls that keep us apart.

But possibility doesn’t just happen on its own—it’s built. That’s what Principle 6 is here for: to give the cooperative movement the infrastructure it needs to turn vision into reality.

Your Role in This

You’re not just a participant in Principle 6—you’re a co-creator. Every cooperative that joins, every federation that contributes, every member who shares their voice strengthens the foundation we’re building together.

So this month, as you explore the posts, discussions, and resources tied to Breaking Down the Silos, I invite you to ask: What could we achieve if we stopped working in isolation? And just as importantly: What small step can I take today to connect my co-op with others? Join the Conversation here!

Thank you for believing in this vision. Thank you for helping to make it real. And thank you for being part of a movement that knows—deep down—that when we come together, big things happen.

— Howard Brodsky
Co-Founder & Chair, Principle 6