Dear Fellow Cooperators,
Welcome to The Principle 6 Cooperative—a cooperative of cooperatives, owned by all of us and built to empower each of us.
From the beginning, our vision for Principle 6 has been rooted in a simple but powerful idea: that cooperation between cooperatives is not just a principle—it’s our greatest untapped resource. Around the world, cooperatives are solving local problems in powerful ways, but far too often, they’re doing it alone. Principle 6 exists to change that.
Today marks a new chapter in our movement. This platform is a space where cooperatives can connect, share, and grow together—across sectors, borders, and generations. Whether you’re here as a co-op leader, a staff member, or a cooperative champion, your voice matters in what we’re building.
Introducing “Explore & Learn”
This post also marks the beginning of a new series on the Explore & Learn blog—a space where I’ll regularly share thoughts on how deeper cooperation between cooperatives can unlock greater prosperity, resilience, and relevance for all of us.
We’ll talk about the power of networks, the promise of new technologies like AI, and the role of federations in elevating the entire cooperative economy. Most of all, we’ll explore how collaboration—not competition—is the key to thriving in a rapidly changing world.
Each of these posts will be shared here on the blog and on LinkedIn to help bring new energy, new ideas, and new cooperators into the conversation. I invite you to read, share, and respond. Together, we can build a global movement that truly lives up to its principles.
What You Can Do Right Now
As a registered member of Principle 6, you can:
- Explore the Dynamic Knowledge Bank – Learn from real solutions shared by cooperatives around the world.
- Join important conversations – Engage in collaborative discussions on the challenges and opportunities cooperatives face today.
- Contribute your knowledge – Help shape our shared library of cooperative practices, ideas, and innovations.
- Access early tools – Try emerging features like survey builders, benchmarking tools, and CoopGPT—our cooperative-specific AI assistant designed to support your everyday work.
If you are an administrator of a cooperative or federation, additional tools—like the Member Benefit Statement Generator and performance dashboards—are available to help demonstrate impact and drive strategic growth.
What’s Coming Next
We’re building toward a future where every cooperative, no matter its size or sector, can access powerful tools, insights, and connections. Coming soon:
- Federation engagement tools to strengthen networks and support independent co-ops.
- Customized benchmarking to help your organization compare, improve, and thrive.
- AI-powered support systems to make your operations more efficient and your engagement more effective.
- A secure, cooperative-owned AI ecosystem that safeguards our data and amplifies our values.
You Own This. You Shape This.
While we’ve laid a foundation, Principle 6 is—and always will be—a cooperative. That means the real direction comes from you. As much as we believe in the services and potential we’re developing, we believe even more in our members’ ability to shape what comes next.
We’re not building this platform for you. We’re building it with you.
So jump in. Explore. Share your ideas. Use what’s helpful. Challenge what’s not. And help us shape the future of Principle 6—and the future of the cooperative movement.
Because in the end, it takes each of us to make a difference for all of us.
—
Howard Brodsky
Founding Member, Principle 6 Cooperative