History

With roots in the women's movement of the late 1800s, group equity co-ops have continued against the odds for almost 150 years, finding ways to create both affordable housing and community across North America.

Group equity co-ops are solidly rooted in the Chicago area, first rising as a practical solution to the very real needs of nineteenth-century single women. But this self-help approach eventually became an important option for anyone with financial need.

Many Hands: Building a Cooperative Future 

Filmed in 2013, this is an inspirational chronical of the cooperative movement in Austin, Texas, and also an organizing tool for anyone searching for a cooperative approach to broader empowerment and stronger community.

Video footage of the late Luther Buchele leading NASCO Institute 2007 participants in song. For many years, Luther sang these songs ("Come and Let us Work Together" and "I'm My Own Landlord") at NASCO Institute - though Luther passed away in 2008, the songs are still sung yearly at Institute in his memory. You may read more about Luther in the attached obituary.

What role did economic cooperation play in the civil rights movement? As it turns out, a huge one. This forgotten history is the focus of Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard's recent book Collective Courage: A History of African-American Economic Thought and Practice, out in bookstores in May 2014.

The Laura Flanders show streams from GRITtv.org.

Short educational pamphlet on the history and trajectory of student cooperatives, written by Hilary Greer (former NASCO Executive Director) and Eric Guetschoff (former NASCO Development Coordinator) in the late 1990s.

Archived copies of NASCO's monthly "Journal of the New Harbinger" magazine and monthly "NASCO News Bulletin." Printed in 1971.

Published by NASCO in 1985. Edited by Sharon Pedersen.

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