Maine’s Co-op Community in Action: The Importance and Joy of the Principle 6 Conference

Each year, the Principle 6 Conference offers something that’s hard to quantify but easy to feel: the energy of cooperation in action. Rooted in the cooperative principle of cooperation among cooperatives, the conference has become a vital space for Maine’s co-op community and partners across the region to come together not just to share ideas, but to actively build relationships, alignment, and momentum. “Cooperation in person is just the best,” as one attendee put it.

This year’s gathering reflected both the depth and the growing edge of the cooperative movement here in Maine. Established co-ops showed up alongside a strong wave of start-up and newly converting co-ops, including several worker-owned businesses transitioning from traditional ownership. Their presence, alongside long-standing co-ops that have weathered decades of economic and social change, created a powerful sense of continuity, resilience, and possibility. As one attendee noted, “It is amazing to see how P6 has grown… every year it feels like we have an expanding attendance of new co-ops… and co-ops that have been around and provide a stable base for the movement.”

A standout thread throughout the conference was the strength and leadership of Maine’s food co-op sector. Eight food co-ops were represented, many sending multiple staff members and engaging deeply across the event. Their leadership extended well beyond attendance: Fare Share Food Co-op and Belfast Food Co-op served on the planning team, helping shape the conference from the ground up, while the General Manager of Portland Food Co-op brought energy and connection to the role of event co-MC. A majority of food co-ops also sponsored the conference, further underscoring their investment in the gathering and the broader cooperative ecosystem. Several food co-ops additionally contributed snacks for shared coffee breaks, meaningful acts that reflect deep commitment to community care and mutual support.

That commitment and drive was echoed in sessions like The Future Is Now: Growing Maine’s Food Co-op Economy Through Cooperation, which sparked excitement about what deeper coordination across food co-ops could look like. One participant reflected, “I’m excited to see where it goes… I hope food co-ops organize together more and that organizing connects well to cross-sector work.”

One of the most energizing moments of the conference was the morning Co-op Ecosystem Celebration, where three local co-ops representing the housing, energy, and food sectors grounded the day in real, place-based examples. The space then opened up to additional co-ops from across Maine and the region. What followed was an unscripted and deeply engaging exchange that revealed stories of start-ups taking shape, worker-owned conversions gaining traction, and seasoned co-ops continuing to adapt and endure.

For many in the room, this moment (and the day as a whole) offered both affirmation and perspective. One attendee shared that it was “really helpful to get a sense of where we are as Maine in the broader co-op ecosystem. 

That sense of connection is not incidental… it is the point. As Jonah Fertig-Burd shared, “P6 provides a powerful space for co-ops and co-op supporters to come together to learn, connect and build a movement.” And as another participant put it even more directly: “This conference is absolutely critical to the growth of the cooperative economy in Maine.”

A major highlight of the conference was the keynote address by national cooperative leader Doug O’Brien (President/CEO, National Cooperative Business Association), whose remarks helped situate Maine’s work within a broader national and international cooperative context. His keynote was noted in feedback as both affirming and grounding. One participant shared that “[h]earing from [Doug O’Brien] helped connect Maine’s co-op work to the broader national and global movement…I left inspired, enriched, and emboldened to keep doing the co-op work.” Other survey responses echoed this, highlighting how the session reinforced connections between local efforts and the wider movement, while underscoring the importance of continued cross-sector collaboration. Many participants described feeling encouraged by the recognition of Maine’s cooperative leadership on a broader stage.

For organizers, another exciting takeaway was that co-ops weren’t just present, but built into the very structure of the event itself and embedded throughout every layer of the experience:

• 8 of 13 planning team members directly represented Maine co-ops
• 15 of 28 sponsors were co-ops, several of whom also engaged directly by tabling at the event.
• 11 co-ops were represented across 13 workshops through staff and member leadership
• Haali’s Halal, a worker-owned cooperative, catered the event, providing excellent food and being a truly great partner to work with throughout (a detail attendees clearly appreciated: “Lunch was uh-mazing! So tasty!”)

The conference also continued to prioritize accessibility and inclusion as core design elements, not add-ons. Sliding-scale and no-cost registration options, interpretation upon request, on-site childcare, and dedicated spaces for rest and reflection helped ensure broader participation. These choices reflect an understanding that a cooperative economy must be built with people, not just for them.

What emerges from all of this is more than a successful event. The Principle 6 Conference functions as connective tissue for the Maine cooperative ecosystem. It strengthens relationships, amplifies shared identity, and creates space for reflection and forward movement. And, most importantly, it’s made possible by the people who show up and help shape it.

Within that, there is something just as important as strategy or structure: there is joy.
Joy in recognition. Joy in shared purpose. Joy in the realization that this work, often complex and sometimes challenging, is not happening in isolation.

Or, as one participant summed it up: “Great day, great event, lots of great folks.”