International Day of Cooperatives in the United States

International Day of Cooperatives is an annual event celebrated on the first Saturday of July. The day is observed to recognize and promote the cooperative movement around the world.

History:

• The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) established this special day in 1923.
• The United Nations, partnering with the ICA, declared the first Saturday of July as International Day of Cooperatives in 1992.
• It commemorates the centenary of the founding of the International Cooperative Alliance.

Traditions:

While there are no fixed traditions in the United States for this day due to its broad scope and varying local practices, some common activities include:

• Educational workshops and seminars about cooperatives.
• Community events that showcase cooperative businesses and products.
• Marketing campaigns to raise awareness of cooperatives' social and economic contributions.

What People Do:

On International Day of Cooperatives, people in the U.S. often:

• Participate in local cooperative fairs or expos.
• Engage with cooperative businesses through open houses or special promotions.
• Use social media and other platforms to highlight success stories and benefits of cooperatives.

The focus is on strengthening the cooperative movement by promoting their values like self-help, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity.