Solid State and Dechinta Centre of Research + Learning have been collaborating on co-operative learning models for the past few years including workshops in 2024 and 2025 about non-extractive financing models, solidarity economics and more. As the collaboration has developed, it’s been fulfilling to learn from each other and see where our work and values intersect. This next set of workshops are open to the public as online talks facilitated by our co-op development team. If you’re interested in learning more, register below!

Session details:

March 23 – Political Grounding & Strategy for Co-ops
Facilitated by Syed Khawar
This session explores the political and economic foundations of co-operatives, including how co-ops challenge traditional capitalist models and support community ownership. Participants will also work through developing a clear mission, vision, and values, and how these shape strategy for building strong community-based enterprises.

March 25 – Co-operative Business Planning & Finance Basics
Facilitated by Katrina Mugume & Arshia Uppal
Learn the fundamentals of starting a co-operative business. This session introduces co-op business planning, including market research and evaluating whether an idea is desirable, viable, and feasible. Participants will also explore financial basics for start-ups, including funding pathways such as Seed Commons and government grants.

March 27 – Governance, HR & Building Democratic Co-ops
Facilitated by Muryam Babar
This session focuses on how co-operatives operate and grow. Participants will explore the differences between co-ops, non-profits, and corporations, learn about democratic governance structures, and discuss practical approaches to HR and operations for early-stage co-ops.

All sessions run 5:00–7:00 PM PT (7:00–9:00 PM MT).

GenConnect Heritage Trip: Bridging Cultures Across Generations

GenConnect recently hosted their annual Heritage Trip, bringing together seniors and youth volunteers for a meaningful day of cultural exploration, learning, and intergenerational connection. The trip created a unique space for participants to reflect on identity, heritage, and the importance of preserving culture across generations.

The journey began at the Khalsa Diwan Society Gurdwara, where participants explored the site’s rich history and museum. Through stories, artifacts, and shared dialogue, youth had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of Sikh history, Punjabi language, and cultural traditions while seniors shared personal insights and lived experiences.

The group then visited the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art, where they engaged with Indigenous art and learned about the histories, values, and traditions of Northwest Coast First Nations. This part of the trip encouraged participants to reflect on parallels between Indigenous and Punjabi experiences, particularly around storytelling, connection to land, and the preservation of culture.

Overall, the Heritage Trip was an incredibly insightful and impactful experience. It not only strengthened connections between youth and seniors, but also fostered a deeper appreciation for cultural roots, shared histories, and the importance of learning from one another.

Northsky Social Cooperative has joined the Solid State cooperative network and are excited to help bring access to the 40 million user strong ATprotocol network of apps to your group. Based on the ATprotocol (the same technology as Bluesky), Northsky is hosting social media accounts in Canada and is working towards building a safer social media experience for members of marginalized groups.

Host your social media account with Northsky and maintain your data sovereignty here in Canada, reach over 40mil+ users across a global network, and work with our non-profit worker-owned cooperative.

You can learn more about Northsky and their mission and co-op structure below. And sign up your group for social media accounts!! (special sign up link for Solid State network)

Raise Money for International Climate Disasters with Climate Recentered

Climate Recentered is aiming to raise over 5k that will go directly towards transnational climate solidarity with communities in Jamaica for Hurricane Melissa relief and Sagip Migrante for typhoon relief.

With offerings from local artists, writers, organizations, photographers, musicians, nail and hair techs span over 44 different auction items online until March 28th at 4pm.

Join Climate Recentered on Saturday, March 28th for an in-person fundraiser to conclude the online auction! Participants will be able to pick up their items, listen to live music, buy baked goods, and enjoy yummy warm drinks!

Buy your tickets and bid on items now! At galabid.com/clirecauction

More Than a Number: Portraits and Stories of Migrants

Co-facilitated by Natalia Botero and Fiorella Pinillos, More Than a Number is a four-hour art workshop honouring migrant experiences as part of City in Colour’s Pathway to Diversity national art project. In February, the first of the More Than a Number workshops took place at Solid State. Participants created Polaroid portraits that reflect their identities, life journeys, and experiences of migration across generations. Through guided reflection, writing, and photographic intervention, participants explored what it means to live beyond statistics and economic labels, affirming that migration is not a number but a lived story. The workshop centers migrants as individuals who contribute, learn, and shape the societies they are part of. Participants will also have the opportunity to be included in Natalia Botero’s ongoing project, Reflections of Migration.

The Gaza Community Project has officially launched!

The Gaza Community Partnership (GCP) is gaining momentum with 7 confirmed organizational partners in Surrey, Edmonton, Calgary, London, Mississauga, Toronto and Montreal - cities where the vast majority of Gazans have settled.

The GCP will be placing support workers with each organization and linking them up into a national coalition for support, advocacy, and driving policy.

They have hired a national lead + an operations lead and have support workers now in place in Edmonton and Montreal. They’ve also launched a donations campaign with funds distributed directly to Gazan families.

Consider donating below! Any and all personal donations received will go directly to Gazan families and evacuees here in Canada: 100% of these funds will be spent on food, rent, childcare, transportation, mental health support and other urgent needs. 0% of personal donations will be spent on admin or salaries.

If you are able to donate you will receive an email thanking you from IslamicFamily, who are our fiscal partner and who will issue you a charitable tax receipt directly.

You’re invited to Movement BC’s 'Unpacking Transit in Surrey' on March 23 from 5:30-7:30pm. Movement is a transit organizing group and will be co-hosting this event with Surrey Citizen, a local media non-profit covering Surrey.

This event asks, “Is Surrey a transit leader, or is it being left behind?” With major projects like the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on King George underway, it’s the perfect time to pause and reflect on how these plans fit together and what kind of transit future riders truly need.

The evening will include a short presentation by Movement, followed by a panel discussion with community leaders responding to stories from Surrey transit riders.

Dinner will be provided!

We work, study, and live in a region south of the Fraser River which overlaps with the unceded traditional and ancestral lands of the Kwantlen, Musqueam, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen, Qayqayt and Kwikwetlem peoples.