THE CO-OP WARS tells the story of the idealistic youth who tried to build an alternative to corporate capitalism, the violent struggle that almost tore them apart, and their eventual success in ways they never foresaw.
In the 1970s, young people in Minnesota radicalized by the Vietnam War created a unique counterculture economy featuring dozens of food cooperatives. Powered by idealism and camaraderie, they created stores that offered whole foods unavailable in supermarkets and acted as thriving social hubs. But a shadowy revolutionary group exploited conflicts over class and race to try to seize the movement for its own ends. The ensuing clash pitted friends and comrades in a sometimes violent struggle over who and what the co-ops were for.
THE CO-OP WARS is a vital piece of cooperative history sure to inspire discussion between co-op members about their own co-op’s history and efforts at inclusion.
Deacon Warner, Director of The Co-op Wars, will show clips not included in the film and talk about the filmmaking process to give you vital context for understanding the history of this conflict and its implication for co-ops today. Topics include the courageous activist backgrounds of many of the key players, the devolution of the Co-op Organization into a cult, and the different models communities have tried to bring co-ops to "food deserts" in Minneapolis in recent years.
Deacon will be joined by Dave Gutknecht, a co-op historian and one of the subjects of The Co-op Wars.
Before the event, please watch The Co-op Wars. It will be broadcast on Monday, October 4 at 8pm on TPT and on Thursday, October 7 at 9pm on TPTLife. You can also stream it here from October 5 - October 13.
Space is limited. Registration will close the day before the event.
** Due to safety measures in place at Eastside Food Co-op, we are only able to welcome 12 attendees at this event in our Community Room. However, we will be offering a livestream of the event for anyone who wishes to attend virtually. **