International Economic Leaders and Boston Coalition Launch ‘Social Economy Road Show’ to Advance Cooperative Business Models

By vberman | May 27, 2026

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Virginia Berman, Local Enterprise Assistance Fund Communications Director (LEAF)

Phone: 617-390-4076 (cell)

International Economic Leaders and Boston Coalition Launch ‘Social Economy Road Show’ to Advance Cooperative Business Models

BOSTON, MA — May 27, 2026 — On Friday, May 29, the “Social Economy Road Show” arrives in Boston, hosted by Boston’s own Local Enterprise Assistance Fund (LEAF), for a singular gathering of solidarity economy thinkers, labor leaders, and philanthropic organizations.

“LEAF demonstrates effective alternatives to mainstream economic models by successfully funding cooperatives for the past four decades,” said José Luis Rojas, Chief Lending Officer of LEAF. “We are thrilled to bring these national and international organizations together for Boston to dream about what more is possible across New England to strengthen the solidarity economy.”

The unique gathering at the Fiorentino Community Center brings together leaders from Spain’s Mondragon Corporation, the world’s largest federation of worker-owned cooperatives, with local labor, academic, and business leaders to envision scaling cooperatives across New England.

“Boston is on the brink of international leadership in cooperative funding and worker ownership,” said Rand Wilson, former chief of staff at SEIU Local 888 and currently with the national CHIPS Communities United coalition. “While AI is decimating job markets, we are seeing a possible future of flourishing with shared benefits. This gathering pushes us into that new future.” Wilson, a longtime union organizer, with leadership roles at co-op groups like LEAF, ICA-Group, and the Fund for Jobs Worth Owning.

After meeting with Mayor Michelle Wu Friday, the delegation joins LEAF and American Sustainable Business Network in hosting an intimate briefing to show how Boston can leverage lessons from Mondragon to build support for more worker-owned cooperatives.

Event Details (open to the press):

What: Social Economy Road Show Briefing & Leadership Luncheon
When: Friday, May 29, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Where: Fiorentino Community Center, 123 Antwerp St, Allston, MA
Who: Convened by LEAF, ASETT (Arizmendiarrieta Social Economy Think Tank), and the American Sustainable Business Network.

Confirmed Participants Include:

International Delegates: Iñigo Albizuri and Ibon Zugasti (Mondragon Corporation); Representatives from the Arizmendiarrieta Social Economy Think Tank (ASETT).
Labor & Community Leaders: Damilare Lombos (Greater Boston Labor Council); SEIU 32BJ; Rob Witherell (United Steelworkers); Dan Swinney (Manufacturing Renaissance).
Philanthropy & Research: The Barr Foundation; The Boston Foundation; The Center for Social Policy (CSP) at UMass Boston; Dr. Christina Clamp (Co-author, Humanity at Work and Life); Carmen Huerta-Noble (CUNY CED Law Clinic).
Academic Institutions: Faculty and researchers from Harvard University, MIT, Tufts University, Boston College, and Southern New Hampshire University.

Following the luncheon, students, academics, activists, and government, business and community leaders are invited to a public discussion of alternative economic models that prioritize people over profit. Through presentations and small-group discussions, participants will exchange learnings from successes and failures of the past half-century of cooperative economic thought and practice.

Event Details (Open to the Press and Public):