Work with Accredited Professional Dialogue Practitioner Jon Steinman to integrate Cooperative Dialogue into your workplace, governance team, or as a powerful tool to engage members.
What is Cooperative Dialogue?
Cooperative Dialogue is a practical, values-aligned approach to group communication designed specifically for cooperatives. It helps co-ops navigate tension, build trust, and deepen participation—especially when facing change, conflict, or complexity.
Unlike discussion, which often seeks to win or resolve, dialogue helps groups think together—to uncover assumptions, listen with care, and make meaning collectively.
Cooperative Dialogue with member-owners and board directors of The Food Co-op (Port Townsend, WA, 2024)
Dialogue workshop with Jon Steinman at the 2022 Provender Alliance Conference (Hood River, OR)
Discussion vs. Dialogue. Jon Steinman explores the difference with startup food co-op board directors (host: Katie Novak Cooperative Coaching)
Dialogue and Democracy. Jon Steinman speaks with startup food co-op board directors (host: Katie Novak Cooperative Coaching)
JON STEINMAN
Jon is the author of Grocery Story: The Promise of Food Co-ops in the Age of Grocery Giants, a past Board Director and President of the Kootenay Co-op, and an Accredited Professional Dialogue Practitioner through the Academy of Professional Dialogue.
Jon introduced this approach to group dialogue at Heddlestone Village – a 24-home cohousing community in Nelson, British Columbia that he co-developed. He now introduces Cooperative Dialogue in his role as an educator and consultant to cooperative grocery stores.
Dialogue workshop with Jon Steinman at the 2023 Provender Alliance Conference (Hood River, OR)
