As we head into September, we're thinking about Labor Day — not just as a long weekend, but as a holiday born from the same conviction that drives our work every day: that the people who create value deserve a real say in how that value is shared. Labor Day has its roots in the labor movement's fight for dignity, fair treatment, and collective power on the job. That's the same spirit that runs through cooperativism — workers coming together not just to labor, but to own, to decide, and to share in what they build together.
This month, we're also holding a collective grief. On August 25, we lost Dolly Parton — singer, songwriter, and lifelong advocate for generosity and solidarity. Dolly built her life and her work around collaboration: lifting up other artists, investing in her community, and giving back in ways that reflected a genuine belief that we do better when we do it together. When "I Will Always Love You" became a career-defining hit for Whitney Houston, Dolly used the royalties to purchase an office complex in what was then a predominantly Black area of Nashville — a deliberate choice she made to invest in that community, one she credited directly to Whitney's success — a quiet but powerful act of solidarity that echoed her values far beyond the music industry.
That belief — that success is worth sharing, and that we rise together — is one we carry into this work every day. So this Labor Day, let's celebrate the workers who paved the path before us, celebrate a life spent giving generously to others, and celebrate the simple, hopeful truth that we're stronger together. That's a legacy worth dancing to.
