About Us
Our Vision
To preserve and grow our cooperative senior housing communities, helping members lead full, healthy, social lives.
Our Mission
Using cooperative principles, CSI develops and manages exceptional, affordable rental communities where seniors enjoy opportunities to thrive.
The CSI Board of Directors consists of 13 members elected from the resident-members of our cooperatives. The composition includes six members from Michigan, three from Maryland, two from California, and two from Massachusetts. Each board member serves a three-year term, during which they establish cooperative policies and goals. The Board's main responsibility is to define and fulfill CSI's mission. Additionally, the Board hires and reviews the Chief Executive Officer, approves significant capital expenditures, and acts as ambassadors for the cooperative.
Our shared core values drive our mission and our strategic goals. It is essential that all our staff, volunteers, and members use our core values as an internal compass.
Education
- We always value the experiences and strengths of our members and staff, and we understand that education is constant and collaborative between our members and co-workers.
- We always strive to inspire, challenge, and support everyone through continual education.
- We always seek to find new ways to make training successful and engaging.
- We always provide life-changing educational opportunities to give our members the knowledge to govern their co-ops and be successful in their roles.
- We always provide tools for our members and staff to develop skills and knowledge for themselves and for our organization.
Cooperation
- We always work together to help each other.
- We always strive to work as a team, and we value collaboration.
- We understand that cooperation always relies on strong communication.
- We always seek to make connections and build relationships with each other to grow the spirit of cooperation.
Volunteerism
- We always seek to inspire, recognize, and celebrate our volunteers’ dedication and impact on our mission, no matter what our role is in the organization. We understand this helps build People Working Together to Help Each Other into a way of life.
- We always provide volunteer opportunities with the goal of offering members purpose and value in their communities.
- We always understand the physical, mental, and social benefits that volunteerism offers.
- We always keep in mind a spirit of service.
Respect
- We always embrace diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at every level. We always work to sustain a culture in which everyone is welcomed, respected, supported, and valued.
- We always promote fairness and equality through consistent application of standards and policies.
- We always demonstrate compassion.
- We always maintain appropriate levels of confidentiality.
- We always communicate in a respectful manner towards all. We always put into practice our motto People Working Together to Help Each Other.
- We always act in the best interest of CSI and our co-ops.
Integrity
- We always foster an atmosphere of open communication, teamwork, and trust.
- We are always truthful.
- We are CSI ambassadors, and we always represent ourselves as such.
- We know that leadership sets the tone and always strive to set a positive example for others.
- We always strive to be dependable and supportive.
- We always inspire and seek to build each other up.
- We always act with the highest level of ethics.
- We are always accountable through our words and actions.
Excellence
- We always strive to inspire, challenge, and support everyone through continual education.
- We always seek to find new ways to make training successful and engaging.
- We always provide life-changing educational opportunities to give our members the knowledge to govern their co-ops and be successful in their roles.
- We always provide tools for our members and staff to develop skills and knowledge for themselves and for our organization.
Our shared core values drive our mission and our strategic goals. It is essential that all our staff, volunteers, and members use our core values as an internal compass.
Fred and Virginia Thornthwaite began their journey toward founding Cooperative Services, Inc., dedicating themselves to building a better system through co-ops.
Fred Thornthwaite built our co-op's foundation by organizing Parke Davis Credit Union, promoting co-ops, and establishing Cooperative Dairy Services, which expanded to 18 milk routes and 3 stores.
Cooperative Dairy Services and Fordson Cooperative merge to form Cooperative Services, Inc.
Cooperative Services expanded to Massachusetts and California while continuing to build properties in Michigan and Maryland.
Wyandotte Co-op was built, offering 160 affordable apartments for low-income seniors.
Six more affordable senior apartment buildings were built in Michigan.
Essex Co-op in Maryland was built, establishing Cooperative Services as a national organization.
Fred and Virginia Thornthwaite began their journey toward founding Cooperative Services, Inc., dedicating themselves to building a better system through co-ops.
19 new co-ops were built.
CSI Support & Development Services becomes the non-profit parent company of Cooperative Services, Inc.
CSI Support & Development Services continues to specialize in affordable housing for low-income senior citizens with locations in California, Maryland, Massachusetts and Michigan.
2022
Royal Oak Manor
2022
Royal Oak Manor
Chair of the Board award
2023
Cindy Lamb