International Cooperative Immersed

Hey friends! My name is Allison Demirjian. Before I get into detail about the amazing opportunity that I am documenting for you all, I want you to have an understanding of who I am.

Let’s start off with the basics. I am 23, a recent graduate of Quinnipiac University with a Bachelors and Master degree, I just moved to Boston (big change from my small town in NH). My undergraduate education earned me a bachelors in Health Science Studies on a pre-medicine tract with a minor in Spanish, and my graduate degree is a Masters in Business Administration. Big change I know, but that is what happens when you have varying interests. Some of my other passions include; traveling, hiking, sustainability, fashion, and sewing! I started a small business reselling and upcycling thrifted clothes called Al’s Articles.

Now let me explain how I got here. I mentioned early that I obtained a master’s degree, but it isn’t quite complete. As part of my program I was supposed to travel abroad to learn about international business, but Covid made that very difficult. Rather than sit through another class I opted to create an immersive independent study to increase my knowledge in some department of international business. I really had no idea where I would end up or what I would learn, but after reaching out to Howard Brodsky, a mentor and family friend who is both prevalent and well respected in the Co-op industry in the US, both he and Danila Curcio created the most amazing trip I could ask for. So while this trip began as an independent study to complete my masters, it ended up serving a double purpose because Danila and Howard hatched the idea of creating an exchange program. The trip they planned for me was so incredible we all agreed it should be shared with as many people as possible. That being said, please follow along as I tell you about my amazing immersion into the Cooperative industry of Rome, Bologna, and Brussels, and maybe you too can be a part of this program.