This Black History Month the Owner Engagement Committee of the Board of Directors encourages all owners (and friends) to learn more about Black cooperatives.
Co-ops exist to serve the needs of their members and their community rather the pockets of a select few- those needs might be related to food access, farming, mutual aid, housing, utilities, or anything else one can think of. In a society that is built on racial inequality, cooperatives are able to support Black people in tangible ways by keeping wealth and resources in the community and for the people. In her book Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice, Dr. Jessica Gordo Nembhard details the importance of cooperative economics to African American communities throughout the history of this country. Here is a list of Black-owned bookstores if you wish to buy the book online: www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/books/a33497812/black-owned-bookstores/
Want to start learning now? Read this article from Yes! Magazine:
For those ready to go deeper, join fellow co-operators in the Abolitionist Challenge put on by Columinate: columinate.coop/events/abolitionists/
Owner participation is encouraged in the Owner Engagement Committee.
Email for more information and to confirm meeting times: boardmembership@belfast.coop