How do we evolve local ecosystems for community ownership? Nexus’ Shared Ownership Center Director, Benjamin Tsai, helped answer this question at last month’s Just Economy Conference in Washington, D.C., hosted by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition.
He presented in a panel moderated by the Center for Community Investment, which shared, “As individuals and as communities, we do not and cannot exist in silos. But who are the actors that comprise our local ecosystems? How might these local ecosystems shift and adapt over time to make community ownership a thriving reality?”
As CCI explained, “Community ownership of land and real estate is gaining momentum as a strategy for building long-term power, wealth, and stability in communities that have been systematically excluded from decision-making and investment. But shared ownership efforts don’t operate in isolation—they depend on evolving local ecosystems made up of actors who connect grassroots visions to broader systems of capital, policy, and infrastructure. These actors include CDFIs, local governments, and local community organizations [like Nexus!] who have a comprehensive understanding of activities across diverse communities.”
The session explored how these local ecosystems develop, shift, and adapt over time. Through conversation with leaders who work at the intersection of community vision and system-level change, they uncovered what it takes to nurture the conditions for shared ownership to thrive. The panelists examined the roles of intermediaries, funders, policy allies, and community-rooted organizations in shaping enabling environments for community ownership. By the end, attendees gained insight into how to identify, support, and sustain the connective tissue that makes community ownership possible—not just project by project, but at the scale needed to build just and resilient local economies.
“I was excited to share updates on our work around community ownership here in the Twin Cities, and some of the rad co-op projects we have going here,” Benjamin said. “I didn’t know what to expect from the conference, but I’d highly recommend it. It was great to learn about other community development projects from around the country and how they created frameworks for financing.”
