Nexus’ North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship is a space for political education, strategy, and collective learning rooted in Black cooperative economics and Black feminist practice. We ground people in the history of how Black communities have always built together, even in the face of systemic harm, extraction, and exclusion.
Each year, we welcome a new group of fellows ready to reclaim this history and put it into practice. Below, three fellows from our 2025-26 cohort share their experiences!
LaTierra Piphus, Womxnist Liberation Cooperative
“North Star has been a much-needed cooperative education space for our small (but growing) co-op. Each presenter felt hand-selected based on expertise and relevance to the cohort. We even witnessed impressive, responsive, and emergent facilitation from [Nexus staff] Nkuli and Leanna when it was clear we fellows needed more time and space to grieve, process, and tap into care during the necessary upheaval taking place throughout the U.S.”
Alicia Rufus, S.E.W. Cooperative
“Being a part of North Star has been a rewarding experience. S.E.W. Cooperative is focused on creating spaces for Black people living in the rural parts of Minnesota, where social isolation is high and opportunities for culture and connection is low. Through this fellowship, I have been able to slow down and really think about what we are building. I have been given the tools to build a cooperative that will really embody our vision: a strong, self-sustaining, Black rural community where social, economic, and cultural wholeness thrive. This is the spirit of Ubuntu in action. Looking forward, our focus is solidifying our governance and bylaws, growing our membership, creating programming, funding our vision, and securing land.”
Jeanine Wiley, S.E.W. Cooperative
“My experience in North Star was truly meaningful to me. I came into the program curious, but I’m leaving with a much deeper understanding of what it really means to build and sustain cooperative values in real life.
One of the biggest takeaways for me was learning how important solidarity, democracy, and respect for the world’s ecosystems are—not just as ideas, but as practices we have to be intentional about every day. The virtual cooperative tours helped me see these values in action, which made everything feel more real and possible.
I also really valued the hands-on work we did, especially creating bylaws and thinking through governance and decision-making. This was challenging, but it pushed me to think more critically about what fair and inclusive structures actually look like. It made me realize that strong cooperatives don’t just happen—they’re built with care, clarity, and shared responsibility.
The breakout sessions were a highlight for me. Being able to have honest conversations and hear about others’ real experiences helped me connect more deeply to the work. It reminded me that cooperative values are lived through people, relationships, and trust.
As I move forward with S.E.W. Cooperative, I want to carry these lessons with me in a real way. I plan to be more intentional about supporting democratic decision-making and making sure everyone’s voice is heard and respected. I also want to help build structures that are clear, fair, and rooted in our shared values. Most importantly, I want to contribute to a cooperative culture that reflects care—for each other, our community, and the environment.
This fellowship didn’t just teach me new skills—it shifted how I think about working with others and what it means to build something collectively. I’m grateful for the experience and excited to keep growing from it.”
