Fellows & Alumni

Shanaya Dungey, Jena Holliday, Loryn Branch

Branch Out and Bloom is a Black-led cooperative providing life skills and creative arts education for Black children and young adults in Minnesota. Through culturally rooted, hands-on programming, we teach practical skills like financial literacy and meal planning, combined with creative arts to make learning engaging and meaningful. By drawing on the expertise of community members, we empower the next generation to thrive as they transition into adulthood.

Branch Out and Bloom offers life skills and creative arts education, empowering Black youth in Minnesota to thrive with culturally relevant support.

Mission: Branch Out and Bloom empowers Black children and young adults in Minnesota by providing culturally-based life skills and creative arts education, equipping them with the tools they need to thrive in adulthood.

Vision: We envision a future where every Black child is fully prepared for adulthood, enriched by community support, cultural knowledge, and creative expression, creating a thriving, self-sustaining network of empowered individuals.

Vanessa Weathers, Jessica Sol, Jacquai Heyward

BWINH Inc. is a Black femme-led nonprofit committed to combating racism, sexism, and gender discrimination in New Hampshire and nearby states. We focus on fostering solidarity within the Black community, offering spaces for cultural reconnection and collective care. Through programs like Black Womxn Lead, which develops leadership, and the Black Womxn in NH Social Club, which builds community, we aim to strengthen bonds among Black people across the region. Our work also supports initiatives around food sustainability, housing justice, and wellness, drawing on ancestral practices to promote long-term health and resilience for Black communities.

Our mission at BWINH Inc. is to build a resilient and supportive network for Black communities in New Hampshire and surrounding areas, addressing the impacts of racism, sexism, and gender discrimination. We aim to create spaces where Black people can reconnect with their culture, access opportunities for leadership, and thrive through collective care and solidarity.

Our vision is to see Black communities flourishing—where needs are met, cultural bonds are strengthened, and people work together toward food sustainability, housing justice, and overall wellness. By fostering a deep sense of community, we aim to create a future where Black people in New England feel empowered, connected, and equipped to lead sustainable change.

Monica Smith, Charlotte Smith

Community Healing Services was started after its president lost her brother to an opioid overdose while homeless. He had been the victim of a violent crime and while recuperating, he became addicted to opioids. This started him down a spiral that led to his homelessness and ultimately his death. We believe that those recovering from trauma, especially racial trauma, deserve a real opportunity to heal mind, body, and soul. This can be achieved in a cooperative and supportive community where members are given the tools to become self-sufficient, have financial stability and, also, can pass along generational wealth.

Our mission is to provide new or renovated homes in a therapeutic, cooperative community for unhoused, under-housed and historically disadvantaged individuals, veterans, and families.

Keegan Xavi, Sayge Carroll, Katrina Knutson

Mudluk Pottery is a ceramic studio for marginalized communities. Since 2022, we have served about 2,000 people with a range of creative engagements.

Mudluk Pottery Studio’s mission is to cultivate racial equity in the ceramic arts by facilitating opportunities for BIPOC ceramic artists of all skill levels. Mudluk serves its immediate Powderhorn and Bancroft community and others from further parts of the Twin Cities. We are a place of peace for Black and Brown people, queer, trans or nonbinary and other populations that have been “othered.”

Eshay Brantley, Nakara White, Eshia Taylor, Carmen Lewis, Natalia Davis, Kathy Hanson

Mutha Art’preneur Collective is for Black mothers, creatives and entrepreneurs to progress mentally, financially and spiritually.

We aim to create intersecting practices of dreaming, actualizing, and intergenerational healing where Black women can show up and be supported as their full selves.

Victoria McWane-Creek, Heather Gaston, Jacqueiline Hill, Jennifer Aranda, Cecilia Amadou, Shawn Creek

We are a group of like-minded Black people living, working, and playing in rural Minnesota who are interested in building a community of fellowship and support.

Onyx Collective moves with love, justness, and fairness to enable Black people to just be and support one another as we fully participate, prosper, and live into our full potential.

Cynthia Elmore, Yameika Gilleylen

Our Journey Home is a program of Open Doors Community Services, Inc. ODCS serves those diagnosed with mental health disorders and eradicates stigmatization.

Our Journey Home is an initiative to end homelessness in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas and to provide supportive services.

Katherine Moreno, Scarlett Gonzalez

Our cooperative is committed to bridging the gap between diverse racial and cultural groups through the expertise of community-based BIPOC trainers. We strive to raise awareness and provide education to marginalized communities, particularly Black communities, while also extending our expertise to predominantly white spaces in education, law and public safety, and corporate sectors.

We provide essential resources and education to the community while also challenging the systems that perpetuate the status quo. Our trainers are not just educators but also community leaders who deeply understand the unique challenges and strengths of BIPOC communities.

Through community engagement, we address current issues, create job opportunities, and foster a sense of belonging. We ensure that the voices and perspectives of marginalized communities are heard and valued.

Mission Statement: Our cooperative aims to bridge the gap between racial and cultural groups. By working with community-based BIPOC trainers, we spread awareness and education to marginalized communities, especially Black communities, and extend our expertise to predominantly white areas in sectors such as education, law, public safety, and corporate.

Vision Statement: We envision a world where diverse racial and cultural groups are united through understanding and respect, and where BIPOC communities are empowered and thriving. Our trainers, who are also community leaders, address current issues, create job opportunities, and foster belonging for all. Through community engagement, we work to dismantle inequitable systems, elevate marginalized voices, and nurture a society where everyone feels valued and included.

Briana Gipson-Fleming, Chipo Nyambuya, Elizabeth L. Carter

WisConnect Holding Cooperative supports Black women-owned businesses via collective ownership, community wealth building, operations, and affordable retail space.

Mission: Our mission is to provide connectivity amongst Black women visionaries through open-source technology and accessible inclusive spaces across the world in order to mobilize personalized resources for collective abundance.

Vision: A transformative and co-created ecosystem for every woman in Africa and the Diaspora.

Vannesia Thomas, Akaytra Jones, Jawana Benton-Johns

Women on Wednesday is a Black women-led collective that empowers women and youth through impactful, engaging, restorative programs with a holistic focus on health and wellness.

We are committed to empowering and educating women and youth by fostering solidarity, inspiring growth, and increasing community engagement through holistic wellness and restorative practices. Our vision is to create a vibrant hub for learning, connection, and collaboration where our members can access untapped resources, tools, and opportunities to thrive personally and professionally. We aim to help “bridge the gaps” by providing the knowledge, skills, and support they need to navigate life’s challenges through our workshops, events, support groups, 1:1 coaching, training cohorts, resources and more! Collectively, we cultivate a thriving ecosystem particularly in underrepresented communities like North Minneapolis, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, and beyond.

A’Bryana

BLK House is a multicultural housing cooperative that provides stable and secure housing for low-income people in Minneapolis.

We are building a resilient network of cooperatives, founded on self-determination. We envision thriving communities where people have their needs met, have access to support and services, and where members can build relationships to work together on neighborhood issues and social justice issues that affect the Twin Cities area as a whole. We grow food in our gardens to feed our community and work with local cooperative farms to distribute food to others. We provide space for community members to rest and recover when they need it. Our houses are nodes in a broad network of care and mutual aid.

Trila Malone, Anthony Brown, Jennifer Turner, Kindra McGee, Lorri Brown, Timothy McGee

The purpose of the cooperative shall be to provide an autonomous space for all people and provide an opportunity for sustainable wages. Our mission is to normalize advocacy and options for individuals with disabilities. We plan to assist them in every aspect of their lives, steering them towards self-sufficiency. Our mission is to help them to become independent and navigate the different systems within the community.

Tanika Fears, Tia Williams, Inie Clement, Ini Augustine

Black Broadband’s mission is to provide culturally based practices to generate community solutions to the digital divide. We are a cooperative community of Black-owned and operated Internet and Internet systems education and tools. We have researched and will continue to research the effects of poverty and gatekeeping on communities of color through access to communication via the World Wide Web. We will provide internet services that are reliable and affordable. Our goal is not just to provide internet service but to educate and empower communities of color.

Claire Jones, Amaranthia Sepia

At Sista Creatives Rising (SCR), our mission is to help creative marginalized women and marginalized genders gain accessibility and visibility in the arts to facilitate personal healing.

SCR seeks to strengthen our community by increasing the visibility of these artists with our disability accessible virtual film event, “Art & Mind.” This event uses short films, documentaries, and speaking engagements from professionals such as therapists and activists to raise awareness about social issues these creatives face. We make sure to compensate artists, and we raise funds to create grants for them via our Sistas Uprising Fund Project.

SCR is dedicated to disability accessibility. As a cooperative founded by a disabled immunocompromised Black mother-daughter duo, we ensure our work incorporates disability justice principles and accessibility tools so the work we present can be enjoyed by everyone.

Abdu Rahman, Libin

Raxman+ is an ideal real estate development startup that is striving to bring fast solutions to the housing crises our communities experience. 

• Vision: Housing is a basic human right
• Mission: To develop housing units with a rent to own option

Nashauna Johnson-Lenoir

My name is Nashauna Johnson-Lenoir. I am the founder of Journie Inc. I am a mother, author, motivational speaker, community leader, and activist. My mission is to prepare youth for life and leadership. I do this by always placing myself in the student seat so that I can take knowledge back to my community and youth that I serve through the Journie Program.

Carl Johnson

Decapolis City Cooperative disrupts food systems with cooperative businesses for building black wealth. This is where we come DCC, a new cooperative connecting social good organizations, mentors, and startups to secure job opportunities in marginalized communities. 7 out of 10 residents blame outsourcing of jobs to low-paying emerging markets countries on their inability to find or keep a job. Entrepreneurship is a powerful way to transform communities. Yet, for too many people, the dream of starting their own business is out of reach. This cooperative will provide social good businesses and missional communities in underserved and under-resourced cities. We focus on a culture of collaboration, constructive critique, deep reflection, and intentional disciple making.

Edrence Yalley, Sierra Carter, Jasmine Boudah

We exist to create a holistic and nurturing environment that addresses both economic empowerments as well as mental, physical, and emotional well-being.

We envision all people inspired, educated, and empowered to be their whole and best selves in their lives, relationships, and communities. We are a movement of passionate parents and leaders healing ourselves to heal our world.

Anika Bowie, Jamael Lundy, Mosis Bowie

Run Like Harriet and Black Ops Public Relations to form a cooperative that specializes in shaping public policy and fostering community engagement.

• Mission: To inspire and empower leaders and communities to embody the courage, determination, and leadership exemplified by Harriet Tubman, in their pursuit of social justice, equity, and positive change.
• Values: Courage, Leadership, Empowerment, Justice, Community Engagement, Education, Legacy, Inclusivity.

Jayanthi RaJaSa, Yonci Peaceful Jameson, Kenna-Camara Cottman

• House of Culture is a cooperative manifestation based in the oral tradition and griot skills that form the foundation of Voice of Culture. www.voiceofculture.org has more information about that work.
• Mission: To create more Black spaces for the practice of cultural arts, ways of knowing and caring for each other in community
• Vision: A physical location in North Minneapolis to hold space for House of Culture: recycled, thrift, vintage, cultural REappropriation, community altars, the work of Voice of Culture, The RaJaSa Family, #QueerSounding and more

Cal Adeboye, Lane Brown, Mari Fitch, Izzy Vielman, Mo Hanson, Jai Jami, Sun Kai

• Mission: A Farm Called Home invests in Black and Indigenous future farmers by providing access to land-ownership and housing stabilization through cooperative development, education and environmental stewardship.
• Vision: We provide an educational retreat center for Black, Indigenous and people of color to find respite. Our education and skill sharing programs are crafted with a trauma informed and antiracist lens. The profits from our education and hospitality program help fund more Black and Indigenous future farmers.

Olivia Nichols, Sophia Nichols, Syreeta Sevé

• Mission: The mission of Lupine is to restore relationship with the land, animal, human, and plant kin in our home of Mni Sota Makoce. The only path to restoration is community care and love. We intend to build a world on this foundation of love through sustainably living in a tiny house community, using only what we need; reconnecting to our own and Indigenous food and medicine traditions through sustainable farming and growing practices, and permaculture design; offering QTBIPOC folx in need of respite with opportunities to build this world and live with us in short-term and long-term transitional housing through and beyond trauma; and taking care of one another in a good way. We believe that all beings are connected and this Earth is our home together, and only together will we be able to survive and thrive. The group intends to work directly with the first peoples of the land we seek to settle on, respecting any decisions made with regard to the stewardship of the land.
• Vision: Lupine is a restorer, a native Minnesota plant that establishes itself quickly after natural disasters, contributing to recovery and the transition to a thriving and diverse ecosystem.* We envision our work in tandem with this protective plant and will provide a window and door into a thriving world built on community care and love. This is a way of living that begets hope and the promise of a good life. *Details on the perennial wild lupine provided by MPD 150.

Alicia Clerk, Chakita Lewis

• Mission: To develop a sisterhood based on mutual respect, collaboration, inclusion, and shared economic opportunity. We come together to create opportunities for building wealth for women of color through real estate investment in residential and commercial properties and land ownership. We will promote ownership and leadership within the communities where these women are currently thriving.
• Vision: To create a clear pathway homeownership and wealth for women of color through collaborative economics.

Mujahid Layton, Tenille Foreman

• Our vision offers sanctuary to those seeking freedom from systems of exploitation and oppression
• My cooperator and I steward 20 acres of land in GA. We seek to provide sanctuary to those seeking freedom from oppressive systems by modeling our ancestral agrarian & natural lifestyles. This looks like operating a nursery where we grow heritage, heirloom, and diasporic vegetables, herbs and dye plants; husbanding heritage animal breeds of goats, chickens and rabbits; and offering local honey from our hives & artisanal items made with our hands. We would like to put our land in a trust so that the successive stewardship of our land can be set for our progeny.

Jihan Thomas

• We strive to be a place where Black people can gather to ideate, share the joy of the day, and just be. We incorporate the principals of the Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles of Kwanzaa) in how we approach topics concerning our community. Through visual arts community programming, storytelling, and cultural events; we co- develop our own definitions of Black Spatial Liberation. We want to be a part of the fabric that continues this legacy and offer a space that serves our community through collective economics, Black resourcing, unrestricted creativity