Rooted in Legacy, Owning Our Future was the second event in our 20th anniversary series, highlighting how sharing bounty and abundance is everything—and together, we can create a brighter, more cooperative future. Thank you to everyone who took the time to join us on June 5!
During the two-hour gathering, we shared the history of Community Wealth Building at Nexus; gave overviews of our North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship and Shared Ownership Center; and we listened to an incredible panel of Nexus alumni and partners:
- North Star alum Amoké Kubat, founder of Yo Mama’s House
- BCLI and North Star alum Carl Johnson, founder of Storehouse Grocers & Coffee Co-op
- SOC@N client Joe Vital, East Phillips Neighborhood Institute Interim Executive Director
Some key takeaways:
- Collective solidarity is how we take care of each other.
- Owning our labor means having control over the work we do and how the value we create is shared. It’s about making decisions together, getting a fair share, and not just working for someone, but working with others to build something we all benefit from.
- Worker-owned cooperative models help communities push back against systems that concentrate power and wealth in the hands of a few. By giving workers collective control over their workplaces, these models build local power, promote self-determination, and create alternatives that prioritize people over profit.
- Our families have been involved in cooperatives for generations. Collectivism has been in us for generations.
We wrapped up by asking, what does Community Wealth Building mean to you? Answers ranged from abundance, healing, and connection to strength, sustainability, and cooperation. Check out the full word cloud below!
