By: Nonkululeko (Nkuli) Tabata, Director of Community Wealth Building, and Leanna Browne, North Star Program Manager
We began our ninth North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship cohort by grounding ourselves in the rich history of Black cooperative economics and the generations of Black people who have used cooperation as a tool for survival, resistance, and self-determination.
Fellows explored not only what cooperatives are, but why they matter. Together, we examined systems that often leave our communities behind and explored what becomes possible when we center collective ownership, shared governance, and community wealth building.
As the sessions progressed, we moved from vision into practice. Fellows wrestled with questions of feasibility, financing, governance, and conflict. There were moments of excitement and moments where the work felt overwhelming. Yet again and again, people showed up willing to ask difficult questions, refine their ideas, and support one another through the process.
Our conversations around governance and conflict were especially important reminders that cooperation is not the absence of disagreement. Building collective power requires us to develop the skills to navigate tension, share leadership, and remain accountable to one another. Those lessons are just as important as any business plan or financial model.
What stood out most was the willingness of participants to think beyond individual success and toward collective liberation. Whether discussing housing, food sovereignty, worker ownership, land stewardship, healing spaces, or community investment, fellows consistently returned to a shared question: How do we create systems that allow our communities not just to survive, but to thrive?
This fellowship also unfolded during a time of uncertainty. Many participants were navigating political challenges, funding concerns, personal responsibilities, and the realities of doing social justice work in a moment that often feels heavy.
“When we launched Cohort 9 in October 2025, we couldn’t have foreseen navigating a federal occupation during our seven-month journey,” Leanna reflects. “There were times we needed to pivot to tend to ourselves, each other, and our communities.”
Yet despite those realities, people continued to show up. North Star became a space where we could practice hope together: where Black people could gather, learn from one another, and continue imagining futures rooted in abundance rather than scarcity.
The importance of Black cooperative economics is as evident as ever. As Gwendolyn Brooks reminds us in her poem Paul Robeson:
we are each other’s
harvest:
we are each other’s
business:
we are each other’s
magnitude and bond.
Each year, we gift fellows notebooks with this excerpt on the cover, along with the Pamoja glyph, which means “together” in Kiswahili.
Cohort 9’s Lasting Impact
“As we celebrated the graduation of 14 cooperative groups and 33 fellows, I was reminded that the true success of North Star is not measured only by the projects launched or the plans developed. It is measured by the relationships built, the confidence strengthened, the ideas nurtured, and the growing network of Black cooperators who now know they are part of something larger than themselves.
This cohort reminded me that our ancestors left us a legacy of cooperation, and our responsibility is to continue carrying that legacy forward. I am deeply grateful to every fellow, speaker, partner, alum, and community member who contributed to this year’s journey. The future we are building together is possible because people continue to choose cooperation, courage, and collective care.” — Nkuli Tabata
“North Star, where we center Black people and experiences while learning together about Black cooperative history and Black cooperative economics, is powerful. Being surrounded by amazing Black people committed to imagining and building our Black cooperative present and futures is inspiring. Much gratitude for our 2025-26 North Stars!” — Leanna Browne
What’s Next
As we approach the 10th anniversary of the North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship, we’re reflecting on both our roots and our future. Ten years represents more than a milestone. It is a testament to the vision of those who believed that investing in Black cooperative economics was essential to building self-determined communities. It is also an invitation to ask what the next decade can look like.
The need for spaces like North Star remains as urgent as ever. As communities continue to face economic inequality, displacement, and disinvestment, cooperative models offer a pathway toward ownership, democratic participation, and shared prosperity. We are excited to continue deepening our commitment to political education, community wealth building, and creating spaces where Black people can dream boldly and build collectively.
