In today’s conversation, we delve into cooperatives as a business model and how to leverage them as drivers of change. We discuss why cooperatives have become so popular with communities, the benefits of the cooperative business model, and why sustainability is vital to building democratic workplaces. You’ll learn how the pandemic impacted Ana and Daniella’s work and perspective, exciting projects happening in the space, the biggest challenges of transforming the economy, and more. T
Mike Strode: Time Banking and its Importance in the Solidarity Economy Space
The Kola Nut Collaborative is Chicago’s only time-based service and skills exchange that provides an open platform for mutual aid, community organizing, and network weaving. Through practices like the Offers and Needs Market, they develop programming to support Chicago-based organizers in facilitating non-monetary exchange networks. Mike is also a program manager at Open Collective Foundation and serves on the boards of the US Solidarity Economy Network, the New Economy Coalition, and more.
Nia Evans: Building a Community-Based, Democratically-Instituted Economy
Poverty, gentrification, unemployment, homelessness, unequal access to food and healthcare, and other challenges facing our communities are all interconnected. Today’s guest believes that we need an equally complex solution. Meet Nia Evans, Executive Director of the Boston Ujima Project, a Black-led, democratic, member-run organization that was born from a shared desire to find real solutions to racial wealth inequality.
Abigail Acheson & Nouhaila Oudija: Rethinking Economics USA
Rethinking Economics USA is a network of students and academics allying to rethink and change economics education in the United States. Joining us in conversation today are Abigail Acheson and Nouhaila Oudija, two leading members of the movement making waves across the globe.
MBA Series Ep. 11: Olivia Watkins: Black Farmer Fund and Closing The Racial Wealth Gap in the Food Industry
Social entrepreneur Olivia Watkins shares how Black Farmer Fund is working to close the racial wealth gap and create a financial institution that people can trust.
MBA Series (Ep.9) - Mosa Tsay and the Groupmuse Foundation
Learn how Groupmuse helped musicians in the pandemic through job creation programs, fundraising, and facilitating a direct link between audience members and musicians during lockdown restrictions.
MBA Series (Ep. 6) - Rachel Isreeli on the Transformative Power of Coops
Through the utilization of tools such as base building and organizational development, cooperatives can combat the forces of white supremacy, patriarchy, and colonialism that have dominated our society for so long.
MBA Series (Ep. 4) - Karla Brollier on the Climate Justice Initiative
Karla talks about how we can truly bolster the livelihoods of indigenous communities, the challenges that seem to continually face philanthropic work, facilitating a participatory approach to change, and why she feels policy is the fundamental route to progress.