Building Austin's Black Cooperative Future

Black communities have a deep history of cooperative practices that paved the way for Black Liberation throughout the history of the United States. As we are facing a dynamic shift in our economy, the conversations for cooperatives have increased across the country. However, the stories and practices that Black communities deployed are often left out of those conversations.

In this discussion, we will connect to an untold story of the cooperative practices of the Black Liberation Movement and connect to Cooperation as an indigenous cultural practice. Participants will learn how communities of color are reclaiming Cooperation as an acient technology to rethink community economic development.

Este webinar es gratuito y se presentará en inglés con interpretación al español. This webinar is free and will be presented in English with Spanish language interpretation.

More about Instructor Assata Richards

Assata is the founding director of the Sankofa Research Institute (SRI), a nonprofit with a mission to “create knowledge to build community” through community-based participatory research. In addition, as a public sociologist, Assata serves as the Board President of the newly formed Houston Community Land Trust, the Third Ward Cooperative Community Builders, and the Emancipation Economic Development Council. Most recently, she was elected as the founding board president of the Community Care Cooperative, Houston’s first home care agency owned by caregivers and community health workers. Lastly, she is a founding member of We Are The Ones, a cooperative working to build a “Black Solidarity Economy,” enabling community members to define what success is for them and hold accountable institutions that claim to act on their behalf and develop economic enterprises that fairly compensate workers and build community wealth.

The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request - including translation and interpretation services. For assistance, please contact the Economic Development Department at 512-974-7819. The City receives and accepts Video Relay Service (VRS) calls from people who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing through Relay Texas 7-1-1.

Host or Publisher City of Austin Small Business Division