Steering Committee
Our committee at Collective Diaspora is dedicated to promoting economic equity, sustainability, and social justice through the growth of Black cooperatives worldwide. We bring diverse expertise and lived experiences to our work, collaborating closely with Black cooperatives and support organizations to provide funding, training, and advocacy.
Charles Calloway (US)
Worker-Owner, Solar Uptown Now ServicesRresident of West Harlem. As the Director of Workforce Development at WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Charles taps into his many years of working with and leading empowerment programs throughout Harlem.
Danielle Mkali (US)
Director of Cooperatives, Transformation and Healing at Nexus Community Partners.Director of Cooperatives, Transformation and Healing at Nexus Community Partners. Danielle leads Nexus’ Community Trust Fund, which is designed to redistribute $50 million to the Black community in Minnesota, North and South Dakota
Dior St. Hillaire (US)
Worker-Owner, GreenFeen OrganiX CooperativeHip Hop MC and worker-owner at GreenFeen OrganiX. She supports the team with composting, customer acquisition, project management, coalition building and policy analysis. She is passionate about Environmental Justice in the South Bronx and globally,
Esther Enyolu (Canada)
Executive Director, Women’s Multicultural Resource and Counseling Centre of DurhamEsther has been working in the human service field for over 30 years. She is a great advocate and leader on issues of gender-based violence and economic empowerment of women for financial sustainability and security
Gillian Goddard (Trinidad & Tobago)
Co-founder & Convener, Cross Atlantic Chocolate CollectiveSystems thinker and community organizer who engages mainly with food and agriculture to instigate change. She was an undergraduate at Emory University and achieved her graduate degree at Stanford University.
Ibrahim Abdul-Matin (US)
Founder & Partner, Green Squash ConsultingIbrahim Abdul-Matin is a Senior Fellow with Interfaith America and New Yorkers for Clean Power. He sits on the boards of Sapelo Square whose mission is to celebrate and analyze the experiences of Black Muslims in the United States.
Mike Tekhen Strode (US)
Co-founder, Kola Nut CollaborativeMike Strode is a writer, urban cyclist, facilitator, and solidarity economy organizer with the Kola Nut Collaborative residing in southeast Chicago. The Kola Nut Collaborative is Chicago’s only time-based service and skills exchange (otherwise known as a timebank)
Priscilla Ferreira, Ph.D. (US/Brazil)
Assistant Professor in Geography and Latinx and Caribbean Studies, Rutgers UniversityAssistant Professor in Geography and Latinx and Caribbean Studies. I have long been interested in the intersection of class, race, and gender in Latin American societies, particularly in Brazil
Renee Hatcher (US)
Assistant professor of law and director, community enterprise & solidarity economy clinic, UIC John Marshall law school in Chicagohuman rights and community development lawyer. She is an Assistant Professor of Law and the Director of the Community Enterprise & Solidarity Economy Clinic at UIC John Marshall Law School Chicago
Sacajawea 'saki' Hall (US)
Co-Founder, Operations & Community Land Trust Director, Cooperation JacksonBlack feminist, activist, mother, birth-worker, educator and journalist. Saki sees her life's work as engaging in the collective struggle for African liberation, human rights and overall social transformation.
Siddhartha Sanchez (US/Dom. Rep.)
Director of Community Development, Youth Ministries for Peace & JusticeSiddhartha Sanchez has dedicated over two decades to serving the South Bronx, grounding his keen understanding of neighborhoods and communities. Mr. Sanchez's background in the private, public and non-profit arenas
Wanda Salaman (US/Puerto Rico)
Executive Director, Mothers On the MoveStaff
Staff
Omar Freilla
CoordinatorCo-founder and Coordinator of Collective Diaspora, a global community of Black cooperatives and Black-led cooperative support organizations from across the African diaspora.