
January 2025
In the face of global headlines dominated by US president Donald Trump’s far right agenda against the Global South, we’re taking a moment to shine a light on 2025 as a special year for Black Cooperatives. This year marks the convergence of two United Nations declarations, the International Year of Cooperatives and the second International Decade for People of African Descent. In other words, this is the year of Black co-ops, and we intend to make the most of it.
Keep scrolling for the newest news and resources across the global Black solidarity economy, and the latest on what we’re up to at Collective Diaspora.
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Maroon Dispatches
News from across the global Black solidarity economy

Black Cooperatives at Intersection of Global Policy with 2025 Int’l Year of Cooperatives and 2nd Int’l Decade for People of African Descent (Global))
The United Nations has kicked off 2025 with two landmark designations. It has designated 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives and the years 2025 to 2034 as the Second International Decade for People of African Descent. The UN uses declarations of international years and decades to draw global attention to significant issues and to encourage coordinated international action to address them.
The declaration of the Second International Decade for People of African Descent builds on the momentum of the first decade (2015-2024), which focused on recognition, justice, and development. In calling for a second international decade on the heels of the first, the UN recognized the entrenched nature of systemic racism and how it continues to deprive people of African descent of basic human rights in education, healthcare, housing, economic opportunities, environmental protection, political representation, and more.
Simultaneously, the declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives shines a global spotlight on the cooperative model as a solution to challenges caused by a capitalist economic system that prioritizes profit over people and the planet. Through the year’s theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World”, the UN recognizes that cooperatives are uniquely positioned to empower communities by prioritizing the needs of people over profits, fostering economic resilience, promoting participatory governance, and advancing sustainable development, poverty eradication, and social cohesion.
This year’s international focus on both people of African descent and cooperatives provides an opportunity for Black co-op organizing as it highlights the strategic importance of cooperative models for addressing issues disproportionately affecting people of African descent, such as economic inequality and limited access to resources. This is an opportunity for governments, academia, funders, and media to be brought to task to support Black cooperatives of all types.
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Federation of Southern Cooperatives and the Fight against Black Land Loss (US)
Co-founder of global network of Black cooperatives to be featured in Praxis online event (US)
Cooperatives helping residents, businesses in Jackson metro (US)
Sweetening the Deal for Cocoa Producers: Pan-African collectives are finding new ways to boost the bargaining power of farmers supplying the chocolate industry (Trinidad & Tobago)
Worker-owned cannabis co-ops in RI aim for economic justice (US)
Cooperativas de Viviendas de Mundo Afro: Ejemplo de Reparación en Uruguay (Uruguay)
The Past and Future of Black Co-ops: A Conversation with Jessica Gordon Nembhard (US)
Resource Library: Podcasts & Videos
Second International Decade for People of African Descent (Global)
Cooperation Africa: The Transparency Auto Worker Cooperative (Kenya)
The Black Radical Roots of Our Policy Vision - Dr. Amara Enyia of Movement for Black Lives (US)
La Asociación Ambiental Impulsadores para el Progreso del Agro -ASOAIPA (Colombia)
Cooperation Africa: The Kigro Recyclers Worker Cooperative (Kenya)
Habari Gani? Ujamaa! 4º Dia - 29 de dezembro: Ujamaa (Economia Cooperativa) (Brazil)
The Evolution of Housing Cooperatives in Washington, DC with Ajowa Nzinga Ifateyo (US)
Digging Deeper
Books, Journal Articles, Reports, and Other Resources
Defunding Dissent (Report)
Foundations have quietly withdrawn funding from grassroots groups that spoke out for Gaza, imperiling a broad range of social justice movements.
The Land, Food and Freedom Journal (Journal)
The National Black Food & Justice Alliance has just launched this interdisciplinary publication that curates conversations at the intersections of Black food sovereignty, land justice, academia, and art. This peer-reviewed journal amplifies the voices of Black land stewards, scholars, activists, and culture bearers who are advancing the movement for liberation through innovative land and food strategies and bold visions for the future. Published under the guidance of Blackademics, the research arm of NBFJA, and supported by The Agroecology Center, the journal serves as both an archive of Black agrarian knowledge and a living document to inspire ongoing strategies for community resilience and self-determination.
Funding
The Canadian Worker Co-op Federation's Racial Justice Projects Grant, JEDI Training Bursaries and Young Culture Arts & Culture Grants are now taking applications
Check out this collection of webinars, grants, research and contacts for Black farmers
The US National Institute of Food and Agriculture has made available a number of resources for applicants to NIFA programs.
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Jobs
(US) Regional Director & State Director (2020 Farmers Co-op)
(US) Finance Manager, Co-op Developer, and Project Evaluation Consultant (OurSpace World)
(US) President & Chief Executive Officer (St. Mary’s Credit Union)
No Movement Without Art
Songs, Film, Murals, and Paintings

Upcoming Events
Jan 28 - Navigating the USDA National Agricultural Library (online)
Jan 29 - Examining the Winds of Change on the African Continent, Part 2: Anti-Colonialism, Climate Change and Social Transformation In Senegal (online)
On climate change in Senegal and the broader West African region, and what its implications are for the people of the region and the world. This event will be hosted by Kali Akuno of Cooperation Jackson and is sponsored by the Institute on Social Ecology.
Feb 4 - Mar 25 - Community Transformation Academy (Dayton, US)
Join this 8-week Community Transformation Academy designed for emerging leaders who are passionate about building a stronger, more sustainable local food network
Feb 10-14 - 63rd Session of the UN Commission for Social Development (NYC, US)
The Commission for Social Development is the advisory body responsible for the social development pillar of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Feb 18 - Racial Equity: Restorative Justice in Black Community Development (online)
Feb 26 - Building Austin's Black Cooperative Movement (Austin, TX, US)
In this session, we will build on Austin's Black co-op history to connect with the active and growing National Black Cooperative Movement. Guest speaker Assata Richards will explore an example from our neighbors in Houston, where We Are The Ones cooperative is transforming what economic development means for Third Ward, a historically Black neighborhood threatened by economic and social forces including gentrification.
Mar 6 - May 22 - Black CoopNomics Academy (Washington, DC, US)
This hybrid academy offers a unique opportunity to collaborate, learn, and share insights with like-minded practitioners and leaders who are passionate about fostering economic empowerment and social equity through cooperatives.
Mar 5 - May 21 - Black CoopNomics Academy (Baltimore, MD, US)
This hybrid academy offers a unique opportunity to collaborate, learn, and share insights with like-minded practitioners and leaders who are passionate about fostering economic empowerment and social equity through cooperatives.
May 2-5, Resist & Build Summit (Atlanta, US)
The Resist and Build process bridges the gap between resistance movements and initiatives to build a transformed system, recognizing that resistance without a clear vision risks mere reform, while building alternatives without roots in resistance risks exclusion and co-optation.
May 30 - Jun 1 - 2nd bi-annual National Black Radical Organizing Conference (Indianapolis, US)

June 3 - Learning from Feminist Cooperators in the Americas (London, UK)
June (dates TBA) - National Conference on Black Cooperative Agenda (Atlanta, US)
July 17-31 - 2025 Repaired Nations Black Solidarity Conference Tour (Jamaica)
Repaired Nations is offering transformative cultural exchange experiences providing opportunities to learn more about cooperatives, connect with global resources, engage in nation-building, and reconnect with sacred indigenous roots.
Oct 8 - NCBA Co-op Impact Conference (Washington, DC, US)
Oct 25 - Nov 9 - 2025 Repaired Nations Black Solidarity Conference Tour (Ghana)
Repaired Nations is offering transformative cultural exchange experiences providing opportunities to learn more about cooperatives, connect with global resources, engage in nation-building, and reconnect with sacred indigenous roots.
Oct 29-31, Global Social and Solidarity Economy Forum (Bordeaux, France)
Late Nov - 2025 Repaired Nations Black Solidarity Conference Tour (Tanzania)
Repaired Nations is offering transformative cultural exchange experiences providing opportunities to learn more about cooperatives, connect with global resources, engage in nation-building, and reconnect with sacred indigenous roots.
