UEDA Emerging Topic Series
The African American Cooperative Movement
Lessons Learned for Cooperation and Survival
with Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D
Wednesday, July 29th, 6PM – 7:30PM
Join UEDA and Walnut Way as we welcome author, historian, economist and professor, Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D. to discuss the African American Cooperative legacy and more with Emonia Barnett, Walnut Way’s Community Wealth Building Neighborhood Connector.
African Americans have used mutual aid and cooperatives for both survival and to gain economic well-being and independence in the face of racial discrimination and economic marginalization. Practices such as the pooling of resources and collective decision-making, to produce goods and services accessible and beneficial to the community, have been practiced throughout history.
Using a discussion format, the two will lead attendees in an informational presentation and discussion on the history of cooperative ownership within the African American community, lessons learned from past successes, and what is possible for the 21st century as we tackle a pandemic and continue to fight for genuine racial justice.
This session is free and will take place virtually on Zoom. Advanced registration is required. Please contact jessica@uedawi.org if you have trouble registering.
About the Speaker
Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D.
Author of Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice and 2016 inductee into the U.S. Cooperative Hall of Fame, Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D., is Professor of Community Justice and Social Economic Development in the Department of Africana Studies, John Jay College, City University of NY.
Dr. Gordon-Nembhard is a political economist specializing in community economics, Black Political Economy and popular economic literacy. Her research and publications explore problematics and alternative solutions in cooperative economic development and worker ownership, community economic development, wealth inequality and community-based asset building, and community-based approaches to justice.
A political economist and cooperative economics educator, Dr. Gordon-Nembhard is also 2017 recipient of the CASC Merit Award for exemplary contributions to the field of co-operative studies from the Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation; a member of the Council of Cooperative Economists of the National Cooperative Business Association/CLUSA, and the International Cooperative Alliance Research Committee; and a member of the board of directors of: Green Worker Cooperatives, the Association of Cooperative Educators, Grassroots Economic Organizing Newsletter, and Organizing Neighborhood Equity DC. She is the proud mother of Stephen and Susan, and the grandmother of Stephon, Hugo, and Ismaél Nembhard.
Collective Courage: A History of African American
Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice
Book by Jessica Gordon-Nembhard
Collective Courage chronicles African American cooperative business ownership and its place in the movements for Black civil rights and economic equality. You can special order from Boswell Book Company.
