Tune in to WOL 1450 AM, tomorrow, at 10:30 a.m. for Everything Co-op, hosted by Vernon Oakes. This week Vernon interviews Jessica Gordon Nembhard, Ph.D., Professor of Community Justice and Social Economic Development, and author of Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice.

During February, Everything Co-op celebrates Black History Month by focusing on the Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s Theme. This year’s theme is “African Americans in Times of War.” Given the extensive research that Dr. Gordon Nembhard has conducted on the involvement of African Americans in Cooperatives in the Post Civil War Era, it is quite appropriate to have her return to Everything Co-op to discuss her findings.

Dr. Gordon is a cooperative ambassador, economist and community economic development expert. After 15 years of careful research, she published “Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice”. Her book argues that co-ops not only should be, but have historically been a social justice tool within African American communities.

Her research has focused on community and asset-based economic development and democratic community economics; cooperative economics and worker ownership; racial and economic wealth inequality and wealth accumulation in communities of color, and alternative urban economic and youth educational development strategies. Her future research and policy analyses will connect community-based economic development, asset building, and economic justice strategies with community-based approaches to justice.

Don’t miss what promises to be an informative, lively conversation!