Projects in Africa
Repaired Nations began by prioritizing work in the flatlands of East Oakland, CA and Richmond, CA, with an eye towards creating Global Cooperative Solidarity amongst the Diaspora. Starting in 2019, during Ghana’s Year of Return, Repaired Nations sought to help African Americans find their way into African's Renaissance in ways that coalesces the Diaspora, and heals deep economic and psychic wounds. We are organizing a cultural exchange trip to create pathways for African Americans to reinvest in Africa regeneratively, without perpetuating the inequities of today's capitalism.
Since 2019, RN’s cultural exchanges invite African and U.S. cooperatives to begin dialogue for a co-created equitable development. Dialogue is key. Only through dialogue can distanced peoples begin to find synergies between themselves; only through dialogue can new arrivals to Africa know what people on the ground want for their countries; only through dialogue can we learn how to help steward their vision. Our conference & exchange programs began to re-establish, and strengthen economic relationships throughout the African Diaspora.
Current Africa Projects
Repaired Nations educates Black entrepreneurs, funds cooperative businesses, and connects communities. Repaired Nations collects data on the number of program participants, their level of engagement, and the amount of funding it sub-grants to new and developing cooperatives. Case studies show that cooperative education and business creation have a significant impact on local economies and community wellness.
Tanzania: Reusuable Sanitary Napkins
After Repaired Nations’ 2019 conference and exchange program in Ghana, many attendees discussed how to establish a business that connects the diasporans in California. This led to the creation of Authentik Afrikan, a clothing company focused on upskilling new seamstresses. During two years of operation during the pandemic, Authentik Afrikan employed three near-full-time workers and several part-time experienced seamstresses to make chic, Afro-centric masks and sweatpants.
OAXXANDA was created in 2020, when nice organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs came together seeking to create cooperatively owned, mixed-use space in Oakland. Since then, the organization has incorporated and written bylaws, raised more than $350,000 in funding, and conducted feasibility studies for several potential property acquisitions.
The DEEP Grocery Cooperative was initially established in 2019 as the East Oakland Grocery Cooperative when a steering committee picked initial candidate-members, provided education on the basics of cooperatives, and set up industry training with a local cooperative. Since then, the group of five cooperators conducted feasibility studies for potential buildings and hosted many charitable grocery giveaways.
After Repaired Nations’ 2019 conference and exchange program in Ghana, many attendees discussed how to establish a business that connects the diasporans in California. This led to the creation of Authentik Afrikan, a clothing company focused on upskilling new seamstresses. During two years of operation during the pandemic, Authentik Afrikan employed three near-full-time workers and several part-time experienced seamstresses to make chic, Afro-centric masks and sweatpants.
OAXXANDA was created in 2020, when nice organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs came together seeking to create cooperatively owned, mixed-use space in Oakland. Since then, the organization has incorporated and written bylaws, raised more than $350,000 in funding, and conducted feasibility studies for several potential property acquisitions.
The DEEP Grocery Cooperative was initially established in 2019 as the East Oakland Grocery Cooperative when a steering committee picked initial candidate-members, provided education on the basics of cooperatives, and set up industry training with a local cooperative. Since then, the group of five cooperators conducted feasibility studies for potential buildings and hosted many charitable grocery giveaways.
