COMM
UNITY
NEEDS

We are choosing to root ourselves in the vision that our community has already created through our bi-annual assemblies, weekly co-learns, and all the moments in between.

Listed below are the top community needs generated at our Neighborhood and City Wide Assemblies from 2018-19. Since 2020, Boston residents and Ujima members have been able to submit new businesses and needs through an online form. In 2023, we introduced the Businesses We Need Open Call, enabling residents to propose new businesses and identify and support key businesses that meet our community's needs categories.

In response to the identified needs, we formed the Ujima Neighborhood Economic Study Group (UNESG). UNESG’s role was to review notes taken during Ujima’s Open Member Political and Financial Education Workshops, then summarize them into easy to read reports, or Feasibility Studies. These studies will be used to inform which community intervention Ujima should invest in to meet one or more of the Community Identified Needs.

You can watch all of our feasibility studies on our top 15  community need via our Youtube Page.

  1. COMMUNITY LAND TRUST
  2. COMMUNITY OWNED ENERGY
  3. URBAN FARMS
  4. AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE
  5. COMMUNITY EVENT AND GATHERING SPOT
  6. COMMUNITY OWNED INTERNET
  7. YOUTH SPACE
  8. BLACK MARKET-TYPE STORE/SPACE
  9. WELLNESS SPACE
  10. ARTS SPACE
  11. SIT-DOWN RESTAURANTS
  12. SUPERMARKET (LOCAL/ORGANIC)
  13. ETHICAL CHECK CASHING
  14. COFFEE SHOP
  15. BOOKSTORE
  16. ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
  17. LOCAL RIDESHARE BIZ
  18. BIKING AREAS & REPAIR
  19. YOUTH EDUCATION SPACES
  20. COOPERATIVE DELIVERY PLATFORM
  21. MEDIA CENTER
  22. ARCHIVE
  23. EDU ON AFRICAN CUISINE
  24. COWORKING SPACES
  25. ARTISTS STUDIO SPACES 
  26. MERCHANDISE RETAILER
  27. MUSIC STORE
  28. LOCAL HARDWARE STORE
  29. COOP OF CONSTRUCTION TRADES
  30. AFFORDABLE SUBCONTRACTING 
  31. FOOD - GOOD PIZZA
  32. VEGAN OPTIONS
  33. RENEWABLE ENERGY AND MICROGRIDS BLACK OWNED BUSINESS DESIGN CENTER
  34. IDENTIFIED ORGS FOR IMMIGRATION SUPPORT AND SANCTUARY
  35. REPAIR PLACE
  36. WIDER ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AND COMPUTERS
  37. OUTDOOR PLACES TO HANGOUT GARDEN CENTER
  38. HEMP PRODUCTION
  39. BLACK HISTORY THINK TANK