https://necessary.systems Necessary Systems Sun, 03 Dec 2023 20:29:04 +0000 https://necessary.systems en https://necessary.systems/report-fall-2023 Tue, 31 Oct 2023 20:42:34 +0000 Necessary Systems https://necessary.systems/report-fall-2023 PAST REPORTS:2023 FALL 2023 SUMMER 2023 SPRING &nbsp; 2022 FALL 2022 SUMMER 2022 SPRING&nbsp; 2021 FALL 2021 SUMMER 2020 REPORT NECESSARY.SYSTEMSA MICROPROJECT OF BOSTON UJIMA PROJECT Boston Ujima Project — Investor UpdateVolume 3, Issue 3 — Fall 2023 HOME ABOUT PRESS MAIN SITE INVESTOR REPORTINVESTMENT PIPELINE FINANCIAL DASHBOARD <img width="1705" height="710" width_o="1705" height_o="710" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/29365026a97545f78c665494d08e11bf9223a879cdaea33aa0466c2cef587bc6/Asset-16.png" data-mid="198469464" border="0" data-scale="44" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/29365026a97545f78c665494d08e11bf9223a879cdaea33aa0466c2cef587bc6/Asset-16.png" /> INTRODUCTION December 8, 2023 — As we navigate the final stretch of 2023, it brings us immense pride to share the highlights of our journey so far in the final Investor Report of the year. In 2023 alone, our commitment to fostering economic empowerment has propelled us to invest over 1 million dollars, with over 1.6MM deployed across 8 businesses since the Ujima Fund’s inception, marking significant milestones in our efforts. Additionally, in the spirit of community collaboration, in 2023 we completed the highest number of investments since the Ujima Fund’s launch in 2018. Our members cast their ballots across five votes that aligned with their visions for the city. Cupcake Therapy, The Pearl, Comfort Kitchen, Kush Groove, and our most recent investee, Bay State Banner, exemplify the diversity and dauntlessness embedded in our investment portfolio. These investments not only reflect our dedication to sustainable growth but also signify the strength of our community's collective vision for a prosperous future. Another notable aspect of our progress this summer was our latest Open Call, which tied our participatory investment process directly to Ujima’s top 15 community needs categories. In August, Ujima Members and Boston Residents joined forces to shape the landscape of our investment portfolio, answering the call to design the city we need. Building upon the success of our "Businesses We Love" inquiries over the years, this expanded Investment Pipeline now encompasses enterprises resonating with categories voted upon by our members. In this edition of the Boston Ujima Project's Fall 2023 Investor Update, we spotlight Ujima's Voting Delegates, supervoters who are integral to the&nbsp; investment pipeline process. We present news about our Ujima Fund portfolio companies and UGBA members. Our updated Ujima Fund Pipeline Status and Financial Dashboard pages are available now. — Cierra M. Peters, Director of Communications, Culture, and Enfranchisement, Boston Ujima Project <img width="236" height="236" width_o="236" height_o="236" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b92c2bc1c57333bbf1a8259d701614d073866ca01234bff7a5dbb1e334cbbeaf/Asset-3.png" data-mid="198276038" border="0" data-scale="5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/236/i/b92c2bc1c57333bbf1a8259d701614d073866ca01234bff7a5dbb1e334cbbeaf/Asset-3.png" /> <img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /><img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /><img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /> COLLABORATE. VOTE. ORGANIZE. In the ever-evolving landscape of investment, adaptability is key. Recognizing the need for a more efficient and member-friendly approach, Ujima proudly introduced its experimental Voting Delegate Program in 2022. This initiative transformed the way we ratify our investment lists. The impetus for this change stemmed from our experiences in the 2019 and 2021 ratification processes. The insights gained from staff and member feedback illuminated a crucial realization – the sheer volume of information proved to be overwhelming within the constraints of time. Ujima Voting Delegates are a carefully selected group of supervoters, who undertake the responsibility of reviewing no more than ten businesses, organized by the neighborhood or sector they believe they have the most experience in. This intentional curation allows them the time and space to delve into each business and engage in meaningful discussions with their fellow delegates. Delegates not only bring their unique perspectives but also have the opportunity to exchange thoughts, insights, and considerations with one another. This not only lightens the load for individual voters but also enriches the decision-making process with diverse viewpoints and informed discussions. In the section below, we invite you to meet four members of the Voting Delegate Program. These dedicated individuals embody a spirit of community collaboration and are instrumental in shaping the future of Ujima's investments. Together, they embark on a journey to create a more accessible, transparent, and inclusive investment ecosystem. Read their interviews below by clicking the images. <img width="634" height="632" width_o="634" height_o="632" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/86c68acc191a1282b870f03fcd1babed0931cfcb7987b03cd33f746f38167cd6/edward-galan-update-3.png" data-mid="198280853" border="0" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/634/i/86c68acc191a1282b870f03fcd1babed0931cfcb7987b03cd33f746f38167cd6/edward-galan-update-3.png" /> Edward Galan VOTING DELEGATE <img width="634" height="632" width_o="634" height_o="632" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b808974aca6588b3e755432e38942015aaa651bfa673d866e6ffdaaa5e7420f0/myrna.jpg-2-update.png" data-mid="198280854" border="0" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/634/i/b808974aca6588b3e755432e38942015aaa651bfa673d866e6ffdaaa5e7420f0/myrna.jpg-2-update.png" /> Myrna Greenfield VOTING DELEGATE <img width="420" height="419" width_o="420" height_o="419" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d9e061b274f4aca8d4dffb55249a59752815f3e4b06fe9d9ea8c90cd5ddb6510/jamiah-tappin.jpeg-2-update.png" data-mid="198280856" border="0" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/420/i/d9e061b274f4aca8d4dffb55249a59752815f3e4b06fe9d9ea8c90cd5ddb6510/jamiah-tappin.jpeg-2-update.png" /> Jamiah Tappin VOTING DELEGATE <img width="800" height="800" width_o="800" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/056a0176e86ea18ed1e4752c0735f162e3868a4416db3705e2a49e3d1657fe56/lyse-update.jpg" data-mid="198280857" border="0" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/800/i/056a0176e86ea18ed1e4752c0735f162e3868a4416db3705e2a49e3d1657fe56/lyse-update.jpg" /> Lyse Fedjanie VOTING DELEGATE <img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /><img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /><img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /> <img width="2768" height="1476" width_o="2768" height_o="1476" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b9aa6492d5d8ec72e24e0d058be2fb9d71d314ad987057cd11675a35c3bfd093/Asset-202x.png" data-mid="198679086" border="0" data-scale="42" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b9aa6492d5d8ec72e24e0d058be2fb9d71d314ad987057cd11675a35c3bfd093/Asset-202x.png" /> <img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /><img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /><img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /> PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHTSNews and updates from businesses in the Ujima Fund portfolio. <img width="720" height="480" width_o="720" height_o="480" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9679af850eca3809947162cc83b9057f0dd006d30205a77480f076f01b40185b/baystate-update.png" data-mid="198281179" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/720/i/9679af850eca3809947162cc83b9057f0dd006d30205a77480f076f01b40185b/baystate-update.png" /> BAY STATE BANNER BECOMES UJIMA FUND PORTFOLIO BUSINESS On September 20, 2023, the Ujima Fund announced that we successfully reached quorom on the Bay State banner investment ballot. Read more in the ballot results breakdown. Members voted to invest $265,000 in the legacy publication. When asked why they voted for the Banner, one member stated, "Bay State Banner is a community institution that provides in-depth coverage on issues that impact communities of color beyond any other weeklies in Boston.” <img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /><img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /><img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /> COMFORT KITCHEN FEATURED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES&nbsp; <img width="1024" height="683" width_o="1024" height_o="683" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3e29b1dcf8feed56160b439eef2238402d340840345cdbe218296d22dbdabddf/comfort-k--update.png" data-mid="198281577" border="0" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3e29b1dcf8feed56160b439eef2238402d340840345cdbe218296d22dbdabddf/comfort-k--update.png" /> Comfort Kitchen continues to build on its stellar reputation for food and service, less than one year in. A New York Times feature calls the global cafe and restaurant, one of the “50 places in the U.S. that we’re most excited about.”&nbsp;Additionally, Comfort Kitchen recently launched their 2023 holiday boxes. Learn more here. JAZZ URBANE’S BILL BANFIELD RECEIVES PRESIDENTIAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD<img width="1600" height="1200" width_o="1600" height_o="1200" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4264076d5d3b7db062a85c02192e962af738b40c7f3937581cb0ff333f85a040/Bill-Banfield-Award-feat-1600x1200.png" data-mid="198282221" border="0" data-scale="100" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/4264076d5d3b7db062a85c02192e962af738b40c7f3937581cb0ff333f85a040/Bill-Banfield-Award-feat-1600x1200.png" /> In October, Dr. Bill Banfield received a written commendation from President Joseph Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris for his life-long contributions to the arts and American culture. This milestone given to individuals who have exemplified the willingness to provide a high level of humanitarian assistance to their profession, their communities, and the country. Further, in November, Jazz Urbane Cafe announced to investors that they are set to begin construction on their Nubian Square development.&nbsp;This fall, the company launched a line of merch just in time for the holidays. Learn more here. &nbsp;CUPCAKE THERAPY MAKES MOVES; SEARCHES FOR BRICK &amp; MORTAR LOCATION <img width="1440" height="931" width_o="1440" height_o="931" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/58824e7c76e4514d8678acc81573ca5d13de0e32637b949ea86351fab3b831e4/shironda-update.png" data-mid="198484754" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/58824e7c76e4514d8678acc81573ca5d13de0e32637b949ea86351fab3b831e4/shironda-update.png" /> Cupcake Therapy is advancing into the next stage of its evolution as it&nbsp; engages in lease negotiations for its first brick and mortar storefront. THE PEARL SOUTH BAY SET TO OPEN IN BRIGHTON<img width="960" height="640" width_o="960" height_o="640" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/40d916ff68a2efda63c38f2aa6934f5c9fd5a544d724b8828ac61c0da64d1172/the-pearl-update.png" data-mid="198488110" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/960/i/40d916ff68a2efda63c38f2aa6934f5c9fd5a544d724b8828ac61c0da64d1172/the-pearl-update.png" /> The wildly popular seafood restaurant, The Pearl is opening a second location in Brighton. Read more. CERO CO-OP FEATURED IN NEXTCITY <img width="1600" height="841" width_o="1600" height_o="841" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0a477c844ea9e0979f8cac2c60267ba134b4c0208da3d09de0d08e874bdebd3e/cero-update.png" data-mid="198494284" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0a477c844ea9e0979f8cac2c60267ba134b4c0208da3d09de0d08e874bdebd3e/cero-update.png" />The online magazine NextCity recently showcased the efforts of CERO Cooperative in a spotlight emphasizing the burgeoning sustainable food ecosystem in Boston's neighborhoods— providing insight into resident-led food security initiatives in communities nationwide. Read more here. KUSH GROOVE RELEASES HOLIDAY LINE <img width="1290" height="860" width_o="1290" height_o="860" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3cf4fc43d6fcf929a73a9338342fa0e43df68284773e1280001f1c0ab3ab6011/kg-update.png" data-mid="198489160" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3cf4fc43d6fcf929a73a9338342fa0e43df68284773e1280001f1c0ab3ab6011/kg-update.png" /> Kush Groove released its latest clothing drop, Holiday 2023, with hoodies, tees and more. Shop and support here. <img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /><img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /><img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /> <img width="768" height="432" width_o="768" height_o="432" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/99c57ffd3c3adcff0cfc1e8f70fb7b2e98ef185f78d7f8a5011a214a5ddeb1ad/dfc-update.png" data-mid="198281828" border="0" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/768/i/99c57ffd3c3adcff0cfc1e8f70fb7b2e98ef185f78d7f8a5011a214a5ddeb1ad/dfc-update.png" /> BOSTON CELEBRATES DORCHESTER FOOD CO-OP’S GRAND OPENING In October 2023, Dorchester Food Co-op, Boston’s only member- and worker-owned grocery, opened after nearly a decade of organizing. Boston.com called it, “No ordinary grocery store.” Read more here. <img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /><img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /><img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /> <img width="2880" height="1462" width_o="2880" height_o="1462" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bf73ae20d214f9ca664f927fd437c014d24069f8aae4b4ea7bf62839c84d0846/Asset-212x.png" data-mid="198679169" border="0" data-scale="50" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/bf73ae20d214f9ca664f927fd437c014d24069f8aae4b4ea7bf62839c84d0846/Asset-212x.png" /> <img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /><img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /><img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /> BUSINESS ALLIANCE UPDATES&nbsp; News and updates from businesses in the Ujima Good Business Alliance. SYDNEY JANEY DESIGNS&nbsp; JOINS UJIMA GOOD BUSINESS ALLIANCE <img width="1600" height="841" width_o="1600" height_o="841" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/daa5b43b736ab018ab78586c27287a7b9fc3a71986d18419ee89d7a9ebb6ed55/sydney.png" data-mid="198542820" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/daa5b43b736ab018ab78586c27287a7b9fc3a71986d18419ee89d7a9ebb6ed55/sydney.png" /> Learn more about Sydney Janey Design here.&nbsp;Sydney Janey Design was named a Business We Love in 2019, and was a founding UGBA member. SHANTI INDIAN CUISINEJOINS UJIMA GOOD BUSINESS ALLIANCE <img width="1600" height="841" width_o="1600" height_o="841" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fa15639046079b89126b86c7cfd6250b8c58b84f64b07d8062a6d3ee00dfd2af/shanti-update2.png" data-mid="198542756" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/fa15639046079b89126b86c7cfd6250b8c58b84f64b07d8062a6d3ee00dfd2af/shanti-update2.png" /> Learn more about Shanti Indian Cuisine here.&nbsp;Shanti Indian Cuisine was ratified as a Business We Love in 2019. Learn more in Boston Globe.&nbsp; &nbsp; LIKE A LOCAL BOSTON HOSTS SECONDMARTHA’S VINEYARD BLACK BIZ DAY TOUR <img width="2000" height="2000" width_o="2000" height_o="2000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3c3d8ccfc60c07344a442a867fd8dc47d01c53d83e71a501c85d4301864d13ce/livelike-update.png" data-mid="198285724" border="0" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3c3d8ccfc60c07344a442a867fd8dc47d01c53d83e71a501c85d4301864d13ce/livelike-update.png" /> In September, fifty Black Bostonians experienced Live Like a Local Tours Boston’s second Martha’s Vineyard Day Tour. As part of Ujima’s ongoing Procurement Initiative, we partnered with the Black Economic Council of MA, Live Like a Local Tours Boston, and India Rose of Black Owned MV to deliver a special experience to members and the public. Moreover, Collin Knight, the tour company founder, was featured in the BBC and Bay State Banner. FRESH FOOD GENERATIONGIVES BACK THROUGH UNIQUE PROGRAM<img width="2000" height="2000" width_o="2000" height_o="2000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/426cabded638b41c49eb072aa4698d479c28b65421938c7ffc3d8cc940f2cc29/freshfood-update-sq.png" data-mid="198283112" border="0" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/426cabded638b41c49eb072aa4698d479c28b65421938c7ffc3d8cc940f2cc29/freshfood-update-sq.png" /> In honor of the thousands of immigrant Haitian families who have found refuge in Massachusetts, Fresh Food Generation has added new Haitian dishes to their menu.&nbsp;Chef Sony Dorvilier, left,&nbsp;has worked with Fresh Food Generation for five years and gracefully lead the culinary planning and execution of Haitian centric meals for incoming families. Click here to purchase a beet salad and support their efforts. As the City of Boston worked to set up new centers and emergency housing for displaced asylum seekers, Fresh Food Generation was one of the Caribbean food businesses called upon to provide culturally relevant, emergency food services. Since January, they have cooked 120,000 meals for these families. Read more. Further, Fresh Food Generation joined an innovative program which allows people receiving food assistance use their benefits at restaurants for the first time. Read more. DSNI MAKES MOVES, SPOTLIGHTED IN BOSTON GLOBE <img width="2000" height="2000" width_o="2000" height_o="2000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7867e465a67de560a7c9c288651c135a2ed7e7110ff53267ccf0539d631a1152/DSNI-UPDATE.png" data-mid="198298895" border="0" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7867e465a67de560a7c9c288651c135a2ed7e7110ff53267ccf0539d631a1152/DSNI-UPDATE.png" /> Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) will partner with Next Leadership Development to conduct a planning process with area residents and organizations to develop the implementation strategy for the first Resilience Hub in Boston. Earlier this year, the Boston Globe released a profile on Upham’s Corner. UGBA member Dudley Street Neighorhood Initiative, was cited for its work creating development without displacement. Read more. EASTIE FARM RECEIVES $1MM TO TRAIN YOUNG FARMERS <img width="2000" height="2000" width_o="2000" height_o="2000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b552a7e6debe3fbc3642ea5f535beb123c983374522839efccc83f1448397b25/eastie-update.png" data-mid="198298004" border="0" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b552a7e6debe3fbc3642ea5f535beb123c983374522839efccc83f1448397b25/eastie-update.png" /> The National Science Foundation has awarded a $1 million grant to Eastie Farm in East Boston, supporting the expansion of its youth Climate Corps program. This initiative compensates young individuals for training in urban farming, food distribution, climate resilience, and community organizing, fostering valuable skills for future employment opportunities. Read more in WBUR. KIDOGO PRODUCTION BEGINS ORIGINAL CONTENT JOURNEY <img width="2000" height="2000" width_o="2000" height_o="2000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5f405c691d78f43a93e84f6fc74845ed733997f14f9be03bb7ee84cd03a0a364/Artboard-10.png" data-mid="198299763" border="0" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5f405c691d78f43a93e84f6fc74845ed733997f14f9be03bb7ee84cd03a0a364/Artboard-10.png" /> This autumn, Kidogo Productions began shooting original content. The children’s start-up is poised to redefine the landscape of digital entertainment tailored specifically for young audiences. Kidogo Productions recently became a portfolio company of Pipeline Angels. Kidogo Productions is currently seeking investment from the Ujima Fund. COMMONWEALTH KITCHEN SPREADS HOLIDAY CHEER<img width="2000" height="2000" width_o="2000" height_o="2000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/46205f5dff089fa067e9eb8b15b99f00dd1b3882b2f73a1fc67031bd47e1709f/pickliz.png" data-mid="198297273" border="0" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/46205f5dff089fa067e9eb8b15b99f00dd1b3882b2f73a1fc67031bd47e1709f/pickliz.png" /> This autumn marks the third consecutive year that Commonwealth Kitchen has reintroduced its holiday boxes. Every year, these boxes showcase a curated selection of specialty snacks and sauces sourced from various businesses within their food business incubator.&nbsp;Read more and order here. For each of the participating businesses, one sale is the equivalent of what they would typically sell at a farmers market for an entire season. Efforts like these are crucial for their continued growth and success; and provides early stage businesses the opportunity to learn to produce efficiently at scale.&nbsp; <img width="2740" height="2740" width_o="2740" height_o="2740" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d817656c7fe412a5f9483de5ec895e8acaaeeddbc73eb07efd2abcf7015a893d/Asset-184x.png" data-mid="198551060" border="0" data-scale="35" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d817656c7fe412a5f9483de5ec895e8acaaeeddbc73eb07efd2abcf7015a893d/Asset-184x.png" /> ANNUAL INVESTEE REPORT OUT &amp; UJIMA FUND TOWN HALL On December 13, 2023 at 5:30PM, the The Boston Ujima Project warmly invites you to join us at our annual Investee Report Out, and Town Hall Meeting. Sign up here. <img width="4004" height="4004" width_o="4004" height_o="4004" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/870c7ec62ff35602e0b29149f2bb2447075bd665a5eba125f06f380184944ef2/Asset-174x.png" data-mid="198551038" border="0" data-scale="35" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/870c7ec62ff35602e0b29149f2bb2447075bd665a5eba125f06f380184944ef2/Asset-174x.png" /> BLACK MARKET NUBIAN In Spring 2023, Boston Ujima Project and Black Market Nubian announced a new partnership that will enable Ujima to utilize the space at Black Market Nubian for offices, workshops, and events. In October, Ujima hosted artist Adam Davis in residence. <img width="2740" height="2740" width_o="2740" height_o="2740" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d817656c7fe412a5f9483de5ec895e8acaaeeddbc73eb07efd2abcf7015a893d/Asset-184x.png" data-mid="198551060" border="0" data-scale="35" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d817656c7fe412a5f9483de5ec895e8acaaeeddbc73eb07efd2abcf7015a893d/Asset-184x.png" /> NOS CASA CAFE Nos Casa Cafe is seeking currently investment from the Ujima Fund. <img width="236" height="236" width_o="236" height_o="236" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/543ffd81c6b3e3e6fa5eb6c2ce8dacb9f374a26fbb8c13ada241d573d9d06dda/Asset-3.png" data-mid="198550996" border="0" data-scale="30" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/236/i/543ffd81c6b3e3e6fa5eb6c2ce8dacb9f374a26fbb8c13ada241d573d9d06dda/Asset-3.png" /> THE ASSEMBLY OF BLACK POSSIBILITIES SESSIONS Missed the 2023 Assembly of Black Possibilities? Don’t worry, we’ve got you. Our inaugural translocal assembly shared efforts ranging from how to recover your 401k from corporate interests to investing at the intersection of climate, race and justice. Watch all sessions on Youtube now. <img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /><img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /><img width="1730" height="52" width_o="1730" height_o="52" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" data-mid="198275830" border="0" data-scale="28" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b851f3e46a8c44259f4369d492a38c015aaeded2752492eea6aae05d3af9642/Asset-2.png" /> BEHIND THIS INVESTOR REPORT The design of the Fall 2023 Investor Update is inspired by the forward thinking design and narrative strategies of W.E.B. Dubois and students and alumni of Atlanta University at the 1900 Paris World Fair. Dubois’s "Exhibit of American Negros," challenged the prevailing narrative of that era, where global delegates commemorated advancements in railroads and modern factories, while endorsing the "civilizing" discourse of colonialism. Infographics displayed at the Fair pushed the formal limits of illustrating the empirical data and graphic design, visualizing what he called, “a nation within a nation.” In 2018, Princeton Architectural Press compiled the data portraits into a book titled "W.E.B. Du Bois’s Data Portraits: Visualizing Black America." This publication serves as a tribute to the 150th anniversary of Du Bois’s birth, providing annotations that contextualize his infographics as both timely sociological representations and art objects. To learn more about the data portraits, you can watch Dr. Whitney Battle-Baptiste, Director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Center at UMass Amherst, discuss them on Youtube. <img width="1400" height="1825" width_o="1400" height_o="1825" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cb0df8e5fe5fe9c691848c083c8997dbbed22ef6dfcc3ebfb92081aa224abf70/image-1.jpeg" data-mid="198682571" border="0" data-scale="68" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/cb0df8e5fe5fe9c691848c083c8997dbbed22ef6dfcc3ebfb92081aa224abf70/image-1.jpeg" /> <img width="1400" height="1730" width_o="1400" height_o="1730" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c54dd52547883d3b02e2941ef7ab8efef0f8d8c7e165e77b0d51f00abcc64ff5/image-5.jpeg" data-mid="198682585" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c54dd52547883d3b02e2941ef7ab8efef0f8d8c7e165e77b0d51f00abcc64ff5/image-5.jpeg" /> <img width="1400" height="1794" width_o="1400" height_o="1794" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/93389a6f7327350de55cebb9cffcc2164a387da4e53a45d776aa0720211e8b2c/image-3.jpeg" data-mid="198682583" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/93389a6f7327350de55cebb9cffcc2164a387da4e53a45d776aa0720211e8b2c/image-3.jpeg" /> <img width="1400" height="1748" width_o="1400" height_o="1748" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8ab6bd59e5df5251ca39eef9b3cb78da80247bb3e739dd968906f79d809b2b55/image-2.jpeg" data-mid="198682582" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8ab6bd59e5df5251ca39eef9b3cb78da80247bb3e739dd968906f79d809b2b55/image-2.jpeg" /> <img width="1200" height="1503" width_o="1200" height_o="1503" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ad549445db148c86be2865b2d25b972557f290713a180a543edc62a79a243639/1bnJcC3DF6IaBitZwSzPgBQ.png" data-mid="198682477" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ad549445db148c86be2865b2d25b972557f290713a180a543edc62a79a243639/1bnJcC3DF6IaBitZwSzPgBQ.png" /> <img width="1400" height="1747" width_o="1400" height_o="1747" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4aff1dad91996550d2fdd76708b0f6e1f790ccaf564e37c8b638d4908f693b72/image-4.jpeg" data-mid="198682584" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/4aff1dad91996550d2fdd76708b0f6e1f790ccaf564e37c8b638d4908f693b72/image-4.jpeg" /> <img width="1400" height="1767" width_o="1400" height_o="1767" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/73c640762063f1f135425df667300ee2f78ef1a145c6be14aa01c68205afab27/image-8.png" data-mid="198682906" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/73c640762063f1f135425df667300ee2f78ef1a145c6be14aa01c68205afab27/image-8.png" /> <img width="1400" height="1748" width_o="1400" height_o="1748" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/45706bb3575de99581345749a4d276c815162643ae53443de18599332eae12a3/image-3.png" data-mid="198682575" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/45706bb3575de99581345749a4d276c815162643ae53443de18599332eae12a3/image-3.png" /> <img width="1400" height="1683" width_o="1400" height_o="1683" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0b6cb26a10032f947bf1ea3c526392dd8d983c708c1baf713edcaa42bf5cd66e/image-7.png" data-mid="198682913" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0b6cb26a10032f947bf1ea3c526392dd8d983c708c1baf713edcaa42bf5cd66e/image-7.png" /> <img width="1400" height="1576" width_o="1400" height_o="1576" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/79af6b5215cf955d78e8ad94bf6097339215de608dcd45456e6b5b6a5260c047/image-6.png" data-mid="198682907" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/79af6b5215cf955d78e8ad94bf6097339215de608dcd45456e6b5b6a5260c047/image-6.png" /> Source:&nbsp;Special Collections &amp; University Archives, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Libraries. https://necessary.systems/intro-1 Sun, 03 Dec 2023 19:32:03 +0000 Necessary Systems https://necessary.systems/intro-1 <img width="2740" height="383" width_o="2740" height_o="383" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/53305a531814ba685c7ca7991b571da27baaa3b4b151f09d8617af235ceb5e26/Asset-132x.png" data-mid="198465501" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/53305a531814ba685c7ca7991b571da27baaa3b4b151f09d8617af235ceb5e26/Asset-132x.png" /> https://necessary.systems/edward-galan Mon, 06 Nov 2023 16:00:16 +0000 Necessary Systems https://necessary.systems/edward-galan EDWARD GALAN How did you first discover Ujima, and what initially drew you to be a part of our community? One of my friends introduced me to Ujima; I have some folks that are really involved in solidarity economics, and economic concerns in Black and brown communities. A lot of my attention has focused and shifted in that direction over the years. What are your overall thoughts about Ujima’s mission and our approach to community-driven investment? I think it's great. We need organizations that are primarily advocating for Black and brown businesses just because of the ridiculous disparities that are out there. I really appreciate that Ujima is out there in a more holistic way, too; not just investing money, but getting the community involved, making it really easy for people like me to get involved and providing a lot of educational opportunities. Does your role as a delegate ensure that the community's voice is represented in investment decisions? I'm just another person, you know, with my own unique perspective; having as many diverse voices as you can is always good. One thing that I'm very passionate about, a big part of my roles at both EForAll and at A Trike Called Funk, is always trying to create opportunities for people, opportunities for other businesses. At A Trike Called Funk, we're always trying to bring in other creatives to collaborate, be a part of our gigs. A lot of creatives don't think of themselves as business owners, or people who are really economic drivers–we're also trying to change that. That perception from the outside and also from within: we need creatives to see their value in the economy, and demand their value and pay for gigs. Being involved with organizations like Ujima is super important: it's not just for small businesses and people with brick and mortars, for any and all entrepreneurs who care about economic justice. “Being involved with organizations like Ujima is super important: it's not just for small businesses and people with brick and mortars, for any and all entrepreneurs who care about economic justice.” — Edward Galan How does Ujima align with your current work at EForAll and A Trike Called Funk? Yeah, well, it aligns really, really well with work that I'm doing at EForAll Roxbury. EforAll is a nonprofit that [was] started to help not just communities of color, but a lot of marginalized communities. And people who normally don't have access to education about entrepreneurship, access to mentors, and access to funds. We help those communities&nbsp; get those resources in a free program that's a year long. And, yeah, we believe that helping out these entrepreneurs and small businesses is going to be a major economic driver for the community. In my time here, I'm noticing it's not just about you know, turning these small businesses into million dollar businesses, right? That's not going to necessarily happen for the vast majority of them. But what is happening is that people are being empowered. People are learning the nuts and bolts of how to run a business which is a transferable skill that they can take [with them]. I think your team is doing much more than what I see or I'm involved with. But I have been a part of educational offerings that Ujima has done, especially online. I see that a lot of these businesses that I'm following [are] excited about Ujima investing in them, helping them get a good, solid foundation. One that comes to mind is Comfort Kitchen. I just see that Ujima is really very passionate about helping create economic solidarity and really bringing in resources to underserved communities. How do you feel the Ujima delegate program creates an environment where participants feel empowered and personally invested in the decision making process? Giving us the opportunity to learn about and vote on these important decisions is very empowering. And the impact is very apparent. I'm personally invested in making Boston a better place; I want to stop seeing so much displacement of communities, and the way we make that happen is creating a thriving business sector, helping to create more jobs and more opportunities for people. That part right there makes it for me. I grew up in Boston, so I’m very invested in being there for our community. Could you share an example of how the delegate group’s decisions hold the community's interests at the forefront of investment ratification? I think the Bay State Banner example works here; I would see the Banner maybe when I took the train, but I don't really read their work. And when I was doing my research on what it represents and what it's done, I realized that this investment is really important for not just the legacy, but the future of Black media. I was really interested in learning about their plan to shift to new forms of media, and I wanted to support them because of what they mean to Black Boston. Looking ahead, how do you envision the delegate program staying connected to the broader Ujima community? I do appreciate when there's like more in-person opportunities to meet other delegates and meet other people who are involved with Ujima; I think this is an interesting space that Ujima has created, holding like-minded people with similar priorities and similar visions. It's really powerful to try to link people like that together. I'm just really glad you're doing this, and really excited for the possibilities that these investments unleash. I was at one of our investees, Comfort Kitchen, over the weekend and I felt joyful in that space seeing the jobs they’re providing, and the quality eats they’re serving! Edward Galan has a background in education, arts, and health-related fields, serving as an entrepreneur, teacher, and facilitator. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Naropa University, specializing in Psychology of Health and Healing, Music, and Peace Studies. His primary emphasis lies in leveraging the arts and diverse communication strategies to foster meaningful connections across various differences and divides. https://necessary.systems/lyse Mon, 20 Nov 2023 16:02:57 +0000 Necessary Systems https://necessary.systems/lyse LYSE FEDJANIE How did you first discover Ujima, and what initially drew you to be a part of our community? The Boston Ujima Project came up on my social media, and I joined a newsletter. So my first involvement was checking out the newsletter, reading through activities and happenings. I finally started getting more active during the pandemic; my schedule kept clashing with a lot of the events prior, but during the pandemic (and with everything being remote) it was a lot more accessible. I became more active with the arts and culture organizing in January 2022, when I ran a microlearning session,&nbsp;Cyborgian Liberatory Media. I see Ujima creating a framework for the solidarity economy in Boston; a lot of the work that I'm doing is around Afrofuturism—creating worlds and realities that are more equitable, more liberatory, more life giving, and I see Ujima’s goals, activities, events, and workshops as being well-aligned with all of that. Are there any standout moments in your time with us that have made an impression on you? I really enjoyed doing the microlearning sessions, and having such a broad variety of people attend, participating and approaching from different angles (from an academic standpoint, from a practical standpoint)—I think that, to me, was powerful. But I also really enjoy being a delegate and voting on investments for some of the businesses in Boston. What are your overall thoughts about Ujima’s mission and our approach to community-driven investment? I'm really appreciative of it. As somebody who's really interested in building out Black futures, Ujima’s quote (“another Boston is possible”) feels very aligned. The fact that they're actually doing it helps open up those possibilities even further; people in our communities are gaining power to decide how things develop and grow in their communities, what they want to cultivate, and what they want to support. I appreciate the collectivity in that work as well. “I see Ujima creating a framework for the solidarity economy in Boston; a lot of the work that I'm doing is around Afrofuturism—creating worlds and realities that are more equitable, more liberatory, more life giving, and I see Ujima’s goals, activities, events, and workshops as being well-aligned with all of that.” How does your role as a delegate ensure that the community's voice is represented in investment decisions? I get a chance to review these businesses, but also to review what the community had to say about them. Beyond just, “which of these businesses have I seen involved in the community,” which is a very important aspect of it, I also get to see the people who submitted these businesses, and ask what about these businesses was relevant to them—what was important? For example, somebody highlighted an East Boston mutual aid group that helped provide food and food pantry options to the Muslim community. That aspect of community engagement to me is necessary; otherwise, this mutual aid group probably would have gone under the radar. [Throughout my time as a Delegate] I was grateful to speak to Ujima staff and membership. We had a session where we debriefed on the businesses, our thoughts, our concerns, and what we wanted to do further research on. That's really important! For example: let's say I pitch a business and somebody else who's a delegate might not necessarily know much about the business, to be able to say, “Well, I would like further research on how this is actually helping the community or not.” Because I have a stake in what the outcome of that decision is, I can ask for that, so I can be sure that an investment is aligned with community needs. How has your experience as a delegate deepened your understanding of the relationship between shared decision making and fostering a sense of communal ownership over investment outcomes? As someone who grew up in Boston, I don't think there's many opportunities for what most folks should be able to do: decide on what should be happening in their community and who to give money to—especially not in the areas of Boston that I grew up in: Mattapan, Dorchester and Hyde Park. Rather than Ujima saying, ‘well, we have this investment, we'll just do it’, having someone like me, who's from the community, who has experiences with some of the businesses, coming in as a delegate—I think that is a multi-layered approach. The person who nominated the business for us to vote on has ownership over that piece of the process, and then I have ownership over the piece where I'm voting as delegate. That multi-layered, shared decision-making is really powerful to have and to demonstrate that there are ways that we can come together and kind of decide what we want to see. Lyse Fedjanie Barronville (she/li/they) is a Black queer womxn from Haiti who came up in “the other Boston”. As a strategist, innovator, creator, &amp; scholar striving to co-design liberated futures with our communities, Lyse serves as the Executive Director &amp; Strategy of Konbino—short for Konbit Inovasyon (or Innovation Collective in English)—and the Principal Consultant &amp; Facilitator of Abundant Futures Consulting &amp; Incubator Series. Lyse was recently inducted as the Ambassador of SheBuilds Global Initiative Boston Chapter where she is working to co-curate Ecosystem Builders events highlighting Haitianwomxn in the Boston ecosystem who are building liberated futures and thriving legacies for those that will follow behind them. She&nbsp;holds a BA in sociology/public health and an MS in management, both from Boston University, and is currently researching Afro/indigenous cosmology, spirituality, ecological justice, &amp; liberatory tech/AI as an MTS candidate in Black Theoethics &amp; Womxnist Afrofutures at Iliff School of Theology. Lyse values resting as resistance, laughing as close to “too much” as possible, pursuing peace, cultivating community, and relishing moments of joy. https://necessary.systems/jamiah Mon, 20 Nov 2023 15:54:37 +0000 Necessary Systems https://necessary.systems/jamiah JAMIAH TAPPIN How did you first discover Ujima?&nbsp; I’ve built relationships with a lot of different grassroots organizations here in Boston; that may be how I initially heard about Ujima, just word of mouth through those relationships. I do know that the first time I went to an assembly meeting was in Roxbury, actually; we were voting on one of the early investments. Members of the Investment Committee were leading the process–I was really interested in how they were facilitating a democratic process and how they were creating guidelines and agreed-upon measures. The methods stood out to me: establishing that consensus was how we were going to move forward, outlining how we were going to stay accountable, and then describing how these lead to specific outcomes and voting practices. I work in public health, in community investment and grant-making: from housing to hospital investments, the key is engaging with community perspectives, particularly in Boston. In one of the grant-making projects, one of our funders was really interested in doing something participatory. I had engaged with Ujima through that meeting I mentioned, and a lightbulb went off: “Oh, this is a really great model for us to really center resident voices, to create a grant-making and review process.” It was a little complicated in the beginning, so we also worked with folks at the Center for Economic Democracy to help us build out our model. What are your overall thoughts about Ujima’s mission and its approach to community-driven investment? I really want to understand decision-making, particularly collective decision-making: what influences how we vote, how we interact with and relate to the folks within our neighborhoods. So often at my day job, I deal with all of these concepts and practices at an institutional level; but the participatory grantmaking process I mentioned is really trying to bridge the dynamic gap between institutions and residents. With Ujima’s approach to community-driven investment, it's not just that the money is going to help people, it's that this money is specifically given from the community, to the community, for us to collectively decide what is best for us. This communal approach gives investments more personal weight, and it’s possible to feel more personal ownership or investment; you have skin in the game, because it’s a result of your own decision-making. So I’m really sitting with that, and thinking about how we can create more spaces for community empowerment and collective processing and how we can address a lack of civic engagement through building trust. “Here at Ujima, we convene with our neighbors and build upon those relationships; once you trust your neighbors, you also trust their vote. So now I wonder, how can this idea be scaled up in other arenas where decisions need to be made?” Does your role as a delegate ensure that the community's voice is represented in investment decisions?&nbsp;And how do you see your role as a delegate ensuring the community's voice is represented in investment decisions?&nbsp; There's so many spaces that Ujima holds for hearing opinions, questions, and there's a really concerted effort to make sure that folks feel included in the process: this makes my role as a delegate much easier. Because we're co-creating this environment, I feel like there's a lot of space where community is heard. So my position means I'm pushing forward our desires, our wants, our needs, rather than acting as a traditional representative (which may insinuate that I’m speaking for people). &nbsp; Community ownership suggests a joint stake in the investment journey. How has the delegate program cultivated an environment where every participant feels personally invested in the decisions being made? I think the delegate program is moreso a streamlining of process than a positioning of power; I like the word delegate here, because it presumes that there is a broader representation, and we as delegates are just the mechanism through which ideas move. Ujima’s investment approach values collective responsibility; could you share an example of how the delegate group’s decisions collectively held the community's interests at the forefront of investment ratification? Sure; what comes to mind here is the voting process. It’s iterative and continuous; we participate in one vote, then we collect feedback and prepare for the next vote. There are opportunities here for the broader community to offer different insights on the potential investments that we're going to carry forward; because we move through multiple steps of voting and feedback, when we get to that final decision and we see our final voting package, the package feels entirely inclusive of community interests. This process actually holds us all responsible for making sure that those interests carry water. Any last thoughts? Ujima is a really great model for successful and community-based decision-making processes. The addition of the delegates just proves that these processes aren't stale, that there's always new elements and new pieces to incorporate to make shared decision-making easier and more accessible to people. I’m happy that we're continuing to evolve and we're inserting new practices into the model. Jamiah Tappin is a Director on both the Grantmaking and Health &amp; Racial Equity teams at Health Resources in Action. She spearheads transformative processes that cultivate stronger community—institutional partnerships, shared values rooted in equity, and movement building for collective impact. Her expertise spans many disciplines, including community organizing, coalition building, advocacy, participatory grantmaking, and facilitation, all viewed through a prism of anti-oppression and anti-racism. In her dual roles, she collaborates with the Community Health Grantmaking team, steering equitable and participatory grantmaking processes like the Innovative Stable Housing Initiative and the MA Community Health and Healthy Aging Funds, as well as partners with the Health Equity in Action team to lead organizational initiatives aimed at disrupting structures of white supremacy culture, fostering an inclusive workplace, and propelling HRiA’s work of advancing health and racial equity. Before her tenure at HRiA, Jamiah worked in her hometown, Hartford, CT, with youth and residents on issues ranging from public safety, housing issues, and clean neighborhood initiatives. Her advocacy journey also extended to championing equity in education and supporting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Jamiah holds a Master in Social Work from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work, and a Bachelors in Communication from Boston University. https://necessary.systems/myrna Thu, 30 Nov 2023 22:52:55 +0000 Necessary Systems https://necessary.systems/myrna MYRNA GREENFIELD How did you first discover Ujima?&nbsp; I heard about the Boston Ujima Project through a former colleague of mine, Jonathan Rosenthal; we worked together at Equal Exchange, a worker cooperative. And I was immediately drawn in because I work with small businesses, farms and food-related nonprofits in the Boston and New England area, so I was very excited about the idea of cooperative support for businesses and the connection between business, arts and community—it really resonated with all my values. I've had a lot of concerns about gentrification, and the challenge is that people of color haven’t been able to get credit and get access to land to farm and build equity. I was also attracted to the fact that it's a Black and brown-led organization; there are so many nonprofits that have been around for ages that started out with white leadership, and it's hard to make the transition when the dominant culture is sort of embedded in the whole DNA of the organization. So it's exciting that Ujima is led by Black and brown people and is welcoming to all who support the vision and values. It's a great model. I heard you touch upon this, but I wanted to directly ask you: how does Ujima align with your current work and goals? Sure. I'm particularly interested in the Good Business Alliance work, because I think it's important that we, as a community, support our businesses. I think it's especially important for all the reasons I mentioned to support Black and brown businesses. I've tried to do whatever I can, both personally and professionally to support small businesses and locally owned businesses, because I feel like that has so much resonance and so many benefits for us all, so I try to bring up Ujima when I can and support it when I can. “I think it's important that we, as a community, support our businesses. I think it's especially important for all the reasons I mentioned to support Black and brown businesses.” Are there any standout moments that you've had in your journey with Ujima that have made an impression on you? Well, I think the most powerful moments have been the assemblies I’ve attended; it’s a wondrous experience to be in a room with folks and see democracy and cooperation in action. It can be frustrating and slow and confusing, but I appreciate the creative elements that your team applies to connect people. It is challenging at times; for the first year or two I was involved with Ujima, I came to the Wednesday meetings and was involved with the business support group. I didn't really feel like I was doing anything of value as part of that business support group and I got busy with other things. So I haven't been super involved in the last few years other than voting and participating in meetings, seeing the weekly emails and so on. What do you enjoy about Ujima’s approach to community driven investments? I think it's very important that your team supports Black and brown investors, because I think in addition to bringing our own money in, Ujima can also attract other investors and make our investments feel safe. I really appreciate the work of the committee that evaluates the loans, and provides the background information. In some cases, I've known a little bit about the businesses that we've loaned to; in other cases not, but I find that really helpful to understand the context. That's made it a lot easier for me to vote and to weigh in on those decisions. How has your experience as a delegate deepened your understanding of the relationship between shared decision making and fostering a sense of communal ownership over investment outcomes? It's our money, including mine, that's in the investment. And even though I have a very modest investment, you know, it still matters to me. So I do feel a strong sense of responsibility. When weighing the investments, I consider ‘how is this going to benefit the community? ‘Is this the best use of our resources?’ Looking ahead, how do you envision the delegate program continuing to uphold the principles of community ownership and shared decision making? And what steps could be taken to further strengthen these ideals? I think it would be good for Ujima to think about experimenting with some different ways for delegates and members to interact with each other. For those of us who are juggling multiple responsibilities, I would welcome something that's more ad hoc. It wouldn’t have to involve an ongoing commitment, but it'd be an opportunity to hear more. I think there could be one-off meetings or small group gatherings to meet more Ujima members. Early on, I went to more Ujima parties—it was a nice chance to just hang out a little and meet folks. So I would encourage some more unstructured ways that members could interact with each other. There's some very cool people in Ujima that I'd love to get to know better. Marketing Your Farm author, Myrna Greenfield, is the Top Egg at Good Egg Marketing, a Massachusetts-based business that offers sales and marketing strategies, branding, and digital services for farms and food companies, small businesses, and non-profits. Greenfield hatched Good Egg in 2010 to promote good food and good causes. She’s taught workshops and provided services to more than one thousand farmers. Greenfield is a board member of Boston Farms Community Land Trust; Boston Farms turns vacant urban land into collective opportunity, supporting neighborhood farmers to grow the food that sustains us. She was a long-time board member of the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts and cofounded the Egleston Farmers Market. She was raised in the Chicago area and has been a proud resident of Jamaica Plain, MA, for more than thirty years. She holds an MBA from Simmons School of Management. https://necessary.systems/intro-copy Sun, 03 Dec 2023 20:29:04 +0000 Necessary Systems https://necessary.systems/intro-copy <img width="1371" height="191" width_o="1371" height_o="191" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b7245bea82020e2b4278676cbce5410464ab13b7c585a10747d9d27ff017ffef/Asset-15.png" data-mid="198467740" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b7245bea82020e2b4278676cbce5410464ab13b7c585a10747d9d27ff017ffef/Asset-15.png" /> https://necessary.systems/kerry Tue, 27 Jun 2023 19:14:32 +0000 Necessary Systems https://necessary.systems/kerry “Ujima's model harkens back to ancestral practices like lending circles and practices that allowed us to take care of each other.” — Kerry Bowie. Can you share how you first got involved with Ujima? Kerry Bowie: I probably met Nia before Ujima officially existed; I think I met her at a policy conference. Around that same time, I had also crossed paths with Deborah Frieze from Boston Impact Initiative and Lucas Turner-Owens, one of Ujima's early fund managers. I remember attending an Ujima convening because I was a part of Boston's entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem. So when I eventually joined the investment committee, it was a natural fit. Can you share a bit about how your work on the Investment Committee connects to your broader background as someone with experience in technology, finance, government, and business? So, the most relevant experience I have comes from my work at the Majira Project, which works with small businesses and startups to cultivate founders, companies, and communities of color through entrepreneurship. I really understand a lot of the challenges that small business owners face, and I'm excited about Ujima's model of doing business. Especially when we think of investment in our communities, historically, if you're not an accredited investor, you really can't make investments in these companies. Ujima's model harkens back to ancestral practices like lending circles and practices that allowed us to take care of each other. Part of why I stopped working in state government was because of the large racial wealth gap that we have in Boston, so you can't catch up by doing things the "normal way." You have to shake up the system, and that's why I'm really excited to be a part of Ujima's Investment Committee. What's your personal investment philosophy when it comes to making socially responsible investments for yourself? I'm a little bit biased because my background is in the environment. So I like to live at the intersection of climate, entrepreneurship and, diversity, equity inclusion. So, ideally, I'm gonna want to be investing in things like energy efficiency, clean energy, food, and water because that's what my background is. But my investment philosophy, more broadly, is focused on creating wealth that allows the next generation to be able to take some risk[s]. The only way I think that happens is if we support some people with companies that steadily grow. And not necessarily “hockey stick growth,” but with some demonstration of healthy growth over time. So we can help that entrepreneur go from one to two to three retail locations, and we know they'll give back and invest in their communities. What do you imagine for the future of the Ujima Fund? So far, there's been some amount of figuring things out, and gradually our investment pace has ticked up as we learn. I'm excited about how we can move through our investment pipeline faster so it doesn't take us as long to deploy the next one million dollars. I'm also excited about the prospect of bringing on new people. I've been on the Investment Committee for a while now, and it's important to bring in fresh blood and allow others to learn from this process. What's really cool about our investment committee is that we're ultimately just making recommendations to voting members – they ultimately decide what to invest in, not the committee. But because our process is so transparent, voting members learn a lot along the way about risk, returns, what to look for in investments, and how to make those decisions. We need more knowledgeable investors in the world, and this is part of that. I want to see more projects like Ujima across the country working to democratize investment one city at a time. Kerry and his Msaada firm partners help organizations tackle social, economic, and environmental problems with a focus on strategy, management, operations, and design. Prior to co-founding Msaada Partners, Kerry acquired extensive experience as an environmental engineer and manager during nine years with Texas Instruments and more than eight years with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Broadly, Kerry’s background spans state government, technology, finance, and business. Kerry holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in environmental engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Michigan, respectively, as well as an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Kerry lives in Somerville, MA with his wife, Sherri-Ann, and two young daughters. https://necessary.systems/pat Tue, 27 Jun 2023 18:53:11 +0000 Necessary Systems https://necessary.systems/pat “But you don’t just need capital; you also need to know the community is behind you, and that’s what Ujima’s voting members provide.” — Pat Tomaino Can you share how you first got involved with Ujima? Pat Tomaino: I worked for about ten years in the sustainable investing field, and I realized that there was such a vibrant community of people in Boston who are trying to build wealth in Black and brown communities by redirecting capital to the people who need it most. So back then, I was trying to learn from groups like Ujima and folks like Aaron Tanaka and from the work I was doing in the green investing space. Eventually, folks within Ujima saw I had some expertise in pushing companies to improve their practices in human rights and the environment and thought I’d be a good fit for the investment committee. Can you share more about how your work on the Investment Committee connects to your broader educational background with experience in politics, finance, and the labor movement? I’ve lived in Boston for over 20 years, ever since I came here for university. Over the years, I’ve worked in the labor movement in Boston, in progressive politics, and in public media. So I know just how many things have to fall into place, politically, socially, and culturally to make an endeavor like Jazz Urbane Cafe, for instance, happen in this city. The same is true for other companies in our portfolio, and I have a huge appreciation for what these entrepreneurs are doing and how much they benefit from Ujima’s ecosystem. Because if you’re trying to open a new restaurant or start an apparel brand, access to capital is the critical element that Black and brown communities have been excluded from over generations. But you don’t just need capital; you also need to know the community is behind you, and that’s what Ujima’s voting members provide. Boston is a city where a lot of exciting cool projects don’t get the oxygen they need to develop, and that’s where Ujima comes in: by helping working-class residents of color leverage their power to support these projects. Ujima encourages people to think of themselves not just as investors or consumers but as residents with a stake in their neighborhoods and in each other. What’s your investment philosophy regarding making socially responsible investments? When it comes to making responsible investment decisions, I focus on social issues and the way that companies treat their workers. I also value the opportunity to invest in companies that are unionized and have a big union presence. I’m not interested in investing in companies with poor labor practices. As a teacher, I’m fortunate to have a pension plan that is managed by the teacher’s union and their trustees, so I trust that process. But that’s not always the norm for other employees. I’ve worked for many companies at this point that try to manage investments for people in a socially responsible way, and I’ve become a bit jaded by it. I worry that an overreliance on green investing pulls people away from direct action because people think, “My money is clean, so I’m all set,” and they don’t feel the need to make change in their communities. Ujima is a great response to this mindset because, through the investment process, people are encouraged to track where the wealth currently resides in their communities and think about how to direct capital to places where it historically hasn’t been. Ujima encourages people to think of themselves not just as investors or consumers but as residents with a stake in their neighborhoods and in each other. What do you imagine for the future of the Ujima Fund? I’m so excited to see our portfolio businesses continue to flourish and prove that our investment model is a crucial service in our community. For some of the businesses just getting started, it’s cool to see every additional investment they’re able to make in their work, in part, because of the community’s vote of confidence. Hopefully, we can close more investment votes and encourage other asset owners and cities to do the same. We can’t keep going down the path we’re on as a civilization where capital gets allocated only according to what will generate profit. Most of all, I look forward to Ujima proving that you can invest wisely with an ethic of care for the future and what’s needed for your community. Pat Miguel Tomaino is a member of the Ujima Fund Investment Committee and a tenth-grade history teacher at Boston Green Academy in Brighton. He is honored to teach students from across our city, helping them become inquisitive citizens and strong writers. Prior to his teacher training at Boston College, Pat worked for nearly a decade in the green investing field as a sustainability analyst and shareholder activist. Most recently, he was the Director of Socially Responsible Investing at Zevin Asset Management in Boston. Pat has also worked as a public radio producer on WBUR’s Open Source with Christopher Lydon and as a policy researcher for progressive causes in Massachusetts, such as Elizabeth Warren’s 2012 senate campaign and the 1199 SEIU healthcare workers’ union. A graduate of Harvard College, Pat lives in Brighton with his partner Mary Claire and their canine friend Piper. https://necessary.systems/miriam Tue, 27 Jun 2023 19:09:50 +0000 Necessary Systems https://necessary.systems/miriam “When it comes to the Ujima Fund Investment Committee, the biggest overlap that I see with our work at CoEverything is the democratic and participatory process aspect. [...] Just like our work on the Investment Committee, we’re moving at the speed of trust.” — Miriam Gee Can you share how you first got involved with Ujima? Miriam Gee: The first time I ever heard about the solidarity economy was back in 2017, I believe. Me and my partner at the time were working at a worker cooperative, and he brought me on board as a worker-owner. As I transitioned into this new leadership role, I attended an event in downtown Boston, and some of the early founders of Ujima were there, along with solidarity folks across Massachusetts. There was a woman speaking who defined the solidarity economy in a simple but profound way. She said, “The solidarity economy means that when I am well, you are well.” It made me realize that when we all have enough, we can all take care of each other. Not everything must be a capitalist transaction or an exchange looking for exponential growth. Up until then, I had never really thought about financing, funding public projects, and decision-making at that level before. After that, I attended Ujima’s neighborhood assemblies and volunteered on different projects before joining the Investment Committee. When I first joined, I knew there would be a lot of learning along the way because I’m not a technical assistance provider the way that LEAF or the Boston Impact Initiative was in the beginning. I’ve since learned so much about alternative financing and lending, which helps me understand our client’s needs at CoEverything. Can you share a bit about how your work on the Investment Committee connects to your broader background in community-focused development and design? So I’m a co-founder of CoEverything, a worker-owned cooperative. We have three worker-owners and usually hire one or two other temporary, seasonal interns through a grant program. We say that our mission is to bring more cooperative and community projects to life. That could look like helping people with architecture and design, helping people with real estate development, consulting, a fundraising plan, a website, or even teaching workshops to stakeholders like neighbors and community members to make a decision. We do a wide range of work. When it comes to the Ujima Fund Investment Committee, the biggest overlap that I see with our work at CoEverything is the democratic and participatory process aspect. Working in cooperation with other people and collaborating is really where we work best. So we tend to partner with existing grassroots community organizations to help them bring their projects to life where we ourselves are not necessarily the boots on the ground, doing the everyday organizing, but they are. So when clients bring us in at CoEverything, we have this overlap with mission and values to cooperate on. Just like our work on the Investment Committee, we’re moving at the speed of trust. I’d love for our CoEverything projects to be able to seek funding from Uima, and so far, one of our projects has. We’re the architect for the new Dorchester Food Co-op. So as a member of the Investment Committee, I had to recuse myself from the investment analysis of DFC. CoEverything has also collaborated on a few Ujima projects, like the 1463 Dorchester Ave crowdfunding campaign. In support of this affordable rental housing project, right in Fields Corner, we led workshops for Ujima members during the last Ujima Real Estate Assembly. We eventually raised over $140,000 in this Small Change campaign from over 80 individual investors. More than 50 of them were from Massachusetts, and more than 40 of them were from Dorchester, which was our target audience. From there, we took a cue from Ujima and nominated people who invested in the project to a project oversight committee through a nomination process. There was a community listening session for the project oversight committee, and the elected committee members helped to select the retail tenant that went into the ground floor space of the building, which is now called Words as Worlds, co-created by Porsha Olayiwola [and Bing Boderick]. So it’s a great overlap of artists and community members in Ujima’s ecosystem. What’s your personal investment philosophy when it comes to making socially responsible investments? I use a giving plan template that someone from Resource Generation shared around back in the day. So this giving plan is broken down into three categories: people, prosperity, and [the] planet. I try to donate whatever money I would have made from having it invested somewhere else, spread across these three categories. I usually make these donations by the end of the year, and it’s very self-directed. When I hear about exciting work happening in the ecosystem, I consider making a donation and investing that way. What do you imagine for the future of the Ujima Fund? I’m really excited about this idea of an online real estate investment platform for Ujima, which Nia and other staff have explored. One of the challenges with real estate projects is that you need so much more money in order for it to make a difference. The Ujima Fund right now is $5 million, but what if one day it was a $25 million fund to fund real estate and infrastructure needs like community-owned solar, for instance? With a larger fund, we’re able to make many different types of investments. Miriam Gee is, in a word, a powerhouse. No cubicle could contain her dynamic personality, her quick-witted intelligence, her collaborative design skill, her way with people, or her energetic pursuit of better stewardship of the planet. If you need something done, send Miriam to do it. A CoFounder of CoEverything, Miriam is passionate about architecture and development and its potential for building community. She is committed to the triple bottom line and excels in project management and community engagement. Miriam is an active board member for Boston Farms Community Land Trust and was the licensed architect at Placetailor and co-founded Build Lightly Studio - where she taught community-driven design/build courses in the U.S. and abroad.