Join the Movement
Building a democratic, sustainable, and equitable economy means first building the infrastructure to support it.
The Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative (BCDI) is a community-led planning and economic development organization based in the Bronx. We are growing a network of community and labor organizations, anchor institutions, and small businesses to build an equitable, sustainable, and democratic local economy that creates shared wealth and ownership for low-income people of color--what we call economic democracy.
Grounded in a vision of black liberation, a movement building approach to economic transformation, and a community enterprise network model, we create people-centered planning and development processes; generate community solutions through innovation and digital fabrication technology; develop, grow, and connect local Bronx businesses to new opportunities; and train leaders from across sectors to advance a more democratic Bronx economy.
At the core of our model are six projects, which together coordinate critical economic actors in the Bronx, shift the ownership and governance of key assets, and ultimately, build shared wealth and ownership for low-income people of color. The first four of these projects have launched: BronXchange, Economic Democracy Learning Center, Planning and Policy Lab and the Bronx Innovation Factory. Civic Action Hub and Bronx Fund are currently in development.
Can we use
the Bronx’s existing
assets to
end poverty?
At BCDI, we ask the question: If community members collectively owned and governed key assets in the Bronx, could we create an economy that invests in human dignity, fosters community well-being, and supports a larger movement for self-determination? With our diverse network of partners, we are proving that this is possible.
It takes a village.
Your donation can help us continue our work, building a more equitable, sustainable, and democratic economy in the Bronx and a model that other communities can use in their own cities. Click below to donate today.