Join black land matters real estate investment cooperative


become a member now!

Become a member of the Black Land Matters Real Estate Investment Cooperative for an annual membership fee of $50, complete our full membership application here.

Excerpt from presentation, 'The Future of Our Past: Using Cooperatives to Survive and Compete in the Next Twenty Years'

 

We are working together to secure cooperatively purchased and permanently owned Black Land. In this time of climate change and dwindling natural resources it is imperative that we implement practices which will support community and earth’s sustainability. In the development of urban & rural land projects permaculture design principles are one of the important methodologies which are to be used. Permaculture is based on designing our environments for the harmonious integration of landscape and people.

 

This land will serve as affordable space for civic, cultural, and cooperative use in domestic areas of the United States.

 

We are incubating a Black Land Matters Real Estate Investment Cooperative (BLM-REIC) that leverages the political power and patient investments of members to stabilize neighborhoods and build inclusive, culturally equitable and resilient cities around the country and areas of interest around the world.

 

Since our first member meeting in May 2012, we have attained a membership of 6 people, organized a fund of $40,000, purchased 10 acres of land internationally, and received pledges for future investments.

 

By mid-2017, we aim to finance at least one permanently affordable residential, commercial and agricultural property in metropolitan and rural areas. Our goal is to make long-term, stabilizing, and transformative investments for the mutual benefit of our member-owners and our communities.

 

We are seeking grants. Within the next 3 to 5 years, the Black Land Matters Real Estate Investment Cooperative (BLM-REIC) will move from the incubation phase and become an independent, cooperatively-governed organization that provides financing to create long-term affordable community-controlled space for cooperative enterprise, sustainability, culture and organizing. Minimum member investments are $50, but larger investments are both necessary and encouraged; they simply do not give the investor more control over the cooperative’s decisions.

 

Since 2012, our members joined and facilitated work that have moved our project forward:

Logistics

  Investor Tours

  Member Outreach

  Land and Development

Project Vetting

  Cultural and Ecological Education

Outreach to Investors Draft preliminary criteria for BLM-REIC investments:

  The property to be acquired is in New York City, for starters, Philadelphia, Baltimore/ DC, Atlanta, California, and other regions to follow.

The programming proposed for the property supports culture, sustainability, small business, cooperation, and community benefit.

  The programming for the property benefit POADUS that have traditionally had barriers to accessing stable places to assemble and/or do their work.

  The property and programming proposal are financially sound so that we will be able to pay members back; we aim to minimize the risks we are taking with our money and resources.

  The property acquired is restricted from being transferred as a market commodity in the future through legal mechanisms in its deed (e.g. covenants, conservation easements, community land trusts); we can make this a prerequisite for working with us.

 

Whether you are acting out of need or a desire to create a social good, we have learned from groups across the country and internationally that REICs help preserve affordable spaces.

 

7 Principles of cooperatives

1. Voluntary and Open Membership

Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all people able to use its services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership.

 

2. Democratic Member Control

Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members—those who buy the goods or use the services of the cooperative—who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions.

 

3. Members' Economic Participation

Members contribute equally to, and democratically control, the capital of the cooperative. This benefits members in proportion to the business they conduct with the cooperative rather than on the capital invested.

 

4. Autonomy and Independence

Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If the co-op enters into agreements with other organizations or raises capital from external sources, it is done so based on terms that ensure democratic control by the members and maintains the cooperative's autonomy.

 

5. Education, Training and Information

Cooperatives provide education and training for members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperative. Members also inform the general public about the nature and benefits of cooperatives.

 

6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives

Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.

 

7. Concern for Community

While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of communities through policies and programs accepted by the members.

 

BLM-REIC serves as a space to learn, think deeply, radically, and personally about the best ways to keep our communities on the land and keep it alive and green for ensuing generations.

 

become a member now!

To become a member of the Black Land Matters Real Estate Investment Cooperative for an annual membership fee of $50, complete our full membership application here.

 

We've created levels of membership that best work with each member's situation. The $5000 should be seen as a pledge to save and invest over an agreed upon time frame. You are not obligated in any way, but we do look to help those interested in raising this over time to become full participants of our opportunities. In essence, some up front amount then payment plan till fully vested.

 

Members Get:

• Exclusive listings to investments including land and stock

• 10% off Duende Natural/Black Land Matters trips and tours

• 10% off Duende Natural/Black Land Matters merchandise

 

Members Must:

• Attend a minimum of four (4) in-person or cyber meetups

• Following the assessment of member interest in land projects, begin personal savings of in preparation of projects members may want to invest in. This process will have members ready to move once we choose as a group projects we will move on.

Contact Us:

Black Land Matters

e: yesland@duendenatural.com