Island CultureZ is community-driven development hub and process for building back community wealth in historically neglected and excluded communities — “islands”— in Winston-Salem, North Carolina by working together in action-oriented and cooperative ways to create viable worker-owned jobs, increase market access, increase land access, and increase democratic community-control though fertile avenues of local food & agriculture.
Decades of “community development” in Winston-Salem have somehow yet to ensure equity for our communities and produce conditions that allow our people to thrive socially, physically, and economically. There sure has been a lot of talk, but equity ultimately comes down to meaningfully shifting resources and influence to those historically denied of both. Island CultureZ is a departure from what doesn’t work to pursue proven economic, social, and political practices that promote equity in all dimensions, solidarity and cooperation, sustainability, and community control & democratic decision-making.
