Founded in 2018 in response to disparities in income and wealth between the general community and the communities of the underserved and marginalized (specifically BIPOC communities), Southeast Center for Cooperative Development’s mission has been to serve those most impacted by growing wealth and income inequality. By expanding economic equality, the entire city benefits from economic growth and social stability which results. Southeast Center is known as the organization that serves the economic, social, and business aspirations and dreams of those who have been excluded from the privileges of the mainstream. Through high-touch engagement with prospective and existing business owners, we have helped expand economic opportunities by assisting and supporting the launch of new businesses as well as the conversion of existing businesses to viable and vibrant employee-owned businesses.
Southeast Center for Cooperative Development has successfully introduced the cooperative business model to the Nashville area. Our work has ranged from aiding business owners wishing to convert to worker-ownership to training and assisting groups of formerly incarcerated residents to start their own enterprises, of which one group recently financed and launched a trucking company.
Our Expertise
In our work, we educate, train and finance cooperative business plans. In this work, we connect with the clients and their communities. It is our ability to connect that makes the difference in the assistance we provide. The ability to build relationships positions us to listen, hear and better understand the needs and challenges our clients face, and with them, find solutions and ways to remove barriers. We help clients use their vision to build a strong foundation on which they can build viable businesses. We assist them in navigating the challenging course.
Our training and educational services cover the broad range of business management basics, from planning with business model canvas and value stream mapping, to financial and break-even analysis, to establishing governance and developing the organizational culture. We help ensure that our clients have objective, holistic, needs-fulfilling views of their business propositions so that they can better satisfy their constituents – customers, workers, investors, and community.
Informing, educating, training, and assisting are the deliverables we offer via various media. Direct one-on-one sessions, in person or virtual, group sessions and webinars, self-paced tutorials and visual flow charting are all media we are willing to use to meet the clients’ needs. We are quite nimble in our ability to adapt.
Our Vision
Economic injustice is evident in the glaring inequalities that are present. Income and wealth inequality are at alarming levels, and from a racial perspective, the inequalities are abhorrent. We envision a society in which racial inequalities are eliminated, and economics are at the heart of this possibility.
It is our belief that by removing barriers and expanding opportunities to build wealth, we can begin to address the inequality problem. Business ownership is a path that not only allows for wealth creation, but also provides opportunities for income equity by creating good jobs that pay living wages. We are committed to working toward this vision.
Our Staff
The staff of Southeast Center for Cooperative Development is led by experienced educators, trainers, and organizers, and they bring with them years of active community involvement. The work of our staff includes business development specialist, information technician, loan officer and business analyst, among others.