A new article from Next City highlights the work of The Democracy Collaborative in convening multiple stakeholders in Albuquerque, NM around local hiring among healthcare institutions, universities, the City of Albuquerque, and the surrounding communities. The article cites The Evergreen Cooperatives in Cleveland, OH as a model for equitable community development:
Cities take a risk when they allow huge chunks of the local workforce to depend on mega-rich, international companies only interested in using the community to build their portfolios. “Universities and hospitals have a unique ability [to guide buy local programs], because they’re already grounded in the community and they can help generate local wealth,” says Erin Kesler, spokesperson for the Democracy Collaborative... Read full article.