Baltimore
Community
Commons
Where Community, Care, and Capital Come Together
Crisis of Disinvestment and the Growing Wealth Gap
As global financial markets extract an increasing share of community wealth, small local businesses and organizations struggle to access sufficient resources. Regular folks have limited options for participating in community wealth building opportunities.
What is needed to generate sustainable prosperity and well-being for all?
Because meaningful, lasting change requires trust, we need place-based ecosystems that build community connections, expand on existing assets, and reward mutual support.
Strengthening Cross-Class Friendships
Harvard Economics Professor Raj Chetty and his colleagues found that cross-class friendship is the only form of social capital that significantly boosts economic mobility. In other words, if you grow up in poverty but have friendships with people from diverse class backgrounds, you have a much greater chance to achieve economic upward mobility.
Entrepreneur Support
The Vision
Community Investor Training
Timebanking/Mutual Support
Change Happens at the Speed of Trust
We are building the first place-based ecosystem to promote comprehensive community wealth building through
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community connections across race, class, and other backgrounds
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community investing and economic empowerment
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a mutual support network using the tool of timebanking
The first floor of The Mulberry will be a clubhouse and community living room that will host workshops, classes, potlucks, performances, and local business pop ups.
Restroom and additional meeting/class rooms
The first floor will also be home to
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a Community Business School with curriculum designed to provide practical tools to small business owners and community activists
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legal, accounting, and coaching support for small businesses with a focus on making supportive funding more accessible
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free/low-cost space for local organizations that serve entrepreneurs to offer classes and host events
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Baltimore Community Commons is a program of Community Ventures, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charity.