As Gather evolves, one thing that remains clear is that we are a homeschooling collective for Black families. What makes homeschooling in a community beneficial for Black families is the cooperative economics part. Our dollars, time, energy, and creativity go much farther when we are working together than working separately.
Let's not get it twisted, working in a collective and being a part of a community is HARD...there is no other way around that. With different interests, educational philosophies, work schedules, age groups, and amounts of dedicated time to pour in, it can be challenging to get started and stay going.
However, what brings us all to the table are our children. We all want to create the best outcomes for our children. We all want our children to be able to have as many opportunities as they desire. This is what keeps us planning, dreaming, sharing, and building.
Here are 5 reasons why the Black homeschooling community should practice cooperative economics:
1. Empowering Economic Independence: Black cooperative economics, also known as group economics or collective economics, is a framework that emphasizes pooling resources, skills, and knowledge to build and sustain businesses and institutions. In the context of the Black homeschooling community, this approach can help families access quality educational materials, curricula, and extracurricular activities that might otherwise be financially out of reach. By collectively sourcing and sharing resources, families can reduce individual costs, making homeschooling a more enriching experience for all the children involved.
2. Cultivating a Supportive Network: Homeschooling can sometimes be isolating, especially for Black families who are looking for diverse, enriching experiences with other Black families. In 2024, being the ONLY Black family in a space is unacceptable. Our children have an array of gifts to explore and it should be done in spaces where our children can feel seen and safe. Having a supportive network allows you to build peer relationships to share ideas, upcoming events, and other opportunities to stay knowledgeable.
3. Promoting Cultural Preservation: Black homeschooling families often prioritize cultural preservation, seeking to provide an education that is affirming, inclusive, and accurately reflects their history and heritage. Black cooperative economics plays a pivotal role in this endeavor by allowing families to create and curate culturally relevant educational resources. With a collective mindset, you do not have to "recreate" the wheel by yourself! Ask the community!
4. Leveraging Collective Expertise and Skills: Within the Black homeschooling community, there is a wealth of diverse skills, talents, and expertise waiting to be harnessed. We have witnessed that with Gather Forest School. The way the parents sign up for our different programming so the children can see a broad representation is important. Black cooperative economics encourages families to share their knowledge, experiences, and specialized skills to benefit the entire community. This can involve organizing workshops, co-teaching sessions, or mentoring programs, allowing families to tap into each other's strengths and enrich their children's educational journey. By leveraging collective expertise, families can provide a well-rounded education that incorporates various perspectives.
5. Strengthening Economic Empowerment: Black cooperative economics not only enhances the educational experience but also serves as a catalyst for economic empowerment within the homeschooling community. By supporting Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, families can contribute to the economic growth and sustainability of their community. This can involve purchasing curriculum materials, books, and resources from Black-owned publishers or participating in cooperative buying clubs to obtain bulk discounts. By directing their resources towards Black-owned businesses, families not only support economic empowerment but also serve as role models for their children, demonstrating the importance of building and supporting Black-owned enterprises.
I can talk about this topic all day because it is such an important truth as more and more Black families are seeking different ways to educate their children. I encourage you to stay plugged in. I know it's faster and easier in terms of time, and social commitments to do it by yourself but if you make the bold choice to find a community to do homeschooling with, you will be shocked by how much value, experience, community, partnership, fun, and resources you will gain by making that investment in a collective.
As always, it is my intention for y'all to stay grounded and nourished.
Until next time!
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