2025 Fundraising Priorities
It goes without saying that 2025 is proving to be a challenging year. We, like everyone else, are adjusting to the new realities impacting our economy and society as a result of the dictates of US President Donald Trump, DOGE, and the MAGA movement. The dictates that are impacting us the most are the tariffs, which are causing prices, particularly for construction materials, to fluctuate and be very unpredictable. This impacts our development and repair work profoundly, as it makes it hard to budget adequately and allocate resources strategically. We are also being impacted by the unstable and unpredictable political climate, which is causing many foundations and donors to limit their contributions, as they are trying to ascertain how to properly confront the new, and blatantly racist, terms and conditions being imposed by the Trump administration.
Despite these challenges, we aim to preserve. But, to do so, we are going to need a lot of help from donors and contributors who share our vision and want to live in the new world we are working to build, one premised on ecological regeneration, self-determination, and economic democracy. So, we ask for your generous support. Please give what you can give, knowing sincerely that no contribution is too small or too great. We can and will use it all, and ensure that it is put to strategic use.
General Operations
We are always looking for resources to support our general operations, as these are the most flexible funds. Funds that can be used from everything from construction, to land acquisition, to cooperative development training, and staffing.
Fannie Lou Hamer Community Land Trust Development
One of our top and most consistent priorities is resourcing the working of our community land trust. We are prioritizing resources to build out the Ewing Street Eco-Village. This has been a priority of ours for years. But, it’s been a struggle to raise adequate funds to do the construction we desire, which we desire to be eco-sustainable to the fullest. So, if resources can be given to this, it would be a great benefit to our organization, our community, and the solidarity economy movement as a whole. We are also looking for resources to keep acquiring land in West Jackson to take it off the speculative market and decommodify as much of it as possible. This is of particular importance now, as the entry of Amazon into our community is advancing real estate speculation and threatening the city with gentrification and ethnic cleansing.
Really, Really Free Market
Despite the challenge of having our air conditioning unit at our operating site dismembered for its copper wiring, we are not giving up on the Really, Really Free Market. In fact, it is essential in our view to our next stage of development. Through the ongoing development of the Really, Really Free Market, we are aiming to develop a Really, Really Free Swap Meet, and through that create a voucher system and exchange mechanism to facilitate the free exchange of goods and services in our community, without recourse to having to pay for them. Through this process we are aiming to enhance the productive capacity of our community and enable it to survive and thrive, even when employment is scarce. Join us in this effort.
Disaster Relief
Sadly, as a direct result of climate change and the ineptitude of the Trump government, with its cut backs to FEMA and other relief agencies, we can expect disasters to strike our area and we aim to be prepared for them to the greatest extent possible. With your support we can stay stocked and be in position to help communities throughout Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, western Tennessee and Arkansas. Help us stay ready and be of service to our people.
If you wish, you can also donate by sending a check or money order made out to Cooperation Jackson. Please include in the memo February Fund Drive and mail to P.O. Box 1932, Jackson, MS 39215.
