The ecosystem we work within is a life affirming community where you can meet friends. That is the bigger picture project here: restoring our humanity, moving away from a clinical, transactional economy. And I don’t know anybody else that’s doing that; I’m really proud of what we’re doing. That's how our economy should be organized; we're not getting there very quickly, but Ujima is a microcosm of what that could be.
— Stacey Cordeiro
April 7, 2025 — Boston, MA
Boston Ujima Project, Inc. is now an independent organization, marking a significant step toward self-determination and long-term sustainability.
Celebrated in October 2024, this transition allows us to deepen our work in alignment with our values, ensuring that our investment strategies remain community-led and responsive to the needs of our members. As part of this process, we took on the thrillingly mundane but necessary task of transferring notes from our former fiscal sponsor (CED) to BUP Inc. For more details about the transition and important information on maturing notes, please refer to the last section of our website.
Julia Parker, previously Advising Fund Director, is now formally onboard the team as Managing Director of the Ujima Fund. With over a decade of experience in community development and impact investing, Parker has a strong focus on financing BIPOC enterprises through debt capital and equity financing. Her background includes roles in city government, nonprofit leadership, and consulting, with a commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) investing.
One of our key milestones this period is the launch of Home School, a six-month hybrid program focused on land and real estate finance. This initiative is preparing us for the upcoming Ujima Collective Real Estate Fund, a $25 million commitment to securing community-controlled real estate and infrastructure, and preserving working-class communities of color in Boston. The fund aims to officially launch its fundraising efforts in July 2025. Simultaneously, we aim to launch Ujima Fund 2.0 with a goal of $10 million to continue investing in small businesses in Boston. We are also looking forward to launching our ambitious $4 million endowment campaign to secure long-term funding for our work.
This season also marked the introduction of our first Businesses We Need investment plan, bringing our overall investment pipeline to over 330 businesses. Investments from this plan ensure that our communities’ needs are met.
Our updated Ujima Fund Pipeline Status and Financial Dashboard pages are available now.
Thank you for your continued support of the Ujima Fund. We remain steadfast in our mission to build a just and community-led economy, and we look forward to growing together in 2025 and beyond.
In solidarity,
Alula Hunsen, Editorial Manager
Cierra M. Peters, Dir. of Communications, Culture & Enfranchisement
Boston Ujima Project, Inc.
InterviewsThis past fall and winter, we took a look at technical assistance in the context of community ownership: what do our businesses need to enter and build an ecosystem that is by us and for us? And how are their logistical and structural needs being met?
Our partners at the Boston Center for Community Ownership are a key part of the equation–from bookkeeping and business-building, to public training and pedagogy, and culture and communication, BCCO works with small businesses at a variety of stages along the journey to becoming worker-owned cooperatives.
For our Spring investor report, we spoke with their team to get a sense of how they support Ujima’s Good Business Alliance and cooperative systems in and around our neighborhoods.
In my mind, so many of the problems that arise in our world come from hyperindividualism and greed; yet, every time I’m in a cooperative space, it just feels so warm. It was hard for me to see an end to exploitation and hardship, but I’m regularly reminded that I’m actually taking a concrete step towards changing things, and it makes me happy to know that there are ways to contribute which can benefit so many people.
— Sadie Modi
Recently, their opening was featured in the Bay State Banner for Women’s History Month—another Ujima portfolio company. The new location is available for event hosting and event rentals, and they’re taking reservations now. Check the site here for more updates!
Visit The Pearl for fun ambiance, mouthwatering oysters, and so many more delicious offerings.
On April 18, 2025 they’ll present Art Forward, an evening featuring the Imagine Orchestra directed by Dr. Bill Banfield, filmmaker Karina Choudhury and much more. Tickets are available now.
In October 2024, Comfort Kitchen was named to Boston Magazine’s Top 50 Restaurants in Boston for the second time in two years! The restaurant was also recently featured on NESN’s Dining Playbook program, showcasing their unique take on global comfort food. Wish them congratulations and stop by their location at 611 Columbia Road in Dorchester.
They have brought on interim General Manager Garland McQueen to improve operations and align with community needs.
The café has added a free community library.
Finally, they recently commemorated their year-plus of operations with a short documentary that exemplifies their vision, values, and commitment to serve their community as a worker-owned grocery store that makes healthy food accessible. Watch the video here.
To support Dorchester Food Co-Op, please consider subscribing to their newsletter or becoming a member of the co-op.
Wish them congratulations, and visit their store at 195 Bowdoin St in Dorchester.
Kidogo Productions is also launching a new clickable prototype for Kidogoville, a new platform designed to engage young learners–try it out here.
Founder Keeana Saxon recently reflected with us on her experience as an investee, sharing her gratitude for the communal support and uplift while founding a tech and infotainment start-up. Watch her reflections, and more, here.
2025 marks the New England paper’s 60th anniversary.
Over the past year, the print version of the newspaper and the website have gone through extensive changes. They have added special sections for business and sports and launched a virtual art gallery.
In partnership with local PBS outlet WGBH, they have begun a live community conversation series entitled GBH Amplifies: Ron Mitchell and the Bay State Banner, part of a larger community conversation series designed to elevate local voices from Boston and beyond. Held each month at GBH’s studio at the Boston Public Library, GBH Amplifies events feature a cast of rotating hosts from local media, community organizations, and more.
Looking ahead to the next chapter, they anticipate the opening of a full, live-streaming studio where they will produce a weekly online Bay State Banner newscast.
MathTalk is currently seeking investment from the Ujima Fund.
BNCLT is currently seeking investment from the Ujima Fund.
They added their voice to the community wealth-building conversation with co-authorship of a Next City article, calling on funders to resource community ownership initiatives.
Also, Eastie Farm, in partnership with Piers Park Sailing Center, Veronica Robles Cultural Center, and Maverick Landing Community Services, is offering paid mentorship sessions to support East Boston youth with career planning
Eastie Farm invites volunteers to come to their weekly openhouse! Stop by their greenhouse in East Boston every Wednesday from 5:30-7:30 pm. Check their calendar for additional dates.
Hillside Harvest is also thrilled to announce the launch of their vibrant new website, bringing the flavors of the Caribbean straight to your screen.
Additionally, the brand recently launched its new podcast, CHOP IT UP, hosted by founder and owner Kamaal Jarrett.
Explore the new site and check out their exciting rebranding here.
LLAL is teaming up with fellow UGBA member Sydney Janey Designs to co-produce this year’s Martha’s Vineyard Black Biz Day Tour. Stay tuned for more updates!
They’re now accepting spring and summer reservations for tours; book yours here.
Ujima Fund Updates
In November 2024, Boston Ujima Project Inc., the Main Street Journal, BECMA Community Investments, and Boston Impact Initiative hosted our Ujima Fund 2024 Business & Investor Relations Build on November 22nd, 2024. Attendees met and explored investment opportunities with community-centered businesses in our Good Business Alliance, including Kidogo Productions, Jazz Urbane Cafe, Boston Neighborhood Community Land Trust, and Just Book-ish. As a bonus, Rally Capital, a collective of local angel investors, generously made invitations to these four businesses for private pitch sessions with their membership.
In January 2025, The Ujima Fund announced our new program, Home School: a 6-month hybrid group focused on land and real estate finance to ready us for our next big project— co-designing the upcoming Ujima Collective Real Estate Fund!
The Collective Real Estate Fund is a commitment to our belief in building a city where residents, especially working-class BIPOC communities, can thrive without the threat of displacement. Our goal is to collectively own properties that serve the needs of our communities while preserving heritage and building economic power.
The Ujima Collective Real Estate Fund will mobilize a projected $25 million in resources to acquire and develop properties that align with our values of community ownership, affordability, cultural preservation, and sustainability. We aim to launch fundraising efforts in July 2025.
The Collective Real Estate Fund is a commitment to our belief in building a city where residents, especially working-class BIPOC communities, can thrive without the threat of displacement. Our goal is to collectively own properties that serve the needs of our communities while preserving heritage and building economic power.
The Ujima Collective Real Estate Fund will mobilize a projected $25 million in resources to acquire and develop properties that align with our values of community ownership, affordability, cultural preservation, and sustainability. We aim to launch fundraising efforts in July 2025.
The People Have Spoken: Meet the Businesses We Need and Love! The Ujima Fund recently launched our first Businesses We Need investment plan, announcing over 330 businesses within our investment pipeline–exemplifying the fund’s role as a forever investment in community wealth and self-determination.
Explore our Businesses We Love and Businesses We Need investment plans here.
To stay up-to-date about the latest with our UGBA members and portfolio companies, subscribe to the UGBA Wire newsletter today.
Want to invest in local businesses? The Ujima Fund hosts an annual Investor & Business Relations Gathering. Email us to get on the list.
While the Ujima Fund is currently closed for investments, we have created an opportunity for accredited investors to meet BIPOC-owned businesses, in the Ujima Fund portfolio and Good Business Alliance, to move money to support local economies.
Procurement Initiative
In our March 2023 Investor Report, Boston Ujima Project, Inc. proudly announced the launch of the Ujima Hyperlocal Procurement Initiative, a program designed to strengthen the Ujima Good Business Alliance (UGBA) by directly supporting member businesses through strategic purchasing, consumer organizing, and targeted marketing efforts. Through this initiative, Ujima actively procures goods and services from UGBA businesses, reinforcing our commitment to circulating dollars within our communities, bridging the gap between investment and long-term business sustainability.
A few recent, notable examples of our Hyperlocal Procurement Initiative include: