As we celebrate Independence Day this July, it’s an opportune time to reflect on what true independence looks like for our communities. Across North Carolina, rural and urban communities alike are seeking ways to take ownership of their futures—economically, socially, and environmentally. At Carolina Common Enterprise (CCE), we believe that cooperatives offer a pathway to this kind of grassroots independence. Cooperatives are more than just business structures—they are vehicles for community-led solutions, democratic control, and sustainable economic power.

In collaboration with the Ella Baker Educational Project of North Carolina, CCE is proud to be at the forefront of a growing cooperative renaissance in the South. Our organizations are working together to build awareness, provide education, and support the development of co-ops across sectors—from food and housing to worker ownership and producer collectives. We believe the Carolinas are ripe for this transformation, and we are committed to being the catalyst that helps ignite it.