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Nannie Helen Burroughs

Co-Founder

Cooperative Industries of Washington, DC

Nannie Helen Burroughs believed that cooperatives offered Black communities a viable alternative to the hardships of the Great Depression. Already well-known as founder and acclaimed leaders of the National Baptist Women’s Convention and the National Training School for Women and Girls in Washington, DC, Ms. Burroughs’ efforts in harnessing the cooperative business model and the multi-stakeholder structure enabled Cooperative Industries of Washington, DC to meet the needs of working mothers in her community.

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Movement Builder

Ms. Burroughs worked tirelessly to harness the co-op model for the empowerment of Black women in her community. She launched projects and institutions to support academic and economic empowerment. And she saw these through to fruition and significant growth. Cooperative Industries in DC eventually included a community medical clinic, broom factory, sewing unit, canning department, grocery store, furniture manufacturing unit, and a cooperative farm and produce market. Cooperative Industries ultimately served more than 6,000 residents of Northeast Washington, DC.

Honoring and Planning Committee

Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D.
Ludi Thenor . Margaret Lund

Nominated by:

Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D. and

Margaret Lund