Small & Mighty Land Cooperative’s mission is to honor the legacy and culture of New Orleans’ Ninth Ward by promoting a vibrant, self-sustaining community and empowering our neighbors through education and collective land ownership.
Who we are
Small and Mighty was founded by a group of 9th Ward residents who came together in December 2023 during a series of public workshops focused on vacant land. These workshops covered topics such as blight reduction, the dangers of predatory land speculation, and programs available to help residents acquire land affordably. Through these conversations, it quickly became clear that there was a shared desire to work towards a collective solution: acquiring land together as a community.
Over the next several months, regular community meetings were held to solidify our mission and outline a long-term vision. During this time, a few members of Small and Mighty participated in the Propellor Impact Accelerator, a local program designed to support new ventures. This program helped us stay focused and move forward towards an initial goal: establishing the legal entities and documents required to own land collectively. We also worked together to renovate a community-member’s house and hosted a group of graduate student volunteers engaged in land-related work through the Diaspora Solidarities Lab in partnership with The Black School.
As we continue to grow, we are taking deliberate steps to formalize our organization. This includes developing a membership agreement and bylaws, incorporating as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and preparing to welcome members to our cooperative. Slowly but surely, Small and Mighty is building a foundation to create lasting, community-driven solutions for land ownership and revitalization.
Notes from our open meetings can be found here.
What we do
Promote cooperation in our neighborhood
Small & Mighty intends to provide opportunities for residents to build relationships founded on cooperative principles: community self-reliance and empowerment. Our work to promote cooperation will include:
- Open community events & educational workshops
- Membership meetings
- A neighborhood resource directory
Increase community stewardship of land
Small & Mighty intends to operate a cooperatively-governed community land trust, a non-profit entity designed to increase community control of land in the Ninth Ward through collective land acquisition and ownership. One lot at a time, collective land acquisition and ownership will:
- Reduce blight
- Counter land speculation and protect current residents
- Increase access to land
Utilize land to create social and economic opportunity
In the long term, Small & Mighty intends to facilitate land-lease agreements for the following types of development:
- Permanently affordable housing
- Community agriculture / green infrastructure
- Local businesses
- Spaces for community use (indoor and/or outdoor)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a community land trust?
Answer coming soon
What is a cooperative?
Answer coming soon
How will Small and Mighty acquire land?
Answer coming soon.
What will Small and Mighty do with the land it owns? (What is a land-lease agreement?)
Answer coming soon
What makes Small and Mighty different from existing initiatives in New Orleans?
Answer coming soon
Get Involved
As we work to incorporate and formalize our organizational structure and membership structure over the coming months, we will continue hosting gatherings to build community, share updates, and gather input. All are welcome!
Upcoming events
Membership meeting
Saturday, January 25th @ 12pm
Florida-Desire Multi-service Center (3250 Industry St)
To get updates from Small and Mighty, please fill out the form below: