Okun online forum: Economic Justice
We know that the UK economy does not work for Black and racially minoritised communities.
Our communities face a shocking wealth divide – for every £1 of white British wealth, Pakistani households have 50p, Black Caribbean 20p, and Black African and Bangladeshi households have 10p. Without community wealth, we cannot invest in resources, assets or enterprises that meet our communities’ needs.
In work, we face vastly disproportionate rates of exploitation and insecurity. Almost 20% of Black and racially minoritised people are in low paid or insecure work, up 132% since 2011. How are we meant to thrive and lead healthy, fulfilling, joyful lives while the job market forces us into poverty?
In Okun’s first online forum, we will think about how to achieve economic justice through a Community Wealth Building (CWB) model.
Under the theme of Economic Justice, this meeting will look at how these areas of the economy can be re-orientated on CWB models.
Procurement - local enterprise; prioritising cooperatives; positive discrimination in the labour market
Social investment – addressing systemic racism in investment; transparency in tender processes; wealth redistribution through social investment; funding streams
Cooperatives – worker-owned enterprises
Racism in the labour market – precarious, low-paid work; gig economy; outsourced public contracts; relationship to sytemic racism
Agenda:
Presentation (15 mins): What is wrong with our current economic system? What pillars of the economy can we address through Community Wealth Building?
Discussion (40 mins): What policies can we put in place to make it work for everyone?
Conclusion (5 mins): Wrap up and next steps
This meeting will introduce the topic. In parallel, we will open a shared Miro online board. This tool will give our members time and space to collectively workshop, edit and co-produce robust policy recommendations.
We are looking to build a truly democratic policy forum. Please do invite members of your wider networks to join these online meetings and the Miro workboard.
Going forward, Okun will host an online meeting and a online Miro board to address each of the other policy areas:
May 14th: Housing, land, and place - housing affordability, community land trusts, land ownership reform, tackling gentrification
July 16th: Health equity and wellbeing - community-led health models, preventative health, social wellbeing
August 13th: Democratic participation and community power - civic participation, democratic reform, devolution
September 17th: Education, skills, and employment - community-led education programmes, access to training and skills, non-exploitative employment
You are encouraged to join the meeting and Miro board for the policy areas you have particular experience, knowledge or interest in, but you are not expected to join every meeting.