The Morehouse College Department of International Comparative Labor Studies (ICLS) is hosting the Inaugural Vision and Victory Conference: Expanding Black Employee Ownership, taking place November 12–14, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.
This groundbreaking national gathering will explore Black Employee Ownership (BEO) as a transformative strategy to close the racial wealth gap and expand economic opportunity within Black communities. Scholars, policymakers, business leaders, and advocates will come together to share insights, build partnerships, and advance strategies for economic justice and collective prosperity.
The conference will also mark the debut of new ICLS research on employee ownership and the launch of the Morehouse Mapping Project on Black Employee Ownership — a first-of-its-kind national guide highlighting BEO enterprises and cooperatives across the United States.
The Vision and Victory Conference will feature an inspiring lineup of thought leaders in the field of cooperative economics and community development, including:
Dr. Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Professor of Community Justice and Social Economic Development, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Esteban Kelly, Executive Director, U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives
Dr. Stacey Sutton, Associate Professor of Urban Planning and Policy, University of Illinois Chicago
Their insights will help frame the future of Black Employee Ownership and inspire dialogue on how collective ownership models can redefine economic empowerment.
Join us as we chart a bold new vision for shared prosperity and build a future rooted in vision, victory, and Black ownership. Secure your spot today.