High school students visit CoLab

A group of high school students recently visited CoLab at MIT with our partners at The Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative (BCDI). The next generation of change makers had the chance to tour some of MIT’s facilities and labs and meet with faculty, students, and staff.

The students were a part of BCDI’s Bronx Innovation Factory, a center for advanced manufacturing led by women and people of color. The BXIF leverages the borough’s existing entrepreneurial talent and manufacturing base to create new production and innovation capacity that will be owned by and geared toward Bronx residents.

In 2011, with CoLab's support, grassroots organizations began convening under the banner of the Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative (BCDI) to answer the question: If community members collectively owned and governed key assets in the Bronx, could we create an economy that invests in human dignity, fosters community well-being, and supports a larger movement for self-determination?

The Bronx is home to some of the country’s most sophisticated community-based organizations. These organizations have fought disinvestment and secured critical policy wins for communities for over 40 years.

There is great value in working with young people of color and engage the next generation of planners, innovators and manufacturers. These young people have the vision and skills to implement meaningful change in our communities, and with our help, will go on to do amazing work in driving economic democracy. At CoLab, we simply provide them access and on-ramps to the technical expertise so that they can go on to pursue their passions and help create a more equitable world in the process.