Supporting the Movement
The Canadian Network of Community Land Trusts is strongly committed to supporting the growth and development of CLTs in Black communities through the following tangible actions:
- Provision of Black-specific resources to support community engagement and organizational development for B3 CLTs
- Stewardship of a Black community of practice to promote the collaboration and mobilization of Black communities in Canada
- Use of CNCLT’s platform to foster a national dialogue on the impact of urban renewal and displacement in Black communities throughout Canada
It Started in the South
Rooted in the civil rights movement, the community land trust model was invented by a diverse coalition of Black farmers, professionals, and agitators in southwest Georgia, USA.
The first CLT, New Communities Incorporated, was established in 1969 in Albany, Georgia as a radical response to anti-Black discrimination and the ongoing displacement of Black farmers by white landowners. The goal of New Communities was to offer secure, affordable access to land and housing for Black households.
NCI went on to acquire close to 6,000 acres of land, said to be the largest parcel of land owned by Black Americans at the time. The story is a complicated one, told in detail by the International Centre for Community Land Trusts.
The vision of New Communities went on to inspire many communities throughout the world, in particular Black communities. There are now hundreds of community land trusts across the world, concentrated in North America.
In Canada
In Canada, there is a growing cluster of African Nova Scotian community land trusts, alongside Black-led community land trusts in Vancouver (Hogan’s Alley Society) and Ontario (Little Jamaica Community Land Trust). Moreover, there are many incredible Black leaders working within community land trusts at all levels. We gather all these folks for regular knowledge sharing calls (see below).
Black CLT Practitioner Discussion Group
Beginning in 2024, CNCLT has hosted a discussion for Black CLT practitioners and community organizers from across the country to connect about mutual successes, shared challenges, and possible solutions specific to Black community-led housing and land access. This group is rooted in the collective action that lies at the heart of the CLT movement. To join our next meeting, please visit this link to see the calendar.
The Liberated Land Trust Tour
Following requests from our Black membership, in May 2024 CNCLT organized and led a 10 day study tour, dubbed the Liberated Land Trust Tour. The delegation of B3 CLT practitioners spent time meeting with CLTs, aligned organizations, and allies across the US in order to identify replicable practices, gain new perspectives, and forge international relationships to support the successful development of B3 CLTs across Canada. The tour was meant to respond to the specific challenges faced by B3 CLTs nationwide.
Check out our tour report to learn more about our US hosts, lessons learned, and our calls to actions.
