At the Law Center, we’re supporting worker-owned and democratic enterprises that are transforming conventional notions of power, control, and success. This is why we are committed to serving clients like People’s Kitchen Collective, a cooperatively governed food justice enterprise based in Oakland, CA.
PKC co-founders Sita Kuratomi Bhaumik, Jocelyn Jackson, Saqib Keval
Co-founded by Saqib Keval, Sita Kuratomi Bhaumik, and Jocelyn Jackson, PKC’s founding inspiration was the Black Panther Party for Self Defense and their Free Breakfast Program. “We believe that food can fill the stomach, feed the mind, nourish the soul, and fuel a movement,” Sita explained. "From the beginning of our collective practice, the Law Center has been a sounding board, a reality check, and an indispensable resource."
Community members gathering together before a PKC meal.
From it's inception, PKC looked to the Law Center for legal resources, whether attending drop-in sessions at the Resilient Communities Legal Cafe or referencing the cooperative law resources available on www.co-oplaw.org. Last year, when finding themselves at the cusp of a major expansion, PKC hired the Law Center for direct legal assistance.
“In order for us as small, grassroots organizations and businesses to survive in the long term we need to have a stable foundation, and that is exactly what Sustainable Economies Law Center is helping us build,” Sita said. With the Law Center at their side, PKC navigated the critical questions of whether and how to grow their enterprise in a community-centered way, while maintaining their strong social justice principles.
The Law Center aims to serve communities who have been told a false narrative for too long about their role in building and benefitting from local economies.
