This week Vernon interviews Ron Hantz, Executive Director of the Network for Developing Conscious Communities (NDCC). Ron and Vernon will discuss the upcoming 3rd Annual National Conference on Black Cooperative Agenda “Economic Wealth: Power of Black Cooperative Enterprises,” which will be held June 13 -15, 2024, at 214 4th Street E, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55101.
Ron has been instrumental in advocating for a new community development paradigm based on “conscious community development.” He is a former Adjunct Professor, in the Africana Studies Department, at the University Maryland Baltimore County, and founded the Network for Developing Conscious Communities in 2014. He now leads the organization’s efforts on advocacy and building a sustainable ecosystem for Black governed community development organizations. Under his leadership, NDCC has emerged as a grass roots voice on promoting the use of principle-based practices to regenerate under-resourced Black communities.
Ron’s consulting practice includes assisting community development corporations, community associations and faith-based organizations with neighborhood planning, organizational development and applying for Internal Revenue Tax Exempt status. Ron believes that in order to develop sustainable communities, there must be a conscious effort to raise the consciousness and connectivity of local stakeholders. He sees his life purpose as elevating the Black consciousness in community development.
