Jamila is a passionate advocate and educator for the advancement and growth of the cooperative economy. In her work with existing and start-up co-ops, she provides support for leadership development, cooperative economics education, navigating group dynamics, and creating adaptive systems to support group process and learning. Jamila was introduced to the co-op business model in 2012 when she became a member of the staff collective at Mariposa Food Co-op. Prior to that, Jamila worked at the American Association for Cancer Research where she supported professional development and diversity and inclusion efforts for people of color and women with careers in the cancer research field. She’s spent over twenty years serving mission-based organizations in the nonprofit and cooperative sectors. Jamila holds a M.S. degree in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania and earned her B.A. degree in Urban Studies from Connecticut College. She’s a native of Brooklyn, NY and lives in Philadelphia’s Mount Airy neighborhood. Jamila is a creative homemaker who finds solace and joy in making her home a sanctuary for herself, partner, daughters, and grandchildren. She was the Philadelphia Community Fellow for the 2018 Shared Economics in Equitable Development Fellowship, serves on the board of directors for Media Mobilizing Project, and also works as an consultant with Columinate (a shared services cooperative for independent consultants).