Me’Lea Connelly is the founder of Blexit, a nonprofit that facilitates boycotts of extractive financial systems that have profited from exploiting Black communities. She also developed the Village Financial Cooperative, a Black-owned credit union that specializes in “regenerative finance,” which gives marginalized groups access to and control of capital. Connelly was inspired by her experiences living in Minnesota, which is the second-most racially unequal state in the United States. She aims to address the economic inequities that have resulted from oppression and help families accumulate generational wealth. The Village Financial Cooperative collaborates with other organizations including the Climate Justice Alliance for its justice-oriented financial services. It also aims to improve financial literacy in Black communities. Photo Credit: N/A
