La Esperanza is a cooperative that was formed in 2019 as a strategy to resist displacement in the face of gentrification in the Emma Community of Buncombe County, North Carolina. The cooperative purchases and manages properties for the well-being of the community, to ensure that residents can remain and thrive.

Currently, La Esperanza has three properties:

• James Vester Miller Park

• Emma Station

• El Porvenir Economic and Cultural Center

Tenants of our cooperative include La Casa de Apoyo Mutuo (with its programs Mercadito y Consulta Tu Compa), La Casa de Cultura (cwith its programs Raíces Emma-Erwin, Mä hñäkihu, y El Telar) Colaborativa La Milpa, PODER Emma, Cenzontle Language Justice Cooperative, Power in Numbers Bookkeeping, Chispas and El Ejido!

The cooperative's three properties are permanently protected as community resources and are available for community use at an affordable price. Check out the Event Spaces for Rent tab for more information!