Ch 4 - CST Orientation

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4. What is the Community Stewardship Trust (CST)?

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The Guild’s Community Stewardship Trust is a Public Benefit Corporation with you, the community, as its shareholders.

The Community Stewardship Trust is a vehicle for community-involved real estate development, community investment and ownership, community wealth building, and local control of land and property. The CST is one approach to collective land stewardship and building a solidarity economy.

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At its core, the Community Stewardship Trust (CST) is a way for you to own buildings and land - especially commercial buildings - in your neighborhood together with your neighbors.

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CST Goals

Local Control of Land and Neighborhoods

Preventing Displacement

Community Wealth Building

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Orientation to the Community Stewardship Trust

CST Goals

Preventing Displacement

Local Control of Land and Neighborhoods

Community Wealth Building

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CST Goals

Preventing Displacement

Local Control of Land and Neighborhoods

Community Wealth Building

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Chapter Four Check

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We will continue exploring how the CST works in future chapters. For more on "What is the CST?" see the CST FAQ

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Orientation to the Community Stewardship Trust

Index - Course Chapters

Technology Intro

6. Overview of the CST Investment Portal

1. Objectives

7. CST and Land Development

2. Why Now? The Present Context

3. Introducing Solidarity Economy

8. CST and Governance

4. What is the Community Stewardship Trust (CST)?

9. Challenges & Opportunities

10. Next Moves to Get Involved

5. Investing in the CST

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(Re)Start Chapter 4

Course Guide

CST FAQ

© 2025 by David Ferris and The Guild CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Local Control of Land and Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods should be governed and controlled by the people with the most vested interest in them: those who live there. Development and land use should be community-driven and equitable.

• The CST empowers community members to make decisions about properties based on shared values, such as affordability, accessibility, and long-term community benefit, and local needs, building collective power.

Local Control of Land and Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods should be governed and controlled by the people with the most vested interest in them: those who live there. Development and land use should be community-driven and equitable.

• The CST empowers community members to make decisions about properties based on shared values, such as affordability, accessibility, and long-term community benefit, and local needs, building collective power.

CST Focus: 30310, Atlanta, GA

Our first CST in zip code 30310 brings local residents together to own and steward properties such as grocery stores, affordable housing, and other spaces for small businesses and community-based organizations.

30310

Atlanta, GA

Preventing Displacement

Land should be permanently protected from market speculation, ensuring long-term housing accessibility and preventing displacement. In combination with the People's Community Land Trust, our model maintains affordable housing as a fundamental community right.

• The Community Stewardship Trust (CST) is a vehicle for community ownership that can help prevent displacement of residents and businesses.

Preventing Displacement

Land should be permanently protected from market speculation, ensuring long-term housing accessibility and preventing displacement. In combination with the People's Community Land Trust, our model maintains affordable housing as a fundamental community right.

• The Community Stewardship Trust (CST) is a vehicle for community ownership that can help prevent displacement of residents and businesses.

Community Wealth Building

A strategy to transform local economies by redirecting resources to equitable economic opportunities that build sustainable local prosperity, such as supporting democratic and collective ownership and local businesses. Rather than maximizing individual profits, we believe wealth should be shared and accumulated collectively.

• The SWATS Community Stewardship Trust (CST) turns real estate into shared community assets, nurturing local wealth.

Preventing Displacement

Land should be permanently protected from market speculation, ensuring long-term housing accessibility and preventing displacement. In combination with the People's Community Land Trust, our model maintains affordable housing as a fundamental community right.

• The Community Stewardship Trust (CST) is a vehicle for community ownership that can help prevent displacement of residents and businesses.

Community Wealth Building

A strategy to transform local economies by redirecting resources to equitable economic opportunities that build sustainable local prosperity, such as supporting democratic and collective ownership and local businesses. Rather than maximizing individual profits, we believe wealth should be shared and accumulated collectively.

• The SWATS Community Stewardship Trust (CST) turns real estate into shared community assets, nurturing local wealth.

Local Control of Land and Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods should be governed and controlled by the people with the most vested interest in them: those who live there. Development and land use should be community-driven and equitable.

• The CST empowers community members to make decisions about properties based on shared values, such as affordability, accessibility, and long-term community benefit, and local needs, building collective power.

Community Wealth Building

A strategy to transform local economies by redirecting resources to equitable economic opportunities that build sustainable local prosperity, such as supporting democratic and collective ownership and local businesses. Rather than maximizing individual profits, we believe wealth should be shared and accumulated collectively.

• The SWATS Community Stewardship Trust (CST) turns real estate into shared community assets, nurturing local wealth.