Nonkululeko “Nkuli” Shongwe

Nonkululeko “Nkuli” Shongwe is a strategist, movement builder, and cooperative enthusiast with a deep commitment to resourcing and strengthening community-led initiatives. Born in South Africa and rooted in St. Paul, Minnesota, Nkuli brings a global and deeply personal perspective to her work. Her experiences in philanthropy, grassroots organizing, and cooperative economics have shaped a practice grounded in equity, sustainability, and community power. She currently serves as the Community Wealth Building Director at Nexus Community Partners, where she leads the North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship. This space supports Black-led cooperatives and collectives through political education, legacy reclamation, and strategies centered on liberation. Nkuli also serves on the board of Taproot Investment Cooperative, is an interim board member of Collective Diaspora, and is a working board member supporting fundraising efforts for Khula Unqobe Creative Arts, a cultural youth organization in South Africa. Her work is deeply rooted in the values of mutual aid, democratic ownership, and collective liberation. When she’s not organizing or building with others, Nkuli finds joy in cooking, reading, and taking peaceful walks by the water.