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Crafting a New Economy in Appalachia

Witnessing the unstable economic situations of her students inspired Molly Hemstreet to launch Opportunity Threads, a worker owned sustainable cut-and-sew factory.

After graduating from Duke, Molly Hemstreet returned to her hometown of Morganton, NC to teach in the public school system. Witnessing the unstable economic situations of her students inspired Molly to launch Opportunity Threads, a worker owned sustainable cut-and-sew factory.

Following the success of Opportunity Threads, Molly co-founded The Industrial Commons, a nonprofit organization that supports local cooperatives with a focus on economic and environmental sustainability. Their primary mission is to rebuild a diverse working class based on locally rooted wealth.

Learn more about The Industrial Commons: https://theindustrialcommons.org/

Read the full DukeMag story, Weaving Community in Western North Carolina