Deborah Eid Co-Founder, 2014-2018
1. Describe your involvement with the coop.
I am a co-founder and co-president of the GRFCI which began with a neighborhood conversation between Linda Jones and myself 3 years ago and has evolved to its current status as a fully incorporated Michigan cooperative representing the interests of people throughout the City in healthy food access and community building. I have led many of our meetings, alternating with Linda, including the early study groups in Sociocracy, our method of making group decisions.
I was involved with the creation of our Vision, Mission and Aims, have attended two years of the national food coop trainings in Indiana and Milwaukee and the three day Anti-Racism training with members of the People’s Food Coop of Kalamazoo.
As the former executive director of the Creston Neighborhood Association we hosted the coop meetings and assisted with in- kind organizing and staff support for the formative first two years of the organization, 2015-16. In that capacity I did some grant research and writing and did outreach with our City of GR commissioners and city staff and GR area foundations.
I currently serve as a member of the Top Circle (steering committee), Finance and Diversity Action Circles and participated in the Volunteer Engagement Short Circle. I participate in outreach events as a volunteer.
2. Do you have any other relevant experience?
Yes! I am a former member of a housing cooperative in Chicago and currently am a member -owner of a cabin cooperative which is a member organization of the Circle Pines Cooperative in Delton, Michigan. I have been active there for 11 years, teach Spanish Camp there twice a year, and have children who have attended the camp and worked there. I grew up in and attended university in the Twin Cities and shopped the food coops there. I seek them out when traveling to support this economic model and learn about their unique local models. My careers have been primarily in advocacy and social justice related work and most recently worked for twenty years in community and union organizing. I am trained as a mediator for peaceful conflict resolution and in group and interpersonal dynamics.
3. What should the coop's role to be in the broader community?
Our GRFCI aims describe the vision we have for our leadership role in the Grand Rapids and Western Michigan and I fully support those and look forward to making them a reality. This can be accomplished by cooperatively building “a welcoming place that fosters community awesomeness and generates positive change.” The aims address all the areas we hope to impact;
a profitable community owned business that offers and advocates for healthy food for every budget, good employment, cultural diversity, food security, education and environmental sustainability.
4. Are there other statements relevant to your candidacy that member owners should know?
Engaging and training new leaders is a personal interest of mine and I am committed to the “true democracy” philosophy contained in our very effective sociocratic governance model. I have great group and oral and written communication skills and a network of community activists and leaders I have worked with over my 21 years in GR. We are anticipating a busy year with an uptick in our workload and I feel it’s equally important to bring in new leadership and have a core group with a good understanding in the history of our GRFCI, many of us with several years of training to move the project forward. I am running for a 2 year term at this time.
1. Describe your involvement with the coop.
I am a co-founder and co-president of the GRFCI which began with a neighborhood conversation between Linda Jones and myself 3 years ago and has evolved to its current status as a fully incorporated Michigan cooperative representing the interests of people throughout the City in healthy food access and community building. I have led many of our meetings, alternating with Linda, including the early study groups in Sociocracy, our method of making group decisions.
I was involved with the creation of our Vision, Mission and Aims, have attended two years of the national food coop trainings in Indiana and Milwaukee and the three day Anti-Racism training with members of the People’s Food Coop of Kalamazoo.
As the former executive director of the Creston Neighborhood Association we hosted the coop meetings and assisted with in- kind organizing and staff support for the formative first two years of the organization, 2015-16. In that capacity I did some grant research and writing and did outreach with our City of GR commissioners and city staff and GR area foundations.
I currently serve as a member of the Top Circle (steering committee), Finance and Diversity Action Circles and participated in the Volunteer Engagement Short Circle. I participate in outreach events as a volunteer.
2. Do you have any other relevant experience?
Yes! I am a former member of a housing cooperative in Chicago and currently am a member -owner of a cabin cooperative which is a member organization of the Circle Pines Cooperative in Delton, Michigan. I have been active there for 11 years, teach Spanish Camp there twice a year, and have children who have attended the camp and worked there. I grew up in and attended university in the Twin Cities and shopped the food coops there. I seek them out when traveling to support this economic model and learn about their unique local models. My careers have been primarily in advocacy and social justice related work and most recently worked for twenty years in community and union organizing. I am trained as a mediator for peaceful conflict resolution and in group and interpersonal dynamics.
3. What should the coop's role to be in the broader community?
Our GRFCI aims describe the vision we have for our leadership role in the Grand Rapids and Western Michigan and I fully support those and look forward to making them a reality. This can be accomplished by cooperatively building “a welcoming place that fosters community awesomeness and generates positive change.” The aims address all the areas we hope to impact;
a profitable community owned business that offers and advocates for healthy food for every budget, good employment, cultural diversity, food security, education and environmental sustainability.
4. Are there other statements relevant to your candidacy that member owners should know?
Engaging and training new leaders is a personal interest of mine and I am committed to the “true democracy” philosophy contained in our very effective sociocratic governance model. I have great group and oral and written communication skills and a network of community activists and leaders I have worked with over my 21 years in GR. We are anticipating a busy year with an uptick in our workload and I feel it’s equally important to bring in new leadership and have a core group with a good understanding in the history of our GRFCI, many of us with several years of training to move the project forward. I am running for a 2 year term at this time.
Michael Ludwig, Marketing 2018
1. Describe your involvement with the coop.
I have been involved with the co-op for one year. I have sat in finance and outreach circles.
2. Do you have any other relevant experience?
I have managed multiple grocery stores. I have experience in small independent, mid-size and large corporate grocery environments. I understand the industry and the unique challenges of being both ethical (to the world, farmers and employees) and accessible to lower-income (or price conscious) shoppers.
3. What should the coop's role to be in the broader community?
The co-op's role in the broader community should be to provide food that is good for our bodies, our farmers and our planet before focussing on low-cost food. We should be a welcoming place of business for customers of all backgrounds, but when necessary, prioritize food justice as our highest value. We should be heavily focussed on being a good employer by providing livable wages as well as excellent training and reasonable benefits. In order to do this, we have to admit to ourselves that we will not be the least expensive grocery store in town (even if we pay minimum wage we will not be the lowest price grocer). We can be the best grocer in town by focusing on quality food and customer service.
4. Are there other statements relevant to your candidacy that member owners should know?
My background within grocery has been somewhat focussed on the "dry" side of the business - that is, non-perishable items, dairy and (primarily) beer and wine. With the exception of managing a store, I don't have much experience in the meat, produce or the prepared foods (deli/bakery) side of the business.
1. Describe your involvement with the coop.
I have been involved with the co-op for one year. I have sat in finance and outreach circles.
2. Do you have any other relevant experience?
I have managed multiple grocery stores. I have experience in small independent, mid-size and large corporate grocery environments. I understand the industry and the unique challenges of being both ethical (to the world, farmers and employees) and accessible to lower-income (or price conscious) shoppers.
3. What should the coop's role to be in the broader community?
The co-op's role in the broader community should be to provide food that is good for our bodies, our farmers and our planet before focussing on low-cost food. We should be a welcoming place of business for customers of all backgrounds, but when necessary, prioritize food justice as our highest value. We should be heavily focussed on being a good employer by providing livable wages as well as excellent training and reasonable benefits. In order to do this, we have to admit to ourselves that we will not be the least expensive grocery store in town (even if we pay minimum wage we will not be the lowest price grocer). We can be the best grocer in town by focusing on quality food and customer service.
4. Are there other statements relevant to your candidacy that member owners should know?
My background within grocery has been somewhat focussed on the "dry" side of the business - that is, non-perishable items, dairy and (primarily) beer and wine. With the exception of managing a store, I don't have much experience in the meat, produce or the prepared foods (deli/bakery) side of the business.
Carrie Liebrock, Volunteer Coordination, 2018
1. Describe your involvement with the coop.
My current involvement with the co-op is as a member. My desire is to become much more than that and to really be a part of something magical for our community.
2. Do you have any other relevant experience?
Relevant experience that I have is not working with a co-op specifically, but I was nominated this year to be on another board - the West Michigan JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). We do a lot of outreach, education, and fundraising. One of the things I've been very involved in thus far is to help plan a JDRF Summit for children and their families in the UP. I'm proud that I have been an integral part of planning this event. Just like healthcare access, I feel passionately about people also having access to nutritious and affordable food. Food IS medicine!
3. What should the coop's role to be in the broader community?
On a broader level, I think the co-ops involvement in the community should be to really raise awareness about sustainability, access to affordable, locally grown food and about how this can bring our community together. Personally being on the board for the JDRF, attending lunches at the Hispanic Center, going to galas for the Red Shoe Foundation, the JDRF galas, Paws Claws and Corks, etc I see how charitable our community is. I have no doubt that if we get the word out we will have the support we need.
4. Are there other statements relevant to your candidacy that member owners should know?
I have been a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator for nearly 20 years. Promoting health and nutrition and helping people is my absolute passion. I am a bit of a liberal minded hippie that believes in helping those in need and being a voice for those who don't have one. I am also in sales, so I'm very outgoing and unafraid to talk to anyone who will listen to me 😁 I'm accustomed to working as a vendor at events and also accustomed at trying to woo people. The reason I'm as successful as I am in my current job is because I believe in my product 150%. That is how I feel about the co-op and would love to be directly involved in something that helps all members of my community.
1. Describe your involvement with the coop.
My current involvement with the co-op is as a member. My desire is to become much more than that and to really be a part of something magical for our community.
2. Do you have any other relevant experience?
Relevant experience that I have is not working with a co-op specifically, but I was nominated this year to be on another board - the West Michigan JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). We do a lot of outreach, education, and fundraising. One of the things I've been very involved in thus far is to help plan a JDRF Summit for children and their families in the UP. I'm proud that I have been an integral part of planning this event. Just like healthcare access, I feel passionately about people also having access to nutritious and affordable food. Food IS medicine!
3. What should the coop's role to be in the broader community?
On a broader level, I think the co-ops involvement in the community should be to really raise awareness about sustainability, access to affordable, locally grown food and about how this can bring our community together. Personally being on the board for the JDRF, attending lunches at the Hispanic Center, going to galas for the Red Shoe Foundation, the JDRF galas, Paws Claws and Corks, etc I see how charitable our community is. I have no doubt that if we get the word out we will have the support we need.
4. Are there other statements relevant to your candidacy that member owners should know?
I have been a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator for nearly 20 years. Promoting health and nutrition and helping people is my absolute passion. I am a bit of a liberal minded hippie that believes in helping those in need and being a voice for those who don't have one. I am also in sales, so I'm very outgoing and unafraid to talk to anyone who will listen to me 😁 I'm accustomed to working as a vendor at events and also accustomed at trying to woo people. The reason I'm as successful as I am in my current job is because I believe in my product 150%. That is how I feel about the co-op and would love to be directly involved in something that helps all members of my community.
Ayanfe Free, Facilitator, 2019
1. Describe your involvement with the coop.
I met Linda at a local sociocracy event and joined with her on working to expand collaborative practice s and governance work. I was invited to help in some group facilitation and also to join as a member-owner.
2. Do you have any other relevant experience?
I have had many varying experiences with collective work and responsibility and cooperative lifestyle and economics across my lifetime. My father was the first person who taught me about alternative currency and exchange or barter. He was a veterinarian. Living in different cities as an adult I have patronized, supported, and worked at food co-ops:Nashville TN - sunshine grocery, country life Knoxville TN - Knoxville community food co-op, three rivers market Summertown TN - the farm store Atlanta GA - sevananda Jackson MS - rainbow natural grocery cooperative Asheville NC - west village market, french broad food co-op, firestorm cafe, Ujamaa Freedom Market (co-founder)
3. What should the coop's role be in the broader community?-model of community unity-model of collective work & responsibility-model of cooperative economics-model of shared ownership & shared power-facilitator of accessible community ed & lifelong learning-facilitator of food justice work-facilitator of anti-racism & anti-oppression work
Eddie B Jenkins, Co-President 2019
