Access, Inclusion & Participation: Building More Welcoming Co-ops
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This presentation at NFCA's Sixth Annual meeting explores opportunities and strategies across the food co-op structure — from membership, to the Board, and to operations — for building more welcoming stores, expanding diversity, inclusion and overall access to membership and participation. This includes how we can learn from each other’s approaches to engage and empower more people in our communities, expand membership and participation, and increase our impact and success. • Erbin Crowell, Executive Director, NFCA • Alexis Alexander, GreenStar Co-op Market • Terry Bowling, Eastern Corridor Development Manager, National Co+op Grocers • Patrice Lockert Anthony, Board President, GreenStar Co-op Market
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Access, Inclusion & Participation: Building More Welcoming Co-ops
- 1. “Diverse, Inclusive & Resilient” 18th March 2017 Greenfield Community College Greenfield, MA AFTERNOON SESSIONS NFCA Sixth Annual Meeting 2017 NEIGHBORING FOOD CO-OP ASSOCIATION Sixth Annual Meeting Everyone is Welcome! Co-ops Celebrate Diversity: Everyone is welcome here. Co-opsAreInclusive:Wearebetterwhenweworktogether. Co-opsBuildCommunity:Joinyourlocalfoodco-optoday! Want to know more? Please visit us at www.nfca.coop.
- 2. Building More Welcoming Co-ops NFCA Sixth Annual Meeting 2017 ACCESS, INCLUSION & PARTICIPATION
- 3. NFCA Sixth Annual Meeting 2017 THANK YOU LEAD SPONSORS!
- 4. ¡ Alexis Alexander, GreenStar Co-op Market ¡ Patrice Lockert Anthony, Board President, GreenStar Co-op Market ¡ Terry Bowling, Eastern Corridor Development Manager, National Co+op Grocers ¡ Erbin Crowell, Executive Director, NFCA, Facilitator NFCA Sixth Annual Meeting 2017 OUR PANEL
- 5. This panel will explore opportunities and strategies across the food co-op structure — from membership, to the Board, and to operations — for building more welcoming grocery stores, expanding diversity, inclusion and overall access to membership and participation. Discussion will include how we can learn from each other’s approaches to engage and empower more people in our communities, expand membership and participation, and increase our impact and success. NFCA Sixth Annual Meeting 2017 BUILDING MORE WELCOMING CO-OPS
- 6. NFCA Sixth Annual Meeting 2017 OPPORTUNITY We all bring something to the table, and we lose something when we do not bring other people to the table. You have to be intentional about diversity, and once you have made the decision to look outside of your co-op and address the situation in your community, you cannot give up. Shirley Sherrod, CCMA 2016
- 7. Who may not be at the table? ¡Race ¡Class ¡Ethnicity ¡Gender ¡Age ¡Sexual Orientation ¡Different Abilities What are some of the obstacles? ¡Perceptions & Realities ¡Price ¡Products & Services ¡Promotion ¡Language & Culture ¡Policies & Practice NFCA Sixth Annual Meeting 2017 CHALLENGES
- 8. Challenges ¡Food Co-ops not seen as relevant to Food Security ¡Perceptions of Food Co-ops as exclusive ¡Some practices may reinforce perceptions ¡Demands on focus & resources ¡Some cannot see themselves at the table. Opportunities ¡Member Ownership ¡Food Co-op legacy ¡Values & Principles ¡Economic Democracy ¡Peer models & networking ¡Partnership with community organizations NFCA Sixth Annual Meeting 2017 HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS
- 9. ¡ Learning from food co-op innovations ¡ Partner organization feedback & ideas ¡ Program templates ¡ Peer learning & collaboration ¡ Results § 8 New Food For All Programs § 2,714 FFA Participants (2016) § Community partnerships § Shifting perceptions § More of the community is at the table NFCA Sixth Annual Meeting 2017 NFCA PEER NETWORKING FOR SHARED SUCCESS
- 10. GreenStar’s Evolution Building a More Welcoming Co-op Affordability Inclusion Across: §Income Strata Diversity Inclusion Across: §Age §Race §Ethnic Culture §Gender Identity §Income Strata §Etc Community Partnerships
- 11. Critical Step: Increasing Staff Diversity Community Partner Input Diversity & Inclusion Statement Revised HR Materials Modified Hiring Practices Expanded Staff Trainings Shared Job Postings
- 14. Impact of Community Partner Feedback Significant Diversification of Staff Staff identifying as Non-White: 3.6% YE 2009 14.8% YE 2016 Significant Diversification of Membership Positive Sales Growth $13.4MM FY2009 $21.2MM FY2016
- 15. The Goal: A Program that Breaks Barriers & Makes a Real Difference § 15% Discount [13% FLOWER + 2% Member] § Non-Members: 1st Year Equity Installment Donated A Flower Participant says: “Organic food should be affordable for everyone and the FLOWER program makes that ideal real for many working families”
- 16. FLOWER’s Impact on Food Access Greater Co-op Participation by those Facing Financial Hardship 43% FLOWER participants joined GreenStar thru FLOWER 61% New Member-Owner Retention 31% no longer in FLOWER, but still a Member 30% still in FLOWER
- 17. FLOWER’s Impact on Food Access Increased Loyalty Among Pre-existing Member-Owners Total Net Sales After Discount* 1st Year on FLOWER vs Year Before FLOWER é $50,688 A Flower Participant says: “FLOWER has made it possible for my family to buy all its food at GreenStar” *Analysis: 10/2010 – 6/2014 242 participants
- 18. FLOWER’s Impact on Food Access The Program has Grown Significantly Beyond EBT Year EBT Sales Estimated FLOWER Sales % FLOWER vs. EBT 2011 $457,489 $487,371 6.5% 2015 $434,358 $794,319 82.9%
- 19. FLOWER’s Path to Greater Inclusivity Original Qualifiers – 2010 § EBT § WIC § Medicaid § Free School Lunch § TANF (Public Assistance) 2013 Healthy Food for All 2016 Pell Grant SSI 2017 Ithaca Welcomes Refugees Ultimate Reentry Opportunity* Conscious Expansion of Qualifiers: Local & Federal * Currently exploring
- 20. FLOWER & Essential Community Connections GreenStar Member- Owners Community Partners Human Service Agencies GreenStar Staff Outreach Local Schools & PTA Spreading the Word
- 21. Patrice Lockert Anthony ¡ Board President, GreenStar Co-op Market NFCA Sixth Annual Meeting 2017 THE BOARD’S ROLE & WORK: DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
- 22. NFCA ACCESS, INCLUSION & PARTICIPATION TERRY BOWLING, NCG
- 23. CO-OPS SERVING MORE PEOPLE ? •What does this mean? •Members representation from all community stakeholders? •Offering products that reflect the communities we operate while staying dedicated to our organic/natural roots. •We can do both.
- 24. WHO DOES IT WELL Food for All Franklin Community Coop
- 25. DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS
- 26. WHAT DOES MY CO-OP WANT TO BE
- 27. MORE WELCOMING STORES • Examining your product mix • Know your competitors • Know your Community • What is this the right direction for my Co-op • Good, Better Best- Is this the right direction for my Co-op • Research, examine, Seek Input, CHANGE • “I have accepted fear as part of life – specifically the fear of change... I have gone ahead despite the pounding in the heart that says: turn back....” ― Erica Jong
- 28. Thank You!
- 29. NFCA Sixth Annual Meeting 2017 QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION
- 30. NFCA 6TH ANNUAL MEETING SPONSORS NFCA Sixth Annual Meeting 2017