The Co-op’s Board of Directors are kicking off their new book club with a visit from Jon Steinman, famous author and co-op scholar. Join the Board, members of the Collective Management, Member-Owners, and the wider co-op community to discuss the power and future of co-ops.
This event is an excellent opportunity to engage with leaders of the People’s community. In the words of Steinman, “let’s use our collective intelligence to imagine whats possible.” We sincerely hope to see you there!
Time: Saturday, August 13th 10a - 1:15p*
Location: Picnic Shelter at Powell Park
This event is free and open to the general public. All are welcome. Please RSVP at the bottom of the page to attend.
The first 30 RSVPs will receive a FREE copy of Grocery Story (must pick up at the event).
We will serve tea, coffee, and breakfast treats from the Co-op and local vegan/gluten free bakeries.
There are restrooms and some seating onsite, though we do recommend bringing a picnic blanket and/or beach chairs as well as sunscreen.
Agenda
10a - 11:15a Introductions, Presentation
11:15a - 12p Q&A
12p - 12:15p Break
12:15p - 1:15p Dialogue for People’s Food Co-op Board, Member-Owners, and Staff*
Discussion Details
Change is inevitable. Today, the demands to change, to adapt, to evolve, and to imagine possibility are high, as are the demands to preserve and strengthen what we value the most in our cooperative. Author and food co-op educator Jon Steinman has been a close observer of how this change is unfolding among food co-ops nationwide. Jon has been involved with food co-ops since 2006 and has visited over 150 food co-ops across the US and Canada. In this talk and dialogue, Jon takes participants on a whirlwind visual slideshow tour of food co-ops across North America and uses these slides to tell a story that can inspire and reignite food co-ops and to open up to possibility. Where have we come from? Where are we today? And where might we be going? At this time when the ground underneath is shifting, let's come together to remind ourselves of what grounds our food co-op in our community and let's use our collective intelligence to imagine what's possible.
About the Author
JON STEINMAN is the author of Grocery Story: The Promise of Food Co-ops in the Age of Grocery Giants (New Society Publishers). Following the book’s release in 2019, Jon completed a 130-stop tour across the US and Canada and was hosted by established food co-ops and 23 in their development stages. In 2021, Jon published THIS COULD BE OURS – a PHOTO ALBUM to inspire your food co-op dream. He regularly speaks at food co-op annual meetings and offers educational sessions to co-op boards and staff. Jon was a board director at the Kootenay Co-op (2006-2016) – the largest food co-op in Canada specializing in natural foods - serving as Board President in his final two years.
