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AGENDA

TRACKS

You Are Here

Format:  Panel/Lecture

The three sessions that make up this track are about the very root and core of what it is to be a food cooperative. We will cover why even choose the cooperative business model over other options to open our community grocery stores, the FCI startup food co-op framework that underpins every startup food co-op’s organizing, and the central role of your co-op’s vision in every piece of the work of building a thriving food cooperative.

Grocery Business Development

Format:  Training/Lecture

Your co-op’s goal is to build a financially sustainable retail grocery store that will be around to serve and empower your community for decades – and that takes a whole lot of know-how! This entire track is devoted to the financial feasibility work, site selection and negotiation process, store design, and building of your co-op’s retail grocery store. Put on your hard hats, and join us to learn about the intensive work of building the store your co-op owners dream of, as well as the numerous pitfalls to watch out for that can take your project off track.

Co-op Organizing

Format:  Training/Lecture

Before we can open a co-op grocery store, we have to build a co-op. Wait, isn’t the store the co-op? Nope! The co-op is its member/owners and values they have chosen to organize around, which can be served in many ways before the co-op’s grocery store is even open! The work of co-op organizing includes making the community aware of the co-op,co-op education, growing our ownership base, connecting the co-op to important people and orgs in our communities, empowering owners to be a part of building up the co-op, and delivering the co-op’s vision in creative ways pre-store opening.

Governance

Format:  Training/Lecture

Governance encompasses defining how we share power in our co-ops and creating accountability for the co-op’s well-being – and the primary responsibility for this belongs to the democratically-elected board of directors. When you’re on the board of a startup food co-op, pre-GM, it also means being a working board who is directly leading so many processes! This track dives into the core responsibilities of a startup co-op board as well as knowledge you’ll need to fulfill unique startup board responsibilities like tracking data, hiring your first GM, and manifesting the vision of your co-op’s owners in sustainable and powerful ways.

Funding Our Co-ops

Format:  Case Study/Lecture

How startup food co-ops funded the building and successful opening of their grocery store used to be pretty much the same for all startup food co-ops:  each pro forma financial plan looked pretty darn similar, with similar sources of capital. That all started to change about five years ago when new fiscal challenges to opening co-ops started being met by startup organizers in a burst of creative ways! This track will cover how funding sources have changed, creative funding sources found by other startups, classic funding sources that are still vital like owner capital campaigns and cooperative lenders, as well as the growing importance at building relationships to get funded.



Our Movement

Format:  Interactive/Hands-on

The startup food co-op movement is the innovative, forward-reaching frontier of the larger food co-op movement. In this track, we’ll continue our tradition of building new solutions and visioning a stronger, more just future for our movement. We’ll take a hard look at some of the pieces of our movement that are working against the anti-oppressive future we’re organizing for, hear presentations on new solutions for challenges startups have faced for years, and get a view into powerful movements within the startup food co-op movement and their work.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2024

Our 2024 Black-led Day theme is Echoes of Resilience: Black Co-op Legacies and Afro-Futurist Horizons. In this offering, Black cooperators will reflect on the rich and deep history of why we co-op, as well as dream forward on the Black cooperative movement. What do we have to do in this moment and in our lifetimes to ensure cooperatives continue sustaining our people 200 years from now? Prepare to be in space with our optional pre-reading recommendations:

Collective courage Jessica Gordon Nembhard
Until I’m free Fannie Lou Hamer
Black Fatigue: How racism erodes the mind, body and spirit Mary-Frances Winters

BLACK-LED SESSION 1

BLACK-LED SESSION 2

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Breakfast

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Welcome & Grounding

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Interactive Socratic Circle – Tribin’ Up: Centering Our Solidarity

    Speakers – Jamila Medley, Angela Sayles, & amaha sellassie


  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Glens 2-3

    Power Building: Civic Engagement Strategies for Membership Growth & Sustainability

    Speaker – Jamila Medley and Erin Dale McClellan


  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Lunch

  • –

    Location – Glens 2-3

    Lessons and Insights from Opening

    Speakers – amaha sellassie, Sis Lanay Gilbert-Williams


  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Closeout

  • –

  • –


    Black-Led Track Gathering

    Dabney & Co, 344 N. Rose, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

  • –

    Location – Bell’s Brewery, 355 E Kalamazoo Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

    U&C Conference Welcome Reception – hosted by PFC

    Sponsored by: PFC, Oryana, Grain Train, Marquette Food Co-op, Maple City Market, Ypsilanti Food Co-op, Detroit People’s Food Co-op

CONFERENCE TOURS

  • –



    Conference Tour 1

    People’s Food Co-op

  • –



    Conference Tour 2

    People’s Food Co-op

  • –



    Conference Tour 3

    People’s Food Co-op

  • –

    Location – Bell’s Brewery, 355 E Kalamazoo Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

    U&C Conference Welcome Reception – hosted by PFC

    Sponsored by: PFC, Oryana, Grain Train, Marquette Food Co-op, Maple City Market, Ypsilanti Food Co-op, Detroit People’s Food Co-op

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2024

YOU ARE HERE

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Breakfast

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Welcome

  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Prairies 4


    The Power and Potential of Food Cooperatives: What It Means to Be a Co-op

    Speaker – Allanah Hines


  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Prairies 4


    The Framework: An Introduction to the Startup Process

    Speaker – JQ Hannah


  • –



    Lunch

  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Prairies 4


    Startup Framework Input Session

    Speakers – JQ Hannah and Angela Sayles


  • –



    Break/Transition

  • –

    Affinity Rooms (optional)

    Locations –
    Glens 1 – LGBTQ+
    Glens 2-3 – Black or African American and Afro-Latino/a/x
    Prairies 5-6 – Indigenous
    Prairie 4 – Latino/a/x
    Oaks – Asian American or Pacific Islander
    Stone Theater – Quiet Room

  • –

  • –

    Location – Prairies 4

    Swag Exchange

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2 and pre-function space

    Conference Reception

GROCERY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Breakfast

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Welcome

  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Glens 1


    Understanding—and Using!—Your Pro Forma

    Speaker – Sarah Lebherz


  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Glens 1


    Finding Your Co-op’s Future Home: Keys to Choosing and Securing a Site

    Speaker – John Guerra


  • –



    Lunch

  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Glens 1


    The Store Opening Leadership Gap

    Speaker – Heather Lazickas and Sam McCormick


  • –



    Break/Transition

  • –

    Location – Glens 1


    Site Planning: The Foundation of Store Design – Fertile Ground Case Study

    Speakers – seven roots and Jenn Truman


  • –

    Affinity Rooms (optional)

    Locations –
    Glens 1 – LGBTQ+
    Glens 2-3 – Black or African American and Afro-Latino/a/x
    Prairies 5-6 – Indigenous
    Prairie 4 – Latino/a/x
    Oaks – Asian American or Pacific Islander
    Stone Theater – Quiet Room

  • –

  • –

    Location – Prairies 4

    Swag Exchange

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2 and pre-function space

    Conference Reception

CO-OP ORGANIZING

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Breakfast

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Welcome

  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Glens 2-3


    Empowering Communities: Harnessing Cooperative Models for Movement Building

    Speaker – Tamah Yisrael


  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Glens 2-3


    4 Pillars of Effective Startup Outreach

    Speaker – Bonnie Hudspeth


  • –



    Lunch

  • –

    Transition

  • –



    Break/Transition

  • –

    Location – Glens 2-3


    Member Growth, Cultivating Cooperators

    Speakers – Bahni Turpin, Dr. Velonda Anderson


  • –

    Affinity Rooms (optional)

    Locations –
    Glens 1 – LGBTQ+
    Glens 2-3 – Black or African American and Afro-Latino/a/x
    Prairies 5-6 – Indigenous
    Prairie 4 – Latino/a/x
    Oaks – Asian American or Pacific Islander
    Stone Theater – Quiet Room

  • –

  • –

    Location – Prairies 4

    Swag Exchange

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2 and pre-function space

    Conference Reception

GOVERNANCE

FUNDING OUR CO-OPS

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Breakfast

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Welcome

  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Oaks


    The New Normal in Funding Sources

    Speaker – Don Moffitt


  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Oaks


    Nourishing Communities: The Vital Role of co-op Lenders in Funding Start-up Food Co-ops

    Speakers – Tamah Yisrael, Dami Odetola, Roderick McCulloch, Alan Singer, and Vikas Mangipudi


  • –



    Lunch

  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Oaks


    Reimagining Co-op Funding: Innovative Ideas and Brainstorming

    Speaker – Katie Novak


  • –



    Break/Transition

  • –

    Location – Oaks


    Relationship Building – the Key to Grants and Donations

    Speakers – Angela Sayles, Shannon Ratliff, Guy Cousins, Rickey Hall, Cierra Washington


  • –

    Affinity Rooms (optional)

    Locations –
    Glens 1 – LGBTQ+
    Glens 2-3 – Black or African American and Afro-Latino/a/x
    Prairies 5-6 – Indigenous
    Prairie 4 – Latino/a/x
    Oaks – Asian American or Pacific Islander
    Stone Theater – Quiet Room

  • –

  • –

    Location – Prairies 4

    Swag Exchange

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2 and pre-function space

    Conference Reception

OUR MOVEMENT

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Breakfast

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Welcome

  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Prairies 5-6


    Dissecting the Definition of “Healthy”

    Speaker – Gabby Davis


  • –

    Transition

  • –



    Lunch

  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Prairies 5-6


    The Role of Food Co-ops in Solidarity Economy Movement Building

    Speaker – Jamila Medley


  • –



    Break/Transition

  • –

    Location – Prairies 5-6


    Industry Knowledge = Power

    Speaker – Darnell Adams, Opal Baker, Erica Zenzele Hardison, Michele Saavedra Slappey, Mikki Smith


  • –

    Affinity Rooms (optional)

    Locations –
    Glens 1 – LGBTQ+
    Glens 2-3 – Black or African American and Afro-Latino/a/x
    Prairies 5-6 – Indigenous
    Prairie 4 – Latino/a/x
    Oaks – Asian American or Pacific Islander
    Stone Theater – Quiet Room

  • –

  • –

    Location – Prairies 4

    Swag Exchange

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2 and pre-function space

    Conference Reception

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2024

YOU ARE HERE

GROCERY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

CO-OP ORGANIZING

GOVERNANCE

FUNDING OUR CO-OPS

OUR MOVEMENT

SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2024

Our 2024 Black-led Day theme is Echoes of Resilience: Black Co-op Legacies and Afro-Futurist Horizons. In this offering, Black cooperators will reflect on the rich and deep history of why we co-op, as well as dream forward on the Black cooperative movement. What do we have to do in this moment and in our lifetimes to ensure cooperatives continue sustaining our people 200 years from now? Prepare to be in space with our optional pre-reading recommendations:

Collective courage Jessica Gordon Nembhard
Until I’m free Fannie Lou Hamer
Black Fatigue: How racism erodes the mind, body and spirit Mary-Frances Winters

BLACK-LED SESSION 1

BLACK-LED SESSION 2

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Breakfast

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Welcome & Grounding

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Interactive Socratic Circle – Tribin’ Up: Centering Our Solidarity

    Speakers – Jamila Medley, Angela Sayles, & amaha sellassie


  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Glens 2-3

    Power Building: Civic Engagement Strategies for Membership Growth & Sustainability

    Speaker – Jamila Medley and Erin Dale McClellan


  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Lunch

  • –

    Location – Glens 2-3

    Lessons and Insights from Opening

    Speakers – amaha sellassie, Sis Lanay Gilbert-Williams


  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Closeout

  • –

  • –


    Black-Led Track Gathering

    Dabney & Co, 344 N. Rose, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

  • –

    Location – Bell’s Brewery, 355 E Kalamazoo Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

    U&C Conference Welcome Reception – hosted by PFC

    Sponsored by: PFC, Oryana, Grain Train, Marquette Food Co-op, Maple City Market, Ypsilanti Food Co-op, Detroit People’s Food Co-op

CONFERENCE TOURS

  • –



    Conference Tour 1

    People’s Food Co-op

  • –



    Conference Tour 2

    People’s Food Co-op

  • –



    Conference Tour 3

    People’s Food Co-op

  • –

    Location – Bell’s Brewery, 355 E Kalamazoo Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

    U&C Conference Welcome Reception – hosted by PFC

    Sponsored by: PFC, Oryana, Grain Train, Marquette Food Co-op, Maple City Market, Ypsilanti Food Co-op, Detroit People’s Food Co-op

SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2024

YOU ARE HERE

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Breakfast

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Welcome

  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Prairies 4


    The Power and Potential of Food Cooperatives: What It Means to Be a Co-op

    Speaker – Allanah Hines


  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Prairies 4


    The Framework: An Introduction to the Startup Process

    Speaker – JQ Hannah


  • –



    Lunch

  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Prairies 4


    Startup Framework Input Session

    Speakers – JQ Hannah and Angela Sayles


  • –



    Break/Transition

  • –

    Affinity Rooms (optional)

    Locations –
    Glens 1 – LGBTQ+
    Glens 2-3 – Black or African American and Afro-Latino/a/x
    Prairies 5-6 – Indigenous
    Prairie 4 – Latino/a/x
    Oaks – Asian American or Pacific Islander
    Stone Theater – Quiet Room

  • –

  • –

    Location – Prairies 4

    Swag Exchange

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2 and pre-function space

    Conference Reception

GROCERY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Breakfast

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Welcome

  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Glens 1


    Understanding—and Using!—Your Pro Forma

    Speaker – Sarah Lebherz


  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Glens 1


    Finding Your Co-op’s Future Home: Keys to Choosing and Securing a Site

    Speaker – John Guerra


  • –



    Lunch

  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Glens 1


    The Store Opening Leadership Gap

    Speaker – Heather Lazickas and Sam McCormick


  • –



    Break/Transition

  • –

    Location – Glens 1


    Site Planning: The Foundation of Store Design – Fertile Ground Case Study

    Speakers – seven roots and Jenn Truman


  • –

    Affinity Rooms (optional)

    Locations –
    Glens 1 – LGBTQ+
    Glens 2-3 – Black or African American and Afro-Latino/a/x
    Prairies 5-6 – Indigenous
    Prairie 4 – Latino/a/x
    Oaks – Asian American or Pacific Islander
    Stone Theater – Quiet Room

  • –

  • –

    Location – Prairies 4

    Swag Exchange

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2 and pre-function space

    Conference Reception

CO-OP ORGANIZING

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Breakfast

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Welcome

  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Glens 2-3


    Empowering Communities: Harnessing Cooperative Models for Movement Building

    Speaker – Tamah Yisrael


  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Glens 2-3


    4 Pillars of Effective Startup Outreach

    Speaker – Bonnie Hudspeth


  • –



    Lunch

  • –

    Transition

  • –



    Break/Transition

  • –

    Location – Glens 2-3


    Member Growth, Cultivating Cooperators

    Speakers – Bahni Turpin, Dr. Velonda Anderson


  • –

    Affinity Rooms (optional)

    Locations –
    Glens 1 – LGBTQ+
    Glens 2-3 – Black or African American and Afro-Latino/a/x
    Prairies 5-6 – Indigenous
    Prairie 4 – Latino/a/x
    Oaks – Asian American or Pacific Islander
    Stone Theater – Quiet Room

  • –

  • –

    Location – Prairies 4

    Swag Exchange

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2 and pre-function space

    Conference Reception

GOVERNANCE

FUNDING OUR CO-OPS

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Breakfast

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Welcome

  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Oaks


    The New Normal in Funding Sources

    Speaker – Don Moffitt


  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Oaks


    Nourishing Communities: The Vital Role of co-op Lenders in Funding Start-up Food Co-ops

    Speakers – Tamah Yisrael, Dami Odetola, Roderick McCulloch, Alan Singer, and Vikas Mangipudi


  • –



    Lunch

  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Oaks


    Reimagining Co-op Funding: Innovative Ideas and Brainstorming

    Speaker – Katie Novak


  • –



    Break/Transition

  • –

    Location – Oaks


    Relationship Building – the Key to Grants and Donations

    Speakers – Angela Sayles, Shannon Ratliff, Guy Cousins, Rickey Hall, Cierra Washington


  • –

    Affinity Rooms (optional)

    Locations –
    Glens 1 – LGBTQ+
    Glens 2-3 – Black or African American and Afro-Latino/a/x
    Prairies 5-6 – Indigenous
    Prairie 4 – Latino/a/x
    Oaks – Asian American or Pacific Islander
    Stone Theater – Quiet Room

  • –

  • –

    Location – Prairies 4

    Swag Exchange

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2 and pre-function space

    Conference Reception

OUR MOVEMENT

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Breakfast

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2

    Welcome

  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Prairies 5-6


    Dissecting the Definition of “Healthy”

    Speaker – Gabby Davis


  • –

    Transition

  • –



    Lunch

  • –

    Transition

  • –

    Location – Prairies 5-6


    The Role of Food Co-ops in Solidarity Economy Movement Building

    Speaker – Jamila Medley


  • –



    Break/Transition

  • –

    Location – Prairies 5-6


    Industry Knowledge = Power

    Speaker – Darnell Adams, Opal Baker, Erica Zenzele Hardison, Michele Saavedra Slappey, Mikki Smith


  • –

    Affinity Rooms (optional)

    Locations –
    Glens 1 – LGBTQ+
    Glens 2-3 – Black or African American and Afro-Latino/a/x
    Prairies 5-6 – Indigenous
    Prairie 4 – Latino/a/x
    Oaks – Asian American or Pacific Islander
    Stone Theater – Quiet Room

  • –

  • –

    Location – Prairies 4

    Swag Exchange

  • –

    Location – Kalamazoo 1-2 and pre-function space

    Conference Reception

SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2024