Up & Coming

AGENDA

TRACKS

Foundations

Format:  Training/Lecture

In this track you will find key topics that all food co-op organizers need to know. Read down the sessions in this track and if you run across a topic you don’t know backwards and forwards, commit to making it to that session! While these topics may seem basic, they are anything but – they are essential knowledge for all startup food co-op organizers. Many startup organizers have rushed ahead into more ‘exciting’ sessions or business-building sessions, only to share with us later how they regretted skipping these topics and had to go back and learn the truths you’ll find in this track.

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 high level of knowledge and an incredible amount of work! This entire track is devoted to the intensive feasibility work, site selection, funding, designing, 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

Your co-op exists from the minute it is incorporated and has members/owners. The big goal for your co-op may be to open a successful retail grocery store built on the co-op’s values – but who sets those core values? The co-op! The co-op truly comes before the store and is bigger than the store alone. In this track we’ll dive deep into all the ways and work of building our cooperatives. There will be many sessions on building strong boards, as governance is a key piece of co-op building. We’ll also venture into the work of building up your co-op’s vision and its connection to your community. 

Peer Stories

Format:  Case Study/Lecture

The learning that comes from hearing the real experiences and stories of your peer startup organizers is second to none. In this track we’ll feature true, in-the-trenches stories from peer startup food cooperators – some still organizing, and some post-open! In some sessions we’ll look in depth at specific pieces of some startups’ work, in others you’ll hear a bigger arc of one startup’s journey, in still others you will hear about the powerful organizing of entire communities. Come ready to hear both what led to success . . . and what didn’t work out, and get both inspiration and sage advice from those who are organizing co-ops alongside you.

Engage/Play

Format:  Interactive/Hands-on

Ready to jump into the work? These sessions will have you in the center of powerful conversations wrestling with big, unanswered questions of our movement; sharing your examples and learning from examples of other startups; and jumping in to do real-time analysis of both your own co-op’s organizing efforts and those of peer co-ops. There is no sitting on the sidelines in these sessions, every session in this track will be all about active participation where we learn collectively by speaking our perspectives and doing.

Big Conversations

Format:  Panel/Lecture

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 14TH, 2023

BLACK LED TRACK 1

BLACK LED TRACK 2

LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM

CONFERENCE TOURS

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2023

FOUNDATIONS

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Breakfast

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Welcome

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors II


    4-in-3: the Startup Food Co-op Organizing Framework

    Speaker - JQ Hannah


    This session is especially great for all.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Court

    Break/Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors II


    Feasibility: the Four Critical Areas for Startups

    Speaker - JQ Hannah


    This session is especially great for all.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Lunch

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors II


    The Anti-Racist Path: White-Led Start Ups Reimagining Democracy

    Speaker - Patrice Lockert Anthony


    This session is especially great for all.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Court

    Break/Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors II


    Organizing Your Community through Storytelling

    Speaker - Te'Jel Cartwright


    This session is especially great for all.

  • -

    Self-care Options

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Court

    Reception

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Breakfast

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Welcome

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - State Suite I, II E


    Searching for Financial Feasibility

    Speakers - Don Moffitt and Sarah Lebherz


    This session is especially great for stages 1-2A.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Court

    Break/Transition

  • -

    Location - State Suite I, II E


    Finding and Keeping Your Greatest Asset - Your GM!

    Speakers - Jeanie Wells and Mark Mulchahy


    This session is especially great for stages 2B-3.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Lunch

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - State Suite I, II E


    Capital Stacks: the Nitty Gritty of Piecing together the Money to Build Your Co-op

    Speaker - Lela Klein


    This session is especially great for stages 2A-2B.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Court

    Break/Transition

  • -

    Location - State Suite I, II E


    Nailing Site Selection: More than Parking, Receiving, and Trash

    Speakers - the seven roots team


    This session is especially great for stages 2A-2B.

  • -

    Self-care Options

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Court

    Reception

CO-OP ORGANIZING

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Breakfast

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Welcome

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors I


    Getting Things Done: Accountability Basics for Startups

    Speaker - Jade Barker


    This session is especially great for stages 1-2B.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Court

    Break/Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors I


    Culturally Competent Board Recruitment

    Speakers - LaDonna Sanders Redmond and Seward Board


    This session is especially great for all.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Lunch

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors I


    The Financials that Boards Need to Understand after Opening

    Speaker - Siobain Mitchell


    This session is especially great for stages 2B-open.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Court

    Break/Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors I


    How to Be a Great Employer (and not get sued

    Speaker - LaDonna Sanders Redmond and Valeria Roach


    This session is especially great for stages 2A-open.

  • -

    Self-care Options

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Court

    Reception

PEER STORIES

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Breakfast

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Welcome

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors IV


    The Food Shed Co-op Difference: Capital Campaign Success

    Speaker - Katie Novak


    This session is especially great for stages 2A-2B.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Court

    Break/Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors IV


    Dissecting the Definition of "Healthy"

    Speaker - Gabby Davis


    This session is especially great for all.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Lunch

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors IV


    Regaining Momentum During and Post Pandemic – Hudson Grocery Cooperative

    Speaker - Joe Rouleau and Sarah Atkins


    This session is especially great for stages 2A-2B.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Court

    Break/Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors IV


    Detroit People's Food Co-op - A 10 year Journey

    Speakers - Vernon Oakes, Lanay Gilbert-Williams, Malik Yakini


    This session is especially great for all.

  • -

    Self-care Options

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Court

    Reception

ENGAGE/PLAY

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Breakfast

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Welcome

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors III


    Engagement beyond the Computer

    Speaker - Rachel Dominguez-Benner


    This session is especially great for all.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Court

    Break/Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors III


    Owner Engagement Events - A Peer to Peer Round Table

    Facilitator - Faye Mack


    This session is especially great for stages 1-2B.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Lunch

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors III


    Exploring Power and Privilege for Food Co-op Organizers

    Speakers - Jamila Medley, Camille Kerr


    This session is especially great for all.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Court

    Break/Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors III


    Embodied Co-op Leadership

    Speaker - Bonnie Hudspeth and Darnell Adams


    This session is especially great for all.

  • -

    Self-care Options

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Court

    Reception

BIG CONVERSATIONS

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Breakfast

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Welcome

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - State Suites II W, III


    Are Food Co-ops a Gentrifying Force?

    Speakers - Darnell Adams, Steve Cooke, Jamila Medley, and Ray Williams


    This session is especially great for all.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Court

    Break/Transition

  • -

    Location - State Suites II W, III


    A New Approach to Store Openings

    Speaker - Mark Goehring, Wynston Estis, Garland McQueen, Chris Dilley, Dennis Hanley, Luke Schell


    This session is great for stages 2A-2B.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Lunch

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - State Suites II W, III


    This Moment in Black Food Co-op Organizing: Empowering Communities, Nourishing Futures

    Speakers - Dr. Jasmine Jackson


    This session is especially great for all.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Court

    Break/Transition

  • -

    Location - State Suites II W, III


    A Tale of Two Co-ops

    Speaker - Katie Novak


    This session is especially great for all.

  • -

    Self-care Options

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Court

    Reception

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2023

FOUNDATIONS

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Breakfast

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Welcome/Updates

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors II


    4 Pillars of Effective Start-up Outreach

    Speaker - Rachel Dominguez-Benner


    This session is especially great for all.

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors II


    Rooting Your Co-op In Community

    Speaker - Bonnie Hudspeth


    This session is especially great for all.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Lunch

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors II


    How to be a Startup Board Superstar: What is the board? What does it do? What is it in charge of?

    Speaker - Joel Kopischke


    This session is especially great for all.

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Closing Session

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Breakfast

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Welcome/Updates

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - State Suite I, II E


    “Locking Down a Site: Nuts, Bolts, and Stories”

    Speakers - John Guerra, Anthony Goodwin, Don Moffitt, and Kathy Nash


    This session is especially great for stages 2A-2B.

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - State Suite I, II E


    Market Feasibility and Its Role in Your Co-op's Feasibility

    Speaker - JQ Hannah


    This session is especially great for stages 1-2A.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Lunch

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - State Suite I, II E


    Understanding and Using Your Pro Forma

    Speakers - Don Moffitt and Sarah Lebherz


    This session is especially great for stages 1-2B.

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Closing Session

CO-OP ORGANIZING

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Breakfast

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Welcome/Updates

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors I


    Community Organizing Tools for Engagement & Beyond

    Speaker -Tamah Yisrael


    This session is especially great for all.

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors I


    Telling a Story That Moves Mountains

    Speaker - Darnell Adams


    This session is especially great for stages 1-2B.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Lunch

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Closing Session

PEER STORIES

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Breakfast

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Welcome/Updates

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors IV


    "Food Desert" Diaries: Dispatches from the Northside of Wilmington, NC

    Speaker - seven roots and Cierra Washington


    This session is especially great for all.

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors IV


    Capital Stack Case Study

    Speaker - Lela Klien and Maggie Cohn


    This session is especially great for stages 2A-2B.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Lunch

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors IV


    Gem City Market: 5 stories about the Co-op

    Speaker - Mark Goehring, Dennis Hanley, amaha sellassie, Anthony Goodwin


    This session is especially great for all.

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Closing Session

ENGAGE/PLAY

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Breakfast

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Welcome/Updates

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors III


    FCI Town Hall: Could We Serve You Better?

    Speakers - Darnell Adams and Faye Mack


    This session is especially great for 2A-3.

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors III


    Site Feasibility, LIVE!

    Speakers - the seven roots team


    This session is especially great for stages 2A-2B.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Lunch

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Governors III


    Offering Food before the Store: A Peer to Peer Roundtable

    Facilitator - Faye Mack


    This session is especially great for stages 1-2B.

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Closing Session

BIG CONVERSATIONS

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Breakfast

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Welcome/Updates

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - State Suites II W, III


    Mutual Aid and Our Co-ops

    Speaker - LaDonna Sanders Redmond


    This session is especially great for all.

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Lunch

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - State Suites II W, III


    Pursuing Grants: Stories from Start-up Co-ops

    Speaker - Anne Misak


    This session is especially great for stages 2A-3.

  • -

    Transition

  • -

    Location - Minnesota Ballroom

    Closing Session

SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2023

BLACK LED TRACK 1

BLACK LED TRACK 2

LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM

CONFERENCE TOURS

SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2023