by Anya Firszt, General Manager
Vision, Mission, and Purpose
Two years ago, in the summer of 2020, we partnered with Step Up: Equity Matters as a consultant to help us build a foundation to foster diversity and inclusion within the Co-op and to help us embed a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) focus on everything we do.
Last fall, the Board and General Management Team worked with Step Up to review and update our vision, mission, and purpose (VMP) statements to be in alignment to support the development of strategic goals. Here are the revised statements:
Vision
Willy Street Co-op is a local community partner that nourishes a sustainable, accessible, and equitable food system where everyone can participate.
Mission
Cultivate and empower community, customers, employees, and suppliers through cooperative principles and practices.
Purpose
Cooperating for a sustainable future. The Management Team has developed strategic goals to support VMP with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and they are:
- Owner and Community Engagement
- Our customers reflect the demographics of the communities we serve.
- The Co-op is a place where our community participates and is proud to shop.
- Retail and Supply Chain
- Increased focus on DEI in the Co-op’s vendor pool.
- Product mix is aligned with our brand/identity while reflecting the communities we serve.
- Employee Engagement
- Our employees reflect the demographics of the communities we serve.
- Become an employer of choice through a culture of acceptance, inclusion, and respect.
Why are we doing this work? Because the Seven Cooperative Principles that guide our daily work are rooted in equity. Principle One, “Voluntary, Open Ownership,” means that we are open to all without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination. Principle Seven, “Concern For The Community,” leads us to work for the sustainable development of our communities. We prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion to reflect our employees, customers, partners, and suppliers as well as the communities we serve. Embedding equity and inclusion in our goals sets the standard for this work.
Owner and Equity Drive
This month, from August 15 through 28, we are hosting an Owner and Equity Drive.
Learn more by reading the article written by Kristina Kuhaupt, Customer Experience Manager, included in this issue of the Reader on pages 18-19. Become a paid in full Owner and help us reach our $10,000 goal!
Willy East Adding Products, Removing Juice & Coffee Bar
Willy East will be removing the Juice & Coffee Bar structure this month. As reported in April, we are not bringing back made-to-order beverages for the foreseeable future and, since then, we have considered how to best use that space.
We will replace the Juice & Coffee Bar area with shelving to offer additional packaged grocery products; we will also improve traffic flow so that it’s easier for you to get through the store. We anticipate the project to be completed in October. We will evaluate these services in the future for the best way to meet the Owner's needs.
Special Services Update
Did you know we offer pre-order discounts to Co-op Owners? Owners get a 10% discount when pre-ordering almost any of our products by the case. See Customer Service to place an order.
Due to low demand we have decided to end our practice of placing specials orders for products we do not regularly stock.
Mark Your Calendar
Stores closing at 7:00pm on Labor day, September 5
Welcome to Anthony
A quick note that the Board has appointed Anthony Hernandez to the seat vacated by Michael Chronister; he will serve out the remainder of the term, ending with this year’s election cycle. Anthony has been an “Owner-at-large” member of the Community Reinvestment Fund committee.