Recognizing Juneteenth June 19
In the reckoning and dialogue about race and racism in the United States that followed the killing of George Floyd many Americans first learned about this unique holiday. In short, Juneteenth — also known as Freedom Day or Jubilee Day — is a holiday that celebrates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. Effective June 17, 2021, President Biden signed a bill to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
A brief history of the holiday
While the emancipation of enslaved people was first declared in the country by President Lincoln in the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, it was largely unenforced until union troops arrived after slowly advancing through the south. Because of this, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865 — more than two years following the emancipation proclamation — that a Union general named Gordon Granger officially told people of Galveston, Texas that enslaved people were free by executive proclamation. Because of this, Juneteenth also represents for many delayed liberation and justice due to continued systematic oppression.
An opportunity to listen
For all of us, Juneteenth affords us an opportunity to listen to Black voices in our community about how to recognize the holiday in a respectful way. If our co-op shows respect in planning and listens to and centers Black voices and perspectives, we can help our communities understand and mark this important holiday now and in the future.
Food co-ops are for everyone, and we’re committed to continually learning and growing so we can live up to that statement.
We believe that everyone has the capacity, and the responsibility, to effect change. Here is how our co-op is working alongside other grocery co-ops through our association, National Cooperative Grocers (NCG), to prioritize and support racial equity.
-adapted, courtesy of National Cooperative Grocers
Grocery Co-op’s Statement ON the Anniversary of George Floyd’s Death
May 24, 2021 - courtesy of National Cooperative Grocers
May 25th marks one year since the police killing of George Floyd. In Minneapolis and other communities, celebration of life events will be held to honor Mr. Floyd and support continued healing and activism around racial justice.
Food co-ops have an important role in building a more just, equitable and inclusive society. Over the past year, NCG and our member co-ops have prioritized racial equity in our work together, collaborating to both measure the diversity in the food cooperative system and identify ways that we can improve.
We advocated for federal legislation that would reserve funding for community development and minority depository financial institutions that serve BIPOC communities in COVID-19 relief legislation and asked Congress to provide at least $25 million for migrant and seasonal farmworkers for pandemic-related emergency supportive services.
We endorsed the Justice for Black Farmers Act that would reform discriminatory practices at USDA and create opportunity for a new generation of Black farmers. We made strategic investments to support racial justice, contributing to Agricultural Justice Project, Campaign Zero, Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund and Black Visions Collective. (See article below for details.)
We also recently launched a supplier diversity program to identify and increase the number of products in food co-ops that bear certifications as companies owned by Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and other underrepresented groups. Internally, NCG continues to provide DEI resources and training for staff as part of a long-term DEI strategy that was initiated in 2018. (See article below for details.)
Co-ops Promote Equitable Food System through Funds, Time and Advocacy
courtesy of National Cooperative Grocers
National Co+op Grocers (NCG) announced at the end of 2020 that it has in recent months invested more than $75,000 in organizations and initiatives dedicated to creating a more equitable, just food system and society.
The business services cooperative owned by retail food co-ops is also supporting bold legislative proposals and adjusting its operations to expand diversity and develop a more inclusive culture.
“’Concern for the Community’ is a core co-op principle, and this year has brought clarity that our greatest concern must be helping ensure our food system is fair and open to everyone,” said C.E. Pugh, NCG’s Chief Executive Officer. “With that in mind, NCG is investing money, staff time and the collective strength of our community-owned food co-ops to improve equity in our communities through strategic partnerships and public policy.”
Among NCG’s more than $75,000 in investments:
Agricultural Justice Project’s Social Justice Fund
The Agricultural Justice Project's social justice fund provides free Food Justice Certification and technical assistance for independent, smaller-scale family farms and local, independent, small-scale grocers. NCG's donation is specifically dedicated to farms interested in pursuing Food Justice Certification that are led by farmers identifying as Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color (BIPOC), including immigrant farmworker-led farms, that meet certifcation criteria.
"Food Justice Certification is a benefit that brings, along with the IFOAM principles of organic agriculture, added wellbeing into organic farming systems and to Black, Indigenous and farmers of color organic agroecology farming communities. It is a part of the wellbeing strategy of our BIPOC small-scale USDA Certified Organic farm,” explained Jennifer Taylor of Lola’s Organic Farm in Glenwood, Georgia. “NCG's assistance has strengthened the mission of Food Justice Certification to promote access and availability to BIPOC farmers and their communities, growing the benefits across the country."
Leah Penniman, Co-director of Food Justice Certified Soul Fire Farm in Petersburg, New York added: "We encourage all farmers to get certified through the Agricultural Justice Project, to signify a commitment to worker rights and protections. While it’s a tragedy that federal labor laws exclude farmworkers from many provisions, we can take action now, one farm at a time, to restore those basic rights."
Federation of Southern Cooperatives Land Assistance Fund Food Box Program
The Federation of Southern Cooperatives’ Land Assistance Fund Food Box Program connects Black farmers in the Southern U.S. who have lost significant market share due to the COVID-19 pandemic with area families that are facing food insecurity.
“The Federation is proud to have NCG as a partner in our work to support Black farmers and cooperatives across the Southeast who are creating sustainable local food systems that are feeding families in need,” said Chawn Redden, Regional Marketing Coordinator for the Federation.
National Farm to School Network’s Food System Call to Action
In 2020 the National Farm to School Network (NFSN) issued a system-wide call to action: “By 2025, 100% of communities will hold power in a racially just food system.” The mission and work of NFSN is well-aligned with that of the food co-ops NCG serves—including this bold vision for community empowerment.
"National Farm to School Network is grateful to NCG for its continued investment in our work and our vision for a racially just food system," said Helen Dombalis, Executive Director of National Farm to School Network. "Achieving this vision is a pressing need that none of us can reach alone, and NCG's partnership is especially impactful in our collective efforts of shifting power and correcting inequities that persist within our food system." NCG’s investment builds on NCG’s 2019 fundraising efforts to support NFSN’s equity learning lab.
NCG’s Federal Policy Advocacy and Organizational Change
In addition to investing money in partnerships to build a more equitable food system, NCG is advocating for federal legislation to bring about systemic change and working to build a more diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace.
In 2020, NCG advocated for federal legislation that would end qualified immunity for police officers and supported proposals that would reserve funding for community development and minority depository financial institutions that serve BIPOC communities in COVID-19 relief legislation. Additionally, NCG is proud to endorse The Justice for Black Farmers Act that would reform the U.S. Department of Agriculture and create a land grant program to encourage a new generation of Black farmers.
NCG is in its third year of working with TMI Consulting, a diversity and inclusion management consultancy, to build a more diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. In this time, the organization has created a roadmap for change, formed a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee, begun to measure supplier diversity and provided DEI training for staff. In 2020 NCG paid for voluntary employee education on racism and privilege through the purchase of books and online coursework. TMI is now working with NCG’s Board of Directors and executive leadership team to build a strategic roadmap for food co-ops.
Racial Equity and Local Food: Partnering with NFSN
National Cooperative Grocers (NCG) has renewed our partnership with National Farm to School Network (NFSN) in 2021, continuing support of our mutual goal to build racial equity in local food systems. This year, we’re sponsoring NFSN’s monthly Facebook Live coffee chat series, featuring conversations on topics related to racial equity in the food system. Often featuring local food heroes from around the U.S., the conversations are free and open to the public, and a great way to hear from people with direct knowledge of how racial inequity impacts communities. Co-op staff are welcome to attend and promote the conversations to your networks; past conversations can be found on NFSN’s YouTube channel.
Inclusive Trade Campaign to Launch this Summer
Cooperative grocers and store members of NCG believe that supply chains should include a seat at the table for systemically underrepresented populations. Supplier diversity is a proactive business strategy that drives inclusion of diverse owned businesses in the procurement of goods and services. Supplier diversity promotes greater innovation, a healthier competitive environment and more equitably distributed benefits among all community members.
NCG is committed to doing our part to create a more just society by cultivating partnerships with businesses owned by people who identify as women, Black, indigenous, people of color (POC), LGBTQIA+, persons with disabilities and veterans.
With no established, standardized, industry-wide definition of “diverse suppliers” or means of identifying which brands/companies have diverse ownership, and building on guidance provided by TMI Consulting, NCG has adopted the following preliminary definition of supplier diversity:
A diverse supplier is defined as a business that is at least 51% owned and operated by an individual or group that is part of a systemically underrepresented or underserved group; including businesses that are women-owned, BIPOC-owned, LGBTQIA+-owned, veteran/service-disabled veteran-owned, or owned by persons with disabilities.
What does this mean for The Merc Co+op?
Similar to how we promote Local, Organic, New, New Lower Price, Gluten Free, and Paleo products, we will begin shouting out products that qualify as a Diverse Supplier through NCG-designed "Inclusive Trade" signs like the one below. That way, our shoppers can easily identify and make a conscious choice to support these products and businesses.
Local Support
In the past year, The Merc Co+op has been proud to support a variety of organizations who support racial equity and members of our local BIPOC community, including: KC Community Bailout Fund, BLACK Lawrence (Black Literature and Arts Collective of Kansas), Equal Justice Initiative, One Struggle KC, Juneteenth Workout in Centennial Park. And, through our Change program, we have made donations to the following BIPOC organizations: Project Rally, El Centro, Latino Health for All Coalition, Centro Hispano and New Roots for Refugees.
For more information on our Donations, Change and Outreach programs, contact Laura Marsh, Outreach Manager at outreach@themerc.coop.
Related Articles
Statement from our Board of Directors by Deon Whitten, Member
Board Welcomes Two KCK Appointees
Welcome to the Table - Addressing Product Priorities
Adaptation, Evolution and Expansion - Autumn 2020
Seeking Inclusion within the Board of Directors
Diversity Equity and Inclusion Staff Training: Autumn 2018
For more information about your co-op and our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work, contact Valerie Taylor Richardson, Marketing Director at marketing@themerc.coop.
About NCG
National Co+op Grocers (NCG), founded in 1999, is a business services cooperative for retail food co-ops located throughout the United States. NCG helps unify food co-ops in order to optimize operational and marketing resources, strengthen purchasing power and ultimately offer more value to food co-op owners and shoppers everywhere. Our 148 member co-ops operate more than 200 stores in 38 states with combined annual sales over $2.3 billion. NCG is a winner of the dotCoop Global Awards for Cooperative Excellence and a Certified B Corporation. Find a map of NCG member co-ops. To learn more about co-ops, visit www.welcometothetable.coop.