The 2016 Philly Co-op Summit and PACA Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, November 17 in the evening at Rad Dish Co-op at Temple University. More details to come.
2016 Philadelphia Co-op Awards
Each year, PACA names a co-op of the year and a cooperator of the year to recognize the achievements of our local cooperative movement.
Find out more about the Philadelphia Co-op Awards.
PACA Board Candidates
On November 17, PACA's member co-ops will elect three board members to serve on PACA's board. Meet the candidates here:
Abdul-Aliy Muhammad
nominated by Mariposa Food Co-op
Name(s) of co-op(s) you belong to:
Mariposa Food Coop
How long you’ve been a member:
Since 2014
What roles have you served in co-ops, nonprofits, or other membership organizations?
I’m currently convener-elect on Mariposa’s Board of Delegates.
Why are cooperatives important to you and to the Philadelphia area?
I believe that cooperative economies can disrupt disparities within marginalized communities by building equity together.
Abdul-Aliy has experience in the following areas:
- Group process and decision-making
- Meeting facilitation
- Public speaking
- Writing newsletter articles
- Strategic planning
- Project management
- Nonprofit organization experience
- Volunteer programs
- Past or present participation on a board of directors
- Business or retail experience
How will your experience, skills or unique perspectives strengthen the PACA Board?
I’ve worked in non-profits for cumulatively about 8 years. I have extensive experience with direct services, project management and board process. I also worked at Mariposa Food Coop and have a lens on how Board visioning looks operationally.
Where do you see PACA in 5 years?
I’d hope that in 5 years PACA is able to be more inclusive to communities typically not represented in cooperative spaces.
As you think about the three primary board roles—ambassador, advocate, and asker—in which role(s) do you think you will want to be most active?
Definitely an advocate.
Susan Kavchok
nominated by Childspace
Name(s) of co-op(s) you belong to:
Childspace
How long you’ve been a member:
Since 1989
What roles have you served in co-ops, nonprofits, or other membership organizations?
Childspace is a worker-owned childcare business has been in operations since 1988. As the only worker-owned child care cooperative in the country, Childspace takes great pride in its accomplishments that it has achieved over the last 28 years. My current position at Childspace is Chairperson. On the operation end of the business I am the Operational Director, I support and oversee the operations of the three childcare businesses as well as work on the policy and advocacy end of the business. I have been a member of the cooperative since my eligibility in 1989.
Many of the roles that I serve are related to the childcare industry. I am a member of the state Keystone STARS Childcare Coalition, member of PACCA – Pennsylvania Association Child Care Agencies, support and facilitate the Northwest Directors Group, currently board member of PACA, Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance. Childspace has consulted with various organizations throughout the country who are considering converting childcare businesses into cooperative structures, or have consulted with childcare business to strengthen their structures to incorporate cooperative principles.
Why are cooperatives important to you and to the Philadelphia area?
Cooperatives are important to me because it gives the workers a voice in their workplace. It allows many businesses whose workforce have a traditionally high turnover the stability through ownership. Cooperatives have a greater understanding on social issues, working cooperatively with other businesses and is an alternative to corporate structures.
Susan has experience in the following areas:
- Group process and decision-making
- Meeting facilitation
- Public speaking
- Strategic planning
- Accounting or finances
- Project management
- Nonprofit organization experience
- Past or present participation on a board of directors
- Business or retail experience
How will your experience, skills or unique perspectives strengthen the PACA Board?
Over 27 years in a cooperative business structure has allowed me to gain many skills. I work directly with for profits and nonprofit businesses so my experience in all facets of the business world allows me to bring many perspectives to the table.
Where do you see PACA in 5 years?
Having served on the PACA board for the last 2 years, I have seen PACA evolve. I can see PACA taking a larger role in the facilitation of cooperative development within the city of Philadelphia, developing and supporting new leaderships within those cooperative businesses and expanding advocacy with the legislative bodies.
As you think about the three primary board roles—ambassador, advocate, and asker—in which role(s) do you think you will want to be most active?
I believe the most active role that I could play acting as a PACA board member who will be an advocate. Believing in the cooperative structure and workforce is my greatest strength.
Mo Manklang
nominated by Kensington Community Food Co-op
Name(s) of co-op(s) you belong to:
Kensington Community Food Co-op - since 2011
The Energy Co-op - since 2014
PACA - since 2012
What roles have you served in co-ops, nonprofits, or other membership organizations?
- Kensington Community Food Co-op, Marketing Committee
- Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance, Steering Committee and Board Member
- US Federation of Worker Cooperatives, events and marketing contractor
- Code for Philly, Advisory Committee
- Sustainable Business network, Marketing advisor
- Leadership Philadelphia’s Connectors and Keepers 2016 Cohort
Why are cooperatives important to you and to the Philadelphia area?
Philadelphia is a city full of passionate people and a lot of need. I believe that cooperatives are the best way to form a business to ensure that people are taken care of, democracy is upheld, and communities thrive. It’s been my pleasure to serve as a steering committee member and a board member of PACA for the past several years, and I hope to continue to serve.
Mo has experience in the following areas:
- Group process and decision-making
- Meeting facilitation
- Public speaking
- Writing newsletter articles
- Strategic planning
- Accounting or finances
- Project management
- Wiki or website editing
- Nonprofit organization experience
- Volunteer programs
- Past or present participation on a board of directors
How will your experience, skills or unique perspectives strengthen the PACA Board?
Having served on PACA’s Steering Committee and Board of Directors for the last 4 years has made me completely committed to the success of the organization and the spread of cooperatives in Philadelphia and across the country. Through my work supporting PACA’s earlier efforts I am equipped with an understanding of where we’ve come from as well as a desire to grow our efforts. I have also also spent the last several years, through various other efforts including my work at Generocity.org, trying to understand, work with, and create messages to reach the Philadelphia community. I would be excited to use my skills as an event planner, designer, project manager, and organizer to benefit PACA.
Where do you see PACA in 5 years?
I see PACA as a strong force within the community. The ties and networks within cooperative and other organizations throughout the city will allow us to spread cooperative principles throughout the city. I see PACA as being an influential voice in policy, community development, and social justice, facilitating financial and strategic support to our members.
As you think about the three primary board roles—ambassador, advocate, and asker—in which role(s) do you think you will want to be most active?
I would be most helpful and active as an ambassador. I am really interested in organizing and messaging toward people inside and outside of our current work and I would be very excited to use my skills to benefit PACA.
Ken Brown
nominated by Creekside Co-op
Name(s) of co-op(s) you belong to:
Creekside Co-op
How long you've been a member:
Since 2013
What roles have you served in co-ops, nonprofits, or other membership organizations?
- As a member of the Board of Directors during a tough time in the co-op’s short life, I have been involved in many detailed discussions regarding budget and finances, member engagement, and strategy. I am most proud of my work on fundraising initiatives, marketing initiatives, and as a member of a group that rewrote and elaborated on our mission statement and guiding philosophies. In my work with Creekside, I am always working to push our co-op toward adding more substantive value to our community.
- I also serve as a member of the church council of St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Glenside. This involves work on budgeting, personnel matters, strategy, building maintenance, special events, stewardship of charitable donations, and volunteer management, as well as a number of other areas.
- I am the leader of a collaboration of a number of faith-based organizations which support the resettlement of refugees in lower Montgomery County. This role requires significant volunteer management and solicitation and coordination of in-kind monetary and other donations.
Why are cooperatives important to you and to the Philadelphia area?
I believe that co-ops provide an opportunity for entrepreneurial innovation that does not exist in strictly for-profit or not-for-profit environments. I would like to work to find ways for cooperatives to meet some of the more challenging needs in our region, which are not currently being met entirely by other models of enterprise. Cooperatives have the potential to bring communities, both geographic and otherwise, together in a decidedly equitable manner for the benefit of the greater good.
Ken has experience in the following areas:
- Group process and decision-making
- Public speaking
- Writing newsletter articles
- Strategic planning
- Project management
- Wiki or website editing
- Nonprofit organization experience
- Volunteer programs
- Past or present participation on a board of directors
How will your experience, skills or unique perspectives strengthen the PACA Board?
I believe that I have a good deal of experience in cooperative and nonprofit leadership, and a great desire to find new and creative ways to apply cooperative principles in order to solve persistent problems.
Where do you see PACA in 5 years?
In five years I would like to see PACA facilitating cooperative ventures in a variety of areas where cooperatives have not traditionally been considered as a possible avenue for meeting needs and solving problems.
As you think about the three primary board roles—ambassador, advocate, and asker—in which role(s) do you think you will want to be most active?
I would like to be most active in the role of ambassador and asker. I think I have a positive track record regarding messaging, fundraising and bringing people together.
Jasmine Hamilton
nominated by Mariposa Food Co-op
Name(s) of co-op(s) you belong to:
Mariposa Food Co-op
How long you've been a member:
Since 2014
I worked for Mariposa Food Coop for 1 year in 2014 as the Education and Outreach Coordinator hosting educational programing on food and social justice to support the residents of West Philadelphia. I have been a member of Mariposa Food Coop since 2014. I have been involved with Mariposa Food Coop since 2009. My partner worked for Mariposa when it was in the smaller location; often I would volunteer my time though I was not a member to help support the store .
I have lived in two housing cooperatives: Preston's Paradise, a farming cooperative, and a LCA house called the Tree House which was a housing collective that supported artists that were activists who were in support of social change.
What roles have you served in co-ops, nonprofits, or other membership organizations?
I have served as a facilitator, educator, outreach coordinator, project manager, and public speaker.
Why are cooperatives important to you and to the Philadelphia area?
Cooperatives are important because they put the consumer back in power. They give the consumer opportunities to make their own decisions about policies that affect their life styles.
Speaking on food specifically, there are so many politics going on with food right now and it is important that the consumer be an active participants in the politics that are being developed that support food systems. Cooperatives make the process of understanding and knowing what is going on with social and economic transitions around food, education, and other things that affect our life styles transparent.
Jasmine has experience in the following areas:
- Group process and decision-making
- Meeting facilitation
- Public speaking
- Strategic planning
- Project management
- Nonprofit organization experience
- Volunteer programs
- Business or retail experience
How will your experience, skills or unique perspectives strengthen the PACA Board?
My work is to support, give resources, and be inclusive to underserved communities. The goal for me is to always have everyone involved in the conversation . I think that perspective will support diversity on may levels especially race and class giving the opportunity to have conversations around how cooperatives can be more inclusive and accessible .
Where do you see PACA in 5 years?
I see PACA as a national organization being known by and supporting cooperatives across the nation.
As you think about the three primary board roles—ambassador, advocate, and asker—in which role(s) do you think you will want to be most active?
I would like to be most active in the role of advocate .