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Please provide a brief statement of introduction/bio: 

Among my many roles and titles, I am a mother, a wife, a grief psychotherapist, an outdoors enthusiast, an amateur herbalist, a transplant from a big city (hey Chicago!), and a brand-new, first-time dog owner. My friends would say I am loyal and funny. My husband would call me honest and empathetic. My daughters would tell you that they like my sourdough pancakes and snuggle time. 

I know that I am a person who is not satisfied if I am not engaged with what is authentic, with what matters both in my personal life and in the wider world. I’m interested in which day the junkos will be back at our feeder on their way north, hopeful that my pea shoots will emerge from the soil sometime soon, and always engaged in the vital work of healing – even when this feels hard. I love to bring people together over a meal or a bonfire, and to share baked goods with my colleagues. 

Why would you like to serve on the Board of Directors of Whole Foods Co-op? 

I would like to serve on the Whole Foods Co-op Board because I am passionate about food. I love preparing and eating it, but I also care deeply about honoring where it comes from – both the land where it grows and the people involved in its progress from the earth to the plate. 

When my daughters were born, my husband and I agreed that we would prioritize serving them fresh, organic, local foods. For us, this has meant gardening as we can, and participating in CSAs, but also maintaining membership at our local food co-op. Becoming an owner of Whole Foods Co-op was one of my first acts upon moving up to Duluth from St. Paul four years ago. 

Seeking to become a board member is the next step for me in this quest. I am here to do my part in ensuring that as many community members as possible have access to the healthy, high-quality food that is the standard fare here. I have a vision of increasing Co-op visibility and accessibility in the Duluth community, and am excited to partner with all of the good work already being done. 

Describe any volunteer or paid experiences relevant to your service as a Co-op Board member. How have you demonstrated a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and how do you see yourself demonstrating this during your WFC Board Service?

I am a social worker who has spent my entire professional life working with and for non-profit organizations. I have worked in homeless shelters and as an advocate for affordable housing, I have worked as a counselor and student advocate in elementary schools, and have worked as a grief psychotherapist with Essentia Health for the last four years. 

As a social worker, a commitment to diversity and inclusion has always been a vital part of who I am. I can see myself continuing to demonstrate this during my board service through intentionally engaging all Co-op stakeholders, as well as those in the community. I believe that every person who cares about the Co-op has the right to share their ideas and perspectives, so holding space for these will be vital. I look forward to participating in community events on behalf of the Co-op, making sure that anyone who wants to be heard has their place. 

What opportunities and challenges do you see in the future for Whole Foods Co-op?

We live in complicated times, with increasingly uncertain climate predictions and divisive political landscapes. I imagine the Co-op is not immune to these, particularly with its strong commitment to and relationships with local farmers and creators. I see this as both a challenge and an opportunity. I am sure that it will be challenging to continue to provide high-quality products in a way that is environmentally sustainable and economically viable at the same time. 

I also believe in the mission of the Co-op, and its ability to engage the increasingly diverse communities that call Duluth home. I know that there are answers to these thorny questions, and am hopeful that I can be part of finding them.  

Please provide a brief statement of introduction/bio: 

Hello, I’m Elyse, I am the Produce Assistant Manager at the Hillside store. I grew up in Duluth and now live in the Spirit Valley area with my husband, who is also a WFC employee, and our three cats. I moved to Minneapolis for college and spent several years there and on the West Coast before moving to South Korea for four years to teach English. I was drawn back to Duluth as an adult and have loved re-discovering our community over the last seven years. I met my husband at the Co-op, where we both worked at the time, and shared in a mutual appreciation of the cooperative model. We both sought other work and returned to the Co-op after realizing it is the place we most value in Duluth and is worth spending our days supporting. In my free time, I enjoy kayaking local rivers and lakes with my husband, birdwatching, genealogy, and fixing up our new ‘old’ house. 

Why would you like to serve on the Board of Directors of Whole Foods Co-op? 

I love the Co-op. I believe it is essential to our community and local economy, and I want to advocate for that as a more active owner. I have attended several board meetings this year to understand the board’s reach and abilities; I believe the board could benefit from an employee’s perspective, providing a more diverse and inclusive viewpoint when deciding policy and direction for the Co-op’s future. I interact with owners, non-owners, and employees every week; I hear their concerns and praises, and this consistent interaction is an opportunity not afforded to non-employee board members. The Co-op is a wonderful place to work and its success is integral to my family. 

Describe any volunteer or paid experiences relevant to your service as a Co-op Board member. How have you demonstrated a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and how do you see yourself demonstrating this during your WFC Board Service?

I have nearly four years of experience in a natural foods setting from my experience at the Hillside store, The Wedge Co-op in Minneapolis, and Whole Foods Market in St. Paul. I studied sustainable design at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and spent a semester in London studying eco-tourism. I also worked as a project manager, builder, and designer for O2 Treehouse, based in California, which focused on green building practices. 

Being a part of the neurodivergent community, I have experienced navigating a world that is not built with ‘the whole’ in mind. I feel my experience often allows me to consider the experiences and non-inclusion of people from an under-represented community. The years I spent overseas teaching and living in a foreign culture have also allowed me to experience being a cultural outsider, learning the value of alternative viewpoints and ways of problem-solving, and adjusting my expectations to include those. I hope to learn more about DEI alongside fellow board members and implement those values.

What opportunities and challenges do you see in the future for Whole Foods Co-op?

I would like to see WFC practice its commitment to ‘local’ through more active engagement with its immediate communities. This is an opportunity to set us apart from other stores as not just a destination but a neighborhood asset. Offering organic food is no longer a unique value to WFC, but our commitment to the local food economy, promoting inclusive brands, supporting small businesses, and reinvesting in the community are all values and practices that I feel we do better than any other store in the area. We have an opportunity to help our community better understand that investing in the Co-op is investing in their community. 

Other Comments:

As an employee, I am also a member of the UFCW union that represents Co-op employees. I believe the board and union are both working to strengthen our internal and external community to make Whole Foods Co-op a local leader in business. I would be proud to be a part of these shared efforts. I also understand the need for discretion in board matters and the separation of my potential board work and my Co-op employment; I believe I can uphold the standard of professionalism this would require. I would want my time as an employee-director to be looked upon positively and as an asset, opening the doors and setting expectations for more employee-directorships in the future.   

Please provide a brief statement of introduction/bio: 

I am an 18-year resident of Duluth with a BA from the University of Minnesota Duluth in Criminology and a minor in Photography. And I have spent the last 10 years working to support and promote local businesses – not only through my various jobs as a social media manager, but also through my passion project, Ellipsis. I have been involved with many local organizations such as the Duluth Superior Film Festival, Duluth Superior Pride, WE Health Clinic, and as a co-founder/producer/music director of FEMN FEST. I am currently employed by Downtown Duluth, a 501c6 whose mission is to advocate for downtown businesses. 

Why would you like to serve on the Board of Directors of Whole Foods Co-op? 

Not only am I a FREQUENT shopper of the Co-op, but I am also a strong supporter of the community support that y’all give to so many other organizations/non-profits. And I would love to play an active role in that. I have a wide variety of experiences that I believe would be beneficial to the organization, and as a former employee (front-end and deli), I think that I could bring the employee perspective in addition to a community one. 

Describe any volunteer or paid experiences relevant to your service as a Co-op Board member. How have you demonstrated a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and how do you see yourself demonstrating this during your WFC Board Service?

I have a strong event-planning background that ranges from small community events to 650+ community dinners/annual celebrations. And through my work with Duluth Superior Pride and FEMN FEST, I have strived to highlight underrepresented voices in our community. 

What opportunities and challenges do you see in the future for Whole Foods Co-op?

Rising food costs remain a concern for many individuals in our community, but the Co-op has some great options for folks who buy in bulk. When I worked there, I knew that the bulk section was intimidating for a lot of folks. I think that if there was a way to share with the community how easy it is, it might give people the encouragement to go to the Hillside or Denfeld locations. And while I know there are recipes in each monthly newsletter, perhaps sharing some with a cost breakdown per portion that everyone would have access to would be beneficial.    

Please provide a brief statement of introduction/bio: 

Hello! My name is Amber Schlater (she/her) and I am a Duluth transplant; originally from Pittsburgh, PA, I moved to Fort Collins, CO in 2007, and then to Hamilton, ON in 2014 before settling here in Duluth in 2016. Along the way, I met my best friend (now husband) and had three children. Professionally, I am an associate professor at The College of St. Scholastica, where I teach in the biology department. Personally, I am interested in engaging in a variety of activities with my family, including running, cycling, hiking, camping, canoeing, curling, skiing, snowboarding, and Lego-ing. When we’re not busy playing, we enjoy food; I love to cook, and cater as best I can to the wide breadth of lifestyle choices that reside in my household (having vegan, vegetarian, and omnivore diets all under one roof keeps things interesting!). 

While my initial attraction to the Whole Foods Co-op (WFC) was rooted in healthy living and sustainability, it has since evolved into so much further than that. The cooperative economy continues to prove an invaluable asset in bolstering local food production, and our resilient and compassionate community maintains an inarguably unique stronghold on WFC’s success; to the latter point, it is our Co-op community that truly sets us apart from the conventional grocery store model. 

Why would you like to serve on the Board of Directors of Whole Foods Co-op? 

I have spent the past two years proudly serving as a director on the Whole Foods Co-op (WFC) Board of Directors, where I have served on multiple committees (both standing and ad-hoc) and engaged in numerous workshops and training events. In all of this, I feel strongly that my work has only just begun. To date, my time on the Board has offered incredible opportunities to work both within and beyond our co-op and greater Arrowhead community. One of the more recent projects I have had the pleasure of collaborating on with my fellow directors was aimed at taking a deep dive into board communication; specifically, we have been developing our communication strategies to best promote inclusivity and foster a welcoming environment, all while upholding our board holism policy. I had the privilege of presenting some of this work with Board President Maria Isley at this year’s Consumer Cooperative Management Association (CCMA), where we spoke with individuals representing nearly all facets of the cooperative grocery scene nationwide and workshopped a myriad of topics around strengthening our respective cooperative communities. I am excited, eager, and hopeful to continue this work on the Board.

Describe any volunteer or paid experiences relevant to your service as a Co-op Board member. How have you demonstrated a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and how do you see yourself demonstrating this during your WFC Board Service?

Specifically pertaining to my commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), a plethora of formal, robust training and educational experiences have shaped my DEI outlook, which I regularly integrate into my work on the WFC board. That being said, I also fully appreciate that DEI work is exceptionally complex and therefore never really complete. Accordingly, I continue to seek out opportunities to widen my perspective and understanding of barriers that may impact DEI work within and beyond our Co-op community.

What opportunities and challenges do you see in the future for Whole Foods Co-op?

My two years of WFC board service have underscored both unique opportunities and equally unique challenges within our Co-op. Regarding the former, it is clear that the landscape of natural foods is rapidly shifting; with the broad availability of organic, clean ingredients in all major grocery chains, this piece of our co-op identity does not necessarily set us apart in the same way that it once perhaps did. What does, however, set us apart is our rich sense of community and deep commitment to a healthy, sustainable local food system; here lies so much opportunity. Our shelves serve as an imperative springboard for local producers and farmers, and our continued support of programs like the Grow Local Food Fund further proves to be essential in meeting our ENDS. 

And yet, for every opportunity ahead, there seems to be an equally significant challenge. Perhaps the most pressing challenge we face as a co-op is access, both to the food on our shelves and to stake in our ownership. The barrier of access is substantial; it impacts many of the staff who keep our co-op running, and the very neighborhoods in which our co-op stores reside. To support our community – our entire community – it is imperative that we, as a co-op, remain nimble; whether we consider approaches taken by many other co-ops, like a hybrid-model, or something completely new, it is crucial that we nurture all of our community. To that end, between our highly equipped general manager and our exceptional staff, I feel very optimistic and excited about our co-op’s ability to navigate this and other challenges. 

Other Comments:

Spending time at WFC is something I genuinely enjoy. Growing up, and even into early adulthood and early parenthood, I did not have reliable access to healthy, whole foods; groceries were often paid for with food stamps and/or WIC checks, and grocery shopping became a fearful, shameful, and sometimes traumatic event. While I no longer require food assistance services, those experiences have permanently shaped my relationship with food and food accessibility. I am also viscerally aware of the fact that food insecurity is a byproduct of greater societal inequities, and can present itself in the blink of an eye. To that end, the WFC’s commitment to broader social and environmental justice is extremely important to me, and I am eager to continue my work as a board member of our co-op and to nurture our most valuable asset: our community.     

Please provide a brief statement of introduction/bio: 

It takes a seasoned organizational professional to provide the leadership, motivation, and strategies to build strategic partnerships and to expand opportunities for the organization and its partners. 

I am enthusiastic about an opportunity that continues to allow me to fully use my skills and experience acquired over 25 years of successful employment in a highly competitive market and volatile economy. 

My high level of attentiveness combined with my excellent communication and organizational skills have helped me attain a strong professional record across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, which reflect my diligence and dedication to my work. Rigorous job positions in the communication, government, and social service industries have not only given me the opportunity to create, connect, and structure relationships, but in addition, perfected my problem-solving and assessment skills. Moreover, I have also developed research skills in a number of capacities by compiling and examining data that ensured the longevity of programs through special projects from both public and private organizations. 

Why would you like to serve on the Board of Directors of Whole Foods Co-op? 

After becoming an owner at Whole Foods Co-op almost 10 years ago, I remember watching the changes, community impact, and growth happening, and I had wondered what was going on behind all those things. Working for a local non-profit who benefited almost daily from the incredible work the Co-op does, I decided it was time for ME to give back. 

Joining the Whole Foods Co-op Board a few years back, I had no idea what to expect- the learning curve was steep, but the experience has been rewarding. Staff and other board members have been there every step of the way to help me learn the ropes, especially in how to be on a governance board. Representing all points of view, but speaking with one voice, is no small task. I have learned that no matter the differences of style, character, point of view and personal perception, everyone brings something of worth to the table. We come from many different experiences and backgrounds, but we all come together to share our care and our hopes for the Co-op and do our best to represent our owners. My hope is to continue to create positive change and impact for our Co-op. 

Describe any volunteer or paid experiences relevant to your service as a Co-op Board member. How have you demonstrated a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and how do you see yourself demonstrating this during your WFC Board Service?

With 25 years of service to local communities through work in both the private, public and nonprofit sectors, I have made it my mission to educate, communicate, organize, develop and lead. Before moving to Duluth, I helped shape the cities of Los Angeles and Denver. I worked on teams to develop inner city parks and recreations programs to keep youth healthy and active. I worked with homeless youth, creating a path to self-sufficiency, while creating a non-profit, rescuing and redistributing unused food to the hungry. My community support continued when moving to Duluth, where I led the Chum food shelf. Throughout my tenure at the food shelf, we created innovative programs to feed as many as 16,000 people a year with over 750,000 pounds of food. These programs included mobile pantries, home delivery service, and a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program, distributing 80 CSA shares a week, while supporting local farms. 

Along with my daily jobs, I have also had the privilege to serve on many boards and committees including: Board member of Whole Foods Co-op—member of the Recruitment, Board Engagement, and General Manager/Board Relations Committees, Board member of Hunger Solutions Minnesota, and MN Department of Agriculture Good Food Access Board. 

What opportunities and challenges do you see in the future for Whole Foods Co-op?

Visiting Portland, Maine this past spring for the National Co-op Conference, it was expressed over and over again that it is an exciting time to be part of a food co-op in the United States. It was amazing to hear from co-ops across the country about the growing numbers of people and communities that are discovering their power and organizing food co-ops in their neighborhoods, while thriving food co-ops, like Whole Foods Co-op continue to grow and adapt to serve their communities. There are many more successes on the horizon for the Co-op—more so, than we saw only a few years ago when the pandemic hit. Serving on the Board these past few years, I am confident that the Co-op will continue to: advance social and environmental change, grow our local labor market, make more food more affordable, lift up local producers, create stronger communities, utilize and promote a safe and just supply chain, and be stewards of environmental responsibility. 

While we try to remain positive about the impacts the Co-op will make, we also have a responsibility to be prepared for the negatives, and funding and financial sustainability will need to remain front and center for the Co-op. 

Other Comments:

A HUGE thank you to all the owners, staff, producers, and everyone that makes the Whole Foods Co-op such a special place. You have all given your heart and soul to create an inclusive environment that brings such community pride. It has been an absolute honor to serve on the Board of Directors, and have the ability to shape and mold many of these successes. My hope is that I am able to continue my role on the Board and continue to build upon the intangible benefit of a sense of community and belonging. Where shoppers get to know staff, friendships begin and are nurtured there, and like-minded people can feel safe knowing there’s a place where others appreciate their opinions and share their values. If part of your definition of “the good life” includes living in a vibrant and thriving community, being part of the Whole Foods Co-op allows me to contribute to that community.