(Individual License) WEBINAR: Grocery Democracy - Master the Art of Communicating Economic Democracy at Food Co-ops

For U.S. and Canadian food co-operators, including staff, managers, and boards of directors.

When you step into a food co-op, you’re not just shopping—you’re participating in a different kind of economy, one where people, not profits, make the decisions. But how do we effectively communicate that to our members, our communities, and each other?

In a time when economic power is increasingly influencing political institutions, co-ops offer a democratic alternative—one that shifts control back to the people. Yet, many still ask: Why should I care about democracy in my grocery store?

Join us for this engaging webinar, designed for co-op marketing and outreach professionals, board members, general managers, and staff.

What you’ll gain:

» The Foundational ‘Why’: The rationale for democratizing the economy through the cooperative model and why economic democracy matters now more than ever.

» Master the Narrative: Learn how to frame the democratic foundation of food co-ops in compelling, non-partisan language, and within the context of today’s political and economic climate.

» Storytelling Tools: Democracy-specific storytelling tools that inspire deeper engagement in your food co-op and that motivate new interest.

PRESENTERS:

JOHN RESTAKIS, Author, Humanizing the Economy: Co-operatives in the Age of Capital and Civilizing the State: Reclaiming Politics for the Common Good (New Society Publishers). John has 25 years of experience in the co-op movement. He is the former Executive Director of the BC Co-operative Association and Community Evolution Foundation. He writes and lectures on economic democracy and the role of co-operatives.

JON STEINMAN, Author, Grocery Story: The Promise of Food Co-ops in the Age of Grocery Giants (New Society Publishers). Jon is an owner-customer and past board director and President of the Kootenay Co-op. Jon’s Grocery Story Press publishes and designs resources to support the food co-op movement.

DURATION: 74 minutes
DATE RECORDED: March 18 and 25, 2025
FEATURED SPEAKERS: Jon Steinman, John Restakis
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Food co-op directors, managers, staff, member-owners
SUPPORTING RESOURCES: Yes