Our story
It all started with a shared belief: access to healthy food is a human right.
In 2015, a group of food justice advocates began exploring the possibility of a cooperative grocery to serve Louisville, Kentucky’s urban neighborhoods. What started as a shared belief turned into a mission to open a community-owned grocery store, through a cooperative business model.
We believe a community’s self-reliance is essential to a equitable food system and that our community grocery should be a place where everyone feels welcome, owner and non-owner alike.
In 2016, we talked to hundreds of our neighbors at community meetings and events, while collecting and analyzing data about people’s shopping habits. We researched cooperative grocery stores in cities similar to Louisville, and we captured media attention [link to blog about media].
Then, in 2017, we incorporated a non-profit, Louisville Association for Community Economics, to promote a cooperative grocery for Louisville.
Today we are still working hard towards our goal of opening a community grocery store. We have worked with community members, U of L’s School of Business, and neighborhood organizations to research potential neighborhoods for the community grocery. We have held community events and begun outreach campaigns to educate the community about cooperatives. And we meet monthly [link to community meetings page] to continue our efforts.
What’s left to do? A lot! How can you help? In a multitude of ways! We need volunteers to help with outreach events, engagement at our community meetings, and individuals to invest in the community grocery by supporting our efforts. We hope you’ll join us on our mission!
Our mission & values
Mission statement
To build a cooperatively-owned grocery store that supports the local economy by providing health, affordable food through just and equitable food practices, employment, and ownership.
Values
We are community-driven, we believe in equity, accountability, and empowerment.
Who we are
Over the past three years, our small group of food justice advocates has turned into a community of people dedicated to opening a community grocery in Louisville. United by shared values, we each contribute our talents, strengths, and passion to the mission.
Our Community
The world knows Louisville as the host of the Kentucky Derby, the birthplace of the Hot Brown, and the home to the best bourbon distilleries in the world. But we know Louisville is so much more!
