The Central Brooklyn Food Democracy Project

The Brooklyn Movement Center and RiseBoro have teamed up to lead a project to imagine a neighborhood-based food system powered by a new generation of consumer- and worker-owned cooperative food enterprises. They together, incubate the consumer-owned grocery coop (The Central Brooklyn Food Coop), organize and support new cooperatively owned food business, and implementcommunity culinary education programs. 

The 2019-2023 goals of the Central Brooklyn Food Democracy Project (CBFDP)related to worker-coops include:

• In collaboration with the Working World, start 6 new worker-owned, democratically-run cooperative food businesses, and support the existing 2 worker-owned coops, employing at least 36 people. 
• Complete the Development of a Community Chef worker-cooperative that will lead a food education institute within the food coop. The Chefs will teach culinary courses and conduct cooking demonstrations among the food coop community of families.
• Create a project leadership team that will ensure coordination and create a Central Brooklyn Food Democracy support network.

Job Summary

The Worker-Coop Developer builds on the RiseBoro Food Justice Team’s years of field experience in Bushwick and Central Brooklyn to:support current worker-owned coops and coops in formation, including: a Community Chef coop and the Brooklyn Packers; develop new worker-coops all along the food supply chain, with the support of the Food Justice Program Manager.

• Together with the Food Justice Program Manager, create, plan, and deliver workshops with community members to deepen analysis of food and economic justice issues.  
• Conduct outreach and respond to opportunities to reach community members and leaders to awaken and deepen public consciousness about economic democracy and activate participation in our work.
• Seek out new opportunities, partnerships, and initiatives through networking and research and by attending conferences, trainings, events, and meetings with stakeholders, strategic local and city-wide partners, government agencies and other support organizations.
• Work with other leaders in the CBFDP team to integrate our work, build the network, and ensure success of the project whole.

Cooperative Development

• Together with Food Justice Program Manager, participate in process design for all coops.
• Conduct Feasibility and/or Marketing Studies with new coops.
• Canvas local business landscape to identify opportunities for coop conversion.
• Along with TA providers, coordinate process of legal incorporation and governance of coops.
• Develop, review and assist in implementing marketing strategy with coop members.
• Support the development/strengthening of the back office for the business.
• Assist in maintaining customer contact database/member information.
• Work with members to develop sales promotions and communications tools.
• Outreach to media.
• Organize and attend regular coop meetings in the evenings and weekends.
• Coordinate with the CBFDP evaluation team, implement tools, and maintain system for data management.

Fundraising

While this work is led by the Food Justice Program Director, the worker-coop developer will contribute in the following ways:

• Provide narrative and quantitative content for grant proposals and marketing materials. 
  • Once funding is obtained for the program
    • Track and report on relevant programming. 
    • Keep expenditures in line withprogram budget. 

COMPETENCIES

Skills

• Business/entrepreneurship development
• Coaching and mentoring
• Sales and marketing support
• Leadership development, Consensus decision-making
• Excellent communication skills
• The ability to manage multiple projects at once 
• Mediation, conflict management, and troubleshooting

Qualifications

• Experience starting a business
• Able to work both independently and as part of a team
• Ability to speak and write fluently in Spanish preferred
• Knowledge of, and experience with, worker cooperatives or socially responsible businesses