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Nov 2nd Three Sisters Market Community Celebration
Nov 12th Corridor-Wide Meeting at Progressive Baptist Church
Three Sisters Market Leaders Attend Up and Coming Food Co-op Conference
Leaders of the Three Sisters Market, a community-owned food co-op in development, were recently invited to present on a panel discussion at the Up and Coming Food Co-op Conference in Kalamazoo, MI. The conference, held from September 12th to 15th, brought together representatives from startup food co-ops across the country. During the panel, Three Sisters Market board members Rickey Hall and Guy Cousins (Board Chair) shared their expertise in fundraising for food cooperatives, demonstrating the organization’s leadership in the food cooperative movement.
This marks the fifth year since 2017 that Rickey and Guy have represented Three Sisters Market in the conference. The Up and Coming Food Co-op Conference serves as a crucial learning platform for startup food co-ops, providing essential knowledge and resources for those working to open new cooperative grocery stores.
The Three Sisters Market will soon join the ranks of other Black-led food co-ops, of which there are only three out of more than 270 in total food co-ops across the US. The market plans to break ground in 2025, aligning with the typical development process for food co-ops, which often takes over a decade to launch.
Black-led food co-ops are demonstrating that cooperatives are an effective tool for bringing community-centered solutions to historically underserved areas that have been overlooked by major grocery chains. The Three Sisters Market aims to follow this model, addressing food insecurity while promoting community empowerment and community wealth.
“Three Sisters Market attendance at this conference is a crucial step in our journey,” said Elliott Royal, Interim Executive Director of the West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition. “Not only is our team learning from established co-ops and bringing that knowledge back to benefit our community, but we have become leaders in this space.” At this year’s conference, Rickey and Guy presented on the role that relationship building plays in securing grants and donations.
The Three Sisters Market will be located at 2901 Romare Bearden Dr. off of West Blvd. near the intersection of Clanton Rd. This location is in the heart of the West Boulevard Corridor, an area with over 19,000 residents that has been without a full-service grocery store since the 1980s. After years of advocating for a new grocery store, residents decided to take matters into their own hands by creating their own food co-op.
“The Three Sisters Market represents both a demonstration of community power and a means to continue building that power,” added Rickey Hall. “By taking control of our food system, we’re not only addressing immediate needs but also advancing health equity in our community.”
As the Three Sisters Market progresses towards its 2025 groundbreaking, the knowledge and connections gained at the Up and Coming Food Co-op Conference will play a crucial role in its development and success.
