council elections
Voting for our next co-op leadership begins Saturday, April 5th! The candidate information provided will help you make an informed choice.
Voting is an important member responsibility, and we encourage all members to participate. Instructions will be emailed before voting begins—stay tuned!
Katrina Light (she/her)
Why are cooperatives in general and the Kingston Food Co-op in particular important to you?
Food Cooperatives are important in promoting healthier communities, more sustainable food systems, and creating economic equity. The Kingston Co-op is important in building a stronger and more self-sufficient Kingston. I live in Kingston, and I love Kingston, and want to continue to be part of strengthening its Food System by providing more outlets for healthy and equitable food in a convenient and central location.
What volunteer or professional experiences have you had with other cooperatives, businesses, organizations, or movements?
I used to work at Free Geek, which is a cooperative centered around reusing technology and increasing access to technology for all.
How will your experience, skills, or unique perspectives strengthen the Co-op Council?
I have worked in Food Systems for over 20 years. I have experience in agricultural from working on farms. I have experience in sustainable procurement from being a buyer for an educational institution. I have worked in distribution, in retail food service and have significant experience working in the Food Access space.
What do you perceive to be the long- and short-term challenges facing the Kingston Food Co-op and how would you address them?
I think some of the challenges revolve around what to do in this moment and how to balance current action with future planning endeavors. I am skilled at big-picture and complex systems approaches and an excellent multi-tasker. Hopefully I can jump in and help!
AnneMarie Tedeschi (she/her)
Why are cooperatives in general and the Kingston Food Co-op in particular important to you?
Cooperatives are a beautiful way to involve community members in food access directly. I believe Kingston would benefit greatly from a food co-op because it could bring more equity, inclusion and greater food access to the community.
What volunteer or professional experiences have you had with other cooperatives, businesses, organizations, or movements?
I served as a member of the Community Engagement Working Group from June through October of last year. Also, I was on the fundraising committee for the Boulder Food Co-op in 2007 and also worked there in the cafe, juice bar and grocery store from 2006-2007. Other cooperatives that I was involved in include Thy Herb Collective and Tweefontein Herb Farm Collective.
How will your experience, skills, or unique perspectives strengthen the Co-op Council?
I have strong connections within the local farming community through being a farmer at Tweefontein Herb Farm for three years and from being involved in the Kingston farmers market for 7 years through my business, Infinite Roots and my farmers market partner, Catskill Fungi. I thrive in a community setting, connecting and sharing perspectives with compassion. Other strengths I could offer include research, workshops and presentations.
What do you perceive to be the long- and short-term challenges facing the Kingston Food Co-op and how would you address them?
The most obvious short-term challenge I see for the co-op is how to get started and gain momentum in a sustainable way. I think starting small with the mini-market is a great way to start building revenue as well as community and presence. I do think simplifying the pitch to the community into more digestible, easy-to-understand terms will increase members and inclusivity. I can foresee a long-term challenge to be how to maintain steady business growth to keep the co-op afloat while simultaneously providing affordable food access within the community. Also, the current administration's cuts in funding to food assistance programs may put more pressure on small organizations like us. I do think small steps will continue to help the co-op survive and thrive in a sustainable way.