Ayana Curran-Howes
Why would you like to serve on the City Market Board? What excites you about becoming a Board Member?
I am deeply committed to food systems transformation and have been since I learned about Industrial Animal Ag at the age of & and told my mom I wanted to be vegetarian. Today, I study the care ethics and agroecological practices in the NEK. I would love offer up my skill set in food systems work to have a grounded community impact outside of my academic work. This is the first coop I have been a part of and it has been wonderful. Many of my grad student friends are still reluctant to shop here because of the prices and I would love to increase engagement and membership rates with such a large part of the Burlington community!
The Board seeks candidates who are dedicated, cooperative, committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and willing to participate in group discussions ranging from financial oversight to support of management, staff and Members. Please describe the skills and experiences you have that will help you be an effective Board Member in these regards. How would you use your skills and experiences to help the Board understand and use data as part of the decision-making process of our community-owned cooperative?
As a student and practitioner of agroecology, I believe in the value of participatory approaches grounded in relational care ethics. I have facilitated and coordinated countless meetings/discussions from my time as Ed & Outreach Lead for a conservation nonprofit working with stakeholders from across the watershed to present day where I coordinate the Institute for Agroecology Lab, speak on and facilitate panels focused on social justice, actively organize in my grad student union, serve on the Board of the Will Miller Social Justice Lecture Series and pursue a PhD dedicated to improving the lives of alternative farmers here in Vermont. I also manage my own research budgets and manage the Old North End Farmers Market, providing me with the financial literacy for this position. I have a deep understanding of Food Systems issues as this is what my PhD is on – happy to use my research and comms and critical thinking skills.
Describe your prior involvement with community organizations and/or cooperatives. What did you learn from these experiences?
All of my professional experience has been centered around providing education, resources, and services for different communities. This is intermingled with my time spent in higher ed – often working multiple jobs. I think it is vital to be a part of the communities you work with and take a restorative justice approach where the most marginalized voices are prioritized. In working with people from a range of backgrounds having a frank conversation to develop shared values is critical as well – we have to move through differences together to accomplish shared missions. I am also actively involved in community orgs in my personal time and find them to be the most enriching, joyous parts of life. See my resume for all the orgs! If you aren’t working towards a brighter future for all with your friends I would highly recommend it.
The Board collaborates with the General Manager to support inclusion, diversity, equity, access and social justice (IDEAS) at City Market. How would you ensure that the Board's work is grounded in these principles? How would you help point City Market in the right direction when it comes to IDEAS? Please describe any prior involvement in IDEAS work either personally or professionally?
I think the workers at City Market are the face of the coop so a worker-centered approach if necessary. Ensuring the General Manager feels supported to provide a working environment that centers these principles means not just deciding what it means for the co-op to feel inclusive from our vantage point, but from the workers themselves – this goes for all the elements of IDEAS. Workers have great ideas and any accessibility, social justice, or DEI efforts/initiatives that would impact their day-to-day should be open for them to contribute to.
What opportunities and challenges do you see in the future of City Market?
There is an ever-evolving landscape at causes to care about and within the food system consumers have growing literacy in the interconnected sociopolitical, environmental and cultural issues that are tethered to their food choices. I want to address consumers evolving values and make the shopping trip more ease-full and transparent. There has been growing anti-houseless rhetoric among some downtown businesses and I think the coop as a source of nourishment and community values has the opportunity to contribute something truly progressive to this conversation. I am not sure how connected the coop is to the efforts to care for community through free food but I think at a time at compounding crisis tides lift all boats. I would also love to increase awareness and engagement with the coop among grad students/undergrads/young professionals.