|
The Village: |
A Natural Food Cooperative
in Baltimore |
Elected Board Members
President
Skai Davis: Skai Davis is the founding member and current Acting President of The Village Inc: A Natural Food Co-Operative. She is co-owner and executive chef of the Yabba Pot Cafe. Skai's vision is to create an organization where healthy, natural foods, education, and a true sense of community can prosper. Skai has worked diligently with the organizers to move this vision into a reality.
Skai is interested in continuing her role as President for the duration of the year.
Please join our listserv so that you can be informed of all of our latest activities. www.baltimorevillage.org
or call for more info
410-662-8638
Vice President
Gretchen Heilman: I am a founding member and the current "Acting Manager" for the Village and I'm running for Vice President. My vision for our planet, which includes the Village, is that every living being experiences power, freedom, full self expression, and love, and that every person knows that they are THE ONE (that's you) to make THE difference in the world! In Baltimore I'm a Community Organizer, Activist, Holistic Health Counselor, Clinical Herbalist, Educator, Bridge Builder, and Lover of Life! I am committed to awakening people's common sense intuition about healing, eating well, living vibrantly, and celebrating community! My committment to you as Vice President is to encourage leadership among our current members, triple our membership by January 1, 2006, and to create a strong foundation for the Village to be known as THE place to be for all natural living services, offering the community affordable organic food for generations to come!
Secretary
Patti Brestel: I can bring a wealth of personal and professional experience and enthusiasm to help further the co-op's mission and vision. I co-founded Big C hange Networks, a $30MM company designed to empower middle-school aged kids about money and business, co-designed and patented an award-winning online money management application for families; co-founded OpinionXchange, a company created to empower consumers to connect with business in an open forum exchange.
I am a 20+ year marketing and advertising veteran with experience ranging from grassroots to global advertising and marketing campaigns at major advertising agencies in the Baltimore and Washington , D C markets. As a result I have good personal and professional networks in the region including folks involved in tourism and economic development for the C ity of Baltimore and in the media and advertising communities.
I've organized and managed fundraising events ranging from concerts to cookbooks to silent auctions. I've shopped at just about every co-op and natural foods grocery store between New York and Richmond over the past ten years. And, most importantly, I am truly excited about the opportunity to help build the positive community energy and spirit of a co-op in Baltimore .
Treasurer
Matthew Rowe: My name is Matthew Rowe, husband of Rebecca and father of Elizabeth, Isaac and Aidan. I am also an Environmental Scientist with the Maryland Department of the Environment. I am running for the Treasurer position on the Village Co-op Board of Directors. My passions lie in practicing and promoting anything related to environmental sustainability and social equity. I see the Village Co-op as an exercise in both of these concepts because its mission is to provide locally grown and organic foods to the underprivileged in Baltimore City. As if promoting social justice and sustainability in the City was not enough, I also feel that the City is a barometer of the health of the whole metropolitan region and that what we do in the city will have a ripple effect in the suburban counties. This vision has inspired me to commit some of my time and energy to the Village Co-op. I currently manage more than $500,000 in contracts for the State of Maryland and feel this experience has prepared me well for the Treasurer position. I ask for your support and blessing in this endeavor.
Member Liaison
Steffany Haaz: I am a founding member and have been acting Member Liaison of the co-op since the position was created. As such, I am the interface between individual members and the organization. In the continuing evolution of the co-op, this means being aware of the members needs and concerns, helping to keep people informed and involved in making the co-op a reflection of its members. I represent your interests at meetings, handle the process of starting or renewing memberships, and preside over the elections process.
I am a doctoral student in public health, a health educator/consultant, and a yoga teacher. I am committed to helping our community become more aware of their choices and how those choices impact happiness and well being. We can do this through access, education, and empowerment. I plan to see The Village grow from a small store into a pillar of community wellness and a place for the coming together of diverse people, interests, and resources.
I would be honored to continue serving as your Member Liaison.
Board Members at Large
Dalila M. Bailey: Since my transition from the study of physical therapy to epidemiology at the school of public health, I’ve recognized a huge responsibility knocking at the front door of my life each day. As a community member of an institution that boasts its “number one” status among schools of public health and claims to “Save Lives Millions at a Time“, my experience thus far hasn‘t brought me in touch with that crucial aspect. From the moment I walk out of the door, I am faced with a hungry, struggling, and dying community. So, I’ve taken initiative to add to the truth of this claim, searched and reached out to the public.
I have a genuine interest in the health and health education of the East Baltimore Community. I consider myself an experienced educator to various communities around the country and would like to make my contribution in this manner to the Village Natural Health Foods Cooperative.
Nora Bucke: My name is Nora Bucke and I would like to run for the Board of Directors of The Village. I have been a resident of Baltimore for 1½ years. When I moved to Baltimore I was surprised to find that it did not have a co-op. Luckily I saw the City Paper article describing the efforts to get The Village up and running. I joined The Village in July and have been attending meetings and helping with events.
I currently work for Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection monitoring stream health throughout the county. Prior to working at DEP I worked at the Common Market natural food co-op in Frederick, MD for 2 years as a cashier and a cashier supervisor. While working at the Common Market I learned about how a co-op functions as a business and a resource to the community.
I feel it is important to be an active member of my community. Serving on The Village Board of Directors is a great opportunity to stay involved and to have a positive influence by promoting healthy and sustainable living practices.
Debbie Hardin: Hello, my name is Debbie Hardin, and I am running for the Board of directors for the Village Inc: A Natural Food Cooperative. I first became aware of the co-op effort in February of 2004 through an article in the City Paper. I was very excited – went to the Yabba Pot that same day and signed up for the buying club. My involvement has increased greatly since then. I helped with various duties at the Party with a Purpose over the summer and organized vendors for this year’s Day of Renewal. I am committed to helping the co-op open its doors this February and committed to helping establish it as a vital and vibrant organization for the community.
Originally from Joppatowne, Maryland, I’ve lived in Charles Village for the past five years. I earned a degree in English from Johns Hopkins University, without having any specific plans attached to it – I chose the degree mainly because I enjoy reading and writing. I contemplated social work school, as I’ve always been drawn to helping people and have volunteered with troubled youths in various settings. My path has led me, however, to acupuncture school. I began a masters program at the Tai Sophia Institute in Laurel this year. I’ve found that acupuncture is a practice that will enable me to serve and support people in much the same way as social work could. I believe the skills I am developing in communication, healing and observation will help me to be a meaningful contribution to the Village. Presently, I also volunteer once a week with kindergartners and first-graders at the Village Learning Place and work part-time at Gordon Florist.
Janna Howley: My name is Janna Howley and I am running for a Board Member At Large position. I currently work for the Center for a Livable Future at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health coordinating the development of a Baltimore City-wide Food System Coalition. Our aim is to bring together all of the people working on food, hunger, poverty and economic development issues to have a stronger voice in the city and empower community groups who want to become more self-sufficient. Another part of my job includes working on a public health nutrition campaign that encourages consumers to reduce their meat & saturated fat consumption because of its links to certain diseases. I also manage a Saturday farm market in Washington, DC from May-October, LOVE cooking, and truly believe that the Co-Op is a huge step towards providing our community with affordable, safe, nutritious food.
Kazuri Ayobunmi Kiambu: Kazuri is a mother, daughter, wife, artist and a consciously spiritual being. Born Lynda Beauford on June 23, 1967, she has been an at-home mother since May 2000. Previously, the State of Maryland employed her as a fiscal clerk where she leant 12 years of public service.
“Care patience and learning through life experiences is a much welcomed aspect of my life. I chose to be an at home mom after the birth of our first son Oladele, who is now 4 years old. My life has been even more enriched with our second son Biko, who is now two. It is through spirit that I have learned to make good for life choices; for self, for family and through others”.
Kazuri was one of the original members of Families for Natural Living when it began. She has since participated in other community/family based food cooperatives. As an at home mother and wife, her focus has been to provide for the needs of her demanding family. She also finds time to dedicate to her passion and self-expression through the creation of art.
Her art takes the form of many mediums from making posters, cards or flyers; to painting, collages, and home decoration. She offers her gift through her label Kazuri Crafts.
Jamillah Nasir: Jamillah Nasir is an experienced mother of four and one of eight children, which has had a very strong influence on her parenting style. She has an earnest commitment to the health and well-being of women and their families. Her belief is that if we work to build strong families, we will create stronger communities and give birth to a new and more beautiful society.
Woman’s Work Birth and Family Support Services is a network of service providers for all things related to pregnancy, early parenting and holistic family life. Their services include midwifery and obstetrical care referrals, birth and postpartum doula services, prenatal yoga, infant and pregnancy massage, as well as childbirth education, parenting and sibling classes. She has conducted several workshops, lectures and trainings throughout the Maryland/D.C. Metropolitan Area.
She now educates three of her four children at home. She is a business owner, a certified doula, a childbirth educator and a lactation peer counselor. However, her most important role is that of a mother. Her oldest child is now 16 years old and he is completely immersed in the adolescent experience. She says that one of her most beautiful parenting experiences has been watching the unfolding of this new person right before her eyes because it is through this observation that she is able to see much more of herself than she ever thought possible.
I am interested in becoming a Board Member for the Village Co-Op because I would love to see your organization flourish, and it is my belief that as a member, I would be able to lend my skills and acquired knowledge to your overall mission. As a founding member of the Baltimore Chapter of Families for Natural Living, my colleagues and I installed such a component as part of our approach to healthy living. It is my belief that providing families and communities with high quality foods and healthcare products that are not laced with pesticides and unhealthful things is a noble undertaking and should be a part of any holistic approach to living in today’s society. Should you choose me, I would be honored to serve. I look forward to hearing from you soon. My phone number is 410-493-8042.
Warren Nelson:
Brothers, Sisters and Human Beings Alike,
My name is Warren Nelson, better known in "the hood" as DK for Dessalines Kambon. I am a founding member of the Baltimore Village Co-op and currently a board member. I will always be a member of our co-op and intend to see its expansion into a bigger and better community economic program. For example, people have been talking about our next community economic program possibly being a Child Care Cooperative and then...
I would like to continue being a board member. I've always worked to empower the community and worked on behalf of working people and the working poor. I believe that cooperative economics on the grassroots level is the peoples righteous response to wall street economics. Let's fight the good fight with cooperative economics. Keep me on the board.
Margie Roswell: I've been involved with the Coop since December 2003. A decade-or-so before that, I was a member of the Belly Food Coop. My mission is to increase the availability of, and to build community around healthful food. Did you know that organic food actually has 30% more antioxidants than conventionally-grown? So, organics not only contain fewer pesticides, but they're actually more nutritious, as well. I helped launch a team that brought an experiential nutrition education program to a public school in Baltimore (Hampstead Hill Academy). I currently teach Sunday cooking classes for the Cancer Project at the Yabba Pot. In my day job I work at a health policy organization. I developed and maintain the Coop's website: www.BaltimoreVillage.org.
Lucas Seipp-Williams: Lucas Seipp-Williams is 23 years of age and a native of Baltimore. After studying Sociology and International Relations in Florida and traveling the world, he has returned to Baltimore with a passion for nutrition, organic food, and community organizing. Lucas lives in nearby Bolton Hill, works as a youth organizer in neighborhoods surrounding Charles Village, and is a currently enrolled at the Holistic Massage Training Institute on University and Charles St. As a board member of The Village, Lucas would focus on neighborhood outreach to ensure that the food cooperative served a diverse population. Lucas is slated to assist the teacher of the Village sponsored “Cooking to Survive Cancer” class in February and March. As a youth organizer, Lucas is spearheading an effort to reform snack and lunch programs in the Homewood area. At the Franciscan Youth Center (hosted by Lovely Lane Church), Lucas is coordinating a nutrition and cooking class pilot project and hopes to involve the middle school aged youth in the food cooperative with internships. | 
