The Dorchester Community Food Co-op is building community support and partnerships to open a multi-stakeholder co-op in Boston's largest and most diverse neighborhood. Learn more about why they chose the multi-stakeholder model for their co-op.

1. Dorchester Community Food CoDorchester Community Food CoDorchester Community Food CoDorchester Community Food Co----opopopop
Building Community Support and PartnershipsBuilding Community Support and PartnershipsBuilding Community Support and PartnershipsBuilding Community Support and Partnerships
for a Multifor a Multifor a Multifor a Multi----Stakeholder Food CoStakeholder Food CoStakeholder Food CoStakeholder Food Co----opopopop

2. Dorchester is Boston’s
largest and most diverse
neighborhood.
The more than 100,000
residents represent
a wide range
of socio-economic,
racial and
ethnic groups.

3. MissionMissionMissionMission
The Dorchester Community Food Co-op (DCFC)
will be a community and worker owned cooperative
enterprise that provides economic opportunity and
access to healthy, affordable food for residents of
Dorchester and the surrounding neighborhoods.

4. Key DecisionKey DecisionKey DecisionKey Decision
The Co-op project has three main objectives:
Economic Development
Access to Healthy Food
Active Community Space

5. Why a MultiWhy a MultiWhy a MultiWhy a Multi----Stakeholder CoStakeholder CoStakeholder CoStakeholder Co----op?op?op?op?
Begin to create a co-op economy in Dorchester, that
involves community residents as well as workers in the
enterprises
Expand the cooperative economy through purchasing
products and services from existing co-ops and supporting
the launch of new co-ops
Create a community asset that provides long-term job
opportunities with growth potential for neighborhood
residents.
Having workers as owners ensures that workers have a
seat on the Board and a say in the running of the business.

6. Structure of OwnershipStructure of OwnershipStructure of OwnershipStructure of Ownership
• Two classes of member-owners:
– Community-owners
• Member share = $100 per household
• Community member owners elect representatives
to the Board of Directors (x # of seats)
• Certain percent of profit distributed in Patronage
dividend based on $$ spent during year
– Worker-owners
• Member share = $250 per worker
• Worker member owners elect representatives to
the Board of Directors (x # of seats)
• Certain percent of profit distributed in Patronage
dividend based on # of hours worked during year

7. Example ofExample ofExample ofExample of
Consumer/Worker Owned Food CoConsumer/Worker Owned Food CoConsumer/Worker Owned Food CoConsumer/Worker Owned Food Co----opopopop
• Weaver St. Market (North Carolina)
www.weaverstreetmarket.coop

8. Community Organizing StrategyCommunity Organizing StrategyCommunity Organizing StrategyCommunity Organizing Strategy
• Identify and meet with key individuals in the
community
– Schedule one-on-ones to present co-op idea
– Invite participation in co-op activities
– Recruit leadership for the co-op and plug people into
volunteer activities
• Identify and meet with key groups in the
community/city
– Neighborhood associations and block groups
– Social service agencies
– Activist issue organizations
– City agencies

9. • Create activities and events to generate
interest in the co-op, connect the co-op identity
to positive community building, and begin to
build an interest list
– Have co-op materials at every event
– Sign up lists at every event
– Begin to provide value to the community, particularly
through “placemaking” events
– Hold events in different parts of the neighborhood
– Meetings are not always the best way to draw in
people
– Bring in community partners for each event
– Do publicity around each event

10. Examples of reaching out toExamples of reaching out toExamples of reaching out toExamples of reaching out to
individuals and potential partnersindividuals and potential partnersindividuals and potential partnersindividuals and potential partners
MarchMarchMarchMarch
2011201120112011
Series of initial meetings with community activists,
neighborhood groups and municipal agencies to
explore Dorchester Food Co-op concept. These
meetings continue throughout the development of
the co-op
April/May2011April/May2011April/May2011April/May2011
First community information meeting
held to discuss plans to start a
Dorchester Co-op.
Begin to gather names for Co-op Interest
List.
First meeting of steering committee

11. JuneJuneJuneJune----August 2011August 2011August 2011August 2011
Attend Community Fairs
Table at Farmers’ Markets
across Dorchester
DCFC represented at City of Boston Urban Agriculture
Kickoff
Coop invited to participate in Mayor’s Food Policy Council
January 2012January 2012January 2012January 2012

12. Receive Matching Grants from Trefler
Foundation and Boston Impact Initiative
for feasibility studies and to support
organizational capacity building.
Hire 3-person part-time team to handle
project management, outreach and
organizing, and pilot lines of business
development
OctoberOctoberOctoberOctober ––––
NovemberNovemberNovemberNovember
2012201220122012
Hire Winter Farmers’ Market
Manager and begin fundraising
and recruiting vendorsLynn Murray, Jhana Senxian,
Jenny Silverman
Jennie Msall

13. Neighborhood Groups:Neighborhood Groups:Neighborhood Groups:Neighborhood Groups:
Ashmont Hill Association
Ashmont Adams Association
Cedar Grove Association
Codman Square Neighborhood Council and Health Committee
Fields Corner Five Streets Association
Hancock St. Civic Association
Meetinghouse Hill Civic Association
Peabody Slope Association
Neighborhood Improvement Committee (Codman Square)
ROC (Redefining Our Community)
TNT (Talbot Norfolk Triangle)
UNA (United Neighborhoods Association)
In addition to meeting with dozens of individuals,
the DCFC organizers have met with the following organizations and groups

14. Health CentersHealth CentersHealth CentersHealth Centers
Wellness OrganizationsWellness OrganizationsWellness OrganizationsWellness Organizations
Boston Collaborative for Food and Fitness
Boston Public Health Commission
Bowdoin St. Health Center—Food in the Hood Committee
Carney Hospital
Codman Square Health Center
Family Nurturing Center
Harbor Health/Geiger Health Center
Healthworks Codman Square
Mattapan Collaborative on Food and Fitness
Patch Program
WIC Nutritionists Committee

15. Community OrganizationsCommunity OrganizationsCommunity OrganizationsCommunity Organizations
Educational InstitutionsEducational InstitutionsEducational InstitutionsEducational Institutions
AFAB-KAFANM Association of Haitian Women
Boston Architectural College
Center for Community Health, Education & Research
Dorchester Arts Collaborative
Dot Grows Garden Council/Boston Natural Areas Network
Four Corners Action Coalition
GreenDorchester
(formerly Dorchester Environmental Health Coalition)
Sustainability Guild International
The Food Project

16. Community EconomicCommunity EconomicCommunity EconomicCommunity Economic
Development OrganizationsDevelopment OrganizationsDevelopment OrganizationsDevelopment Organizations
Bowdoin Geneva Main Streets
Codman Square NDC
Dorchester Bay EDC
Fields Corner Main Streets
Four Corners Main Streets
St. Marks Area Main Streets
Uphams Corner Main Streets
Viet AID

17. City AgenciesCity AgenciesCity AgenciesCity Agencies
Boston DND
Food Initiatives of the Mayor’s Office
Mayor’s Food Policy Council
Boston Public Health Commission
FoundationsFoundationsFoundationsFoundations
The Boston Foundation
Community Law Foundation
Kendall Foundation
Trefler Foundation
Boston Impact Initiative

18. Examples of Activities and EventsExamples of Activities and EventsExamples of Activities and EventsExamples of Activities and Events
JuneJuneJuneJune
2011201120112011
• Food Co-op volunteers march in
Dorchester Day Parade and create first
visibility for Co-op

19. Summer 2011Summer 2011Summer 2011Summer 2011
First Co-op Community Potluck in
Nightingale Community Garden
SeptemberSeptemberSeptemberSeptember
2011201120112011
First $5 Meal Challenge—more
than 70 people attend

20. JanuaryJanuaryJanuaryJanuary----March 2012March 2012March 2012March 2012
Winter Farmers’ Market Grand
Opening attracts 650 shoppers on first
day, appearances by Mayor Menino
and other dignitaries
Fall 2012Fall 2012Fall 2012Fall 2012
Begin to organize for Winter Farmers’
Market
Kickstarter Campaign raises money
for the market AND creates
community buzz and outreach for the
market

21. Winter Farmers Market!Winter Farmers Market!Winter Farmers Market!Winter Farmers Market!

22. AprilAprilAprilApril
2012201220122012
Pot Luck and Membership kickoff
April 1
Co-op receives Mayor Menino’s
2012 Green Sustainable Food
Leadership Award
Co-op awarded Boston Public
Health Commission Strategic
Alliance for Health Food Access
Grant to run Community Supported
Café in Summer of 2012
MayMayMayMay
2012201220122012

23. JuneJuneJuneJune
2012201220122012
Goal of 100 member-
owners by Dorchester
Day achieved.
DCFC marches for
second year in
Dorchester Day Parade

24. AugustAugustAugustAugust
2012201220122012
“Fresh Fridays” is a smash success,
drawing more than 750 to the First
Parish Church on Friday evenings
for healthy food, music, and
dynamic space for celebrating the
diversity of Dorchester.

25. Fresh Fridays:Fresh Fridays:Fresh Fridays:Fresh Fridays: A Global Fusion of Taste & Sound

26. “Fresh Fridays Grand Finale in the
Coleman St. Community Garden is
attended by the Mayor and is
attended by over 250 local
residents!
SeptemberSeptemberSeptemberSeptember
2012201220122012

27. December 2012December 2012December 2012December 2012
Holiday Party and first Annual Meeting at
Cesaria’s Restaurant in Bowdoin Geneva.
Attended by 80 people—more than half
people of color.
JanuaryJanuaryJanuaryJanuary----MarchMarchMarchMarch
2013201320132013
Second Season of Winter
Farmers’ Market: Despite being
plagued with snowy Sundays—
attendance equal to first season
with much higher diversity ratios

28. March 2013March 2013March 2013March 2013
Seafood Festival at Winter Market co-
sponsored by Boston Collaborative for
Food and Fitness and Northwest Atlantic
marine Alliance draws big crowds.

29. Winter Farmers Market Season 2!Winter Farmers Market Season 2!Winter Farmers Market Season 2!Winter Farmers Market Season 2!

30. Next stepsNext stepsNext stepsNext steps
Vision
Develop plan for departments, product mix and store design
Continue to develop affordability models
Develop model for worker-owner component of co-op

31. Community and Membership
Build levels of engagement
Continue developing neighborhood teams and hold a
series of house parties, film nights and “meet-ups at
local restaurants
Achieve 2013 Membership Drive Goal of 500
household member-owners by December 31, 2013.
Current count is 243.
Continue to build development partners
Continue to develop institutional partners
Create “task” committees

32. Funding
Continue Grant writing process to fully fund development
and feasibility stage and begin funding for implementation
Continue selling equity shares.
Current equity is $20,658
Begin identifying sources for the $1.1 million in grants we
need to open the store
Systems
Create fully operational website
Create solid database and communication system
Do we need public presence (office space?)