Email the Co-op Board of Directors:

board@coopmarket.org

I moved to Fairbanks from a small coastal town in Northern California in 2005, where I had begun to garden in the temperate climate. Once in Fairbanks, the farmer’s markets and our Alaskan garden was my savior during the summer months. My longing for a smaller, more specialty grocery store focusing on natural, organic, and local products was met by the inception of the Fairbanks Co-op. The available items were enticing, and the core values of concern for community, sustainability and fairness matched my outlook. I believe in the mission, became a founding member. The Co-op is my favorite store to shop at– friendly staff, calm and courteous shoppers, and shelves stocked with seasonal, local (when possible), interesting, clean and healthy foods. I joined the board in 2023 to further my involvement with the Fairbanks community and help maintain the sustainability of the Co-op. As a registered nurse with 18 years plus experience working in this community, I feel I can utilize the relationships I’ve developed, knowledge and education as a medical educator, and passion for Fairbanks to help achieve the Co-op mission.

Brian loves the co-op because it makes Fairbanks a better place to live and provides access to healthy, sustainable, ethically sourced food. He has experience working in self-governance as a board member at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fairbanks and has participated in governance at UAF. He credits his academic training in history with helping him develop strong analytical and communication skills, as well as an eye for detail.

As a director I hope to help keep it financially sound, on track to meet goals, and in a position to expand. I hope to lend expertise in finances, marketing, and outreach within our community and beyond. I will work to expand our ability to accommodate more vendors and potentially expand to provide crop storage for better food security.

I love the Co-op because it's here for the community by the community. Having a food cooperative in Fairbanks gives us all more power to enhance the lives o f our families and others by offering a community focused shopping experience. More sustainable, local, and often healthier ethically sourced alternatives to the mass produced brands we see at any big chain grocer, can often be found at The Co-op. Being an Owner/member a t the Co-op makes even the mundane task of shopping more fulfilling. I know that what I bring home t o my family will be well received, tasty, and satisfying. And I know m y dollar i s well spent. I hope I can help the Co-op Market continue t o bloom with potential and possibilities for the future.

Callen is a naturalist, musician, farmer, and forager. He's passionate about nutrition, health, farming/gardening, mycology, and ecology and has always worked in this capacity. He currently runs a wild foods foraging co-op called the Chaga Co-op, is conducting sustainability research on chaga fungus, helped to start up a local hydroponics and mushroom farm, and works as a local food advocate including the establishment of a food hub working group for Interior Alaska. He is a founding organizer of the Fairbanks Fungi Festival. He teaches with Fairbanks Soil and Water Conservation District’s AFFECT Farmer Training Program, and is working with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore to evaluate barriers to USDA AMS funds for BIPOC food producers nationwide. He drives a school bus through Goldstream as his day job, and lives in Fairbanks, Alaska, lower Tanana Dene lands, with his wife and son. He loves making music, XC skiing, snowboarding, backpacking, and climbing.

As a long-time resident of Fairbanks with a diverse professional background in healthcare and community-focused roles, the Co-op Market Grocery and Deli's dedication to community empowerment, sustainable practices, and local sourcing strongly resonate with my personal and professional convictions. I admire the Co-op's mission to foster local resilience by promoting the health and well-being of our community. This mission aligns with my values of providing accessible, ethical, and collaborative solutions to community challenges. I am running for a position on the Co-op Market Board because I believe my experience in interdisciplinary collaboration, leadership, and community advocacy will contribute meaningfully to the Co-op's growth and mission. As a Registered Nurse working in a high-acuity environment, I understand the importance of making thoughtful decisions and advocating for systems that benefit the collective. Additionally, my previous roles in managing large-scale programs and teams have equips me with the skills needed for financial planning, program development, and organizational eMiciency. I will be an effective Board Director because of my passion for service, ability to listen to diverse community voices, and commitment to promoting equity and sustainability. I am excited about the opportunity to work alongside the Co-op's dedicated members to ensure Co-op continues to thrive as a valuable community hub.

I currently work as the Executive Assistant to the CEO of the local non-profit clinic in Fairbanks, Interior Community Health Center. One of my main responsibilities is coordinating our monthly board meetings. This includes taking minutes, editing and organizing all necessary documentation, maintaining records, and all other administrative requirements that arise throughout the day. I am also responsible for facilitating and taking minutes for nearly all other meetings that occur at the Health Center, as well as following up with individuals to ensure effective implementation of discussed proceedings. I am knowledgeable of governance structure and rules of order, am extremely efficient and detail oriented, and enjoy working with others to create positive ripple effects within my community. I studied Business Administration at UAF, minoring in Economics, and have managed a variety of businesses, mostly in the healthcare sector. I first entered this career as a medical biller, having a sound understanding of accounting principles. I have been successfully self-employed, running my own billing company for psychotherapists during Covid-19 in order to work from home, keeping my immuno-compromised roommate significantly less exposed than continuing to work onsite in a clinical setting. This was my first experience getting to put all I've learned into practice. It was also when I learned how much I enjoy making decisions with others. I've been a Fairbanks resident since 2000, having spent five years in Bellingham, WA, this will be my 20th year living in Fairbanks. While in Washington, I worked on a handful of organic, family-owned farms in the area, and had the privilege of witnessing firsthand just how much energy and eMort goes into feeding one another: it is no longer something I take for granted. Having worked in a variety of clinic settings, including currently working in a primary care setting focused on managing chronicillness, I've also seen firsthand how the decision to feed yourself manifests into your physical reality. I am seeking to volunteer my time and knowledge supporting the health and well-being of my community. Food is medicine and it's more important than ever to support eMorts being made locally to provide easy access to locally grown, organic produce. I love that the Co-op makes shopping local easy, the selection is wonderful, and the deli offers a quick, easy way to nourish yourself during a busy day. When I worked for the Co-Op in 2018, I had the opportunity to fully understand the importance of the role we played: it's more than a grocery store, it's a hub that supports a stronger, healthier community -both individually and the local economy as a whole. How you nourish yourself matters, and in the current financial climate it's more important than ever to shop locally. I believe I will make an effective Director because I'm passionate and genuinely care about well-being.