Organization(s) name(s):
SoLA Food Co-op
Organization(s) website(s):
Organization(s) twitter handle(s):
https://twitter.com/solafoodcoop
Organization(s) facebook handle(s):
https://www.facebook.com/SoLAfoodcoop
Organization(s) instagram handle(s):
https://instagram.com/solafoodcoop/
Please share the direct link for voters to sign up for your newsletter(s):
Non-profit organization
For-profit organization
Government
Other (please specify below):
:
SoLA is a California consumer cooperative corporation.
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SoLA Food Co-op is working to build a full service natural foods grocery store in South Los Angeles, owned by the community.
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SoLA seeks to provide better access to natural, organic and non GMO foods in South LA in the form of a full service grocery cooperative. We envision our store as a place not only for shopping but for learning , in cooking and nutrition classes, and for the community to gather, share prepared foods, fresh juices, and organic coffee. We feel that in an area long overlooked, with too few grocery stores, that is a food desert, a health foods cooperative is a brilliant solution.
Central LA
East LA
San Gabriel Valley
San Fernando Valley
South LA
Westside
South Bay
Antelope Valley
County of Los Angeles (countywide)
City of Los Angeles (citywide)
LAUSD
Other (please specify below):
(e.g. Third Street Middle School; Boyle Heights; LA County):
In the Leimert Park area
Conduct research
Engage residents and stakeholders
Implement a pilot or new project
Expand a pilot or program
Mobilize for systems change
Advocate with policymakers and leaders
Implement and track policy
Other (please specify below):
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We will use the resources to reach more prospective members, create corporate sponsorships for needy families to become members, to work with co-op development consultants, and to retain development personnel.
Access to healthy food
Healthcare access
Exposure to air toxins
Number of households below the self-sufficiency index
Percent of imported water
Obesity rates
Housing affordability
Rates of homelessness
Walk/bike/transit score
Acres and miles of polluted waterways
Rates of mental illness
Prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (Dream Metric)
Percentage of LA communities that are resilient (Dream Metric)
Percentage of residents receiving coordinated healthcare services (Dream Metric)
Percentage of tree canopy cover (Dream Metric)
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There are far fewer grocery stores per person in South LA than there are in West LA. Many people here who have the means, travel outside of our area to buy organic, healthy foods. That means the area suffers from retail leakage, money leaving the community. The community drives more than it should have to, to reach healthy food stores, increasing our carbon footprint. Some of our supporters travel by bus, taking as many as six buses to shop at Whole Foods.
The South LA community deserves the same options in healthy eating as other parts of the city.
SoLA raises awareness in the South LA community around healthy eating practices. It is our practice to teach ways of addressing the diet related illnesses our community is plagued with, through fun events,nutrition classes, and workshops.
SoLA will bring a strong sense of pride of ownership to our neighborhood and our member/owners. There has never been a beautiful full service health food store of the type we envision in this part of LA.
As a cooperative, SoLA's profits will be distributed among it's members, further enriching this community.
Instead of a food desert, SoLA will create an oasis, an oasis of accessibility, inclusion, self-sufficiency, health, nutritional education and economic empowerment.
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We'll evaluate our work through new memberships attained, growing our community of supporters, and by being closer to our goal of opening a food co-op. Additionally, we will track awareness of our project in the community through actions outlined in our business plan: surveys conducted at community workshops, follow-ups to our feasibility study(surveys), implementing a successful crowdfunding campaign, and engaging Cooperative Development Services.
There will be evidence of our growth through hiring a qualified Bookkeeper and Project Manager to implement our growth strategy. With this personnel in place we will grow and achieve our goals sooner
Money (financial capital)
Volunteers/staff (human capital)
Publicity/awareness (social capital)
Infrastructure (building/space/vehicles, etc.)
Education/training
Technical infrastructure (computers, etc.)
Community outreach
Network/relationship support
Quality improvement research
Other (please specify below):
Submission Began
Tuesday, September 08, 2015
Submission Ended
Tuesday, October 06, 2015
at 07:00 PM UTC
Voting Began
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Voting Ended
Tuesday, November 03, 2015
at 08:00 PM UTC
Winner Announced
Tuesday, December 08, 2015
Let's make this happen SoLA! Community-owned and community based governance...
This is very much needed!
We really need this in South LA! I am tired of spending my money on the west side!
I didn't know Leimert Park is considered South LA.
Gonna spread the word!
We need a health food store and a co-op is the best option since we well own it instead of a big corporation. BTW, I voted but never got the email to validate my vote :(
This is great! We so need a health food store in South LA!
Yes, anything south of Adams really, and Leimert Park is at 43rd and Degnan, much further south.
Yes! Many thanks!
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