2026 Annual Owner Meeting and Social Hour Recap

On the Road to 55 Years

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2026 Annual Owner Meeting and Social Hour on Monday, Oct. 26. It may have been a rainy, cold day, but the spirit of our community kept things bright. Nearly 200 owners gathered to hear the results of the board of directors election and the announcement of all grant recipients for 2027, including SEED, the Seward Community Fund, and People Powered Perks.

Throughout the event, attendees enjoyed tacos from local food truck Habanero Tacos, local brews and non-alcoholic beverages from Arbeiter Brewing, our venue for the evening, and cookies from Seward Co-op’s Bakery. We enjoyed a night full of mingling, recapping our past year as a co-op, and savoring one another’s company.

Board of Directors Election Results

An integral piece of the annual meeting is announcing Seward Co-op’s Board of Directors election results. Congratulations to Amelia English, Jack Roessler, and Ken Webb who were all elected to three-year terms. Together with current directors, these co-op owners are responsible for articulating the vision and goals for Seward Co-op that management pursues and achieves. The 2026 election featured a pool of highly qualified candidates. Thank you to all who ran and all who voted.

2027 SEED Recipients and Community Choice Results

At the annual meeting, we also announced the 2027 SEED recipients, four of which have been selected by a Seward Co-op staff-led committee, and four which were selected by our community through a Community Choice vote. The four staff selected SEED recipients are YouthLink, Rainbow Collective for Change, TC Food Justice, and Wiisinig LLC.

At the 2026 Annual Owner Meeting, we also announced our People Powered Perks recipient, Full Cycle, a bicycle recyclery in South Minneapolis that offers support for unhoused youth.

Seward Co-op shoppers are invited annually to select four SEED recipients in Community Choice voting. All SEED Community Choice finalists receive a $1,000 grant through the Seward Community Fund. The four organizations selected as the 2027 SEED Community Choice recipients are Walk-In Counseling Center, Sexual Violence Center, Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, and Way to Grow. Thank you to all those who voted!

2026 Scorecard and Annual Report

During the annual meeting, the 2026 Scorecard was made available. A digital Scorecard and Annual Report can be viewed here. We invite you to scroll through to read more details on how Seward Co-op has worked towards meeting our Ends Statement, or mission: Seward Co-op will sustain a healthy community that has equitable economic relationships, positive environmental impacts, and inclusive, socially responsible practices. To obtain a print version of the 2026 Scorecard and Annual Report, please visit the Customer Service kiosk at either store.

Special thanks to the co-op’s Marketing and Equity and Community Engagement staff and the board members on our Community Engagement Committee who collaborated on the night’s planning and programming. A big KUDOS to staff and board presenters. Finally, thanks to all Seward Co-op owners! Your contributions and attendance at these discussions are sincerely and graciously appreciated.