Friendship store Grocery Manager Shawn K. (he/him) knows that cooperation can transform a grocery store from being a place where you merely buy food to a community hub. After spending time working in conventional grocery stores just outside of Minneapolis, his partner introduced him to the idea of a cooperative grocery store. “I loved the idea that grocery stores could be dynamic and inclusive places for community to be,” he says. “I was hired as a Rebuyer and Shift Lead in [the] Grocery [department] as the Friendship store was gearing up to be opened in 2015.”
In the 11 years since he started his journey at Seward Co-op, life has shifted in meaningful ways, both in the communities where he lives and works, and at home. Becoming a father has provided new insight into the parental experiences of many of the co-op’s shoppers. “I have a better understanding of how challenging it can be to provide food that is enjoyable as well as nutritious to young kids, [who] can have wildly varying preferences from day to day. Working at Seward [Co-op], with access to amazing locally made foods, has helped me to find more connection in many of my favorite meals I prepare for my family and friends,” Shawn says. “I show up a lot more tired these days, too”, he adds, chuckling.
As he’s navigated many of the collective experiences in the Bryant neighborhood where the Friendship store is located, the camaraderie of community members has become an uplifting beacon of hope in tough times, and a source of connection in the good ones. The hard work and communal care he sees day after day from the people he works with keeps him motivated. “Hearing people make a connection with one another over food and show appreciation for each other’s hard work is inspiring, even on the hardest days.”
When he’s not working to make shopping at the co-op convenient and welcoming, Shawn is often moving his body and enjoying the beauty the Twin Cities have to offer. He’s still thinking about food, too. “Early morning bike rides into work are energizing and peaceful. I live for the summer days where backyard grilling and picnics by the lake are what’s on people’s minds,” he muses. “I love to run and bike as often as I can, and especially love seeing the many urban gardens and markets all across Minneapolis. [I love the] frenetic energy of people longing to enjoy the outdoors any and every way they know how.”
