In 2012, residents from the Bryant-Central neighborhood approached Seward Co-op to gauge interest in building a grocery store in their community. As the co-op explored the opportunity, they were introduced to leaders of the Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, who agreed that Seward Co-op would be a great fit for the neighborhood. There was one condition: that it would be named “the Friendship Store” to honor the partnership with the church. The following people helped pave the road to the success of our Friendship store, that opened in 2015, and this fall, we celebrate its opening a full decade in.
The Road to Friendship: 10 Years and Beyond
September 2, 2025
LaDonna Sanders Redmond, she/they/iya Community Engagement
During the planning phases, some residents were skeptical that the co-op would sufficiently meet the community’s needs. They feared that the co-op’s arrival signaled the start of gentrification in a historically Black, working-class neighborhood. To address their concerns, Seward leadership collaborated with elected officials to foster community-wide dialogues on emerging issues. At the same time, the co-op began an internal effort to combat racial bias within the organization. To support the development of the Friendship store both internally and externally, they hired LaDonna Sanders Redmond as the Community Outreach Coordinator.
Through community meetings, door-to-door outreach, and local events, LaDonna’s work played a crucial role in supporting the co-op to listen carefully and respond with inclusive hiring practices, needs-based ownership options, accessible discounts, and a living wage for workers. Her leadership was essential in building trust and gaining support from all residents within 100 feet of the site, which was necessary for rezoning and made the 2015 opening of the Friendship store possible.
Sean Doyle, he/him, CEO/General Manager at time of store open
Sean Doyle was the CEO/General Manager at the time of development of the Friendship store. “It actually was more like 13 years ago for me. So much work happened before the store opened. Building alignment, finding a site, and raising the capital.” He gracefully navigated leading the co-op during some of its growing pains with working to get community buy-in, even when things became contentious. However, he did not shy away from the challenge, and saw it as an opportunity to listen, learn, and cooperate with community members. He took especially seriously the concerns that, at the time, Seward Co-op staff demographics were only about 14% BIPOC people and heard the concerns and fears about gentrification in a historically Black and working-class neighborhood. It was with his leadership and drive for equity that the co-op developed stronger community connections, and credits much of that to LaDonna Sanders-Redmond.
“LaDonna was powerful in her organizing. She did a great job of engaging with the community. Inviting those who had concerns to share and explore them. She simplified the choice and promoted the value of the store to the community. The yard sign campaign that she launched helped those in the community who supported the store to be public in a positive way. It was brilliant. We and LaDonna in particular, were tireless in her talking to be people about the benefits of having a co-op in the community.”
Ray Williams, he/him, First Store Director and current CEO/General Manager
After 12 years in the corporate sector, current CEO and General Manager Ray Williams was looking for something different when he heard about a leadership position at Seward Co-op. After a few fits and starts, Ray was hired on as the first Store Director of the Friendship store—and was the first Black Store Director in the process.
“Since day one, I felt like I’ve had the opportunity to breathe life into something new as well as have it breathe life into me, as well,” says Ray, and he did as he hired staff, kept an eye on operations, and developed the culture of the Friendship store. In the past decade, Ray has grown with the organization to become our present-day CEO and General Manager in 2023. “I’m proud of the work that has happened over the last two years. We have gotten a lot of things completed. We have thought outside the box. We have challenged ourselves, and those are the things that are going to help us get to that continuous growth that I would love for us to see.”
Diane McCarthy, she/her, Wellness Manager and original Friendship store staff
Friendship Wellness Manager from day 1, Diane McCarthy, was drawn to working at a the co-op due to its close proximity to her home, and more exciting to her, was an increased opportunity for cross-cultural and community connection. “I have made lots of friends in the community, that I enjoy seeing. I love it when I see someone pregnant, and then I see them with a child, and then a few years later, their little kid runs up to me and says “Hi, friend!’ I’ve had people confide in me about really difficult things, and I feel really good when I feel like I can support somebody.”
She has also watched how over the past decade we’ve worked with and in community to address the needs of shoppers. From culturally-specific foods to hair and body care products that better reflect the neighborhood, to staff that engages joyfully with each other and shoppers each day. “Ray really emphasized with the managers, first and foremost, to be fun to come here to work. And it feels like that they accomplished that. It still does. The music’s always good. I have people I see. A lot of times, people just like walking through the store, just doing their thing, and their little kids will be dancing in the aisle. It’s, it’s a very nice place to work, and I really do love it here.”
B. Charvez Russell, son of Pastor Billy Russel of the Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church
Pastor Charvez Russell and his wife were the realtors that marketed the property and initially worked with Seward and Greater Friendship to negotiate and close the deal. “My father, Dr. Billy G. Russell was the Pastor at the time, and I remember how excited he was to work with Seward Co-op. It was his prayer that the organization that purchased the property would be one that gives back and uplifts the community.” The congregation was glad to hear that the legacy of Greater Friendship MBC on that corner would be honored and preserved through naming it the Friendship Store and having its cornerstone at the entrance. In 1965, the church’s name was Sabathani Baptist Church and the same community started the Sabathani Community Center. “It is amazing to see both organizations still making a meaningful impact in our community and goes to show the power of church, community and business working together. We Are Better Together.”
Be a part of the celebration!
Visit our Friendship 10-year landing page to see how cooperation, community, and friendship shaped our journey, and help us begin our next decade of service to local foodways, sustainability, and community.