What is a Worker Cooperative?

A worker cooperative is a values-driven business that puts worker and community benefit at the core of its purpose. The two central characteristics of worker cooperatives are:

1. workers own the business and they participate in its financial success on the basis of their labor contribution to the cooperative 

2. workers have representation on and vote for the board of directors, adhering to the principle of one worker, one vote

Source: Democracy at Work Institute

Shared Values Guiding Worker/Owners To Open The DEEP Grocery Co-op:

1. Pride: We take ownership of where we live and honor our role in the community that we serve.

2. The Deep Community: We are dedicated to servicing the needs of residents and rooted Deep East Oakland members. 

3. Accessibility: We provide fresh, local produce and food items that are organic and affordable.

4. Legacy Building: We are changing the narrative of food apartheid by bringing a functional food and economic system to the hood. 

5. Sustainability: We integrate 3 main goals of sustainable objectives - a healthy environment, economic profitability, and fair-trade.

6. Education: We provide ourselves and our community with ongoing learning opportunities.

7. Happiness: We create spaces for unapologetic Black and Brown joy.

What is Food Apartheid?

Food Desert Vs Food Apartheid

How to End Food Apartheid

Black and Brown Farmers

“African Americans have to participate in the food system because food is important.” 

-Will Scott Pres of African American Farmers of California

The Farmworker Project

Justice For Black Farmers

Original Peoples’ Proverbs 

• Ubuntu means I am because we are.

• “In Lak’Ech” - “Tu eres mi otro yo” - “You are my other me”

• If you want to go fast go alone, but if you want to get far go together.