September Change for Good Partner: Truth to Power
September's Change for Good Partner is
Truth to Power
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Truth to Power cultivates teen activism and community participation through social justice podcasts and transformative projects.
Podcasts
Truth to Power creates podcasts reflecting on both local and global matters. Found under the name “Tea, Toast, and Truth” on Spotify and Anchor, Truth to Power’s podcasts uplift diverse voices and offer a teen point of view. Each podcast is distinct in style and topic as different club members experiment and explore with their production. You can listen to the experiences of houseless folks in Ashland, learn about how the Almeda fire affected all the parts of our community, explore the symbiotic relationship between OSF and Ashland, hear teens and teachers discuss the troubles of Zoom school, and much more!
Mural
Truth to power creates transformative projects that cultivate community growth. One of our major projects this past year was the BIPOC mural that was installed to honor and celebrate the life of Aidan Ellison and highlight the many contributions of Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color (BIPOC) in our Valley. The mural is composed of portraits of eight BIPOC individuals whose legacies hold importance to our local community: Winona LaDuke, Walidah Imarisha, Tehlor Kay Mejia, Agnes Baker Pilgrim, Michelle Alexander, Gina DuQuenne, Lawson Fusao Inada, and Aidan Ellison. We had a vision for the mural to not only honor these influential individuals but also to remind Ashland of its antiracist responsibilities and to create a more inviting, inclusive space for BIPOC students, staff, visitors, and neighbors.
Supply drives and houseless podcast/work
Truth to Power prides itself on a passion for hearing and helping others. The club has consistently worked to aid the homeless community, addressing the issues we see in our city by organizing supply drives and food drives (often jointly), and hearing from those affected. Members have dedicated their time and efforts to making the homeless crisis known; you can listen to Tea, Toast, and Truth’s episode: “Seeing Homeless” on Spotify for interviews with homeless individuals, new perspective, and info on how those in need are often disproportionately affected by issues and decisions in our small town.
Upcoming events
Stay tuned for their reproductive justice event on October 1st and new podcasts throughout the year!
Follow Truth to Power on Social and listen to their podcasts!
Instagram: @ahstruthtopowerclub
Facebook: @ahstruthtopowerclub
Podcasts are available on Spotify and Anchor : "Tea, Toast, and Truth".
Truth to Power was selected by our owners in our 2022 election to be a Change for Good Partner. Through the cumulative register round up donations over the course of this month ~ our shoppers will help support this local organization and the work that they are doing in our community.
The AFC Gives committee focuses on ways that the Co-op community can support local organizations and groups doing important work in the Rogue Valley.
2020 was the first year of Change for Good, a register round-up program to benefit a slate of ten organizations, voted on by Co-op owners, through the cumulative donations of shoppers choosing to round-up their shopping total to the nearest dollar.
From one cent to 99 cents, it all adds up to feeling good about supporting the community.
More Co-op News
July Change for Good Partner: Southern Oregon Land Conservancy
July's Change for Good Partner is
Southern Oregon Land Conservancy
Protecting and enhancing precious land in the Rogue River region
to benefit our human and natural communities since 1978
Meet the 1st Street Beet
Welcome to the newly redesigned and reimagined newsletter from the Ashland Food Co-op: 1st Street Beet.
Think of this publication as a resource to know what’s going on in every level of the community: at the co-op, around town, in the region, and on Earth!
June Change for Good Recipient: Our Family Farms
June's Change for Good Recipient is
Our Family Farms, an Oregon 501(c)3 non profit organization, is hard at work educating and inspiring farmers, policy makers and the community at large to support regenerative agricultural practices.
Capiche Conversations: Interview with Tracy Kaiser, Marketing & Education Manager of Ashland Food Co-op
Our own marketing manager, Tracy Kaiser, was interviewed by Melissa L. Michaels for Capiche Conversations.
May Day Community Block Party
Photography by Chelsea Whitney Art
On May 1st, several Southern Oregon businesses came together for a block party to provide a space to gather as a community after a rough spell due to the pandemic and fires. The May Day Block Party was hosted on Main St in Phoenix, where the scent of food trucks mingled with artisan goods such as local cheeses, locally farmed flowers, and even fresh-baked pastries.
May Change for Good Recipient: Rogue Valley Farm to School
May's Change for Good Recipient is
Rogue Valley Farm to School educates children about our food system through hands-on farm and garden programs, and by increasing local foods in school meals.
"We inspire an appreciation of local agriculture that improves the economy and environment of our community and the health of its members."
April Change for Good Recipient: Pollinator Project Rogue Valley
April's Change for Good Recipient is
A Visit with Rolling Hills
Visit Rolling Hills Farm and learn more about owner Dave Belzberg, who the Ashland Food Co-op is so honored to partner with for more than thirty five years.
A Visit with Magnolia Farms
Visit Magnolia Farms and learn more about owner Elissa Thau, who the Ashland Food Co-op is so honored to partner with for more than twenty years.
A Visit with Emerald Hills
Visit the Emerald Hills Ranch and learn more about this fourth generation ranching family that the Ashland Food Co-op is so proud to partner with for more than twenty years.
A Conversation with Katie Falkenberg, Photographer and Filmmaker
Katie Falkenberg's photography and filmmaking has taken her all over the world, and lucky for us - she's been calling the Rogue Valley home for a couple years now. Exquisitely and harmoniously capturing the world around her, she is documenting not only through the lens but also through her peaceful and loving spirit. Katie reached out to us in hopes of collaborating after falling in love with the co-op soon after moving here.
March Change for Good Recipient: North Mountain Park Nature Center
March's Change for Good Recipient is
North Mountain Park Nature Center,
a division of Ashland Parks and Recreation, that encompasses demonstration gardens, a nature playground, and approximately 14 acres of Natural Area that is managed for wildlife preservation and public education.
