September Change for Good Partner: Truth to Power

September's Change for Good Partner is

Truth to Power

Truth to Power

Truth to Power cultivates teen activism and community participation through social justice podcasts and transformative projects.

Change for Good: Truth to Power

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

Change for Good: Truth to Power

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.

Change for Good: Truth to Power


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".

truthtopowerclub.com

 

Change for Good

 

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

January Change for Good: AHS Culinary Arts Program

Hey Co-op community!

As we step into the new year, the Ashland Food Co-op is excited to continue our Change for Good program, and for January 2024, we're shining a spotlight on a program that's close to our hearts (and our stomachs) - the Ashland High School Culinary Arts Program.

November Change for Good: Rogue Food Unites

Say hello to our November Change for Good partner - Rogue Food Unites!

Rogue Food Unites (RFU) uses food to heal individuals and communities during times of crisis. RFU was formed in 2020 out of the dual disasters of the Almeda and Obenchain fires and the impacts of COVID-19 on local communities. Within a short time, RFU began contracting with the State of Oregon to supply hot meals, food boxes, and solidarity cards in Deschutes, Douglas, Klamath, Josephine, and Jackson Counties. 

Meet Nick Hardee, AFC's new GM!

The Co-op Board of Directors and staff are thrilled to welcome Nick Hardee as the new General Manager of the Ashland Food Co-op! We asked Nick to share a little bit about himself so we'll get right to it!

October Change for Good: Center for Non-Profit Legal Services

This October, the Ashland Food Co-op is proud to partner with the Center for Non-Profit Legal Services (CNPLS) for our Change for Good program. All month long, shoppers can round up their purchases to support CNPLS and their mission to provide access to justice.

CNPLS is a non-profit legal aid firm serving low-income and vulnerable community members in Ashland and surrounding areas. Their team of dedicated lawyers and volunteers work to ensure everyone has access to legal help, regardless of their ability to pay.

It's Co-op Month!

OK, you've got us, every month is Co-op Month here at AFC! But every October since 1964, cooperatives of all kinds have celebrated the cooperative difference. Here at the Ashland Food Co-op, we're excited to recognize the history, benefits, and principles behind our own co-op.

September Change for Good: AFC Community Fund

As we enter the beautiful month of September here in Southern Oregon, we're excited to share that our Change for Good partner this month is our very own Community Fund. As many of you know, the Community Fund allows us to support amazing local projects and organizations doing great work right here in Southern Oregon.

August Change for Good - Partnering with ACCESS to Make a Difference!

We are honored to partner with ACCESS this August - a fantastic organization that has been serving our community for over four decades. ACCESS, which stands for "A Community in Action, Connecting, Empowering, and Strengthening Self-Sufficiency," is dedicated to addressing hunger, homelessness, and poverty in Southern Oregon.

Empowering Our Community: AFC's Community Grants Now Accepting Applications

As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the local community, AFC is thrilled to announce the that we are accepting applications for our Community Grants program

Ashland Food Co-op's Community Grants program is designed to foster meaningful change in the Southern Oregon region. Through these grants, we seek to support projects that align with our mission of promoting local and sustainable food systems, addressing food insecurity, and promoting community engagement.

July's Change for Good Partner - Maslow Project

Ashland Food Co-op is thrilled to partner with Maslow Project for our Change for Good program! Maslow Project is an incredible organization that works tirelessly to support homeless youth and families in Southern Oregon. Their mission is to empower individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency, and they do this through a range of services including housing assistance, medical care, and educational support.

Bicycle Benefits

Do you love to bike? Do you love to save money? Do you love the Co-op? Let us tell you about this awesome program at the Ashland Food Co-op! We all know biking is great for the environment and by joining Bicycle Benefits you'll be doing your part to reduce your carbon footprint, all while enjoying some pretty sweet perks.

So, what exactly is Bicycle Benefits? It's a program that rewards cyclists for their pedal power! Here's how it works:

1. Stop by the Co-op and buy your $5 Bicycle Benefits sticker

May 2023 Change for Good Partner: Talent Maker City

Talent Maker City's mission is to build a more connected, prosperous, and resilient community through hands-on creativity and innovative STEAM-based learning. (STEAM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math.) They have a bustling Makerspace facility, brimming with creative energy in downtown Talent offering hands-on STEAM-based workshops and programming for curious minds of all ages!

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo

We're always learning and growing here at the Co-op and with the approach of Cinco de Mayo we thought we would share a (very) brief history lesson and some thoughts on celebrating this holiday here in the United States.