An Isle of Wight mum is encouraging people to continue to harness the co-operative values shared over the last 2 years and work together to help local communities.
As one of the newest members of Southern Co-op’s Board of Directors, Jessica Danyluk, 45, is sharing her experiences during this year’s Co-op Fortnight and ahead of the 100th International Day of Cooperatives on 2nd July.
Brilliantly, there was more to love about her role on the Board than she first thought.
Jessica said:
“I was not aware of the full range of business lines and services that Southern Co-op is involved in. You immediately think of grocery stores, and spot funeral homes here and there, but I was not at all aware of the Starbucks franchise. My grandfather and then my mother owned a family-run memorial business, and as an American I can’t help but love a Starbucks coffee.”
Living in Cowes and reflecting on the pandemic, Jessica believes we need to hold on to the co-operative spirit which we’ve relied on in order to support everyone in the local community.
Jessica, who volunteers as the CEO on the Board of Directors at Blackberry Lane Pre-School in Cowes, said:
“It was a busy time for everyone. All of the parents were extremely supportive and we as a Board and the staff of the preschool were extremely grateful.
Article continues below this advertisement “Looking back, the pandemic highlighted the socio-economic disparity in our area. But we did our best to make sure everyone had access to the support available.
“I hope we will continue to be aware, sensitive and compassionate as we move forward. We have to take a step back in order to understand individuals’ unique situations, then show compassion and kindness through your actions.”
As a mother of a 3-year-old boy, Jessica is also acutely aware of the current climate crisis and feels we can all do our bit to keep talking about it with our employers and encouraging positive actions.
“Sustainability is on my mind every day, especially now that I am on the Board of Southern Co-op and work for an energy transition company. I have the privilege of seeing first-hand what both organisations are doing on the sustainability front.
“At the moment, I am impressed by the inroads that both companies are making. Should my comfort level move in the wrong direction, I would do my best within the role to advocate for change. If I saw no improvement, I would have to move on.
“I love the fact that, even before my first Southern Co-op Board meeting, we were shown the Decision-Making Compass which ensures that in all major decisions there is consideration given to the commitment to be a responsible and sustainable business.”
Once a year, co-ops of all shapes and sizes come together to show the power of cooperation during Co-op Fortnight. In 2022, Co-op Fortnight takes place from Monday 20th June to Sunday 3rd July.
In 2022, the theme is #UnwrapCoops which is harnessing the power of stories to give members the chance to celebrate the positive influence their co-op has had on their lives. Co-ops are owned by the people closest to the business, not distant investors. This means beyond profits, co-ops focus how they bring value to their members and community.
Very good …maybe co-op and all food stores could get rid of all your celebrities promoting there products and paying them large fees …and concentrate on bringing prices as low as possible so we can to buy….
Behave. Why don’t you and all the others moaning about food prices learn how to make meals rather than buying in fast food rubbish and heating it.
Sick of hearing about this.