Joél Mejia of Mi Oh My Hydroponic Farms Cooperative and the Kingston Food Coop and Shawn Berry of Lift Economy stopped by to talk about the Worker Cooperative movement. Along with Angela DeFelice and DeeArahj Wright of Co-op Hudson Valley and Nina Stender of Democracy at Work Institute, they hold a monthly Co-op Mixer for those deep in it and the Co-op curious as Joél says.
The Next HV Coop Mixer
Date: April 10, 2025
Time: 6:00-9:00pm
Location: The GWI Greenhouse: 65 St James Street, Kingston, NY
Calling all changemakers in the Mid-Hudson Valley!
The Hudson Valley Co-op Mixer is a regional gathering of neighbors who are passionate about local, self determined and community-led development. The HV Co-op Mixer is hosted by a team of local cooperative developers who want to build a sustainable, regional ecosystem where our economies work for all!
This gathering is recurring and encourages ongoing connection and resource-sharing. We will move through a round of introductions and community announcements, followed by open space and time to connect and enjoy the music and potluck. Remember to bring something savory or sweet to share. Thanks for COVID testing before you arrive, and masks will be available. Whether you’re just co-op curious, work in a co-op, or are passionate about economic justice in our region, join us!
This event is sponsored by Good Work Institute, Co-op Hudson Valley, Mi Oh My Hydroponic Farms Cooperative, Democracy at Work Institute and LIFT Economy.
This is a free event. Registration is required.
Joél Mejia is an Afro-Latino Artivist, regenerative systems designer, and mission-driven entrepreneur. Rooted in his Taino heritage, Joél is deeply committed to promoting culture, spirituality, and equitable cooperation. As the founder of Mi Oh My Hydroponic Farms, a worker-cooperain the Bronx, he blends his New York City upbringing with regenerative farming practices, fostering a worker-owned cooperative that cultivates both food and education. Joél's commitment to the future is exemplified by his completion of the Next Economy MBA program, where he gained skills to drive a regenerative and sustainable economy. He envisions an economy that values well-being over resource exploitation, challenging conventional paradigms of development. With a fervent dedication to community, Joél contributes to multiple committees and boards, including the Black Farmer Fund's Rapid Response Committee, the Association of Cooperative Educators Board as Treasurer, and the National Association of Black Cooperators. He's also a driving force behind Kingston's inaugural Community Fund, developed by the Good Work Institute. In all his endeavors, Joél's actions reflect a profound belief in the power of cooperation, sustainability, and cultural preservation.
Shawn Berry is an organizational strategist inspired to harness the power of business to create resilient local economies as patterns to be documented, open sourced, scaled globally and adapted regionally. Shawn left an early career path in nuclear physics research to found the Woodshanti Cooperative (1997-2011), a custom cabinet and furniture shop in San Francisco that set the standard for ethical craftsmanship in the green building movement. This hands on experience as an entrepreneur combined with community organizing and systems theory to craft the vision for LIFT Economy to model an economy that works for all life.
