Grocery Stores & Local Farms
What does civic engagement really mean to me?
Civic engagement to me means being involved in your community, helping out, and introducing new topics/ideas. It can also be conforming together for one issue to create change. There are various ways and opportunities to be civically engaged.
In what ways do I feel society, small and large, is better when people are civically engaged?
When people are civically engaged, societies small and big have no choice but to conform to the voices of the people. The more people who engage, the more voice and power they have. More issues are able to be addressed when there are more people speaking up about them.
Why did I choose to volunteer for Fertile Grounds? What drew me to it?
I chose this specific activity because my mom introduced me to this co-op a few months ago and told me that I am already a member of this program under her. This co-op addresses the need of a new grocery store within the Southeast Raleigh community as well as healthy local farms. I am very interested in this program and I want to help them raise money as well as educate people on how to grow their own food and interact with other farms in the area.
What Is Fertile Grounds?
Fertile Grounds is a food cooperative or a grocery store to come in the next few years that will be run by people within the community. Only people that live within the Southeast Raleigh Community can become members, make decisions on the store, and attend some of the monthly meetings they have. Others are still able to support by donating money and sharing information about the program to others. Fertile Grounds Cooperative offers other things aside from building a store. During the monthly meetings sometimes they will bring in guest speakers that share their story and products from their business.
How did I hope my actions would help the community?
I hoped my actions would educate more people about this program and get more people to become members of it. If they become a member they can make decisions about the store such as the design and what is sold. I also wanted to help get more people to donate money to the co-op in order to raise funds for the store.