Board appoints Jerelyn Wilson

Jerelyn Wilson was appointed to the Brattleboro Food Co-op Board on 2/2/26 to fill the remainder of Lee Halpern’s term.

This is her candidate statement.

1. Why do you want to serve on the Board of Directors of the Brattleboro Food Co-op?

Serving on the BFC Board of Directors is a way for me to support an organization and business that I feel positively impacts my community in many ways. For example, the Co-op strengthens our regional agricultural resilience by working closely with many local farmers. By offering programs in our schools, the Co-op raises awareness around healthy food choices among our children. The cooperative values-based business model fosters a culture that respects diversity, keeps money in our local community, and encourages civic participation. This is all while offering me food and product choices with a focus on health and sustainability. 

2. What experience or involvement have you had with the BFC or other cooperative enterprises?

The first thing I did when I moved to Brattleboro in 1983 was join the Brattleboro Food Co-op. A few years in, I helped to produce the Co-op’s first regular newsletter. I served on the Board for 6 years in the early 2000’s and then again from 2015-2024, during which time the Board led two General Manager searches. I have experienced and appreciated the regional and national network of cooperatives. Although we are an independent retail grocery store, we exist within a very supportive and generous cooperative network that offers guidance on almost any issue. 

3. What opportunities or challenges do you see in the future for the BFC?

Even though the Co-op looks busy every time I enter, I know not to take it for granted that it will always be there. Getting beyond the debt the Co-op carries is a challenge the Co-op faces. It is in being profitable that the Co-op will be able to truly realize its goals of fully embracing its employees, returning patronage dividends to shareholders, and engaging robustly in our community. 

The Co-op has the opportunity to be the most sought-after work environment and the place where shoppers understand the significant value of the cooperative business model in contributing to a world that embraces all of us. 

4. What qualities, skills, and experiences would you bring to your service as a BFC Board member?

I enjoy working in groups. So many times I have experienced the magic of collaboration. Outcomes of group process are much more frequently better than one person’s thinking or imagination. I believe in the way Brene Brown defines leadership as taking responsibility for finding potential in people and having the courage to be a catalyst to develop that potential.

5. Describe an experience where you worked on a team. What did you offer the team? How did you compromise for the team’s benefit?

In situations where consensus-building is important, I have supported decisions that were not my favorite or preferred option.