2024 Board Candidate: Sheila Rieser

Why are you interested in serving on the Board?

I applied and was appointed to fill an interim position on the Board in April and also served as the membership committee chair since July. In the past six months I have been honored to take part in the important role the Board plays in overseeing the direction of the co-op through policy governance and in visualizing the future direction of Takoma Park's community grocery store. I feel like I just got started and have a more nuanced understanding of my role as a Board member. I would very much like to continue the work.

Tell us about yourself, including any volunteer or professional experiences that might be relevant to board service.

I have a bachelor's degree in journalism from Ohio State University and a master's degree in education from George Washington University. For the past 16 years I have worked for the U.S. Department of Education, currently leading a call center providing support to schools and universities across the nation. Prior to that I spent two years in the Peace Corps working with staff at public schools in a rural village in South Africa. Since 2009, I have volunteered every other weekend as a Visitor Experience Ambassador at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. My previous volunteer experience includes serving with the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps in assisting at Covid vaccine clinics and mentoring middle school students in the DC Public School System.

Why is the TPSS Co-op important to you?

I believe that the future of Takoma Park as a city that values democracy, openness, diversity and belonging is tied to the success of the Takoma Park Co-op. Through its long history in Takoma Park, the Co-op has bolstered the city and surrounding area with a wide variety of healthy food available to a range of incomes, supported local food producers, provided steady jobs with competitive benefits, and partnered with many important city events and projects.

What is your favorite co-operative principle and why?

Concern for Community. The Co-op goes beyond just being a grocery store by efforts that demonstrate they care deeply about the people they exist to serve. For example, through a USDA grant, the Co-op offers SNAP recipients 50% off fresh fruits and vegetables. The Co-op is one of only a handful of stores that offer this program in the area.

Why are diversity and equity important to you, and how do these principles show up in your life?

Everyone, with no exceptions, should be valued and be allowed to thrive in our world . However, American society has many structures in place that have created hierarchies making this ideal difficult for some. We must recognize the way these structures have devalued and harmed certain groups and work to dismantle or rebalance them. Communities and organizations benefit when the people who live and work in them go beyond their comfort zone and work to make sure that their and experiences outside of their own. They can find solutions to problems they may have not considered, different ways to view a situation, unique ideas, and more. I try to continually remind myself that my default worldview is narrow: shaped by my circumstances and experiences; while others have their own worldview based on their own circumstances and experiences. Unless I make an effort to try to stand in someone else's shoes, I will be blind to the perspectives of others and may make errors or miss important context.

Check the following areas which you have experience