Co-Op Camden

06/10/2026

Something is growing in Camden and it belongs to all of us. Co-Op Camden is a community-owned grocery initiative built for, and by, the people of Camden. Follow along as we build it together.

Learn more at https://coopcamden.org

03/19/2026

Camden, this is for us 🛒

What do you want to see in a community-owned grocery store?

Take the survey + share your voice.
Let’s build something rooted in care, access, and community power.

🔗 Scan the QR code to get started

03/03/2026

We’re building something impactful!

Thank you to our leadership, our team, our city for building together. We are excited to share what we’ve been up to at the co-op!

06/16/2025

Did you know that in 1752 in Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin began the Philadelphia Contributionship, which is recognized as the first mutually owned and operated business in the United States? The Contributionship was a mutual fire insurance company that offered protections to Philadelphia buildings that joined, which would be evidenced by the “fire mark" that was placed on buildings. Fire marks, or metal plaques sporting the insurance company's logos and affixed to the buildings, were used by many other insurance companies throughout the country.

The Philadelphia Contributionship was incorporated in 1768. The Philadelphia Contributionship Mutual Holding Company still exists today as a much larger umbrella organization with many insurance subsidiaries.

06/09/2025

Did you know that food cooperatives have long provided a safe space for the q***r community? Today, food continues to be a way for the q***r community to connect and strengthen culture while q***r-centered and led food cooperatives, such as , are both a safe space and a path to food justice, providing fresh vegetables to communities historically barred from accessing them.

Today's suggested reading is What Is Q***r Food?: How We Served a Revolution by John Birdsall.

06/02/2025

Did you know that civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer founded the Freedom Farm Cooperative in Sunflower County, Mississippi in 1967? The farm, which grew vegetables and raised pigs, supported over 30,000 Black families. A cooperative model, member-owners paid $1 a month; however, they were in no means turned away if they couldn’t pay. As we envision with the Camden Co-op, the Freedom Farm Cooperative also offered other forms of support to community members such as education and employment assistance.

Hamer once said, "“Down where we are, food is used as a political weapon. But if you have a pig in your backyard, if you have some vegetables in your garden, you can feed yourself and your family, and nobody can push you around."

05/26/2025

Did you know that many Black-owned grocery cooperatives formed in Harlem, New York during the first half of the 20th Century? For example, the Pure Food Co-operative Grocery Store was owned by 350 Harlem families by 1934. WEB Du Bois believed cooperatives could be a pathway to economic liberation for Black families.

05/19/2025

Did you know that in the late nineteenth century, independent grocers formed cooperatives in order to purchase wholesale items and stay in business against new chain supermarkets? Two of these cooperatives in Philadelphia were the Retail Grocers’ Association (Girard Grocery Company) and the Unity-Frankford Association (Frankford Grocery Company). Between the two of these organizations, there were over 2,000 members by 1920.

05/12/2025

In 1992, after the uprising in South Central Los Angeles, students at Crenshaw High School formed a cooperative that became a company. The cooperative grew garden produce that was distributed to the community and sold at farmers markets and produced salad dressings under the name “Food from the ‘Hood.” The cooperative gained 501(c) status and received a $50,000 grant which helped to support their salad dressing business; Food from the 'Hood dressing was sold in over 2,000 West Coast stores at one time.

All funds raised through the sale of dressing and produce supported scholarships for student-owners. Food from the 'Hood is no longer in business today.

For a short documentary on Food from the 'Hood, visit our Linktree or click here: www.youtu.be/s19YzdWUi5c?si=SwPeUhStYCDyMNrg.

How can this student-owned cooperative and business inspire our work at the Camden Co-op?

Food From the Hood was a student-run business created by students at Crenshaw High School in the wake of the L.A. Uprising. The students grew and sold vegeta...

05/09/2025

For today's Camden Community spotlight, we would like to highlight the Camden Dream Center.

Founded in 2010, the Camden Dream Center now serves over 1,000 residents of all ages in Camden, New Jersey by hosting programs in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), literacy, and IT education. Their programs include the Camden Dream CDF Freedom School, the INNOVATIVE LITERACY (Lit) LAB, Saturday Coding Program for GIRLS, and a STEM Enrichment Program.

In addition to these programs for students K-12, the Camden Dream Center is a U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL)-approved Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor. Those who enroll in the apprenticeship program are provided job training to prepare for careers in IT and tech!

Thank you, Camden Dream Center!

Visit www.camdendreamcenter.org for more information and upcoming programs.