March Newsletter

In this month's newsletter:

• Word from the General Manager 
• Word from the Board 
• Art Gallery 
• Owner Appreciation Days
• Owner Deals
• Cross Stitch Art Class
• Gluten Free In-Person Cooking Class
• Round Up For Good
• Recipe Features
• New Products

A Word From The General Manager

Hello Cooperators!

Our cooler project has been completed! The installation went well with very few delays or hiccups. Thank you all for your patience! I would also like to thank the folks from Davis Houk Mechanical for getting the coolers in place and operating as well as Davis Electric for running all of the new power lines. 

Now that the cooler project is done, we will concentrate on product selection to ensure we are carrying the items our owners and customers want to see in the Co-op. Please let us know, either in person or by emailing us through our website if you have any suggestions for items you would like to see on our shelves.

Owner Appreciation days are almost here! Please come in from March 4th - 10th to check out our new displays and save money stocking up on your favorite items during one of our best sales events of the year. 

Thank you all so much for your support!

Take Care!

Gary

A Word From The Board 

The Common Ground Coop Board is excited to introduce our newest Board member,  Laura Stengrim!

1. What motivated you to join the board of Common Ground, and what do you hope to contribute to its mission?

I have lived on and off in Urbana for 25 years, and I appreciate how the co-op has grown into a source of healthy, ethically-sourced food and a sense of community. 

 2. How do you see the role of the co-op in supporting local farmers, sustainable practices, and the community?

The co-op's underlying values make connecting with local producers and sustainable foodways part of everyday life. Through classes and newsletters, community members can learn about about new ingredients, recipes, and also other cultures. 

3. How do you approach decision-making in a cooperative setting where multiple stakeholders have different priorities?

My scholarly background in communication, along with lots of lived experience in professional and community organizations, informs how I collaborate in groups. I prioritize listening for the quieter and more nuanced voices and perspectives to make sure they are heard and represented. It's always important to come back to the touchstone of the values and mission of the organization in planning for the future. 

 4. What skills or experiences do you bring to the board that help strengthen Common Ground’s leadership and operations?

I have volunteered with a number of organizations in this community, and I have board experience from my work with an animal shelter in Mississippi prior to moving back to Urbana in 2024. I've held academic and administrative leadership positions throughout my career, and I have also worked outside of academia as a legal assistant.

5. What is the most important thing you would like the Common Ground Community to know about you?

I really like food! Common Ground nourishes community and supports ethical, sustainable practices of production. I want to see it flourish and continue to be an important part of our community's equity-oriented ecosystem.

Welcome to the Board Laura!

Art Gallery Installation 

Dr. Ian Wang

Stop by the Flatlander Art Gallery to see the newest installation featuring the work of Dr. Ian Wang. Each piece allows the viewer a glimpse into their world full of emotion, hope, and healing. 

Literati painting in Chinese is 文人畫. It is scholars painting emphasizing personal expression, emotion, and inner spirit over realistic depiction. It blends calligraphy, poetry, and seals.

Owner News

News for our Co-op Owners

Owner Appreciation Days

March 4th - 10th 

Owner Appreciation Days are our special sales celebration where all of our Co-op owners get great store-wide deals! Owners will receive a 10% discount off their entire purchase of one shopping trip of their choice (excluding Co+op Basics, alcohol, and items already on sale).

Owners will also receive a special coupon book with exclusive deals from March to May (including an additional 10% storewide discount). There will also be exclusive owner deals, free Golden Ticket items, and the chance to win one of four amazing raffle giveaways!

March Owner Deals

Dozens of sales every month for Owners

Owner Deals are bigger and better than ever! We have a brand new set of owner-exclusive deals for February. Dozens of amazing products will be on sale for owners for the entire month!

Classes & Events

Every month, we host both In-Person and Virtual Classes in our Flatlander Classroom!

Cross Stitch Art Class

Thursday, March 12th, 5:30 - 7:30 pm 

Learn the art of cross stitch and all of the possibilities of this medium from local artist, Amanda Eastin-Allen. Students will learn how to create a cross stitch piece, from threading the needle to weaving in ends, as well as how to read a pattern, choose supplies, and display their finished work. Cross stitch is easy to learn, relaxing, versatile, and affordable. The only stitch needed to create stunning works of art is an X!

$40 per ticket. Co-op Owners can use promo code: OWNER for $5 off their registration.

Gluten Free In-Person Cooking Class

Thursday, March 19th, 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Join us for a cooking class focused on gluten free baking with Co-op instructor, Carl Reisman. Participants will learn about gluten free mixes, blending their own flours, and creating gluten free mixes from scratch. Carl will also teach tips and tricks that he's learned over the years as a professional cook.

The menu includes:

• Gluten Free Chicken Pot Pie - with mashed potato bottom crust and a gluten free top pie crust
• Carl's Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

$40/person - Owners can use promo code: OWNER for $5 off their ticket. Limited seating available - only 12 seats per class. Waiting list will be made available once tickets are sold out.

Community News

Round Up For Good Update

Take a look at the incredible impact we made together to raise funds to support some of local community projects right here in Champaign-Urbana!

February's Round Up For Good Grant

$4,921 raised for Planned Parenthood of Illinois

Mission: Planned Parenthood of Illinois is the leader in providing and promoting compassionate, comprehensive reproductive health care, education, and rights 

Project Proposal: The Round Up For Good Grant will be used to support care provision at Planned Parenthood of Illinois’ Champaign health center. PPIL Champaign provides vital sexual and reproductive healthcare to the community, including STI testing, contraceptive counseling, youth education, gender affirming care services, and medication and procedural abortion services. Funding also supports the provision of community programming on sexual and reproductive health issues, LGBTQ+ affinity organizing, and wraparound support connections. In FY24 PPIL Champaign served 4,927 patients, providing 5,235 STI screenings, 116 cancer screenings, and 1,655 contraceptive counseling sessions among other services. 

March's Round Up For Good Grant

Proceeds benefit Rape Advocacy, Education, & Counseling Services (RACES)

Mission: We provide compassionate comprehensive support to those affected by sexual trauma. We care for our communities through prevention education programs that promote consent.

Project Proposal: In service to our vision of a world free of sexual violence, Rape Advocacy, Counseling & Education (RACES) provides free, age-appropriate, and evidence-informed prevention education programming to students of all ages. During the 2023-2024 school year, RACES staff provided programming to over 5,000 students in Champaign County, thanks in part to the support from a Round Up for Good Grant. RACES has been fortunate to receive these grants for multiple years and this has allowed us to increase our staff capacity to be able to reach more students in our community. If selected, funds will continue to be used to cover staff compensation and related expenses, which will allow RACES to maintain its current, high level of service provision at no cost to local schools or organizations. 

Recipe Features

We've been cooking up some healthy and affordable recipes for your enjoyment!

New Products

Take a look at some of our new items and fan favorites!

Thanks for Reading!

Enjoy the coupon below on your next shopping trip.