This month we're delighted to shine the spotlight on Hayden Schwartz, MO#1071.  Hayden (he/him/él) resides in Schenectady nestled in between Hamilton Hill & Central State neighborhoods, and was born & raised in Albany. He considers his real social life the time spent in his yard and talking to the birds, bugs, and plants. Hayden has been growing food since he was able to walk, and grew up belonging to a CSA, which spurred a lifetime obsession with plant-based foods. As someone who’s lived through long-term poverty and food insecurity, Hayden has been motivated to take action for himself and his community. He started diving deep into what it means to be self-sufficient and how local food systems work. Over time, he turned all of his yard space into a mix of native pollinator hosts and food plants— not just to survive, but to nourish himself and share with the people around him.

Hayden serves on the Steering Committee for the Schenectady County Food Council, as well as sits on their Access + Equity and Agriculture + Local Food Systems working groups. Hayden also serves as Board Vice President at B'nai Sholom Reform Congregation in Albany, and on the Advisory Council for Equality NY, a statewide, grassroots organization advancing LGBTQI+ advocacy and policy. Hayden works as the Runaway & Homeless Youth Services Case Planner at St. Anne Institute's New Beginnings Youth Shelter. Hayden believes everyone should have equitable access to the foods they want to eat.

1.What do you like about being part of the co-op community? 

My mom was a manager at Honest Weight co-op in the 80s, and growing up, I would always get excited to go to the "cool" grocery store. We would always run into people that knew my mom, and I'd be able to find grocery items that conventional supermarkets would never have, local brands, local food in season, all that good stuff. I never understood why this was seen as some kind of trendy idea rather than how traditionally food has been accessed. If you go anywhere else in the world, if you go to the local markets, individual folks roll out a blanket and vend side by side. That is effectively what the co-op structure is bringing back. I love the communal camaraderie, I love seeing items that were made within 100 miles. It makes me feel connected. 

2.What will having a downtown grocery mean to you?

Access! I'm so tired of corporate grocery stores. So many more folks will finally be able to get food in their area without having to catch a bus. And we will have more choice, with food producers and manufacturers that are right here in Schenectady County and the surrounding counties. It creates a whole new community space, a place to meet for a quick bite, a brief respite spot while walking on a hot day (or cold!), spaces for demonstrations and learning, there are literally limitless potentials for what the space can be.

3. What do you love about Schenectady?

Oh man, so many things. The amazingly rich cultural history is a big one, and the architecture that comes with it. Without being cliche, our food scene is the best in NY outside of NYC. We have incredible diversity, people make their green spaces beautiful. There is so much happening in Schenectady right now, it's really exciting to experience first hand. And the people are genuinely nice. I know all of my immediate neighbors on a first name basis, and I can't say that about anywhere else I've lived, and I've moved house at least 10 times prior to settling down where I currently reside. I am a big Schenectady fan-boy and proud of our city.