For this Month’s Member-Owner Profile, we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on Member-Owner #1200 - Lua Arcos-Pangione!  Not only is it exciting that as of June, we are now a community of more than 1200 Member-Owners, Lua’s passion for fostering intergenerational community resilience and her core belief in the power of coming together to care for land, resources, and each other are greatly inspiring!  

Lua reports that she is really excited to be “finally” joining the co-op as the 1200 member! Aside from her love for food, Lua is a professional organizer, carpenter, gardener, and visionary based in Schenectady. She runs Simplified Abundance, a values-driven business offering decluttering + organizing support, handmade goods, 3D design renderings, and custom furniture assembly + creation. Her work invites others to embrace simplicity as a path to intentional, grounded living.

In addition to her business, Lua is deeply passionate about community resilience through the lens of generational abundance—the belief that when we care for land, resources, and each other with intention, we plant seeds of wellbeing that benefit future generations to come. With the support of her husband and two dear friends, she is actively laying the framework for Ancient Roots Cooperative (ARC) —a soon-to-launch local eco-village project. Rooted in regenerative practices and shared stewardship, Lua and the team envision ARC Village as a model for what’s possible in Schenectady County and beyond: a place where resources and knowledge are shared, community is built intentionally, and mutual care guides us for generations. 

Lua is also a member of the Bahá’í Faith, which inspires and informs her deep commitment to unity, justice, and grassroots transformation. Bahá’ís and friends of the faith all around the world are taking the principles of Baha’u’llah and integrating them into their communities. The Bahá’ís of the Capitol Region of New York are working towards this end by encouraging every person to view themselves as protagonists, spiritually & materially. Through devotional gatherings, the Ruhi Institute, Children & Jr. youth classes, and grassroots initiatives, they are helping to build the foundation for lasting change.

In her free time, Lua helps tend two community gardens in Schenectady’s historic Stockade neighborhood. With ancestral roots as an Indigenous Mexican woman and a fourth-generation Italian in Schenectady, this work is a meaningful return to the land and a living connection to her lineage. Through gardening, she continues to learn traditional skills and finds deep joy in reconnecting with food, community, and the earth.

Let's hear more from Lua! . 

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

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone step into the role of protagonist in their own health journey, and to witnessing how we can work together in community!

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

It will mean that the people of Schenectady are truly being served—not just the out-of-towners.

3. What do you love about Schenectady?

I love that there’s an awakening happening in every circle I encounter in Schenectady—it feels powerful to be part of this movement for change. I know my ancestors are proud that I’m here, carrying on their legacy as a fourth-generation member serving Schenectady County and as a world citizen devoted to her community. It’s an honor to continue the work of transforming this city, just as they did before me.