Now that the snow has melted, are you starting to notice all the trash that's been hidden from view in our parks and along our streets? Feeling inspired to do something about it, but not sure where to start?  If yes, consider joining #SchenectadyCleanUp2025 in April and participating in the 1st Annual Schenectady Trash Parade in May!  There are many opportunities to get involved. 

On April 26th, you can join Goose Hill Neighborhood Association for their exceptionally well-organized Steinmetz Park clean up day! If you can't join them on the 26th, organizers might very well be up for sharing some of their tips and tricks for a fun and successful event.

What:  Come connect with neighbors, advocates, and changemakers as we share a delicious meal and explore ways to take action against food insecurity in our community. 

• When: Thursday, April 24, 5:30-7:30pm

• Where: Schenectady JCC | 2565 Balltown Rd. 

• Info:  Event info on Facebook

Where: City Hal

What: ECCG Community Table - meet, greet, and spread the word!

When: 10am-2pm

Info: Sign up to join us here, and learn more about the Schenectady Greenmarket on Facebook 

Where: City Hal

What: ECCG Community Table - meet, greet, and spread the word!

When: 10am-2pm

Info: Sign up to join us here, and learn more about the Schenectady Greenmarket on Facebook 

What a joy it was to kick off the new year together in January at the Beloved Community Pie Social with NAACP Schenectady Chapter 2175, Inner Bliss Yoga & Wellness, and the Sycamore Collaborative! Together, we celebrated many pathways we have to build Beloved Community as we nourish our bodies, each other, our communities, and the ecosystems that feed us.  With spring coming, our Member Relations Team sensed it was time to come together to celebrate possibilities for mutual flourishing, gather our seeds and get ready for the growing season, metaphorically and literally.

In this spirit, we're thrilled to invite you to join us on March 21st 5pm-8pm at the SEAT Center at 120 State Street as part of Art Night Schenectady. Together, we will welcome spring and celebrate mutual flourishing, meaningful work, and creativity!

We are so excited to be future neighbors of the SEAT Center which connects young people to meaningful work through their array of programs and services - including a culinary arts program and a media and film program! They exist to work alongside underrepresented young people to create a SEAT at the table in their community, ensuring they are invited, welcomed, and engaged. 

Like companion plants in a garden, we help each other flourish! Schenectady benefits from the many organizations and businesses that work together to bring events like Art Night to our downtown. A diversity of people and businesses creates a thriving ecosystem that lifts us all. And as a community-owned, democratically governed grocery store, Electric City Community Grocery will be more than a place to buy groceries, it’ll be a place of community.

To “seed” our growing relationship we welcome Member-Owners to enjoy Art Night Schenectady and make a stop at the SEAT Center to see the art of Julia Durgee (MO #501) and to join in planting actual seeds to grow plants for a future co-op event.

Are you an artist who'd like to share your work? We also extend a warm invitation to all co-op Member-Owners to contribute artwork or music to the exhibit. Space is limited, so please let us know how much space and other set-up support you would need, and if you can bring your own easel, etc. Please email eatlocal@electriccityfood.coop asap if you're interested! 

Already showcasing your art in Art Night? Where?! We’d like to share a map in our next newsletter, as a treasure hunt.  And look for details for a fun prize drawing in next week’s Beet!  As you can see in the map below, our future home on Lower State Street puts us in great company with an array of mutually supportive neighbors! We're so excited to help draw visitors to enjoy this vibrant part of downtown Schenectady!

Where: City Hal

What: ECCG Community Table - meet, greet, and spread the word!

When: 10am-2pm

Info: Sign up to join us here, and learn more about the Schenectady Greenmarket on Facebook 

Where: City Hal

What: ECCG Community Table - meet, greet, and spread the word!

When: 10am-2pm

Info: Sign up to join us here, and learn more about the Schenectady Greenmarket on Facebook 

Where: City Hal

What: ECCG Community Table - meet, greet, and spread the word!

When: 10am-2pm

Info: Sign up to join us here, and learn more about the Schenectady Greenmarket on Facebook 

Where: City Hal

What: ECCG Community Table - meet, greet, and spread the word!

When: 10am-2pm

Info: Sign up to join us here, and learn more about the Schenectady Greenmarket on Facebook 

Where: TBD

• What: Save the date! Once again, NAACP Schenectady Branch 2175, Electric City Community Grocery, and Inner Bliss Yoga & Wellness will be co-hosting Schenectady's Beloved Community Pie Social! (Catch a glimpse of the inaugural celebration here!)

• When: Jan. 20, Dr. Martin Luther King Day, time TBD

• Info: If you'd like to help with planning, please sign up here.

Where: Stockade Inn, 1 N Church St, Schenectady, NY 12305

What:  A heartwarming Community Potluck and Dance Party to celebrate the many ways we navigate through times of uncertainty to welcome peace, love, and joy into our communities!

Who: All are welcome for this free event, hosted by Inner Bliss, with leadership from several ECCG MOs, including Mary Clare O'Connor (MO#441), Elizabeth Walsh (MO#613), Dustin Longmire (MO#821), and Board Member Angela Williams (MO#813).

When: Monday, Jan 6, 5:30-8:30pm

Info:  More info is available on Facebook 

Where: City Hal

What: ECCG Community Table - meet, greet, and spread the word!

When: 10am-2pm

Info: Sign up to join us here, and learn more about the Schenectady Greenmarket on Facebook 

Where: Location To Be Determined

• What:  Dream * Share *Lead - Community Workshop (let's continue the Electric City Recharged conversation!) 

• When: Tuesday, Dec. 3, 6-8pm

• Info:  Please email Elizabeth.Walsh@gmail.com if you're interested in learning more 

Elizabeth Walsh (MO#613)andBoard Member Angela Williams (MO#813)ofStrong Owls had such a great time connecting, listening and dreaming with others at the kickoff meeting forElectric City Recharged(the City of Schenectady's comprehensive planning process) that they're hosting a community workshop Dec 3 to keep the conversations going! 

Elizabeth and Angela are also 2 of more than a dozen members of theCommunity Change CouncilofOne Schenectady, a people-powered movement to unleash our diverse strengths and create thriving communities for one and all in Schenectady County.  Elizabeth, Angela,Mary Clare O'Connor (MO#441),and other community-members have been wondering what it would look like to recharge Schenectady with (r)evolutionary love - love for others, our opponents, ourselves, and our common home. This workshop will create an opportunity to explore this possibility and many more as we dream, share, and lead together.  Please let Elizabeth know if you'd like to participate in the Community Workshop (elizabeth.walsh@gmail.com), and also if you might be interested in being part of the team to host it. 

Come join the members of the Electric City Community Grocery for a fun night of Screen printing!

National Co-op Grocers is coming to town! Let’s get together to welcome them on board and launch the next phase of co-op development! We’re meeting at 151 Bar and Restaurant to welcome our new partners and to connect people! Interested in attending, you can learn more here!

We invite ECCG’s fathers to join us at our table for this year's "I Am Father Festival", hosted by Community Fathers, Inc!  

This event is all about fathers, family, and community love! Let's make it an unforgettable experience with your presence.

July’s Food Council meeting: "Food Assistance 101: Essential Tips & Resources" will be focusing on governmental food assistance programs, eligibility, application tips, and more to stretch your grocery budget and support our community! Help us let people know how we are bringing a community-owned grocery store to downtown that will accept SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks - helping expand access to fresh, local food!