Message from our CEO

New Pioneer Community,

Recently, Iowa enacted a law preventing cities and counties from extending civil rights protections beyond those provided by the state. This followed an earlier law that removed gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act, eliminating statewide protections against discrimination for transgender Iowans. I am disheartened by the legal direction the state has taken and disappointed that Iowa continues to walk back civil rights for Iowans.

New Pioneer's mission calls for widespread and diverse participation, and that commitment isn’t abstract. It’s deeply aligned with the cooperative principles that guide our work - principles like Voluntary and Open Membership, Democratic Member Control, Equity, and Concern for Community. For us, supporting civil rights for all people isn’t political, it’s simply part of what it means to be a cooperative and to live our values.

I feel fortunate to work at New Pioneer and I’m so proud of our staff. Our workforce includes people with different identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences, and that diversity makes us better - more thoughtful, more connected, and more resilient. When people feel safe, respected, and valued at work, they bring their full selves to what they do, and our organization is stronger for it.

New Pioneer Food Co-op will continue to be a place where everyone is welcome, everyone is treated with dignity, and everyone deserves respect. These beliefs aren’t new, and they aren’t conditional. I want to thank you for your continued support of New Pioneer Food Co-op, and I want to assure you that we remain committed to living our values in how we support our staff, serve our owners, and show up for our community.

With deep appreciation~

Patrick Brickel
Chief Executive Officer
New Pioneer Food Co-op