For years the membership rosters and ideals of the Durham Food Co-op (DFC) and the Durham People's Alliance (PA), have overlapped. PA is a local citizen organization working on social and economic justice, public education, quality environment, and people-friendly economic development. In the interest of simplification, Members from either organization are preparing the way for a new membership option.  By signing up for the "Cooperative Alliance" membership will be able to shop at DFC with their discount and participate in PA civic engagement. 

The DFC's focus as a Grocery Store is obscured when it becomes a political outlet, especially since 2001.  Simultaneously, the PA is busy tackling the same political issues fielded at the Co-op.  Combining the Co-op's retail function with the PA's advocacy gives more power to members of both organizations, while also giving each group more focus.

The overlapping members of both organizations in the Cooperative Alliance Planning Committee believe that offering a joint membership will result in stonger membership rolls, greater community influence, more leverage, and a lower membership cost overall. 

A meeting on 10/3 prepares a Cooperative Alliance presentation for the PA on 10/4.  The Committee hopes the option will be put before the members of both organizations for a vote before the end of 2007.