Spoma Jovanovic
1. Describe your involvement with Deep Roots Market. Include amount of time spent and specific activities, if appropriate.
I have been a proud owner with Deep Roots for decades, and a regular shopper. With my husband, we made a loan to Deep Roots long ago when the store was located on Spring Garden, to build and develop the building and programs that are important assets in Greensboro. We were delighted to invest our limited funds in Deep Roots, knowing its long-term impact would grow over time. The local nature of Deep Roots, and its democratizing features, are a model for our city.
2. Describe any volunteer or paid experience relevant to serving as a co-op board member.
My heart has been in serving grassroots initiatives in Greensboro: the Greensboro Truth and Community Reconciliation Project (12 years), Participatory Budgeting organizing efforts and implementation (13 years), Democracy Greensboro, and Justice for Marcus Smith that I see as transforming processes that have changed the views in our city to bend closer toward justice for all. I also worked with high school and college students on BUBBS (Bringing us Bus Benches & Shelters) to raise awareness and funds toward the installation of bus benches and shelters in our city (10 years). Finally, I have volunteered time and service to many of Greensboro’s fine nonprofit and government organizations including Leadership Greensboro, the Community Foundation’s Future Fund, Food Assistance Program, the City’s Citizen’s Advisory Team on the rewrite of the. Land Development Ordinance, Commission on the Status of Women, Action Greensboro Task Forces, City Academy, and Habitat for Humanity, among others.
3. What do you see as Deep Roots' role in the broader community?
Deep Roots demonstrates how people working together in a cooperative can successfully determine their collective fate, address one another’s needs, and implement desired solutions. As such, the store serves as a living example of an alternative to the hyper capitalism that distorts the ways relationships, care, and conversation direct our way forward to a better future for all, not just some.
4. Personal statement, including anything you feel is relevant to your candidacy.
As I retire from my career as a Professor of Communication Studies at UNCG, I am looking forward to continuing to contribute to my community in different ways that build on my experience in communication, organizing, evaluation, and research. I will have the time to serve and look forward to doing so on the Board for Deep Roots so that I can collaborate with others in continuing and advancing the mission of our local co-op. When we had a second co-op in our city, my family members were active supporters there as well. We were sorry that one did not meet its full potential, which is more reason to support Deep Roots in its mission.
I am committed, organized, and not afraid of hard work. I am probably best known as an advocate for programs, people, and efforts that amplify the voices of those who have historically been under-resourced and discriminated against, in an effort to correct the wrongs we have witnessed (and contributed to) in our world.