Englewood food leaders look ahead after Whole Foods departure

Chicago Tribune ^ | May. 31, 2022 | Talia Soglin

[Salman]

Hours after Whole Foods announced it was leaving Englewood late last month, community members gathered at the Go Green Community Fresh Market on 63rd Street for an event with the rapper Freeway.

The event at Fresh Market, which the nonprofit Inner-City Muslim Action Network opened in March, had been scheduled before the Whole Foods announcement was made public. But the evening turned into “an oasis and a hub for healing,” said Sana Syed, IMAN’s director of strategic initiatives.

“There was a lot of hope, there was a lot of healing and there was a lot of drive,” Syed said of that night. “We are a resilient community, and honestly, if Whole Foods is going to leave, it is their loss.”

...

[Salman]

Catching a "food desert" in the process of formation.

[FreeReign]

What on earth is an Engelwood “food leader”?

[Salman]

What on earth is an Engelwood “food leader”?

A community organizer with an ad hoc self conferred title.

[Paladin2]

Is he/she a Master Urban Farmer?

[SaveFerris]

(for an event with the rapper)

Food desert rap?

[SpokeshaveReturns]

Whole Foods leaving Chicago

The event at Fresh Market, which the nonprofit Inner-City Muslim Action Network opened in March,...Known as IMAN, and run by Sana Syed, IMAN’s director of strategic initiatives.

Chicago ...the war zone city.

[rlmorel]

"...Syed said of that night. “We are a resilient community, and honestly, if Whole Foods is going to leave, it is their loss..."

Hardly. Whole Foods is likely leaving because it IS their loss. This goes squarely in the responsibility of the Leftists who create and enforce law and order in those areas. They Leftists fully and enthusiastically advocate for criminals committing crime, and resist any attempts to enforce laws. Worse, they demonize those who DO attempt to enforce law.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

But the evening turned into “an oasis and a hub for healing,” said Sana Syed, IMAN’s director of strategic initiatives.

Does "an oasis and a hub for healing" sell fresh produce and groceries to people? Because otherwise this just sounds idiotic.

[FreeReign]

A community organizer with an ad hoc self conferred title.

Self conferred tittles are one thing.

But the Chicago Tribune is using it and it sounds more Orwellian and like it has centralized origins.

[mikey_hates_everything]

“if Whole Foods is going to leave, it is their loss.”

More of a loss for them to stay. But they knew that going in and will probably get a nice tax write-off and be able to say they helped inner-city communities.

[Gay State Conservative]

It's a Rosie O’Donuts-like behemoth wolfing down ten pounds of organic Brussels sprouts in between giant Snickers bars.

[ClearCase_guy]

This piece is just loaded with terminology which is vapid and self-congratulatory. These are resilient people setting up an oasis and just being awesome in every way. In other words: they are accomplishing squat in life.

[FreeReign]

It's a Rosie O’Donuts-like behemoth wolfing down ten pounds of organic Brussels sprouts in between giant Snickers bars.

Hiyo!

[V_TWIN]

“if Whole Foods is going to leave, it is their loss.”

On the contrary......they are leaving to cut their loses....as in pilferage.

[Cboldt]

That was my question too. Food leader? Taxpayer funded job?

[nwrep]

[Rummyfan]

“There was a lot of hope, there was a lot of healing and there was a lot of drive,” Syed said of that night. “We are a resilient community, and honestly, if Whole Foods is going to leave, it is their loss.”

Perhaps Whole Foods was forced to move due to losses cause by theft and shoplifting.

[Dave911]

I’m guessing Whole Foods is leaving because of their losses.

[LS]

Ah, beautiful and tranquil Benghazi-by-the-Lake.

[null and void]

"The event at Fresh Market, which the nonprofit Inner-City Muslim Action Network"

Shoplift here, we chop off your right hand.