Where Latino Culture Thrives Through Food, Art, and Community
Culturas Foodways is a service cooperative that supports Latino grocery stores and Latino artists across Kansas. We work with store owners and artists to preserve foodways, celebrate cultural identity, and build economic power through public art, community events, and business development support.
In many places where formal brick-and-mortar Latino cultural centers don’t exist, Latino grocery stores already serve as vital gathering spaces. We provide tools like marketing, murals, and grant assistance to help these businesses and artists thrive visibly and sustainably. As a cooperative, we grow together by sharing resources and building a stronger cultural ecosystem.
What are Cooperatives?
Cooperatives are member-owned and democratically controlled enterprises formed to meet the shared economic, social, or cultural needs of their members. A cooperative is "an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise". — International Co-operative Alliance
A service cooperative is a specific type of cooperative formed by individuals engaged in the same profession or occupation to address common concerns and provide services that benefit all members. Service cooperatives operate on principles of self-help and mutual assistance, aiming to enhance the economic stability and professional development of their members.
Interested in joining our cooperative? Fill out our quick form and we’ll follow up with more information about how to become a member. Membership is free!
Membership Categories
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Latino Grocery Store Owner
You own or work at a Latino-owned grocery store in Kansas that serves the community through culturally relevant foods, goods, or services. You are interested in marketing support, cultural programming, or building visibility for your store.
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Latino Artist or Cultural Worker
You are a Latino artist, performer, or tradition bearer living or working in Kansas. You use your creativity to celebrate culture, preserve foodways, or engage communities through art, storytelling, or public events.
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Nonprofit or Institutional Partner
You represent an organization or institution committed to cultural equity, food justice, or economic development. You are interested in collaborating, offering resources, or supporting Culturas Foodways programs and members.
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Community Supporter / Volunteer
You are passionate about uplifting Latino culture and want to support the cooperative through your time, skills, or connections. You may not be a Latino storeowner or artist, but you believe in the power of culture, food, and community.
What We Do
Public Art Installations & Murals
We commission Latino artists to create culturally relevant art in and around Latino grocery stores.Marketing & Branding Support
We help Latino storeowners strengthen their outreach through signage, social media strategy, and visual identity design with the support of our partner organizations.Grant & Loan Assistance
We host workshops with Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (ESO) partners, and offer 1:1 technical assistance to help entrepreneurs apply for public and private funding.Artist Opportunities
Through our artist directory and “end-of-shelf” program, creatives can gain visibility, sell their work, and gain retail experience. Coming Soon!
Our Mission
To rise together as Latino cultural entrepreneurs financially and visibly by creating spaces of belonging and building a sustainable cultural ecosystem that connects Latine-owned grocery stores, emerging artists, and the broader community through cooperative action.
Our Vission
We envision a Kansas where Latino grocers and Latino cultural entrepreneurs are celebrated for their work and knowledge, are economically secure, and culturally visible. A Kansas where public institutions, government staff, and neighborhoods recognize Latino businesses as cultural anchors.
