Hosted By: Hayley Bove and Trevor Campbell

The Issue:

Due to the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic there have been many essential workers such as grocery store workers who have been placed at risk for catching the virus. There are many concerns that health experts are failing to regulate safety protocols to keep these workers safe during the pandemic. However, with the failing food industry companies have paid more attention to this rather than the safety of not only workers, but the community as well.

Our Goal is to:

1. Address what novice journalists and food consumers should know about grocery stores.
2. Hear from people with different backgrounds on the topic of grocery stores.

Our Panelists:

Hugh Giordano 

Hugh Giordano’s union interest was sparked when he was a student and employee of Philadelphia University in 2001. It was here that he helped lead two organizing campaigns to unionize the dining service employees at the school, and encouraged his adjunct professors to speak to the American Federation of Teachers in order to organize. At age 24, Hugh ran for State Representative in Pennsylvania, garnishing the most votes of any third-party candidate in a three-way race. Hugh became a member of UFCW Local 152 as a deli clerk at Brown’s ShopRite in Roxborough, Pennsylvania while he finished college in 2005. While working for Brown’s, he interned with both Local 1776 and Local 152.

Today, Hugh is a Union Representative/Organizer for UFCW Local 152, meeting potential new members and encouraging unions across the tri-state region. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Philadelphia University and a master’s degree in Legal and Ethical Studies from the University of Baltimore.

Most recently, Hugh has helped pass major labor legislation in New Jersey to make it easier for workers to join a union, specifically in cannabis.

Benjamin Lorr

Benjamin Lorr is the author of Hell-Bent, a critically acclaimed exploration of the Bikram Yoga community that first detailed patterns of abuse and sexual misconduct by guru Bikram Choudhury. He is also the author of The Secret Life of Groceries, which is essential reading for those who want to understand our food system– delivering powerful social commentary on the American quest for more and compassionate insight into the lives that provide it.  Lorr is a graduate of Montgomery County public schools and Columbia University. He lives in New York City.

Monica Grover

Monica Grover serves as Special Assistant to the Chief of Race, Wealth and Community at The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) in Washington, DC. She is passionate about addressing racial economic inequality and building wealth amongst low-income communities of color.

Grover has a great deal of experience working with international communities, building programs and relationships, and managing teams. Prior to NCRC, Grover was a project manager at the Institute of International Education, where she designed and implemented the content and program development for international visitors. Also, while at The Global Fund for Children, Grover managed over 30 sites and nearly 100 educators for the Adobe Youth Voices and Nike Foundation’s Grassroots Girls Initiative programs. She worked to support youth worldwide in using creative technology to share their stories of social change.

Grover has extensive experience as an entrepreneur. For nearly six years, she co-owned and operated Bazaar Spices, Washington, D.C.’s first locally-owned and operated gourmet spice shop. She has several years of experience in business development, community-building, digital marketing, and communications. Grover’s understanding of local, community-based retailing, gained by extensive work at her parents’ grocery business for over 20 years, assisted her in making Bazaar Spices a unique shopping destination and experience for all visitors.

Monica received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Italian from Mount Holyoke College and a Master of Arts degree in Sports Management from the University of San Francisco.

Daniel Coleman

Daniel Coleman is a sophomore at The College of New Jersey studying Mathematics and Statistics. Dan worked at a King’s grocery store near New Providence before the pandemic and has continued to work there throughout the pandemic.