The Co-op Q&A with Johaina Zouki

By Aly Miller

Q: When did you join the Co-op and what were some of your reasons for joining?
A: I joined in 2017 when we were still located on Putnam. It now feels like good old memory.

Q: What kind of work do you do for the Co-op?
A: In my professional life I am an event producer and have my own company called Moonage Event Production.

Considering my background and professional experience, I have become the official "event planner" of the Co-op. We have decided to pull together garden parties in some members’ homes to start building a stronger sense of community.

Q: What do you find most meaningful or enjoyable about being a Co-op member?
A: Having been born and bred in France, I have very strong memories of all the time spent at the food market with my mother, watching her take her time to pick the right fruits, carefully choosing the right vegetables, and greeting each farmer by name. She was also getting inspiration on what she was going to cook for us, depending on seasonality and freshness. It shaped my personality and made me, in a way, who I am today. I've been able to recreate a lot of those childhood memories by shopping at our food co-op, and that means the world to me.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: I cook, I cook, I cook, and I play a lot with my kids. When I get a little "free time" which is a concept far from my reality, I try to read or I indulge myself with a session of hot yoga!