Arlington, VA (August 28, 2019) – Fridley, Minnesota native and Resident Owned Community (ROC) volunteer Natividad Seefeld will join dozens of other hard-working volunteers on an all-expense-paid cruise courtesy of Cabot Creamery Co-operative and National Cooperative Bank. Natividad will be recognized as a 2019 Community Celebrity by Cabot, the New England and New York farm-family owned dairy co-operative, as someone who makes a significant difference in her community.
“The Cabot farmers have a different perspective on what defines a true celebrity,” says Cabot CEO Ed Townley. “For them, the kind, giving souls who make a significant difference in their communities each and every day are the real celebrities. That’s why, in 2010, Cabot created the Community Celebrity Cruise to honor the achievements and contributions of those hard-working volunteers, and to encourage more people and organizations to join us in applauding and recognizing their efforts.”
Seefeld is living her dream – making Park Plaza Cooperative a safe, affordable place to live and raise a family. Park Plaza is a Resident Owned Community (ROC).
She has lived in Park Plaza in Fridley, Minnesota since 1998. Growing up in a military family and then as an adult, Natividad knows what it means to move. She has lived in big houses during good times and places that were not so big during difficult times -- even her parents’ car as a child. But she wants Park Plaza Cooperative, to be the last place she lives.
Natividad has served as Board President since Park Plaza became a co-op on February 15, 2011. Under her leadership, Park Plaza has replaced a chronically leaking water system, repaved roads, lined the sewer system, installed fire hydrants for the first time, added more lights, built community garden boxes, and installed a playground funded by donations on ROC USA’s website, and with help from a story about Park Plaza done by NPR Radio.
Natividad serves as a Director of both ROC USA and ROC Association, which is made up of more than 15,500 residents in 241 ROCs in 16 states. She directly represents their interests on the ROC USA Board. She is also the Vice President of the All Parks Alliance for Change.
“I am truly honored to be named a 2019 Cabot Community Celebrity,” stated Natividad. “I look forward to being a part of what is sure to be a remarkable group of volunteers who strive to make their communities better for everyone.”
“National Cooperative Bank is honored to recognize Natividad for her countless hours of dedication and service to her local Park Plaza Cooperative and the national ROC USA Board,” stated Mary Alex Blanton, Senior Vice President of National Cooperative Bank. “Active volunteers are critical to make communities thrive, and we applaud Natividad for her service.”
The 2019 Community Celebrity Cruise sets sail from Boston on September 29, 2019, making stops in Portland, Bar Harbor, St. John and Halifax. This marks the seventh Community Celebrity Cruise; more than 200 volunteers have been honored thus far for making a positive impact on their communities. For more information, visit cabotcelebritycruise.com.
About Cabot Creamery Co-operative
In 2019, Cabot Creamery Co-operative celebrates a century of continuous operation in Vermont, and makes a full line of cheeses, Greek yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese and butter. Widely known as makers of “The World’s Best Cheddar,” in 2012 Cabot became the first dairy co-op and cheese maker in the world to become a certified B Corps. Cabot is owned by the 850 dairy farm families of Agri-Mark, with farms located throughout New England and upstate New York.