Everything Co-op with Vernon Oakes: Recent Episodes
Everything Co-op
July 9, 2026In this segment, Vernon welcomes Steve Dubb, Strategic Initiatives Editor at Shelterforce, an independent nonprofit newsroom that has spent five decades reporting on affordable housing, community development, and housing justice. Together, Vernon and Steve will explore how independent journalism helps shape public understanding of affordable housing challenges, elevates community voices, and informs policies that promote equitable, sustainable, and cooperative approaches to building stronger communities.Before joining Shelterforce, Steve Dubb served as Senior Editor of Economic Justice at Nonprofit Quarterly. Prior to that, he worked at The Democracy Collaborative, where he authored, co-authored, and edited numerous reports, facilitated national learning cohorts, and helped advance the growing field of community wealth building. Earlier in his career, Steve served as Executive Director of NASCO (North American Students of Cooperation), a U.S. and Canadian association of housing cooperatives that supports cooperative housing and leadership development on college campuses.Steve has authored and edited numerous books on community wealth, economic justice, and democratic ownership. Most recently, he co-edited (with Raymond Foxworth) Invisible No More: Voices from Native America (Island Press, 2023), a collection highlighting Indigenous perspectives on economic and community development. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Steve remains actively engaged in local economic justice initiatives through his volunteer work with several community organizations.Founded more than 50 years ago, Shelterforce is a trusted nonprofit news organization dedicated to advancing healthy, equitable communities. Through in-depth reporting and partnerships with readers, practitioners, and other newsrooms, Shelterforce provides timely analysis of affordable housing, housing justice, community organizing, and community development—equipping advocates, policymakers, and community leaders with the information needed to create lasting, positive change.
July 2, 2026In this segment, Vernon interviews Tony Pickett, Chief Executive Officer of Grounded Solutions Network. Vernon and Tony will explore how community land trusts and shared equity housing are creating pathways to affordable homeownership and stronger, more resilient communities. Before Vernon's conversation with Tony Pickett Vernon welcomes Doug O'Brien for a timely discussion on his article, At 250 and Beyond – Cooperatives’ Role in Our American Story, exploring how cooperatives have strengthened communities and democracy throughout our nation's history.With more than 35 years of experience in community development, Tony has been a leading voice in creating permanently affordable housing, advancing equitable housing policies, and expanding the use of community land trusts to promote racial and economic equity. Under his leadership, Grounded Solutions has launched several nationally recognized initiatives, including the Catalytic Land Cohort, ForEveryoneHome, and Homes for the Future, which combine public, philanthropic, and private investment to preserve affordable homeownership opportunities in growing communities.Tony also serves on the boards of the Up for Growth Coalition, the Center for CLT Innovation, and the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, and is a founding member of the National Community Development CEOs of Color Circle. A graduate of the Cornell University School of Architecture, Art and Planning, he is a passionate advocate for holistic, equitable community development.Doug O'Brien is President and CEO of the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA), where he leads the organization's efforts to advance the cooperative business model in the United States and around the world. Since joining NCBA CLUSA in 2016, Doug has helped strengthen the cooperative community's impact on businesses, families, and local economies, serving as Executive Vice President of Programs before becoming President and CEO in 2018. Prior to NCBA CLUSA, Doug led the work of the White House Rural Council and held senior leadership positions with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, overseeing programs that supported rural communities nationwide. He has also served in the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and for two state governors. A native of a family farm in Iowa, Doug holds degrees from Loras College, the University of Iowa College of Law, and the University of Arkansas. His lifelong commitment to cooperative principles continues to shape his work advancing community-centered economic development.
emphasizes that men's health is not an individual responsibility alone. The theme highlights the important role that families, friends, workplaces, healthcare providers, and communities play in supporting men's physical, emotional, and mental well-being throughout every stage of life.Vernon Oakes is a dedicated advocate for cooperatives who was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in 2024. He is the Past President of the National Association of Housing Cooperatives and has served on numerous boards and committees advancing cooperative interests. His contributions also extend to the Limited Equity Cooperative Task Force, initiated by Anita Bonds, an At-Large Member of the Council of the District of Columbia. As an MBA graduate of Stanford University, Vernon has applied his business expertise to serve the community, championing the benefits of the cooperative business model.
June 18, 2026 This episode features an interview with Nathan Schneider, professor of media studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. Vernon and Nathan discuss the current progress and prospects for cooperatives in Artificial Intelligence, and explores ways in which cooperatives can navigate the rise of AI without losing control of their intellectual property.Nathan Schneider is a professor of media studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he directs the Media Economies Design Lab and engages deeply with his students. He has authored books on topics such as online democracy, cooperative enterprise, the Occupy movement, and God, and has edited works on crypto and co-ops. His prolific writing includes articles for both magazines and academic journals, reflecting his commitment to chronicling ideas and exploring the potential of perfect worlds and ordinary imaginations in practice. Schneider views every word as a hypothesis and a test, acutely aware that even the most casual remark contributes to the irrevocable construction of our world. Working with others to build a democratic economy keeps him grounded and accountable.
June 4, 2026In this special edition of Everything Co-op, host Vernon Oakes presents an in-depth overview of the cooperative business model, explaining how cooperatives are owned and governed by the people they serve and how they create economic opportunities while strengthening communities.Drawing on decades of experience in the cooperative movement, Vernon examines the history, principles, and values that distinguish cooperatives from investor-owned businesses. He discusses the various types of cooperatives—including consumer, worker, producer, housing, and financial cooperatives—and highlights how these enterprises empower individuals to work together to meet common economic, social, and cultural needs.Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of cooperative ownership, democratic decision-making, member participation, and the role cooperatives play in building wealth, promoting economic justice, and creating sustainable communities. Whether you are new to the cooperative movement or looking to expand your knowledge, this informative monologue provides valuable insights into one of the world's most successful and enduring business models.
Life – together with members of the American Sustainable Business Network, the Greater Boston Labor Council, and the Local Enterprise Assistance Fund.Come meet fellow practitioners, organizers, and leaders working at the intersection of business, labor, and community development. Connect, exchange ideas, and build momentum for a stronger, more collaborative social and solidarity economy.Event URL: https://asett-reception.eventbrite.com (https://asett-reception.eventbrite.com/)Building Mutual Social Economy Bridges – BostonJosephine A. Fiorentino Community Center, Brighton, MAFriday, May 29 • 2:30 PM - 4 PMRSVP here: https://asett-boston.eventbrite.com (https://asett-boston.eventbrite.com/)
Life – together with members of the American Sustainable Business Network, the Greater Boston Labor Council, and the Local Enterprise Assistance Fund.Come meet fellow practitioners, organizers, and leaders working at the intersection of business, labor, and community development. Connect, exchange ideas, and build momentum for a stronger, more collaborative social and solidarity economy.Event URL: https://asett-reception.eventbrite.com (https://asett-reception.eventbrite.com/)Building Mutual Social Economy Bridges – BostonJosephine A. Fiorentino Community Center, Brighton, MAFriday, May 29 • 2:30 PM - 4 PMRSVP here: https://asett-boston.eventbrite.com (https://asett-boston.eventbrite.com/)
Root Farm in Chester, New York. Vernon and Karen discuss her journey as a farmer and food justice activists, the vital role women play in agriculture, and how initiatives like Black Urban Growers are empowering communities to build equitable and sustainable food systems.Karen is a passionate food advocate who co-founded Black Urban Growers (BUGS) in 2010, an organization dedicated to supporting growers in both urban and rural communities. Her impact and leadership have earned her widespread recognition, including being named one of Ebony magazine's 100 Most Influential African Americans in 2012, receiving the James Beard Leadership Award in 2014, and most recently, the James Beard Humanitarian Award in 2023. Karen also contributes her time and expertise as a board member of the New York Botanical Gardens, the Mary Mitchell Center, Soul Fire Farm, and the Black Farmer Fund.The United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, recognizing the vital yet often underappreciated contributions of women across global agri-food systems. From production and processing to distribution and trade, women farmers play a central role in advancing food security, nutrition, and economic resilience. IYWF 2026 aims to elevate awareness and drive action to close gender gaps and improve livelihoods worldwide.
April 2, 2026Everything Co-op kicks off its observance of the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026) with a distinguished guest, Noémi Giszpenc, Executive Director of The Keystone Development Center (KDC). A nationally respected leader in cooperative development, Noémi Giszpenc brings more than two decades of experience advancing democratic ownership and community-based economic models. In her current role at KDC, she leads strategic initiatives that expand access to cooperative business development, strengthen organizational capacity, and support inclusive economic growth across sectors.Prior to joining KDC, Noémi served as Executive Director of the Cooperative Development Institute (CDI), where she guided the organization through significant expansion from 2009 to 2022, broadening its impact and services throughout the Northeast. She holds a master’s degree in cooperative economic development from Southern New Hampshire University and is a certified Level II facilitator in collaborative leadership and group process.The United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, recognizing the vital yet often underappreciated contributions of women across global agrifood systems. From production and processing to distribution and trade, women farmers play a central role in advancing food security, nutrition, and economic resilience. IYWF 2026 aims to elevate awareness and drive action to close gender gaps and improve livelihoods worldwide.Through its work, KDC supports emerging and established cooperatives, businesses transitioning to shared ownership, and the broader ecosystem of organizations that sustain cooperative development—including nonprofits, government agencies, and philanthropic partners. Its services span education and training, technical assistance, and ecosystem-building efforts across a wide range of cooperative models, including farmer, worker, consumer, housing, and artist co-ops.
Feminist Political Economy and Associate Professor of Global Development Studies. She is the founding member of the international Diverse Solidarity Economies Collective (DISE), highlighting the need to amplify culturally diverse community economies to counter the systemic economic exclusion of marginalized populations. Dr. Hosein is a member of the new college at the Royal Society of Canada and holds an Ontario Early Researcher Award. Author of the award-winning Politicized Microfinance: Money, Power and Violence in the Black Americas and The Banker Ladies and editor of Community Economies in the Global South, of The Black Social Economy, Community Economies in the Global South and Beyond Racial Capitalism and has written more than 50+ articles and book chapters on financialization, development and feminist economics.
October 30, 2026Vernon speaks with Alison Powers of Capital Impact Partners and Mary Alex Blanton of the National Cooperative Bank (NCB). Together, they will discuss the partnership between their organizations to present the 2025 Co-op Innovation Awards, which recognize creative cooperative models that expand economic opportunities nationwide.Alison Powers is the Director of Economic Opportunities at Capital Impact Partners, a national Community Development Financial Institution dedicated to helping communities overcome barriers to success. In her role, she advances economic and wealth-building opportunities through cooperative development, small business growth, and equitable food systems. Alison also leads the Nourish DC Collaborative, which supports locally owned food businesses, expands access to healthy food, and fosters vibrant, job-creating neighborhoods. Through her work, she champions the cooperative model by providing funding, technical assistance, and financing that empower communities to thrive.Mary Alex Blanton is Senior Vice President and Director of Strategic Marketing at National Cooperative Bank (NCB), where she leads the bank’s marketing strategy, advertising, brand identity, corporate communications, and public relations. In her role, she supports NCB’s mission of empowering cooperatives and member-owned organizations – particularly in underserved communities.The Co-op Innovation Award honors organizations that strengthen food, housing, and worker co-ops. Each year, recipients receive up to $50,000 to expand cooperative development, drive shared prosperity, and build lasting community impact through innovative collaboration.This year’s recipients include:Farm Generations Cooperative of Cooperstown, New York, which helps farmers sell directly to their communities and improves access to healthy food through programs like SNAP and WIC.Fideicomiso Comunitario Tierra Libre in Los Angeles, California, creating East LA’s first housing cooperative to promote collective ownership and long-term affordability.Nashville Equitable Housing Cooperative of Tennessee, developing the state’s first large-scale affordable housing co-op and a playbook to expand similar projects statewide.Prospera Community Development in Oakland, California, expanding its Spanish-language program, Comunidades Prospera, to empower cooperative entrepreneurship and financial independence.The U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives, based in Chicago, Illinois, launching the Win-Win Child Care Initiative to connect unions and worker co-ops in building quality, sustainable childcare businesses.Together, these awardees are advancing food access, affordable housing, and worker empowerment through innovative cooperative models that strengthen communities nationwide.
Law Project and serves as Director of Applied Research and Strategic Partnerships for UIC’s Social Justice Initiative. Her work focuses on community economic development, economic democracy, worker-owned cooperatives, solidarity economies, and racial and economic justice. Dr. Sutton’s research explores how local governments and grassroots movements can support cooperative ownership and equitable economic systems, as well as how punitive urban policies disproportionately affect marginalized communities. She is the author of research on “cooperative cities” and leads the Real Black Utopias project examining Black-centered solidarity economy ecosystems. Dr. Sutton holds a PhD in Urban Planning and Sociology from Rutgers University, an MBA from New York University, an MS from the New School for Social Research, and a BA from Loyola University.
September 11, 2025 - This episode continues our celebration of the 2025 Cooperative Hall of Fame Inductees with a special conversation featuring honoree Lori Capouch, former Rural Development Director for the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC). Lori reflects on her career and shares lessons from her work in strengthening rural communities—ranging from sustaining grocery stores to expanding childcare and food access.Lori Capouch is a recently retired rural development professional who spent her career helping communities establish the businesses they envisioned. She most recently served as Rural Development Director for the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC), where she managed the Rural Electric and Telecommunications Development Center in Mandan, North Dakota. She also led the Rural Development Finance Corporation, a $9 million revolving loan fund that supports rural businesses, and previously directed the North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission, a state agency providing grants for high-risk startup ventures.Beyond her work with NDAREC, Lori provided contracted services to the North Dakota Rural Rehabilitation Corporation and the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education. She was also secretary/treasurer of the Dakotas America governing board, which invests New Market Tax Credits in economically distressed communities nationwide. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the North Dakota Consensus Council.Throughout her career, Lori’s signature efforts focused on strengthening cooperative and nonprofit enterprises in North Dakota’s rural communities, with a particular emphasis on improving food access, sustaining local grocery stores, expanding childcare, and advancing small-scale meat processing.Lori holds a BS in Business Management from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, and is a certified Economic Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council.
November 6, 2025In this episode of Everything Co-op, Vernon speaks with George G. C. Parker, Dean Witter Distinguished Professor of Finance, Emeritus, at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Together, they examine the “Kum Ba Yah” spirit of cooperative economics, the yin and yang of cooperative and capitalist models, and how the side-by-side coexistence of these two systems can strengthen and improve both.George G.C. Parker is the Dean Witter Distinguished Professor of Finance, Emeritus, at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he has taught in the MBA Program, the MSx Program and executive education since joining the faculty in 1973. He holds an MBA (1962) and PhD (1967) from Stanford, and previously taught finance at Columbia University from 1967-73. Parker’s teaching and research focus on corporate finance, financial institutions management, and corporate governance, and he has authored many case studies and journal articles in these areas. Prior to joining the faculty at Stanford in 1973, Parker was an assistant and associate professor of finance at Columbia University in New York City.Over his distinguished career, he has earned numerous honors including the 2006 Distinguished Teaching Award at Stanford. Parker was the recipient of the 2000 Robert T. Davis Award for Faculty Lifetime Achievement at Stanford Graduate School of Business and the 2006 Distinguished Teaching Award in the Stanford MBA Program. In addition, Parker serves on four boards of directors of listed, publicly traded companies, one mutual fund company, one privately held company, and one nonprofit organization.
November 20, 2025Everything Co-op launches its spotlight on the 2025 Innovation Award recipients with Michael Parker and Lindsey Lusher Shute, co-founders of Farm Generations Cooperative. In this interview, Michael and Lindsey discuss how Farm Generations empowers its members through GrownBy, their farmer-owned software platform, and how the Innovation Award will help advance their mission.Lindsey Lusher Shute co-founded the National Young Farmers Coalition and served as its executive director for a decade. She is also an owner of Hearty Roots Farm, a diversified vegetable and livestock farm in New York’s Hudson Valley. During her tenure at Young Farmers, Lindsey built a national network of 150,000 farmers and advocates, advancing grassroots efforts around land access, conservation, credit, student debt, and farmer training. She has delivered keynote addresses at conferences nationwide.Michael Parker has built a diverse career spanning agriculture, food, entrepreneurship, and education. A first-generation farmer, he is currently developing a grassfed beef operation in Cooperstown, NY. Mike also works on land access and business services initiatives with the National Young Farmers Coalition and oversees a farm viability grant program and business planning course for the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. He holds a B.S. in Accounting and Operations Information Management from Georgetown University.Farm Generations Cooperative is dedicated to empowering local farmers and fostering transparency throughout the food supply chain. Blending innovative technology with agricultural traditions, the cooperative strives to create a more just and sustainable future for food producers and consumers alike. In 2019, the cooperative launched GrownBy, the first free, farmer-owned software platform designed for local farm sales. By connecting growers directly with customers across the country, GrownBy promotes fair, efficient exchanges and helps small farmers succeed collectively strengthening local communities and building a more resilient agricultural system.The Co-op Innovation Award honors organizations that strengthen food, housing, and worker co-ops. Each year, recipients receive up to $50,000 to expand cooperative development, drive shared prosperity, and build lasting community impact through innovative collaboration.
September 18, 2025 - This episode of Everything Co-op continues our tribute to the 2025 Cooperative Hall of Fame Inductees with a special conversation featuring Tom Webb. Tom shares insights from his lifelong work advancing cooperative education and global leadership and explores the enduring value and unique advantages of the cooperative business model.Tom Webb’s career spans cooperative sectors in Canada and the United States, from grocery to IT, multistakeholder co-ops to credit unions. His most enduring legacy lies in education, a cornerstone of the Co-operative Identity. As Director of the Extension Department at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, Webb recognized the need for a graduate program focused on cooperative management. After years of persistence and collaboration, he established the Master of Management: Co-operatives and Credit Unions (MMCCU) at Saint Mary’s University, now the world’s leading English-language graduate program in cooperative business, offered fully online.The program’s success, built on Webb’s networking and support from co-op leaders in Canada, the U.S., and the UK, laid the foundation for the International Centre for Co-operative Management (ICCM). Today, ICCM offers degrees, certificates, executive training, study tours, and applied research, and is governed by the Co-operative Management Education Co-operative (CMEC), an international multistakeholder co-op with 80 members in 10 countries. Webb also founded the Centre of Excellence in Accounting and Reporting for Co-operatives (CEARC), advancing co-op specific financial and sustainability reporting.Though officially retired, Webb continues teaching, consulting, and writing. His book, From Corporate Globalization to Global Cooperation, captures a lifetime devoted to advancing cooperation.For his lifelong dedication and personification of cooperative values, Tom Webb will be inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame on October 9 in Washington, DC. For tickets visit Heroes.coop website.
September 4, 2025 Randy Lee, former CFO of Puget Consumer Co-op (PCC Community Markets). Randy reflects on his career, share insights from his nearly 50 years in the food co-op sector, and offers his thoughts on the future of food cooperatives.Randy’s journey with PCC began in 1970, when the co-op had just one storefront, 650 members, and $66,000 in revenue. Rising quickly from store manager to CFO, Randy helped transform PCC into the nation’s largest consumer-owned grocer, now serving over 100,000 members across 16 stores with $450 million in annual revenue. His leadership extended beyond finance—he championed farmland preservation, helped launch the Washington Farmland Trust, and supported initiatives that provided 1.5 million meals to communities in need and brought cooking classes to more than 7,000 students.Randy’s vision for cooperation reached beyond PCC. He was a founding member of the National Cooperative Grocers Association (now National Co+op Grocers), where he served on the board for nearly two decades and played a pivotal role in securing groundbreaking purchasing contracts that strengthened co-ops nationwide.For his lifelong dedication and personification of cooperative values, Randy Lee was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame, October 9, in Washington, DC. For more info visit Heroes.coop
Research Center in Epes, Alabama, she and her husband, George, along with Wendell Paris, John and Carol Zippert, and Jim Jones, helped establish the center by living on site, contributing part of her salary, and even working in construction during its early years. In 1970, she joined an FSC/LAF delegation to Israel to study vegetable production and cooperative marketing systems, an experience that shaped her decades of service with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund. Throughout her work with the Federation, she demonstrated both a commitment to advancing its mission and a respect for its legacy, forming a close bond with leaders such as Estelle Witherspoon. In 2001, Alice brought her expertise to Tuskegee University as a project coordinator, where she continued empowering rural communities until her retirement in 2014.For her lifelong dedication and personification of cooperative values, Estelle Witherspoon was posthumously inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame on October 9 in Washington, DC. For more information regarding the inductees visit Heroes.coop
May 8 2025This episode features C.E. Pugh, Chief Executive Officer of National Co+op Grocers (NCG). Vernon and C.E. Pugh discuss how NCG supports the growth of the cooperative grocery sector, and his cooperative journey.C.E. Pugh is the CEO of National Co+op Grocers, a cooperative serving 166 retail grocery co-ops with over 240 storefronts across 39 states and $2.8 billion in annual sales. He joined NCG in 2008 to lead its Development Co-operative, became the organization’s first Chief Operating Officer in 2012, and was appointed CEO in 2019. With 50 years of experience in the retail food industry, Pugh sees improving the food system as a spiritual mission and champions food co-ops as leaders in building more just and sustainable local food economies.
August 7, 2025Interview with John Holdsclaw IV, President & CEO of Rochdale CapitalOn this episode of Everything Co-op, John Holdsclaw IV, President and CEO of Rochdale Capital, explores the challenges and opportunities facing financial institutions and shares exciting new initiatives at Rochdale Capital.Rochdale Capital is a national non-profit community development loan fund advancing cooperative principles and community ownership. The organization provides financing and technical assistance to community-based organizations and cooperatives, with a focus on under-resourced communities, especially those led by women and minorities.In addition to his leadership at Rochdale, John serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer at the National Cooperative Bank (NCB), helping to position NCB as a thought leader in public policy, community finance, and cooperative development.A recognized leader in the cooperative movement, John chairs the Cooperative Development Foundation and serves on several national boards. His contributions have earned him major honors, including the Stanley W. Dreyer Spirit of Cooperation Award (2019) and recognition as one of ImpactAlpha’s Agents of Impact (2022).🎧 Listen now to hear John’s perspectives on building financial systems that strengthen communities and expand opportunities through cooperation.
Vernon Oakes interviews Ginger Rumph, Executive Director of the Douglass Community Land Trust (Douglass CLT), and Silvia Inéz Salazar, Co-president of the 1417 N Street, NW Cooperative. Together, they explore the collaboration between their organizations and share insights into their ongoing initiatives.Ginger Rumph is the founding Executive Director of the Douglass CLT, a nonprofit dedicated to racial and economic equity through community-led land ownership and permanently affordable housing. While establishing Douglass CLT, she also led City First Homes, overseeing over 200 affordable units and implementing strong stewardship systems.Ginger brings decades of experience in housing and community development. She previously served as Vice President and COO of the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development (CNHED), where she directed policy, advocacy, fundraising, and operations. At Enterprise Community Partners, she managed national reporting systems and promoted best practices.In her hometown of Pittsburgh, she held leadership roles in housing coalitions, worked in real estate development, and served in county government revitalizing vacant properties. A former Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic, she continues to practice Spanish through music. Ginger holds master’s degrees in public administration and social work from the University of Pittsburgh.Silvia Inéz Salazar is Co-president of the 1417 N Street, NW Cooperative in Washington, DC’s Logan Circle, representing 83 diverse working families. Her leadership began in 2005 when she co-founded a tenant association to address dangerous housing conditions, including over 200 code violations. She mobilized residents against displacement and gentrification, building partnerships with legal, government, and community organizations.Silvia collaborated with the Latino Economic Development Center to produce The Demise of Condo-Zilla, a bilingual children’s play that brought media attention to their struggle. She also led a partnership with the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian to showcase Mayan art by tenants. Legal efforts secured $500,000 in pro bono support, ultimately helping residents purchase the building and form a cooperative.Beyond her housing work, Silvia has served as board chair for several justice-focused organizations and currently leads the Douglass Community Land Trust. Since 2003, she has worked at the NIH, advancing health equity through research and advocacy.
July 3, 2025Dr. Andre M. Perry, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and director of the Center for Community Uplift, shares his insights on how community-led approaches can drive investment into historically underfunded neighborhoods.Dr. Andre M. Perry is a nationally known and respected commentator on race, structural inequality, and education. Perry is the author of the book “Black Power Scorecard: Measuring the Racial Gap and What We Can Do to Close It,” published by Henry Holt. In 2020, Brooking Press published Perry’s previous book, “Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in America’s Black Cities.” Perry's 2018 Brookings report on the devaluation of assets in Black neighborhoods brought national attention to systemic undervaluation of homes and extended this research to other community assets like schools and businesses. Perry is a regular contributor to MSNBC and has been published by numerous national media outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Nation, Bloomberg CityLab, and CNN.com. Perry has also made appearances on HBO, CNN, PBS, National Public Radio, NBC, and ABC, and advises policymakers on economic equity.In relation to cooperative development, Perry advocates for community-based solutions such as community land trusts and cooperative investment models. These approaches align with his broader goals of stabilizing neighborhoods, redirecting capital into underinvested communities, and promoting long-term economic empowerment for Black Americans.A native of Pittsburgh, Perry earned his Ph.D. in education policy and leadership from the University of Maryland, College Park.
June 26, 2025 - Michael Peck and Dr. Christina Clamp to discuss the 2nd Volume of "Humanity@Work&life-Global Diffusion of the Mondragon Cooperative Ecosystem Experience.”Michael Peck co-founded 1worker1vote in 2014, alongside ten advisory board members, to build on the 2009 United Steelworkers/Mondragon Collaboration MOU and the 2012 Union-Coop Model. He currently serves as the organization's Executive Director. In early 2015, 1worker1vote was incorporated as a New York 501(c)(3) by CUNY Law School’s Community Economic Development Clinic.Drawing inspiration from Mondragon’s 70-year cooperative ecosystem, 1worker1vote is leading the “Good Trouble Capitalism” and “Generation Union” campaigns under its 2025 initiative. These efforts promote global Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) principles, community enterprise development, authentic sustainability metrics, predistributive financing, and cooperative-mutualist housing best practices. Central to its mission is advancing hybrid worker ownership and workplace democracy through union-coop models.Current collaborations include:The Coalition for Affordable, Cooperative-Mutualist Housing (NY project)ASETT (Mondragon-inspired SSE think-and-do tank)UNRISD and ASETT on Sustainable Development Performance IndicatorsThe Mutualist SocietyAmerican Sustainable Business NetworkCoop CincyNewsSocial Coop (UK)Worx Printing (union-coop)Blue-Green AllianceHumanity@Work&Life publicationsDr. Christina Clamp is heralded for her diverse work grounded in the values of civil rights, social justice and an inclusive economy. She is best known for her research on Mondragon, the world’s largest worker cooperative. The results of her deep interviews with Mondragon managers and founders continue to inform human resource strategies for worker co-ops worldwide. Her extensive list of publications includes, most recently, a collection of 30 essays highlighting the story of Mondragon and its ongoing influence in the U.S. UK, Korea and Germany, Humanity@ Work & Life, coedited with Michael Peck.For more than 40 years Professor Clamp taught college courses on cooperatives and led a master’s program in community economic development at Southern New Hampshire University. As an activist professor, Chris expected her students to be engaged with community groups, particularly those that support existing and developing co-ops. Her work crosses sectors in cooperative development: from cutting-edge research on worker and shared-services cooperatives to training generations of cooperators to building and connecting cooperatives to broader movements for community economic development and the social solidarity economy, Chris is a steadfast champion of cooperatives.Chris serves on the boards of the Local Enterprise Assistance Fund (LEAF), The ICA Group, and The Fund for Jobs Worth Owning.“Humanity@Work&life - Global Diffusion of the Mondragon Cooperative Ecosystem Experience 2nd Edition” , published by Oak Tree Press, frames a collective labor of earned merit, vision and determination by 36 contributors in six countries, three continents, proving how solidarity, innovation, and conviction forge sustaining local and global social economy practice on behalf of the greater common good.
March 27, 2025Everything Co-op continues its Women’s History Month series centering on the theme “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations,” set by the National Women’s History Alliance. This episode features Renee Hatcher, Professor and Director of the Community Enterprise & Solidarity Economy Clinic at UIC Law. Vernon and Renee discuss the vital role of solidarity economy and cooperatives at this moment in history.Renee Hatcher is a human rights and cooperative lawyer and solidarity economy organizer. She is currently a Visiting Associate Professor of Clinical Law at GW Law School in DC. She serves as the Director of the Community Enterprise & Solidarity Economy Clinic at UIC Law in Chicago, a pro bono legal clinic that provides free legal support to community-based businesses, non-profits, cooperatives, and other solidarity economy enterprises. Recently, Renee served as the Co-Director of Chicago Community Wealth Building Ecosystem at CUPPA’s Center on Urban Economic Development (CUED). Renee has significant experience organizing and providing legal support to worker cooperatives and community-based initiatives to empower workers and community residents. Her work and research focus on legal and non-legal strategies to build power in Black, low-income neighborhoods and other communities of color rooted in solidarity economy organizing and theory. In 2022, the city of Chicago allocated $15 million dollars to support the cooperative ecosystem, including a substantial grant to UIC, as the “hub” organization, to conduct research and convene the Chicago Community Wealth Building Ecosystem. Renee co-directs the “hub” with her close colleague, Associate Professor Stacey Sutton. Most recently, Renee served on Mayor Johnson’s Transition Committee on Economic Vitality and Equity. This appointment has been a part of Renee’s long-standing efforts to advance cooperative development in Chicago to improve the lives of Black, brown, and poor communities.
March 20, 2025Everything Co-op continues its Women’s History Month series, that follows the theme “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations” set by the National Women’s History Alliance. This episode features E. Kim Coontz, Executive Director for the California Center for Cooperative (CCCD). Vernon and Kim discuss how her work continues to educate and inspire future generations.E. Kim Coontz is the Executive Director of the California Center for Cooperative Development (CCCD), a nonprofit dedicated to fostering and supporting cooperatives. With over 30 years of experience, she began her cooperative work at UC Davis’ Center for Cooperatives before co-founding CCCD when the program closed. Kim has helped launch cooperatives, led governance seminars, provided technical assistance, and conducted research to strengthen the cooperative movement. She has authored over a dozen publications including Bringing Families Together: A Guide to Parent Cooperatives, Steps to Starting a Worker Co-op and Steps to Starting a Marketing Co-op. Kim has also contributed to various journals. Her contributions have earned her awards from the National Association of Housing Cooperatives, Parent Cooperative Preschools International, and the California Council of Parent Participation Preschools. Previously, she was the Executive Director of Yolo Mutual Housing Association.
March 13. 2025 - Everything Co-op continues its Women’s History Month series with the theme “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations,” set by the National Women’s History Alliance. This episode features cooperative advocates Stacey Sutton Ph.D., Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, and Assata Richards, founding director of the Sankofa Research Institute. Stacey and Assata discuss the necessary components for building a solidarity economy and share their research findings related to social/economic justiceStacey Sutton Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago in the Department of Urban Planning and Policy. She co-directs the Solidarity Economy Research, Policy & Law Project, which serves as the hub for the City of Chicago’s Community Wealth Building Ecosystem. This initiative aims to promote local, democratic, and shared ownership of community assets to create more sustainable and just economies. Her research focuses on solidarity economy, economic democracy, and racial equity. Stacey Sutton Ph.D. is also a Board member of the New Economy Coalition, a Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing, and a Senior Researcher with the Small Business Anti-Displacement Network. She is currently working on a book titled "Real Black Utopias," which explores Black-centered worker cooperatives and solidarity economy ecosystems in various US cities. Stacey Sutton Ph.D. holds a BA from Loyola University, an MBA from New York University, an MS from The New School for Social Research, and a joint Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Sociology from Rutgers University. Her extensive involvement in various organizations underscores her commitment to social justice and economic democracy.Assata is the founding director of the Sankofa Research Institute (SRI), a nonprofit with a mission to “create knowledge to build community” through community-based participatory research. In addition, as a public sociologist, Assata serves as the Board President of the newly formed Houston Community Land Trust, the Third Ward Cooperative Community Builders, and the Emancipation Economic Development Council. Most recently, she was elected as the founding board president of the Community Care Cooperative, Houston’s first home care agency owned by caregivers and the nation’s first community health workers’ cooperative business. Lastly, she is a founding member of We Are The Ones, a cooperative working to build a “Black Solidarity Economy,” enabling community members to define what success is for them and hold accountable institutions that claim to act on their behalf and develop economic enterprises that fairly compensate workers and build community wealth.
March 6, 2025 - Everything Co-op launches its Women’s History Month series. The 2025 theme, set by the National Women’s History Alliance, is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations,” celebrating women leaders in education and mentorship. The inaugural episode of the series features cooperative advocates Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D., Professor at John Jay College, and Ahzjah-Netjer Simons, Co-Executive Director of the Georgia Cooperative Development Center. Dr. Gordon Nembhard Ahzjah-Netjer Simons discuss the insights gained from their interviews with Black women cooperators, and their future plans.Author of Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice (2014) and 2016 inductee into the U.S. Cooperative Hall of Fame, Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D., is a Professor at John Jay College, City University of NY. She is a political economist specializing in cooperative economics, community economic development, racial wealth inequality, Black Political Economy. She is a member of the Cooperative Economics Council of NCBA/CLUSA; the ICA Committee on Co-operative Research; an affiliate scholar with the Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, University of Saskatchewan; and past board member of Association of Cooperative Educators.Ahzjah-Netjer Simons is a transformative leader committed to empowering cooperative businesses and communities through education, strategy, and innovation. She holds key roles such as Co-Executive Director of the Georgia Cooperative Development Center, P6 Ambassador for the NCBA, and President of Digico Global. With 25 years in media activism and 18 years as a cooperative leader, Simons has earned the CCMA Cooperative Service Award. She founded International Co-op Media and launched Co-op Nation to illuminate the cooperative movement and its impact. Additionally, she co-created Women In Cooperation, a pass the mic podcast, digital magazine, and community dedicated to uplifting and amplifying women in the cooperative space.
February 27, 2025 - This episode marks the conclusion of Everything Co-op's Black History Month series, focusing on the 2025 theme set by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH): "African Americans and Labor." This theme examines how different forms of labor—free and unfree, skilled and unskilled, vocational and voluntary—have shaped Black experiences throughout history.Vernon Oakes continues this discussion alongside three leaders from VOLTS (Village of Leaders Thriving in Solidarity): Camille Kerr, co-founder of Upside-Down Consulting, Edrinna Bryant, co-owner of ChiFresh Kitchen and Jumpstart Housing Cooperative, and Sharon Hopkins, co-owner of 6ix-cess Foods.VOLTS is a newly formed non-profit that builds on years of cooperative development work to create lasting economic justice for formerly incarcerated individuals, particularly Black women. By formalizing and expanding its model, VOLTS provides the structure and support needed to scale worker-owned businesses and cooperative housing initiatives. Through this ecosystem, it creates pathways for dignified employment, stable housing, and community wealth-building, ensuring that those most impacted by incarceration have ownership and decision-making power in the businesses and homes they create.Its ecosystem includes: ChiFresh Kitchen, a worker cooperative offering institutional meal services, Jumpstart Housing Cooperative, which provides affordable homeownership opportunities, and 6ix-cess Foods, an emerging worker-owned food manufacturing business. Through these initiatives, VOLTS demonstrates how cooperative ownership can drive long-term economic security, self-determination, and systemic change in Chicago.
February 13, 2025 - Everything Co-op continues its Black History Month series, exploring the 2025 theme designated by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH): "African Americans and Labor." This theme highlights the diverse ways labor—free and unfree, skilled and unskilled, vocational and voluntary—has shaped the collective experiences of Black people. Vernon will continue his exploration of this history, shedding light on its impact and significance. In this segment, Vernon discusses the history of African Americans and Labor, and transitions to how cooperatives can be used to help communities push through this period where labor is at the center of economic survival.Vernon Oakes is a dedicated advocate for cooperatives who was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in 2024. He is the Past President of the National Association of Housing Cooperatives and has served on numerous boards and committees advancing cooperative interests. His contributions also extend to the Limited Equity Cooperative Task Force, initiated by Anita Bonds, an At-Large Member of the Council of the District of Columbia. As an MBA graduate of Stanford University, Vernon has applied his business expertise to serve the community, championing the benefits of the cooperative business model.
February 6, 2025Everything Co-op inaugurates its Black History Month series. The theme for the 2025 Black History Month, as designated by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), is "African Americans and Labor." This theme emphasizes the significant and varied ways in which different forms of labor—both free and unfree, skilled and unskilled, vocational and voluntary—intersect with the collective experiences of Black people. Vernon begins his of African Americans and Labor in a discussion with Julian Hill, an abolitionist and lawyer who specializes in the solidarity economy.Julian Hill is an assistant professor at Georgia State University College of Law. Hill is a teacher, lifelong learner, community organizer, artist, and attorney who knows that the world we deserve, though both possible and necessary, is not inevitable. Hill regularly advises worker cooperatives, collectives, nonprofits, and small businesses on a range of matters, including governance, contracts, regulatory compliance, and corporate law matters.Hill is also known to partner with community-based organizations to co-facilitate political education and co-develop policies and campaigns. They have facilitated workshops, both in English and Spanish, on worker cooperatives and the solidarity economy with Law 4 Black Lives, the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives, Democracy at Work Institute, the New York City Network of Worker Cooperatives, and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, among others. They have prepared and delivered testimony before both the New York State Assembly and the New York City Council on issues facing worker cooperatives and small businesses in New York City. Hill is licensed to practice law in Georgia, New York and Washington, D.C.
January 30, 2025Patton McDowell, the founder of PMA Nonprofit Leadership, shares insights into the firm's services and core principles. PMA Nonprofit Leadership is a consulting firm dedicated to helping skilled individuals thrive in nonprofit leadership through three primary offerings: providing valuable content and resources, offering personalized coaching and training, and delivering organizational consulting in areas such as strategic planning and fundraising.Patton also serves as Director of the Institute for Philanthropic Leadership, where he facilitates its two signature programs: Leadership Gift School and the Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy Program. He is also the host of over 300 episodes of the podcast "Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership," and the author of a book by the same title. He leads the Mastermind Leadership Development Program, a signature coaching initiative designed to develop nonprofit leaders across the country.He earned a bachelor’s degree in English Education as a Morehead Scholar at UNC Chapel Hill, an MBA from the McColl School of Business at Queens, and a Doctorate in Education (Organizational Change and Leadership) from the University of Southern California. Patton is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), and a Master Trainer for AFP Global. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Wildacres Leadership Initiative and is an Executive in Residence at the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell University.
January 23, 2025amaha sellassie, the board president of Gem City Market and Vernon discuss the progression of of Gem City Market and the cooperative agenda of 2025, in the Year of the Co-op.amaha sellassie is a peace builder, social healer, freedom fighter, network weaver and lover of humanity. amaha is a practitioner scholar dedicated to building bridges of trust, healing historical wounds, and harnessing the unique gifts and talents of every human being as we press towards a just and equitable society.A dedicated community organizer, amaha champions the causes of marginalized groups, striving to amplify their voices in public policy. As a co-founder of the Gem City Market, amaha has been instrumental in a community-led initiative to address food apartheid by enhancing access to fresh produce in West Dayton. Additionally, amaha serves as the Director of the Center for Applied Social Issues, and is a Sociology professor at Sinclair Community College.
January 16, 2025Malik Kenyatta Yakini, Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN). Vernon and Malik discuss the food sovereignty movement, and the Detroit Peoples Food Co-op's progress and challenges since its opening.Malik Kenyatta Yakini is an activist and educator who is committed to freedom and justice for African people in particular, and humanity in general. Yakini is a co-founder and the Executive Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, which operates a seven-acre farm in Detroit and spearheaded efforts to establish the Detroit Food Policy Council. He served as a member of the Michigan Food Policy Council from 2008 - 2010. From 2011 - 2013 he served on the steering committee of Uprooting Racism Planting Justice. He is a co-founder and on the leadership team of the National Black Food and Justice Alliance.
January 2, 2025Ron Hantz, Executive Director of the Network Developing Conscious Communities (NDCC), offers insights into the growth required in the co-op movement within Black communities and outlines plans for NDCC for the forthcoming year.Ron Hantz has been instrumental in advocating a new community development paradigm based on “conscious community development” He is a former Adjunct Professor, in the Africana Studies Department, at the University Maryland Baltimore County, and founded the Network for Developing Conscious Communities (NDCC) in 2014. He now leads the organization’s efforts on advocacy and building a sustainable ecosystem for Black governed community development organizations. Under his leadership, NDCC has emerged as a grass roots voice on promoting the use of principle-based practices to regenerate under-resourced Black communities. The Network for Developing Conscious Communities was founded 2014 as a 501 © (3) non-profit community development membership organization. Through implementing principles of conscious community development, the organization seeks to build economically cooperative and equitable communities through transparency, inclusiveness and collectivism. NDCC successfully works to improve financial sustainability, encourage business ownership and increase residential real estate ownership in Black neighborhoods.
December 26, 2024Everything Co-op continues to highlight choices from its 2024 Holiday list. This episode features an interview with Adrian Roman, co-owner of Colmenar Cooperative Consulting (Colmenar). Adrian discusses how the Colmenar team leverages their experiences as immigrants and their skills in navigating diverse cultures, languages, systems, and life challenges to promote democratic governance and civic participation.Adrian is a cooperative organizer and believes that prioritizing the culture of the team and relationship to the community leads to resilient organizations that can adapt and care for those involved. Adrián feels that art is a way to shift culture and speak clearly about the state of our times. He is a co-owner of Colmenar Consulting Cooperative, a co-owner of Dorchester Art Project, a certified mediator, an authorized teacher of Full Presence Mindfulness and currently sits on the board of the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives and the Greater Boston Chamber of Cooperatives. He is from Miami, FL, of Cuban and Chilean descent and his culture and family history informs his approach.
December 19. 2024The program continues to highlight choices from its 2024 Holiday list. This episode includes an interview with Alicia Simmons, Senior Sustainability Manager at Frontier Co-op. Vernon and Alicia discuss Frontiers Co-op Market, Organic Certified Ceylon Cinnamon, and its Aura Cacia Relaxation Essential Oils Kit and Celestial Diffuser, all selections in the Holiday List. They also discuss other products and services provided by Frontier Co-op, and the many ways Frontier support its employees, partners and community.Alicia Simmons is the Senior Sustainability Manager at Frontier Co-op in Norway, Iowa. In this role, she leads environmental stewardship efforts across the cooperative, including managing the Zero Waste program and initiatives related to packaging, energy, emissions, and natural resource usage. Since joining Frontier Co-op in 2017, Alicia has also directed the co-op’s annual giving program, which exceeds $1 million, supporting community-building projects in sourcing regions, partnering with local nonprofits to reduce employment barriers, and managing two signature giving programs focused on women’s empowerment and food security. Alicia oversees the co-op’s global giving and community-based partnerships, including a three-year, $1 million project in rural India that established the region’s first farmer-owned tea collective. Additionally, she leads the co-op’s communications and public relations.Beyond her professional role, Alicia is a committed advocate for sustainability and social responsibility, holding leadership positions with organizations such as the Indian Creek Nature Center, Iowa Sustainable Business Forum, and Hawkeye Area Community Action Program. She holds a BA from the University of Iowa, an MBA with a Quality Emphasis, and a Master of Strategic Leadership from Mount Mercy University.
December 5, 2024"Everything Co-op" launches showcase of selected picks from its 2024 Holiday list. The premiere episode features an interview with Kevin O'Brien, founder and general manager of Worx Printing, and Matthew Epperson, Employee Ownership domain expert. Vernon and his guests will explore the "There's A Co-Op For That!" mug and delve into the workings of and benefits of the Co-op business Model. Kevin O'Brien is the founder and general manager of the worker-owned union cooperative Worx Printing in Worcester, MA. Worx is a third-generation evolution of the Union Co-Op Model codified in 1worker1vote by the United Steelworkers and the Mondragon Cooperative. For 29 years, Kevin has been dedicated to cooperating with others to advance anti-sweatshop movement policies and practices in the apparel industry. His experiences have helped thousands of Labor Unions, Nonprofits and Political Campaigns to lift awareness, advance campaigns and programs, and improve fundraising results using ethically manufactured branded merchandise.Matthew Epperson has a diverse and impressive background in cooperative movements and employee ownership. In 2017 he founded the Georgia Co-op Development Center, the only statewide technical assistance provider for co-op startups and conversions in Georgia. Matthew spent almost 10 years in the US consumer-owned grocery retail co-op movement before transitioning to finance and platform research co-ops. Currently, he is the Employee Ownership Domain Expert at Zolidar, a startup focused on helping small to medium enterprises convert to employee-owned businesses.
November 21, 2024In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, Vernon interviews Pamela Standing, Co-Executive Director of the Minnesota Indigenous Business Alliance (MNIBA). Pamela shares strategies MNIBA employs to connect Indigenous business owners with resources.Pamela Standing's experience demonstrates that Indigenous-run organizations and businesses can thrive, achieve financial growth, and succeed within the mainstream business system without sacrificing cultural values. She is committed to bridging the disparity gap through cooperative efforts, collaboration, and establishing partnerships and alliances that lead to resource sharing.In 2019, through her partnership and contract status with Cooperative Development Services (CDS) she was able to participate in CooperationWorks’ co-op developer training series. It was through her participation in this program that inspired her exploration into how Indigenous language, Cultural Lifeways and practices aligned with Eurocentric cooperative practices. This was funded by the Native American Agriculture Fund.
December 12, 2024Everything Co-op continues to highlight choices from its 2024 Holiday list. In this episode Vernon interviews Alex Keivahn Smith, the Senior Program Director at the Community Purchasing Alliance (CPA). Vernon and Alex explore how the CPA utilizes the collective purchasing power of community institutions to foster sustainability, equity, and justice.Alex’s professional journey reflects his passion for building relationships and driving change. He began in operations and strategy, solving complex problems for a national distributor. To enhance his quantitative skills, he studied data structures and algorithms. However, feeling a disconnect between his work and faith, he pursued theological studies and practical experiences as a hospital chaplain and tech start-up product manager. Now at CPA, Alex integrates his faith and professional expertise to support community institutions. Alex holds a master’s from Yale (Divinity), a master’s from UC Berkeley (Data Science), and a bachelor's from Princeton (Near Eastern Studies).
November 14, 2024In this episode, an interview with Mike Houston, General Manager of the Takoma Park Silver Spring Food Co-op (TPSS), is featured. Mike discusses the complete remodeling process of TPSS, detailing how cooperative priorities were leveraged to preserve jobs, support the community, and enhance the modernization and efficiency of the space without resorting to loans.Mike Houston has 14 years of experience in the natural food industry, managing independently owned community stores. He is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery's Emerging Leaders program and serves as the chair of the Montgomery County Food Council. Mike is also on the National Cooperative Grocer's Advocacy Advisory Committee, the Member Advisory Committee, and the board of the Old Takoma Business Association. He holds a B.S. from the University of Missouri's College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources.The Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-op has been serving the community since its inception in 1981 and has occupied its current location at Takoma Junction since 1998. As a community-owned grocery store, it provides healthy, natural, organic, and locally sourced food to more than 11,000 member-owners and the general public. Everyone is welcome to shop there.
November 7, 2024This episode features Doug O'Brien, President & CEO of the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA). Vernon and Doug delve into election results and the implications for cooperatives. Doug O'Brien is the President & CEO National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA) He works with the cooperative community, both domestically and internationally, to deepen their impact and influence. NCBA CLUSA is the primary voice for cooperatives in the United States for using the cooperative business model to empower people in their businesses and communities. Doug has been with NCBA since 2016 and became president and CEO in January 2018. Before coming to NCBA CLUSA, he led the work of the White House Rural Council and served in top positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture focusing on rural economic development.Doug has experience working in the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House, and for two state governors. His academic career encompasses teaching and authoring at the University of Arkansas Law School and Drake University Law School. Raised on a diverse farm in Dubuque County, Iowa, O'Brien earned degrees from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, the University of Iowa Law School, and a Master's in Agricultural and Food Law from the University of Arkansas.
October 31, 2024This episode includes an interview with Dr. Diane Kern, a psychotherapist, and Valarie E. Davis, JD, who are both ardent advocates for social justice. Vernon and his guests explore the development of Being Well While Black, an initiative established at the onset of the COVID pandemic to offer resources aiding the community in coping with COVID, and its progression to create the Nonpartisan 2024 Black Voter Guides for the Washington Metro Area.Dr. Diane Kern, a licensed psychologist in the Washington Metro Area, brings over 25 years of experience in psychotherapy, life coaching, workshop facilitation, and consultation across diverse groups. She frequently leads expert talks and workshops on mental health and wellness. Through her "Happy and Healthy U" series, Dr. Kern combines expertise with a personal philosophy to inspire positive life changes. Her warm interpersonal style combined with her expert facilitation skills encourage engagement, skill building and the motivation to embark on positive change.Author of Go Forward to Work! Dr. Kern provides guidance on finding fulfilling careers that promote happiness and success. Her commitment to social justice inspired her to co-found Being Well While Black (BWWB) with Valarie Eiland Davis in 2020, an initiative to support well-being and Black voter empowerment. Under the auspices of Being Well While Black, the Nonpartisan Black Voter Guide Project was developed. Diane also leads the DC team for BWWB’s 2024 Nonpartisan Black Voter Guide and chairs the local Greater DC National Action Network Voter Empowerment Committee.Valarie Eiland Davis, JD, is the co-founder of Being Well While Black and the founder of Life and Legacy, a service and product provider that assists individuals and families in successfully managing life transitions. Additionally, Valerie serves as an education equity consultant and is the Convenor of "The Black Coalition For Excellence in Education," an advocacy group for education equity that evolved from the Montgomery County team of Being Well While Black. She dedicates her tireless advocacy for justice to the service of women, children, and Black communities globally.
October 24, 2024Vernon Oakes, the host of Everything Co-op, conducts a comparative analysis of the cooperative values and principles of the presidential candidates.
October 17, 2024Nathan Schneider, a media studies professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, explores the significant role cooperatives have in restoring our belief in a creative and robust democracy. As a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, Nathan Schneider leads the Media Economies Design Lab and is deeply involved with his students. He is an author on subjects like online democracy, cooperative businesses, the Occupy movement, and spirituality, and has edited publications on cryptocurrencies and cooperatives. His extensive writing spans articles in both popular magazines and scholarly journals, demonstrating his dedication to documenting ideas and investigating the practical applications of ideal worlds and the power of the everyday imagination. Schneider considers each word a hypothesis and a test, fully conscious that every utterance shapes our world irreversibly. His collaborative efforts in fostering a democratic economy keep him connected and responsible.
2024 IMPACT Conference' Cooperative Leaders & Scholars Share their Stories by Everything Co-op
October 10, 2024Following Vernon Oakes' induction into the Cooperative Hall of Fame on October 3rd, the Everything Co-op team paused to celebrate his achievements and honor his contributions. Team members Justin Franks, Rob McClinton, and Pat Thornton interviewed Vernon to reflect on his cooperative journey, and to congratulate him on his Hall of Fame induction. Additionally, several of Vernon's friends called in to offer their congratulations.Vernon Oakes is a consummate advocate for cooperatives. He is a Past President of the National Association of Housing Cooperatives and has served on several boards and committees to advance the interests of cooperatives. He also served on the Limited Equity Cooperative Task Force, established by Anita Bonds, At-Large Member of the Council of the District of Columbia. Vernon is an MBA graduate of Stanford University, who has used his business acumen to benefit the community by promoting the added value of the cooperative business model.
September 19, 2024In this episode Everything Co-op continues to honor the 2024 Cooperative Hall of Fame inductees, featuring an interview with Clifford (Cliff) Rosenthal. Cliff and Vernon explore his extensive contributions to the cooperative movement throughout his career.Cliff Rosenthal’s impact on community development finance spans decades. As CEO of the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions (now Inclusiv) from 1980 to 2012, he championed financial empowerment. His original concept paper led to the creation of the CDFI Fund, and he played a pivotal role in the CDFI Coalition.Post-Federation, Cliff managed the Office of Financial Empowerment at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). His initiatives improved access to financial services for vulnerable consumers. As an author, he penned “Democratizing Finance: Origins of the Community Development Financial Institutions Movement” (2018) and co-authored “Community Capital: Race, Equity, and the Credit Union Movement” (2024).His accolades include the Herb Wegner Award, recognition from the Opportunity Finance Network, and induction into the African-American Credit Union Hall of Fame. Cliff’s legacy continues through his work as a consulting producer on the TV series “Opportunity Knocks$.”
September 26, 2024This episode of Everything Co-op continues the tribute to the 2024 Cooperative Hall of Fame inductees. It features an interview with Tony Bedard, CEO of Frontier Co-op. Tony and Vernon discuss his significant contributions to the cooperative movement over the course of his career.Tony Bedard joined Frontier Co-op in 1991 and became CEO in 2003. He champions the co-op’s mission to nourish people and the planet, believing that “Doing Good, Works.” Tony has led initiatives like Breaking Down Barriers to Employment, to help employees and members of the community overcome barriers to employment and economic mobility, by providing accessible childcare, second chance hiring, and more.Under his leadership, Frontier Co-op has received numerous awards, including the Oscar C. Schmidt Business Leadership Award from the University of Iowa’s Tippie School of Business. Under his leadership, the co-op has been selected by a variety of national and global recognitions, including Engage For Good’s Halo Awards, Reuters Responsible Business Awards, and Inc. Magazine’s Best in Business.Tony has led over 25 humanitarian missions to El Salvador and Haiti, supporting education, clean water, and healthcare projects. He also advocates for corporate social responsibility and supports small-scale organic growers through the Well Earth program.Tony holds a B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa and an M.S. in Manufacturing Management from Kettering University.
September 12, 2024Vernon conducts live interviews with Mavery Davis, Treasurer of the Board of Directors at the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives, and Zen Trenholm, Director of Employee Ownership Cities and Policy at the Democracy At Work Institute, during the 2024 Co-op Worker Conference. They discuss the services offered by both organizations, as well as the various sessions and presenters at the conference.The Worker Co-op Conference is the only national event where worker-owners from across the United States gather to learn and build power together. For the last 20 years, this conference has brought together a thriving community of new, experienced, and aspiring entrepreneurs. The conference cultivates a network of interconnected and interdependent worker owners, business developers, policymakers, funders, and labor organizers, all driven toward a common goal of improving the lives of workers and their families. WCC24 will foster relationships and strategies within the worker co-op community and knit attendees closer to other labor movements.The United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives is the national grassroots membership organization for worker cooperatives. As a membership and advocacy organization, the Federation connects worker cooperative members to benefits, to each other and to the larger cooperative and economic justice movements. The Federation amplifies its members’ voices to advocate for worker cooperatives at the local, state and national level, and provides consulting and technical assistance to cooperatives old and new. And through the education, training and organizing work of its partner organization, the Democracy at Work Institute, the Federation is committed to ensuring cooperative business ownership reaches those who need it the most.The Democracy at Work Institute expands the promise of cooperative business ownership to reach those communities most directly affected by social and economic inequality. It was created by the USFWC to ensure that worker cooperative development in economically and socially marginalized communities is adequately supported, effective, and strategically directed. It is the only national organization dedicated to building the field of worker cooperative development, through strategic research, creation of tools and standards, leadership development, direct technical assistance and advocacy for worker cooperatives as a community economic development strategy. The Institute brings both a birds-eye view of the national stage and an experiential on-the-ground understanding of cooperative business, making sure that our growing worker cooperative movement is both rooted in worker cooperatives themselves and reaches new communities of worker-owners.
September 5, 2024Everything Co-op continues its series continue honoring the 2024 Cooperative Hall of Fame inductees, featuring an interview with Christina Clamp, the retired director of the Center for Co-operatives and Community Economic Development. Christina and Vernon explore her extensive contributions to the cooperative movement throughout her journey, and the many ways cooperatives have been used to solve community problems.Christina Clamp recently retired after 42 years at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), as a professor of sociology and director of the Center for Co-operatives and Community Economic Development. Currently she is working as the principal investigator with the American Sustainable Business Network, on a best practice study of BIPOC and women’s experiences in disadvantaged communities catalyzing community wealth. She is nationally and internationally recognized for her work in the study of and promotion of cooperative ownership of businesses. Christina has been actively involved in promoting the study of cooperatives since her dissertation which was a study of management in the Mondragon cooperatives. In 2023, she coedited and published with Michael Peck, Humanity@Work & Life (Cork: Oak Tree Press). In 2019, Professor Clamp published Shared Service Cooperatives, A Qualitative Analysis with co-authors Eklou Amendah and Carol Coren (Cork: Oak Tree Press). Professor Clamp has served as a consultant to various clients including the National Cooperative Bank (Washington DC), and US Department of Agriculture Rural Development. She completed an interdisciplinary bachelor’s degree at Friends World College (now Global College of Long Island University) and her master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology at Boston College. In her spare time, she volunteers on the boards of the Local Enterprise Assistance Fund, the ICA Group, and the Fund for Jobs Worth Owning.
August 29, 2024 Noel Raboy, the President and CEO, along with Donna Dizon, the VP for Administration & Corporate Planning at CLIMBS Life and General Insurance Cooperative, explore the structure and benefits of Cooperative Insurance.CLIMBS Life and General Insurance Cooperative is a leading cooperative insurance organization based in the Philippines. Established in 1971, it provides life and non-life insurance products and services tailored primarily to cooperatives, cooperative members, and their families.Owned by almost 5,000 cooperatives nationwide, its mission is to provide affordable and accessible insurance coverage to its members, particularly focusing on the needs of the grassroots community. Over the years, CLIMBS has expanded its services to include a range of insurance products and other financial services. With innovation, it is the first and the only provider of a parametric insurance in the Philippines that covers cooperatives, benefiting over 100,000 households of farmer-members since its flagship offering in 2021.CLIMBS is also at the forefront of advocacy work especially on Climate Action and strengthening of the movement and promoting cooperative education locally and globally. It emphasizes cooperative values and social responsibility, aiming to contribute to the economic and social development of its members and the communities they serve.
August 22, 2024Everything Co-op kicks off its commemoration of the 2024 Cooperative Hall of Fame inductees. As we approach the Awards Ceremony on October 3rd, Vernon interviews Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D., a professor at John Jay College and social justice advocate. Dr. Gordon Nembhard discusses Nannie Helen Burroughs, who will be posthumously inducted in the Hall of Fame as an Unsung Hero at the award ceremony.Author of Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice (2014) and 2016 inductee into the U.S. Cooperative Hall of Fame, Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D., is a Professor at John Jay College, City University of NY. She is a political economist specializing in cooperative economics, community economic development, racial wealth inequality, Black Political Economy. She is a member of the Cooperative Economics Council of NCBA/CLUSA; the ICA Committee on Co-operative Research; an affiliate scholar with the Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, University of Saskatchewan; and past board member of Association of Cooperative Educators.
Everything Co-op Broadcasts Live from the Federation of Southern Cooperatives Land Assistance Fund's 57th Annual Meeting. Vernon interviews Ben Burkette, Tremelle Sherman, and founding members John Zippert, Carol Zippert and Otis Williams. The guests discuss the Annual meeting, history and evolution of the Federation, and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives Land Assistance Fund Memorial Legacy Project. This year marks the 57th anniversary of the Federation's commitment to supporting Black farmers, landowners, cooperatives, and underserved communities in the South.On Thursday, August 15, 2024, the Federation began its festivities for the Annual Meeting with the Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony in Birmingham, Alabama. This year the award was presented to U.S. Congressman James E. Clyburn. This award is given in memory of Estelle Witherspoon, a woman whose dedication to the advancement of her community and to all humanity epitomizes the true spirit of community and cooperation.After the awards ceremony on August 15, the Annual Meeting proceeded to the Federation's Rural Training and Research Center near Epes, Alabama on August 16 and 17. At the Epes Center a panel of USDA agency leaders and specialists will present information on the latest developments in USDA programs that support Black farmers, landowners, cooperatives, and rural communities; a series of workshops and demonstrations including Cooperative Development, Marketing, Heirs' Property, and Forestry will be presented; and a discussion of plans for improving farm policies, land retention, and conservation practice will be facilitated.
August 8, 2024This episode features an interview with Shevanthi Daniel-Rabkin, Senior Program Director of DAWI, and Theodora Rodine, Executive Assistant and Project Coordinator for the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives. They will discuss the upcoming 2024 Worker Co-op Conference (WCC24), set to take place in Chicago, IL from September 12-14. Celebrating its 20th year, the Worker Co-op Conference has consistently united a vibrant community of budding, seasoned, and prospective entrepreneurs. This year's event will highlight the increasing trend of worker ownership in the U.S., alongside a revitalized effort for union organizing, steering the nation towards improved working conditions, better wages, and greater employee influence in the workplace.Shevanthi (Shev) Daniel-Rabkin is Senior Program Director of DAWI. Shevanthi provides strategic support on program implementation and growth for DAWI's conversion work with city municipalities, technical assistance providers, legacy business owners and consulting services. Shevanthi comes to DAWI after successfully launching and implementing worker cooperative management certificate programs, as well as a city focused cooperative education and incubation program at the Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship. Shev is passionate about the intersection of sustainable business and economic development with particular emphasis on direct impacts for people of color. Shevanthi co-founded the O’Dell Education Center, a nonviolence direct action and leadership academy in Washington State, owned and operated by the Institute for Community Leadership. She currently serves on the board of Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA) and served as Executive Board President at the Center for Women in Democracy, strengthening women's capacity and leadership in the public and private sectors. Shevanthi has an MBA in Sustainable Business from Pinchot University and BA in History and Anthropology from University of Washington.Theodora Rodine is the Executive Assistant and Project Coordinator for the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives. She works on coordinating technical support for co-ops, helps plan conferences and events, and supports the Executive Director. Theodora grew up in San José, California and has lived in South Philadelphia ever since graduating from Haverford College in 2019. She is a member of the Philadelphia Public Banking Coalition and the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance (PACA) Policy and Advocacy Committee, and she attends Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. Theodora is an extrovert who loves talking, theatre, and the color yellow. She would like to learn more about policy, decolonization, dogs, and local hiking trails.About the Worker Co-op ConferenceThe Worker Co-op Conference is the only national event where worker-owners from across the United States gather to learn and build power together. The conference is co-hosted by Democracy at Work Institute (DAWI) and the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives as the organizations celebrate their 10th and 20th anniversaries respectively. The conference cultivates a network of interconnected and interdependent worker owners, business developers, policymakers, funders, and labor organizers, all driven toward a common goal of improving the lives of workers and their families. WCC24 will foster relationships and strategies within the worker co-op community and knit us closer to other labor movements.
August 1, 2024This week's episode features an interview with Monica Armster Rainge, Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Vernon and Monica explore key insights from her experience as an advocate and advisor at USDA.Monica Armster Rainge is a globally recognized agricultural lawyer, mediator, and farm advocate. She is one of the most influential female leaders in agriculture today. For more than 25 years, her passion has been fighting for justice for underserved and marginalized communities in food, agriculture, land rights and natural resources management.In February 2021, Monica Amster Rainge was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the USDA. In this role, she led the enforcement of federal civil rights laws, regulations, executive orders, and departmental policies that protect the USDA's workforce and customers from discrimination. Attorney Rainge has held significant leadership roles in department-wide, transformative initiatives to advance equity, racial justice, and access to opportunity at the USDA. She currently serves as a Senior Advisor on USDA’s implementation team for the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP), a historic $2.2 billion program providing financial assistance to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination prior to January 2021. Prior to her appointment, she served as the Director of Land Retention and Advocacy for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/ Land Assistance Fund where she led the development and management of outreach and technical assistance programs that support regional land retention and advocacy initiatives for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. She also directed the Regional Heirs Property and Mediation Center which provides USDA-certified mediation services in Georgia, Mississippi and Louisiana.Ms. Rainge holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, and a juris doctor from the University of Florida. She earned a Master of Laws degree in Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas.
July 24, 2024Vernon interviews April De Simone, founder of the Practice of Democracy (PoD). Vernon and April explore how her initiatives, particularly in affordable cooperative-mutualist housing, have expanded and influenced the broader objectives of PoD.April De Simone, the founder of the Practice of Democracy, and curator of Democracy is..., is a transdisciplinary designer who operates at the nexus of social dynamics and spatial design. She explores the interplay between built environments and the communities that inhabit them. Her work fosters a profound comprehension of how inequity and dehumanization are manifested and perpetuated within spaces. Collaborating with a variety of stakeholders, she reshapes spatial practice opportunities to embed democratic values into the environments and systems we create.An esteemed speaker, facilitator, and board member, April's influence extends across equity and design matters. Recognized by Enterprise Community Partners as one of their Impactful 40, she is also a Dean Merit Scholar and holds a Master of Science in Design and Urban Ecologies from Parsons School of Design.The Practice of Democracy (PoD) is prototyping an immersive online experience. PoD strongly believes the more we expose and educate one another to build shared-value understanding, the more we can collectively advance democratic rights and values. These stories located within a neighborhood can be represented both digitally and physically.Democracy is… is a public engagement campaign calling for our collective attention and action in understanding how democratic values are represented through the environments and systems we plan and design.
July 11, 2024Vernon conducts an interview with Dr. Cynthia Pinchback-Hines, a Racial Justice Educator and Co-op Developer at Co-op Cincy. They delve into significant insights from Cynthia's work with cooperatives during the facilitation of "Power in Numbers: Black Co-op U," and discuss the experiences of the most recent graduating cohort.Dr. Cynthia Pinchback-Hines is a community activist and organizer, educator, organizational development consultant, diversity leader, personal development coach, and board member to several non-profits, including Co-op Cincy, where she serves as board member and Racial Justice Educator & Co-op Developer. She delights in managing and facilitating Power in Numbers: Black Co-op U, a 14-week bootcamp designed to help launch and support Black-led worker-owned cooperatives. Co-op Cincy is where she discovered that her life’s journey had uniquely prepared her to serve as a catalyst for community building.
July 4, 2024Vernon interviews Julian Hill, an abolitionist and lawyer specializing in the solidarity economy. Vernon and Julian explore key insights from Julian's experience working with cooperatives, collectives, nonprofits, and small businesses.Julian Hill is an assistant professor at Georgia State University College of Law. Hill is a teacher, lifelong learner, community organizer, artist, and attorney who knows that the world we deserve, though both possible and necessary, is not inevitable. Hill regularly advises worker cooperatives, collectives, nonprofits, and small businesses on a range of matters, including governance, contracts, regulatory compliance, and corporate law matters.Hill is also known to partner with community-based organizations to co-facilitate political education and co-develop policies and campaigns. They have facilitated workshops, both in English and Spanish, on worker cooperatives and the solidarity economy with Law 4 Black Lives, the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives, Democracy at Work Institute, the New York City Network of Worker Cooperatives, and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, among others. They have prepared and delivered testimony before both the New York State Assembly and the New York City Council on issues facing worker cooperatives and small businesses in New York City. Hill is licensed to practice law in Georgia, New York and Washington, D.C.
July 4, 2024Vernon interviews amaha sellassie, the board president of Gem City Market. amaha discusses the development of Gem City Market and its contribution to addressing food insecurity and building community. amaha sellassie is a peace builder, social healer, freedom fighter, network weaver and lover of humanity. amaha is a practitioner scholar dedicated to building bridges of trust, healing historical wounds, and harnessing the unique gifts and talents of every human being as we press towards a just and equitable society.A dedicated community organizer, amaha champions the causes of marginalized groups, striving to amplify their voices in public policy. As a co-founder of the Gem City Market, amaha has been instrumental in a community-led initiative to address food apartheid by enhancing access to fresh produce in West Dayton. Additionally, amaha serves as the Director of the Center for Applied Social Issues and is a Sociology professor at Sinclair Community College.
June 20, 2024Vernon Interviews Matthew Epperson, Employee Ownership Domain Expert for Zolidar. Zolidar is a startup app company that is building the “easy button” for small to medium enterprises to convert their business to employee-owned enterprises.In 2017 Matthew founded the Georgia Co-op Development Center, the only statewide technical assistance provider in Georgia to provide support for startup and conversion co-op projects. He loves biking, hiking, zazen meditation, discussing books and movies, and his fiancée, Julia. He is the 2012 Keep Athens Clarke County Beautiful Citizen of the Year, a black belt in a Japanese-Korean family of martial arts, a regular performer with his local improv comedy troupe Flying Squid Comedy, and while it's true that he can have strong stage anxiety, he makes it work.
June 13, 2024On June 13, 2024, during the live Broadcast from the National Conference on Black Cooperative Agenda titled "Economic Wealth: Power of Black Cooperative Enterprises,” hosted by the Network for Developing Conscious Communities, Vernon Oakes interviews Mayor Melvin Carter, Christina Nicholson and Jessica James.The conference was a continuation of the legacy work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In a recent interview on Everything Co-op Ron Hantz, president of NDCC states, "We take no credit for the title of the conference. Actually it was initiated by the Poor Peoples Deveopment Foundation (PPDF) which came about in 1968 during Dr. King's efforts to bring attention to the poverty of Black and poor folks in the Country. It was an organization started by Cornielus "Cornbread" Givens and Bayard Rustin to bring about education about cooperatives in communities that were needing economic opportunities, as well as bringing food to those communities as well."Ironically, the mission of the foundation was to create cooperatives. In fact, the PPDF was instrumental in moving the National Consumer Cooperative Bank Act in 1978, which led to the creation the National Consumer Cooperative Bank, today known as the National Cooperative Bank (NCB). The act aimed to encourage the development of new and existing cooperatives. The Network for Developing Conscious Communities is honored to carry on its legacy, especially in addressing concerns related to poverty, affordability, and access to healthy food.Melvin Carter is the 46th mayor of the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota’s Capital City. A fourth-generation Saint Paul resident, Mayor Carter leads with an unapologetic equity agenda. Since taking office in 2018, his accomplishments include raising the city’s minimum wage; tripling free program in rec centers; eliminating late fines in public libraries; reestablishing an Affordable Housing Trust Fund; expanding immigrant & refugee support resources; and launching an Office of Financial Empowerment. One signature initiative is CollegeBound Saint Paul, Mayor Carter’s plan to start every child born in the city with a $50 College Savings Account, which started January 1, 2020.Jessica James is Assistant VP of Community Reinvestment and Loan Advisor at Associated Bank; Jessica thrives on cultivating partnerships and addressing strategic financing needs. Additionally, she holds leadership positions in various organizations, including board roles at Network for Developing Conscious Communities (NDCC), NAREB TC, City of Lakes Community Land Trust and Rondo Community Land Trust, where she champions affordable homeownership and economic development initiatives.Christina Nicholson is a Cooperative Finance Developer for the Worker Owner Initiative, which is part of Nexus’ Community Wealth Building Strategy. In this role she supports both start-ups and existing businesses and understands the role that Worker Ownership can play in successful owner retirement strategies as well as improved workplace cultures for teams. She has been working in cooperatives in Minnesota for 25 years in a wide range of roles, from front of house retail to construction to cooperative consulting. In all of her endeavors, she has been working to connect communities to each other through a common cause.
June 6, 2024Vernon is host an interview with Mary Alex Blanton, Senior VP at National Cooperative Bank (NCB). During the interview Mary Alex discusses the 2024 Co-op Innovation Award.National Cooperative Bank in partnership with Capital Impact Partners, has sponsored the Co-op Innovation Award to empower organizations to increase economic opportunity for the communities they serve, and advance cooperative development in communities of color and or historically disinvested communities. Priority for the grant award will be given to food, worker, and housing co-ops, but all sectors are invited to apply.Mary Alex Blanton is Senior Vice President, Director of Strategic Marketing for National Cooperative Bank. In this role, she manages NCB’s marketing, advertising, corporate communications, public relations, and brand for the bank.National Cooperative Bank's mission is to support and be an advocate for America’s cooperatives and their members, especially in low-income communities, by providing innovative financial and related services.Interested parties may visit Capital Impact Partners website at https://bit.ly/3iR4CYk to access the application. You may also visit the Co-op Innovation Award FAQ Page for more information.
May 30, 2024Vernon interviews Simon Vansintjan, a programmer and organizer in Washington, DC. During the interview Simon discusses his most recent venture to develop a music platform co-op called Mirlo, and how this platform is supporting musicians.Simon Vansintjan is a programmer and mutual aid, solidarity economy, and dual power organizer in Washington, DC. In his free time, he plays soccer, guitar and banjo, and doodles. He’s done weekly radio on public radio and music journalism in a past life. Simon has worked as a software developer for UN organizations, Fortune 500 companies, user experience agencies, fast growing start-ups, not-for-profit organizations, open-source software, and open data platforms.Mirlo provides a user-friendly space to help musicians sell music, manage subscriptions, and share with their supporters.
May 23, 2024 Vernon interviews Jamila Medley, Collective Courage Moderator at the Partnership Action Fund. During the interview Jamila shares insights from their personal cooperative journey, and discusses the Collective Courage Fund. Jamila Medley leverages experience working within the economic and racial justice movements to support organizations committed to transformational change. With a background in organizational development, she brings facilitation expertise and thought partnership to highly participatory processes related to governance, strategic planning, and leadership development. Inspired by trust-based philanthropic principles, Jamila stewards The Partnership Fund’s Collective Courage Fund, is board chair of the Independence Public Media Foundation, and a co-lead within Securing Roots. Her solidarity economy building efforts include being a collaborator in projects like Solidarity Resource, the Solidarity Economy Principles Project, Columinate’s Co-op Cafe and she serves on the board of directors of the Food Co-op Initiative. From 2012-2021, Jamila served in governance roles and then as executive director of the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance (PACA). The Partnership Fund exists to support powerful organizations rooted in, and accountable to, multi-racial and multi-class bases within states. These organizations work towards independent political power and are building critical movement ecosystems for change.
May 9, 2024Vernon interviews Taryn Tymus and Andrea Tucker, who hold the positions of President and Vice President at the Champlain Court Cooperative (CCC) in Washington, DC. During the discussion, Taryn and Andrea delve into the cooperative’s role within their community and share insights from their own personal cooperative journey.Taryn Tymus, a 48-year-old retired hairstylist and art-based community activist, serves as the President of Champlain Court Cooperative. Her journey in community activism began over 15 years ago in Ward 7. Taryn is enthusiastic about sharing the knowledge she has gained from her Adams Morgan neighbors in the District of Columbia, all while striving to improve her leadership skills within the cooperativeAndrea Tucker is a pivotal member of the Champlain Court Cooperative. Following a rewarding career in nonprofit management, Andi now serves as both a co-op owner and the Vice President of the CCC board. Her home, shared with her daughter Maulani, is a haven of warmth, creativity, and support. Andi's decision to retire early allowed her to homeschool Maulani, nurturing her interests in drama, voice acting, and visual arts. Committed to service, Andi looks forward to contributing to the expansion of CCC's portfolio, utilizing her skills and experience to enhance the community she cherishes.
4-22-2024Ron Hantz, Executive Director of the Network for Developing Conscious Communities (NDCC), discusses the upcoming 4th Annual National Conference on Black Cooperative Agenda, "Economic Wealth: Power of Black Cooperative Enterprises,” which will be held June 13 -15, 2024, at 214 4th Street E, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55101.Ron has been instrumental in advocating for a new community development paradigm based on “conscious community development.” He is a former Adjunct Professor, in the Africana Studies Department, at the University Maryland Baltimore County, and founded the Network for Developing Conscious Communities in 2014. He now leads the organization’s efforts on advocacy and building a sustainable ecosystem for Black governed community development organizations. Under his leadership, NDCC has emerged as a grass roots voice on promoting the use of principle-based practices to regenerate under-resourced Black communities.Ron's consulting practice includes assisting community development corporations, community associations and faith-based organizations with neighborhood planning, organizational development and applying for Internal Revenue Tax Exempt status. Ron believes that in order to develop sustainable communities, there must be a conscious effort to raise the consciousness and connectivity of local stakeholders. He sees his life purpose as elevating the Black consciousness in community development.
April 25, 2025Vernon interviews Michelle Roth, Senior Director of Governmental Affairs for the League of Southeastern Credit Unions (LSCU). Vernon and Michelle discuss LSCU's Advocacy, and Alabama's most recent legislative session.In the role as Senior Director of Governmental Affairs Michelle Roth directs the League’s lobbying and advocacy efforts, working with the Alabama Legislature, the Governor, and her Cabinet. Her background in advocacy, community, and member relations helps Michelle champion industry-driven state legislative and regulatory issues and develop and maintain favorable relationships with lawmakers, executive leaders, and credit unions across the state.Before joining LSCU, Michelle was Executive Director of the Alabama Cable and Broadband Association. During her seven-year tenure at ACBA, she was responsible for legislative affairs, public and community relations, and statewide advocacy efforts supporting Alabama’s cable and broadband industry. She helped expand statewide internet access through this work and advocated for connecting low-income and rural Alabamians.A native of Lakeland, Florida, Michelle graduated from the University of Alabama. She has served on the Board and Executive Committee of several public policies and charitable, statewide, and community organizations. Additionally, Michelle holds the designation of Certified Association Executive, the highest professional credential in the association industry.
April 18, 2024Vernon interviews Stacey Sutton Ph.D., Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago. Dr. Sutton and Vernon will discuss her research on Real Black Utopias, and the Chicago Community Wealth Building Ecosystem (CCWBE).Stacey Sutton is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago in the Department of Urban Planning and Policy. Dr. Sutton Co-Directs the Solidarity Economy Research, Policy & Law Project. Her research focuses on solidarity economy, prefigurative politics, economic democracy and worker-owned cooperatives, racial equity, and disparate effects of place-based city policies. For the next year, the Solidarity Economy Research, Policy & Law Project will serve as the ‘hub’ for the City of Chicago’s $15 million dollar Community Wealth Building Ecosystem (CCWBE). CCWBE aims to promote local, democratic, and shared ownership and control of community assets to transform economies to be more sustainable and just by supporting worker cooperatives, community land trusts, housing cooperatives, and community investment vehicles.Dr. Sutton serves on the Board of the New Economy Coalition, she is a Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing, and a Senior Researcher with the Small Business Anti-Displacement Network (SBAN). Dr. Sutton is working on a book project titled, Real Black Utopias, which explores the infrastructures, ideologies, and practices of Black-centered worker cooperatives and solidarity economy ecosystems in numerous US cities. Dr. Sutton received a BA from Loyola University in Baltimore, an MBA from New York University, an MS from the New School for Social Research in New York, and a joint Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Sociology from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ.
April 11, 2024Micha Josephy, Executive Director, Carolyn Edsell-Vetter, Program Director, and Johan Matthews, Ecosystem Strategy Manager of the Cooperative Fund of the Northeast (CFNE) discuss CFNE's initiatives and programs.As Executive Director, Micha Josephy is responsible for executive leadership, program development, capitalization, and operations. He first joined CFNE in 2010 as a Program Manager, helping raise grant and loan capital, managing compliance reporting, and new program development. Micha first joined the co-op movement as an Oberlin Student Cooperative Association member and later coordinated the development of Boston Community Cooperative’s first housing co-op. He has a background in nonprofit financial management and community organizing. He has also participated in the Opportunity Finance Network’s leadership training program.Carolyn Edsell-Vetter is the Program Director at CFNE. She joined CFNE in March 2019. As the Cooperative Business Support Officer, she works with Spanish- and English-speaking applicants and borrowers to assess project feasibility and connect with culturally appropriate technical assistance resources. Carolyn came to CFNE after 19 years with A Yard & A Half Landscaping near Boston, MA, where she led their conversion to a worker-owned co-op and served as co-CEO from 2014-2019. Carolyn serves on the board of the Cooperative Development Institute and has been involved in co-ops since living in a cooperative house in college. The daughter of a Cuban immigrant, Carolyn is particularly interested in using cooperatives to create social and economic justice for immigrants, BIPOC, and others who have faced structural barriers to bringing businesses to scale.Johan Matthews is the Ecosystem Strategy Manager at CFNE. In this role, Johan facilitates the development of equitable co-op ecosystems in emerging communities across the northeast. He also provides culturally informed technical assistance to ensure that communities traditionally excluded from economic investment can engage in cooperative enterprise. Johan joins CFNE after over a decade of collaborating with local leaders and institutions to design and implement community-based economic engagement strategies. CFNE’s Mission is to work for economic, social, and racial justice by advancing community based, cooperative, and democratically owned or managed enterprises with a preference to assisting cooperatives in low-income communities.
April 4, 2024 Vernon interviews Malik Kenyatta Yakini, Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN), and Lanay Gilbert-Williams, Board President of the Detroit People’s Food Co-op. Vernon and his guests discuss the Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network and the Grand Opening of the Detroit Food Commons. Malik Kenyatta Yakini is an activist and educator who is committed to freedom and justice for African people in particular, and humanity in general. Yakini is a co-founder and the Executive Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, which operates a seven-acre farm in Detroit and spearheaded efforts to establish the Detroit Food Policy Council. He served as a member of the Michigan Food Policy Council from 2008 - 2010. From 2011 - 2013 he served on the steering committee of Uprooting Racism Planting Justice. He is a co-founder and on the leadership team of the National Black Food and Justice Alliance. Lanay Gilbert-Williams is a native Detroiter who serves as the Board President of the Detroit People’s Food Co-op. She founded the Detroit’s Brown Moms Sisterhood Circle, a system of support for African-American mothers, especially those whose children are in the foster care system. She is the President of the Wildemere Park Neighborhood Association and is the Youth Program Coordinator for Know Allegiance Nation. As a proud Mom of 6, she is dedicated to assisting in the development of solutions that model nation and community-building for Black youth.
March 28, 2024 In honor of the 2024 Women's History Month theme of “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion,” Everything Co-op concludes its commemoration with an interview with Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D., Professor at John Jay College, and social justice advocate. Dr. Gordon Nembhard and Vernon recognize women cooperators who are working to improve Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.Author of Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice (2014) and 2016 inductee into the U.S. Cooperative Hall of Fame, Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D., is a Professor at John Jay College, City University of NY. She is a political economist specializing in cooperative economics, community economic development, racial wealth inequality, Black Political Economy. She is a member of the Cooperative Economics Council of NCBA/CLUSA; the ICA Committee on Co-operative Research; an affiliate scholar with the Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, University of Saskatchewan; and past board member of Association of Cooperative Educators.
March 21, 2024In honor of the 2024 Women's History Month theme of “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion,” Vernon interviews Renée Sattiewhite, President and CEO of the African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC). Vernon and Renee discuss the role AACUC plays in creating bridges between community-based organizations and consumer-focused initiatives designed to close the extensive racial wealth gap. In addition to serving as President/CEO of the AACUC, Renée Sattiewhite is also a certified diversity professional, credit union development educator, motivational speaker, executive coach, mentoring trainer, and recognized expert on marketing and branding. Renee has brought both her unique vitality and forward-looking vision in order to create one of the most dynamic organizations in the credit union movement. She has successfully propelled the organization forward to offer a credible voice that addresses today's dialogue on race, equity, and inclusion for all. In September 2022, Renée was inducted to America’s Credit Union Museum’s newest display “Credit Union Women Making History....Herstory,” an interactive exhibit highlighting incredible women’s achievements that have made history in the credit union industry and showcasing women’s stories never heard before.In 2020, after the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and with the growing visibility of the Black Lives Matter movement, this momentum galvanized the country against racial injustice. Renee became one of the most notable catalysts, encouraging the credit union industry to become more aware of the urgent need for change toward true racial equality and economic justice, and launched the Commitment to Change: Credit Unions Unite Against Racism initiative. As a direct result of Renee's leadership AACUC received the 2022 Anchor Award from the National Credit Union Foundation which is the equivalent to the Nobel Peace Prize of the credit union movement.The African-American Credit Union Coalition is a 501c3 non-profit organization created in 1999 to increase diversity within the credit union community through advocacy and professional development. This award-winning organization is shaping diversity, equity, and inclusion in the movement to eliminate the racial wealth gap, and is considered a leader in the credit union industry.
March 14, 2024In honor of the 2024 Women's History Month theme of “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion,” Vernon interviews Attorney Renee C. Hatcher. Vernon and Renee discuss how she has used the law to address issues related to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.Renee Hatcher is a solidarity economy lawyer. She is an Assistant Professor of Law and the Director of the Community Enterprise and Solidarity Economy Law Clinic at UIC Law, a legal clinic that provides free legal support to grassroot organizations, cooperatives, and other solidarity economy enterprises. Daughter of the late civil rights activist and first elected Black mayor of a U.S. city, Richard Gordon Hatcher, Renee is committed to advancing the Black Freedom Movement through her work with co-ops and communities.Renee is a member of the leadership team for the Black Abolitionist Solidarity Economy (BASE) Fellowship, and a member of Law for Black Lives Movement Lawyering Squad. Renee also serves as a board member for the New Economy Coalition and the Detroit Justice Center. Prof. Hatcher is the Co-Director of the newly minted Solidarity Economy Law & Policy Initiative at the UIC Center of Urban Economic Development.
March 7, 2024 In honor of Women's History Month's 2024 theme of "Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion," Everything Co-op in collaboration with Co-op Leaders pay Tribute to a dear friend, Elizabeth (Liz) Carolyn Allen Bailey, who recently made her transition January 25, 2024. Liz Bailey, a native of Chippewa Falls, WI, grew up in an extended large, active and musically inclined family, many of whom, like Liz, firmly believed in improving each of the communities in which one lives and works. Liz served as the Managing Principal of The Bailey Group LLC, a Washington DC-based consulting firm focused on economic and community development that includes member-owned cooperative business enterprises. She provided her clients the benefit of her career experience in strategic public policy that combined the private sector, the executive branches of state and federal governments, and extensive non-profit program management. For much of her professional career, Liz held leadership positions with the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International, including Interim CEO, VP for Public Policy & Cooperative Development, and almost eight years as Executive Director of the Cooperative Development Foundation, NCBA CLUSA's non-profit affiliate. Bailey held degrees from the University of Wisconsin and the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. After leaving the NCBA CLUSA, Liz remained active in the promoting of the cooperatives business model through her private consulting and as a member of Cooperation Works, and as a member of the board of a non-profit, Cooperatives Build a Better World, to raise public awareness of cooperatives. She consistently argued that those who support and build cooperatives spend too much time talking to each other rather than to those who would benefit from a better comprehension of the public value of cooperatives.
February 29, 2024In honor of the 2024 Black History Month theme of African Americans and The Arts, Vernon interviews Lauren Ruffin, Director and Lead Strategist of the Art Program at Michigan Central. Vernon and Lauren will discuss her cooperative journey, and her feelings about how "African Americans and The Arts" impacts lives and history.Lauren Ruffin is Director and Lead Strategist of the Art Program at Michigan Central, a 32-acre Innovation Campus in the heart of Detroit. She is also Associate Professor of Worldbuilding and Visualizing Futures at Arizona State University where she explores the unprecedented and rapid political and social changes taking place in every facet of our lives, largely due to advances in technology. Her research centers on the best practices organizations and companies should embed to ensure that their platforms are safe, equitable, profitable, and joyful for all users, and particularly users from Black and Indigenous, disabled, and queer communities.Prior to these roles, Lauren co-founded CRUX, an immersive storytelling cooperative that collaborates with Black artists as they create content in virtual reality and augmented reality (XR). She also served as co-CEO of Fractured Atlas, the largest association of independent artists in the United States. In 2017, she started Artist Campaign School, a new educational program that has trained 74 artists to run for political office to date. Lauren has served on the governing boards of Black Innovation Alliance, Black Girls Code, and Main Street Phoenix Cooperative; and is on the advisory boards of ArtUp and Black Girl Ventures. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a degree in Political Science and obtained a J.D. from the Howard University School of Law.
February 22, 2024 In honor of the 2024 Black History Month theme of African Americans and the Arts, Vernon interviews Janet Bennett-Cox, Board member of Ebony Care Cooperative. Vernon and Janet discuss a program being sponsored by Ebony Care Cooperative, that brings elders and youth together to learn the art of Batik making, and how she feels this activity will impact lives of its participants. Janet is a motivated, energetic ‘idea-preneur,’ who enjoys the successes of collaborative projects. She taught for 27 years in elementary education with the Toronto District School Board, and is committed to serving her community as needs and opportunities arise. Janet was instrumental in the inaugural process of getting four Black, female owned and operated Worker Co-operatives, started under the umbrella of the Women’s Multi-Cultural Resource and Counselling Centre 1(WMRCC). She currently serves on the Board of Ebony Care Cooperative. A green enthusiast, she helps in the management of their family business, LIQUID GREEN PRODUCTS INC., a manufacturing company which produces and markets a line of natural, eco-superior cleaning products and weekly co-hosts the LIQUID GREEN HEALTH SHOW with her partner.
January 4, 2024As the Cooperative Hall of Fame approaches the celebration of its 50th Anniversary in 2024, we at Everything Co-op celebrate our very own host, Vernon Oakes, who will be amongst this year’s inductees. Team members Justin Franks, Rob McClinton and Pat Thornton, share their thoughts about Vernon Oakes, including those shared with the Cooperative Hall of Fame selection panel shown below:"Vernon Oakes' boundless compassion for others and his unwavering dedication to personal growth and learning have set him apart as a shining example of empathy and continuous development within the cooperative community, making him a truly deserving inductee into the Co-op Hall of Fame. "Justin Franks — Web Development Digital StrategyVernon Oakes is the embodiment of the seven co-op principles, living with a sense of fairness and justice, committed to equality, and evangelizing the values of cooperation among all humans. He makes me, and others, embrace the cooperative movement for no other reason than to see if living with its values and principles as our north star, as Vernon does, will make us as good, kind, and decent of a person as he is.Rob McClinton — Strategy & PartnershipsI firmly believe that Everything Co-op is so successful because Vernon has put the Spirit of Cooperation first and foremost in All we do. Vernon has conducted more than 375 interviews that are posted on the show's website at everything.coop. His objective to educate the masses about cooperatives will serve the cooperative community for many generations to come. Thus, he has indeed created a rich legacy of service. May the Cooperative Hall of Fame Selection Committee induct into its cadre of Heroes, one of the most ardent co-op advocates of all-time, Vernon Oakes.Pat Thornton, Producer
1-4-2024Elizabeth Carolyn Allen Bailey pays tribute to Vernon Oakes, on the occasion of the announcement of his induction into the Cooperative Hall of Fame.For much of her professional career, Liz held leadership positions with the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International, including Interim CEO, VP for Public Policy & Cooperative Development, and almost eight years as Executive Director of the Cooperative Development Foundation, NCBA CLUSA's non-profit affiliate. Bailey held degrees from the University of Wisconsin and the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas.After leaving the NCBA CLUSA, Liz remained active in the promoting of the cooperatives business model through her private consulting and as a member of Cooperation Works, and as a member of the board of a non-profit, Cooperatives Build a Better World, to raise public awareness of cooperatives. She consistently argued that those who support and build cooperatives spend too much time talking to each other rather than to those who would benefit from a better comprehension of the public value of cooperatives.
2-15-2024In honor of the 2024 Black History Month theme of African Americans and the Arts, Vernon interviews Ashley Walden, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Unlock Creative. Vernon and Ashley will discuss the purpose and objective of In honor of the 2024 Black History Month theme of African Americans and the Arts, Vernon interviews Ashley Walden, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Unlock Creative. Vernon and Ashley will discuss the objective and purpose of the National Black Women Creative Cooperative, and how she has used "The Arts" to impact lives and history.Ashley is a proven leader, change agent, and visionary. She is a focused executive who effectively manages day-to-day operations of multi-layered organizations while keeping equity and inclusiveness at the forefront. Ashley has 18 years of experience in nonprofit management and community-based arts business administration. She is a diligent producer driven by authenticity and a love of people.Unlock Creative is a social enterprise whose mission is to nurture, grow, and sustain Black creative leadership. Ashley is also the Founder and current President of the National Black Women’s Creative Cooperative, a worker-owned limited liability cooperative and mutual aid network of Black women creatives whose mission is to liberate Black Women from oppressive and toxic work environments, generate wealth owned and stewarded by and for us toward a goal of political and financial freedom. Ashley built her career at Alternate ROOTS, a nearly 50-year-old Southern-based regional arts service organization for artists, cultural bearers, and organizers. She held several roles including Managing Director, Program Director, and Director of Strategic Partnerships. Ashley was the Associate Producer for Cornerstone Theater Company based in Los Angeles who creates socially relevant plays with communities throughout the USA. She has also been a Lecturer at University of California at Longbeach, an Assistant Professor of Theater at Kennesaw State University in GA, and served on the Board of Directors of Appalshop based in Whitesburg, KY., and how she has used "The Arts" to impact lives and history.
February 8. 2024Allen Kwabena Frimpong, Co-founder and principal cultural designer with ZEAL,, discusses Cooperative Economic Alternatives that Enable Artists and Creatives to Thrive.Allen Kwabena Frimpong is a cooperative entrepreneur, cultural designer, and conceptual artist. In addition to being a co-founder of Zeal, he is a founder of several powerful and influential social entrepreneurship endeavors. He was a managing partner of AdAstra Collective, which is a boutique consulting co-op whose vision is to transform power through networked movement building for a just, democratic, and liberating world. AdAstra Collective also anchored the work of the Old Money, New System community of practice 2016-2020, that supported movement resource mobilization initiatives that strengthened social movement ecosystems. He also co-founded Liberation Ventures and was a former Senior Fellow at PolicyLink, creating a field-building organization that takes a networked approach in building a culture of repair towards winning on reparations in the US.Allen has supported the capacity-building of many organizational efforts over the last 20 years with a unique interdisciplinary practice in community organizing, cultural strategy, transformative leadership advising, resource mobilization, and participatory planning within networked complex systems of communities. He is also the current board chair of one of the oldest social movement public foundations in the US, Resist.Allen has a master's degree in Urban Planning and Affairs from CUNY Hunter College and graduate certifications from the UPenn School of Social Policy in the Executive Program on Arts and Cultural Strategy as well as the Center for Popular Economics at Amherst College. He also studied at the New York City Jazz Workshop.ZEAL offers support with networks of creatives to reclaim their birthright as creatives who co-create cultural equity; cooperatively own, steward, and govern the means of their cultural production; and drive the economic vehicles and infrastructure necessary for arts and culture ecosystems in historically vulnerable communities to mutually thrive. ZEAL is most known for its critically acclaimed pop-up exhibition “Who Owns Black Art?” during Miami Art Basel 2019-2022 which has been featured in the New York Times, ABC Nightline, and Hyperallergic to name a few. As a conceptual artist he designs and produces multimedia anthologies.For more information about ZEAL or other initiatives Allen is involved in visit the following websites:· www.zeal.coop· www.oldmoneynewsystem.net· www.oldmoneynewsystem.net
February 1, 2024In honor of the 2024 Black History Month theme of African Americans and the Arts, Vernon interviews Kali Akuno, co-founder and Director and Cooperation Jackson. Vernon and Kali discuss new initiatives of Cooperation Jackson, and how the organization has used "the Arts" to inform and promote co-ops.Kali Akuno is an organizer, educator, and writer for human rights and social justice. He is also a co-founder and director of Cooperation Jackson, which is an emerging network of worker cooperatives and supporting institutions. Cooperation Jackson is fighting to create economic democracy by creating a vibrant solidarity economy in Jackson, MS that will help transform Mississippi and the South.Previously, Kali served as the Director of Special Projects and External Funding in the Mayoral Administration of the late Chokwe Lumumba of Jackson, MS. His focus was supporting cooperative development, sustainability, human rights and international relations.Kali is also the co-editor of "Jackson Rising Redux: Lessons on Building the Future in the Present" and "Jackson Rising: the Struggle for Economic Democracy and Black Self-Determination in Jackson, MS". He is the author of numerous articles and pamphlets including "the Jackson-Kush Plan: the Struggle for Black Self-Determination and Economic Democracy", "Until We Win: Black Labor and Liberation in the Disposable Era", "Operation Ghetto Storm: Every 28 Hours report" and "Let Your Motto Be Resistance: A Handbook on Organizing New Afrikan and Oppressed Communities for Self-Defense". You can find more information about Cooperation Jackson at www.CooperationJackson.org
January 25, 2024 Vernon interviews Devin Fuhrman, Chief Agriculture and Sponsor Relations Officer at Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Vernon and Devin discuss the evolution of Nationwide, from its beginning as a part of the Farm Bureau through its partnerships and innovation techniques it relies on today, to maintain its commitment to be a "Customer Protection Company."Devin Fuhrman serves as the Chief Agriculture and Sponsor Relations Officer. In this role, Devin enables Nationwide business by managing several key agricultural relationships, including its 8 state Farm Bureaus, and serves as a connecting point to the breadth of resources Nationwide offers to its friends in agriculture. Several relationships date back to Nationwide’s founding in 1926, starting with the Ohio Farm Bureau.Devin has held numerous roles within Nationwide. He previously served as Associate Vice President (AVP) of West Regional Sales for Nationwide Agribusiness, leading his team in 11 states and supporting both Farm and Commercial Ag Sales. He also served as AVP of Sales for Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as AVP of Sales Development, leading the Allied Sales Delivery team in Des Moines, IA. Prior to joining Nationwide in 2006, Devin held sales roles with Heartland Coop, as well as Progressive Insurance, serving in the capacity of Sales Manager and Regional Marketing Manager, leading 11 states. Devin is a graduate of Grand View University and received his Master of Business Administration from Iowa State University.Devin currently serves on the Board of Directors with the National Cooperative Business Association - Cooperative League of the USA, Cooperative Development Foundation, Columbus Region Leadership Circle, The Ohio State Vice President’s Advisory Committee, and the Mid-Ohio Food Collective Board of Directors.
January 18, 2024Doug O’Brien, President and CEO of the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA) discusses his cooperative journey, and the 2024 initiatives for NCBA CLUSA.Doug O'Brien works with the cooperative community, both domestically and internationally, to deepen their impact and influence. NCBA CLUSA is the primary voice for cooperatives in the United States for using the cooperative business model to empower people in their businesses and communities. Doug has been with NCBA since 2016 and became president and CEO in January 2018. Before coming to NCBA CLUSA, Doug led the work of the White House Rural Council and served in top positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture focusing on rural economic development.Doug has also worked in the U.S. Senate, U.S. House and for two Governors. O'Brien's experience in academia includes teaching and writing at the University of Arkansas Law School and Drake University Law School. O’Brien was raised on a diversified farm in Dubuque County, Iowa, and holds degrees from Loras College (Dubuque, Iowa), the University of Iowa Law School, and the University of Arkansas Masters in Agricultural and Food Law Program.
December 14, 2023Everything Co-op continues to feature finalist from its Inaugural 2023 Holiday List, a thoughtfully curated list of products and services from the cooperative community. In this 3rd installment, Vernon will introduces his listeners to two of his picks for the "Body" & "Community". Nate Chittenden, Member/Owner at Cabot Creamery Cooperative, discusses the whole process of how the concept of "Farm-to-Table" plays out within his family farm, and other farmers, who are a part of Cabot; and Danielle Robidoux, organizer with Equal Exchange gives an inside account of how worker-owners fit within the structure of Equal Exchange, and the benefits being passed on to consumers.Nate Chittenden grew up with a passion for cows, farming and family. He comanages the family’s 1,980-acre Dutch Hollow Farm in Shodack Landing, New York, with his parents and brothers. With about 1,500 cows, there is always plenty to do on the farm. Dutch Hollow welcomes thousands of visitors each year from schools, pre-schools, youth groups, 4-H clubs, high school science classes and college veterinary classes. Nate has held leadership positions on the board of Agri-Mark Young Cooperators, is a member of the Farmer Advisory Council for F.A.R.M., and has been a local 4-H dairy leader for more than 20 years. His efforts have helped strengthen his community, promote family farming and inspire the next generation of dairy farmers.Nate was recently honored with the inaugural Cornell University Hometown Alumni Award. The award honors alumni in New York state who return to their home counties to start or enhance, a business or non-profit, and who regularly volunteers and is deeply engaged in their home counties. Nate is a Devoted Dad when he isn't farming and enjoys spending time with his kids and trying out new recipes that incorporate the award-winning dairy products his family farm helps produce.Danielle Robidoux is a long-time food activist who has been interested in our connection to food since she was young. Raised by her Italian grand-mother, she was making homemade sauce since she could walk. Traveling to coffee lands throughout her higher education brought up the resounding question of 'why do people have to suffer so consumers can buy cheap products?'. To Danielle, Equal Exchange had the answer. Danielle has her Master's Degree in International Relations and Economic Development and has been doing organizing work for Equal Exchange for the past seven years. She loves yoga, hiking, traveling, and anything that involves food.
12.7.2023Christina Jennings, Christina Clamp. Michael Peck & Kevin O'Brien Share Products & Services for the Mind from Everything Co-op's 2023 Co-op Holiday List.Everything Co-op continues its Inaugural 2023 Holiday List, a thoughtfully curated list of products and services from the cooperative community. In this 2nd installment Vernon introduces listeners to three of his picks for your "Mind" and "Community". Christina Jennings, Executive Director of Shared Capital, Christina Clamp, Director of the Center for Co-operatives and Economic Development, Michael Peck, executive director and co-founder of 1worker1vote, and Kevin O'Brien, General Manager of Worx Printing, will share their products and services featured in the 2023 Holiday list.Christina Jennings is the Executive Director of Shared Capital Cooperative, a national CDFI loan fund that provides financing to support the growth and development of cooperatively owned businesses and affordable housing. Christina has more than 25 years of experience in community development finance in the US and internationally. The focus of her work has been on economic justice and creating equitable access to capital. She joined Shared Capital in 2008 where she provides strategic leadership, oversees lending, and leads capitalization efforts. She has also launched and managed small businesses and social ventures.Christina Clamp is the Director of the Center for Co-operatives and Economic Development, and has over 40 years of teaching experience at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), as a professor of Sociology. She is also a consulting researcher on a national study of catalyzing community wealth with the American Sustainable Business Network.Christina has been actively involved in promoting the study of cooperatives since her dissertation, which was a study of management in the Mondragon cooperatives. She has served as a consultant to various clients including National Cooperative Bank and US Department of Agriculture Rural Development. Her board work includes board chair of LEAF, a CDFI; the ICA Group and the Fund for Jobs Worth Owning.Michael Peck serves as executive director and cofounder of 1worker1vote. Emerging from the October 2009 collaboration MOU between the United Steelworkers and Mondragon International, 1worker1vote serves as fiscal sponsor for the 2022-2023 Build Mutualism Campaign. Peck is also co-founder and managing director of a second for-profit start-up, The Virtuous Cycle Collaboratory, a majority-minority worker cooperative and social enterprise (mission: to “flatten unequal socioeconomic curves into shared prosperity virtuous cycles”).Kevin O'Brien is the founder and general manager of the worker-owned union cooperative Worx Printing in Worcester, MA (USW 2936). Worx is a third generation evolution of the Union Co-Op Model codified in 1worker1vote by the United Steelworkers and the Mondragon Cooperative. For 28 years, he has been dedicated to cooperating with others to advance anti-sweatshop movement policies and practices in the apparel industry. His experiences have helped thousands of Labor Unions, Nonprofits and Political Campaigns to lift awareness, advance campaigns and programs, and improve fundraising results using ethically manufactured branded merchandise.
LaKeisha Wolf, Executive Director of Ujamaa Collective discusses how Ujamaa has used the collective cooperative business model to address Community problems, and create generational wealth. This interview features selections from Everything Co-op's 2023 Holiday List, a thoughtfully curated list of products and services from the cooperative community. The intention is to put into practice the principle of Cooperation Among Cooperatives. In this first installment Vernon introduces his listeners to one of his picks for your "Soul," with LaKeisha Wolf.LaKeisha Wolf is a co-founder and serves as executive director of a non-profit, Ujamaa Collective. She leads through the lens of creativity and community, working with artists and organizers to develop place-making strategies, models of equity for community resources, as well as local and global partnerships rooted in the values of fair trade entrepreneurship, mutual aid and wellness. Additionally, as a community cultural worker and teaching artist, LaKeisha provides support and workshops in the areas of culturally responsive arts and wellness practices; and cooperative enterprise development.Ujamaa Collective is a grassroots organization that works to center Black Africana people within a cooperative economics practice. provides a cooperative retail boutique for makers and artists to connect with conscientious consumers.For more info, visit Ujamaa at: https://www.ujamaacollective.org/
November 16, 2023Everything Co-op continues its observance of National American Indian Heritage Month, with an interview of Josephine Foo, executive director of Indian Country Grassroots Support, and project attorney with the Diné Nihi Kéyah Project, and Raymond Deal traditional counselor with Diné Bá Álchíní Yił Ádaaní Navajo Family Voices. Vernon and his guests will discuss the role Lawyers and counselors play in representing tribal communities, and families in the Navajo Nation.Josephine Foo is executive director of Indian Country Grassroots Support and project attorney with the Diné Nihi Kéyah Project, which maps land base and local governance information and laws that impact community life on the Navajo Nation. She has served Diné communities since 2000 including eight years in the Navajo Nation Supreme Court, Office of the Chief Justice. She is a member of the Cooperative Professionals Guild webinar planning circle. Raymond Deal is a traditional counselor with Diné Bá Álchíní Yił Ádaaní Navajo Family Voices, a program of Indian Country Grassroots Support. He previously served 20 years in the Navajo Nation Peacemaking Program. Raymond is a U.S. Marine Corp. veteran (1968-72) who served in Vietnam, which he has revisited twice since the end of the war. He is deeply engaged in community revitalization and collective healing. Hozhoogo’ naasha Dooleel. We all walk in beauty.
November 9, 2023Everything Co-op's kicks off its observance of National American Indian Heritage Month, with an interview of Eva Seidelman, associate at Chestnut Law Offices, and Kevin J. Fort, Executive Director and CFO of Regenerative Business Institute (RBI). Vernon and his guests will discuss the role Lawyers and accountants play in representing tribal communities, governments, businesses and non-profit organizations.Eva Seidelman is an associate at Chestnut Law Offices. Her practice includes cooperative formation, and other business, housing and community development legal service, as well as general counsel representation to tribal governments and organizations. Ms. Seidelman leads CLO’s partnership with Cooperative Catalyst to provide legal services to cooperatives throughout the Southwest and has practiced cooperative and community development law for almost a decade.Kevin J. Fort is the Executive Director and CFO of Regenerative Business Institute (RBI). RBI is a cooperative financial services firm, providing accounting, finance, and equity management expertise for cooperatives. Mr. Fort leads RBI’s partnership with Cooperative Catalyst to provide cooperative accounting and financial services throughout the Southwest and has worked with cooperatives for nearly a decade.
October 12, 2023Vernon interviews Angela Marie Sayles, CEO of Little Africa Food Collaborative. Angela. Vernon will discuss her efforts to address land and food rights, and the topic of Rethinking Market Studies for Black Led Cooperatives.Angela holds the position of CEO for the Little Africa Food Cooperative. She advocates for local food systems and cooperatives, lobbying within the Ag Noire Coalition and the National Cooperative Business Association. Angela’s work as research facilitator, with National Black Food & Justice Alliance Market Study Group, has produced a 40-page summary report on the topic of Rethinking Market Studies for Black Led Cooperatives. Most recently, Angela hosted the United Nations parallel event focused on Innovation and Technology in Land and Food Rights for Global African Women and Girls at the 67th Commission on the Status of Women.Angela is involved in local, national, and global projects addressing land and food rights, cooperative ownership equity, financial sustainability in agribusiness, and social enterprise fund development. She facilitates sustainability training for Cleveland residents with greenspace projects and is currently serving on a community land trust committee with the Vital Neighborhoods working group under the City of Cleveland Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. Founded in 2016, Little Africa Food Collaborative's mission is to provide an inexpensive healthy food source, for impoverished urban communities. The organization strives to create economic, social and cultural independence.
Everything Co-op features four Cooperative Leaders and Scholars who are participating in the 2023 IMPACT Conference. Vernon will discuss the co-op sectors they are involved with, and they will share their cooperative journey. Adrián Román is a Co-op Organizer at BCCO parallel to his work as a mediator and mindfulness instructor. His work as a co-op organizer focuses on creating and facilitating curriculum in cooperative education, assessing interpersonal dynamics to design organizational systems that support shared ownership and facilitating the process of developing a cooperative. Lesly Calle serves as the Manager of Alumni Relations at the Office of Student Success at the City College of New York where she manages program development and outreach strategies to engage a growing network of alumni of the social science division. Prior to this work, Lesly served as Manager of Member Engagement at the Drivers Cooperative where she supervised driver engagement. Tomi Chung is a student, educator, organizer, and co-operator. At the time of writing, she serves as the President of the Berkeley Student Cooperative and is responsible for coordinating the development of next fiscal year's $13 million operating budget along with a three-year Strategic Plan for the organization. Karen Tyler-Ruiz serves as the Executive Director of the Center for Community-Based Enterprise, Inc, in Detroit Michigan. C2BE supports the creation of people-centered businesses, cooperatives, community, and worker-owned enterprises where worker-owners and members have a say in all financial and strategic decisions. The Cooperative Leaders and Scholars (CLS) program is an opportunity for employees, board members, and post-secondary students working for cooperatives and others interested in working for a cooperative or cooperative organization to participate in multi-sector programming and events and engage with co-op industry thought leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders. The program is administered by the Cooperative Development Foundation. The interviewees are listed below.
September 28, 2023 Sheldon C. Petersen retired governor and CEO of the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC), discusses his co-op journey, and projections about the future of the cooperative movement. Sheldon Petersen served as Governor/CEO of CFC for 26 years from 1995 until his retirement in 2021. He began his career in the rural electrification program in 1976 as staff assistant for Nishnabotna Valley REC in Harlan, Iowa. He later served as general manager of Rock County Electric Cooperative Association in Janesville, Wisconsin in the early 1980's. Petersen joined CFC in 1983 as an area representative providing financial management and consulting services to CFC members in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Montana, and the Dakotas. In 1990, he moved to CFC headquarters where he held various management positions. Petersen also served as the CEO of two CFC affiliated organizations targeted to the financial needs of the electric cooperatives and rural telecommunications companies and cooperatives. He continues to serve as board member of the Homestead Funds, a position he has held since 2005. Homestead is a mutual fund complex with roots in rural America.
September 21, 2023 Everything Co-op continues it's tribute to the 2023 Cooperative Hall of Fame inductees, with an interview of Leslie Mead, retired Executive Director of the Cooperative Development Foundation. Leslie discusses her co-op journey, and projections about the future of the cooperative movement with Vernon. After growing up in Indiana and attending college in Iowa, Mead moved to Washington, DC and took a job with the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) as assistant general counsel. After a decade with NCFC, she moved into her role as an independent consultant, where she developed education projects for NCFC, set up the Leadership Scholarship Program for the Ralph K. Morris Foundation, and served as the executive administrator for the Association of Cooperative Educators (ACE).Building upon its historic strengths, while redirecting resources to meet a more diverse contemporary and future audience, Mead helped ACE re-establish itself as a premier educational organization, with uniquely cross-cultural offerings. Mead then moved on to expand the impact of cooperative philanthropy, first as executive director of The Cooperative Foundation and then at the Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF). During her tenure at CDF, Mead consolidated multiple funds under management, which lowered the costs of fund administration, and enabled CDF to invest more strategically and impactfully in cooperative development. She increased operating revenue by 64%, operating surplus by five-fold, and grant giving by ten. Though CDF supports every cooperative sector, among Mead’s most notable accomplishments is her work structuring and funding the Cooperative Home Care Initiative, a network to support a particularly vulnerable group of American workers. One of her parting contributions was the Unsung Cooperative Hero category launched in 2021 to recognize the contributions to cooperatives by members of historically overlooked and marginalized communities.
August 14, 2021 Everything Co-op continues its tribute in honor of the 2023 Cooperative Hall of Fame Inductees, with an interview of co-op housing advocate, Linda Leaks. Linda and Vernon discuss her cooperative journey, and projections for the future. Linda Leaks, affectionately known as the "Godmother of Housing Co-ops," is a Co-founder of the Ella Jo Baker Intentional Community, and at least 20 other housing co-ops in the Washington DC Metro Area. Linda's’ organizing of tenants for housing justice and housing cooperatives is legendary in the DC Community. She is highly revered and respected as a consummate advocate for addressing housing inequities. Leaks moved to Washington, DC in 1978, during a period of immense gentrification. As she witnessed the drastic change in the city, and pursued a career that would enable her to address the impact of its transformation. Linda ultimately earned a degree in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University. In 1982, Leaks led the founding of a collective house in Northwest DC with three other black women. Known as the “T Street Collective,” it became a hub of Black feminist organizing in a depressed neighborhood still dotted with boarded-up buildings and hardly any businesses. In 1986, she landed her first job as a tenant organizer with Washington Inner-city Self Help (WISH), whose mission was, in part, to help organize tenants to form limited equity housing co-ops to maintain their homes. Leaks even took her organizing skills to South Africa, where she helped organize in the early 1990s the first housing cooperatives in Johannesburg. Over the next few decades, Linda became the Executive Director of WISH, and led battles to convert dozens of apartment buildings into housing cooperatives in DC. She did so by coaching frightened tenants on how to manage cooperatives, protest, advocate and otherwise overcome the actions of city officials, landlords, and developers' who were intent on pushing people out in favor of luxury high-rent housing. As Leaks worked to secure co-op ownership for tenants, she developed educational materials and trainings uniquely designed to help renters transition to owners. Many of her mentees are still carrying on her legacy of tenant advocacy.
September 7, 2023 Everything Co-op has dedicated the Month of September to interview the 2023 Hall of Fame Inductees. Induction into the Cooperative Hall of Fame is the highest honor that the U.S. cooperative community bestows on the extraordinary men and women who have made genuinely heroic contributions in support of the cooperative form of enterprise. The first interview to kick off this tribute was with Maurice Smith, Attorney and Counselor at Law, and retired CEO of Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU) . Maurice and Vernon discussed his co-op journey, and projections about the future of the cooperative movement. As the retired CEO of LGFCU, the fourth largest credit union in North Carolina, Maurice led expansion of the institution at an industry-leading pace—16-fold organic growth rate to current $3.8B in assets—while creating an enduring brand for 400,000 members. Maurice has accomplished this with his agile style of leadership, based on co-op principles and values, and staying focused on maximizing member value. He leverages quantitative financial acumen and qualitative leadership traits in creating cultures of collaboration and engagement. Maurice has been the CUNA Board Chair, CUNA CEO Council Executive Committee Chair, National Cooperative Bank Board Chair, and Filene Administrative Board Chair. He has also served on critical board committees including audit, governance, and nominating. Since retiring, Maurice practices law for organizations whose values reflects his own.
August 24, 2023 Joanne Lechasseur, Co-founder, Program Director of the Global Innovation Cooperative Summit, and Zuraidah Hoffman, Communications Director for the Global Innovation Cooperative Summit, discuss the upcoming Global Innovation Cooperative Summit, which will occur in Montreal, September 27 – 29, 2023.
Zuraidah Hoffman is an Independent International Cooperative Communications consultant, with more than 20 years of experience in communications. Her cooperative journey began with NRECA International, a US-based global rural electrification NGO that takes its roots from the American electric cooperative movement. She continues to support their communications needs and travels the world to produce stories on the impact rural electric cooperatives have on improving lives.
Zuraidah is currently the Communications Director for the Global Innovation Cooperative Summit. In 2021, Zuraidah was the MC for International Cooperative Alliance’s (ICA) 33rd World Cooperative Congress in Seoul and led the Congress communications team from her home office in Washington DC. She also served as ICA’s interim communications director in 2019. Zuraidah is an alumnus of The George Washington University, in Washington, D.C.
Joanne Lechasseur, holds a master’s degree in industrial relations from Université Laval, Quebec and she’s a content expert for events on the cooperative business model. She served as the ICA Seoul 2021 World Cooperative Congress Event Manager. Prior to that she was the Director of Programming and Scientific Activities for the International Summit of Cooperatives in 2012, 2014 and 2016, where she worked for 28 years for the Desjardins Group in various sectors of activity to include work organization, regional development, strategic planning, business development, and much more.
August 10, 2023 Vernon interviews Deb Trocha, Executive Director at Indiana Cooperative Development Center (ICDC). Deb and Vernon discuss the Up & Coming Food Co-op Conference, "The River of Cooperation." The conference will be held at the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront hotel, September 14 - 16, 2023.
For the first time ever, the Up & Coming Food Co-op Conference will be held in a city that is home to multiple food co-ops. Conference organizers are excited to have five local food co-op hosts for 2023 including: Eastside Food Co-op; Mississippi Market; Seward Community Co-op; Valley Natural Foods Cities and TCCP (Twin Cities Co-op Partners).” Two notable points are: the Early bird rate has been extended to August 11, and the Hotel room block (see reduced rates), expires August 23, 2023.
Deb Trocha joined the Indiana Cooperative Development Center (ICDC) in 2006 after serving as Executive Director of the Indiana Small Business Development Center. During that time, she worked with many different types of cooperatives, from food co-ops and food hubs, to housing, artists, agriculture, and early childhood education. She is committed to increasing awareness of cooperatives and is passionate about the cooperative business model’s ability to empower people and their communities. Under her leadership, ICDC promotes cooperatives as a vibrant model to address economic and social needs.
ICDC provides start-up, management, and technical assistance to a wide variety of co-ops in agriculture, arts, childcare, education, energy, and housing sectors. ICDC also provides training opportunities designed to bring together groups of people involved in co-op development.
August 3, 2023 Vernon interviews Minnie McMahon, Coordinator of the Greater Boston Community Land Trust Network. Vernon and Minnie discuss the role community land trusts play in retaining collective control, strengthening diverse neighborhoods, creating permanent affordability in housing, and the history of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI).
Minnie McMahon is the Coordinator of the Greater Boston Community Land Trust Network, hosted by Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative. She started at DSNI in 2019, acting as the Project and Operations Manager at Dudley Neighbors, Inc., the community land trust. Before that, Minnie worked for small farms in Massachusetts, California and New York, growing flowers, developing systems, and advocating for workers' rights. Shared governance and the role of power in social systems have been throughlines in Minnie’s work.
July 27, 2023 Vernon interviews Dr. Dawn Carpenter, director of the Solidarity Economy Workshop. Vernon and Dawn discuss the theological nature of work and the moral responsibilities of wealth.
Dr. Dawn Carpenter is an ethicist and a leading authority on the theological nature of work and the moral responsibilities of wealth. She is the founding director of the Solidarity Economy Workshop and the host and executive producer of the What Does It Profit podcast that seeks to tell the stories of the solidarity economy through the lens of contributive justice theory. She comes to this work as a veteran of Wall Street where she engineered the capitalization of over $3 billion for some of the country’s most venerable social purpose corporations. Her first podcast, More than Money, reached the Top 15 on the iTunes Business chart and was rated as a Top 15 Podcast that Will Inspire You to Change the World by Causeartist.com.
Her work seeks to provide a moral foundation for economic and social justice. In recognition of her work, she was awarded the 2020 Spirit of Georgetown Award. She is currently completing her first book entitled “Co-workers with God: Contributive Justice and God’s Plan for Work and Wealth.” She serves as a senior advisor to the Vatican’s Economy of Francesco’s Finance and Humanity working group and is a member of the economic working group of its Laudato Si Action Platform. She also serves on the finance and investment committees of several organizations. She holds graduate degrees in political science, public finance, and Catholic theology. Her doctorate is in the multi-disciplinary field of liberal studies.
July 20, 2023 Peter Dean leads National Co-op Community Services, the national division of UHAB, in New York City. UHAB has empowered New York City tenants to create over 1,300 limited equity housing cooperatives totaling over 30,000 homes during the past 50 years. NCCS is offering incubators around the country to share the lessons UHAB has learned so others can build permanently affordable housing cooperatives throughout the US.ds
Peter has developed and managed permanently affordable housing co-ops, grocery and cable television co-ops as well as non-profit and for-profit affordable housing. He lives in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC and has an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.
July 13, 2023 Gary Hampton, Business Growth Consultant, and Vice Chair of the Association of Cooperative Educators' (ACE) Board of Directors, discusses the upcoming Climate, Cooperatives and Resilience conference, sponsored by ACE, on August 7-10, 2023, in San Juan Puerto Rico.
Gary W. Hampton is an expert on organizational development, fundraising and community-based economic development. He advises, trains and coaches' businesses and nonprofit organizations on strategic growth and development. Hampton has nearly two decades of experience in IT and strategic development across different industry sectors (Technology, Financial, Government, Private, Non-profit, Retail, Education).
Mr. Hampton is also active in community-based cooperative economic development and a member owner of the Ajani Group Cooperative. He is a passionate cooperative and community supporter. Hampton currently sits on the boards of Create WV, Compensation Committee and Association of Cooperative Educators, Vice Chair. He holds a BA from Marshall University in Management Information Services.
June 22, 2023 Vernon Interviews Mark Goehring, Manager of Columinate and Common Good Management Services (Common Good); and Alejandra Chavez, Community Service Representative at Common Good. Our host, Vernon Oakes, is a member consultant of Columinate, and has been on the Common Good development team since its inception in Fall 2018. Vernon and his guests discuss the overarching goals and objectives of Columinate, and the many facets of Common Good.
Mark Goehring is the Manager of Columinate, a cooperative of consultants who share strategies, tools and skills that help organizations build and empower community. Mark also assists with the development of tools and resources to support effective governance, and provides ongoing management and board support.
Alejandra Chavez is the Community Service Representative for Common Good. She manages three different Mobil Parks, offering local resources to its residents and promoting social justice in everything she does. Her dream is to continuing raising community awareness and keep promoting love to build healthier communities, particularly continuing raising awareness to immigrant and Latinx issues.
Columinate is a national cooperatively owned and operated consulting and management services company with a focus on community impact. The company is true to the meaning of its name, because Columinate means "light the path forward together. Its work is adaptive and ever evolving to meet the needs of diverse, multicultural communities; and grounded in cooperative values, self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity, honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.
Columinate consultants and staff are catalysts for common good. Their network of more than 60 consultants and staff are located across the US. In addition to supporting a diverse consultant community, Columinate has a variety of business units, including Common Good Management Services, the Columinate Job Board, the Columinate Compensation Database, and Columinate Events & Media.
Common Good Management Services, launched in early 2021. Common Good serves the needs of mobile home parks owned by or on behalf of its residents by providing professional community-based property management. Currently, Common Good is active in Colorado and Montana filling a significant service gap in the affordable housing marketplace. As Common Good grows the number of communities and residents it is also growing new jobs, a powerful and diverse bilingual service-oriented team focused on treating each resident with respect and dignity.
Vernon interviews Erika Allen, Co-Founder and CEO of Operations for Urban Growers Collective. Erika discusses the Urban Growers Collective's apprenticeship program, and how the cooperative business model can be used to address food insecurity in urban areas.
Erika Allen is the Co-Founder and CEO of Operations for Urban Growers Collective, President of Green ERA Educational NFP and Co-Owner of Green Era Sustainability Partners. Previously, Allen founded and was the Director of Growing Power — Chicago from 2002 to 2017. She is the co-founder of the Chicago Food Policy Action Council, serves on the board of Grow Greater Englewood and Leadership Council for Growing Home, and is an advisor for the Community Food Navigator project. Allen has been appointed by IL Governor J.B. Pritzker for the IL Leadership Council for Agricultural Education (ICAE) for a 3 Year term (2022–24). Allen was recently appointed by the Biden Administration to join the Farm Service Agency Committee for Illinois. She is also a Co-Chair of the Food Equity Council for the City of Chicago. Allen received her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and her MA in Art Psychotherapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
May 25, 2023
Julian McKinley, Senior Communications Director, at Democracy At Work Institute (DAWI), discusses DAWI's work with the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives to track, measure, and support worker co-ops through research, and the launch of its bi-annual census with Robert McClinton and Pat Thornton. DAWI staff are excited, because when the results of the census are evaluated, they will be able to look at 10 years of worker co-op data for the first time in history.
Julian McKinley leads DAWI's communications initiatives in support of its work to expand worker ownership. He is a passionate and mission-driven storyteller with deep roots in community empowerment and economic development, previously leading organizational storytelling and strategic communications around community and systems-level economic change at United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut and Capital Institute. Julian began his career as a community news editor in Connecticut, where he founded and managed operations of multiple hyperlocal news websites. Julian is also a certified Master Composter and founder of Rockaway Waste Ed, a community organization helping local nonprofits and community gardens divert food waste, rebuild soil, and increase access to nutrient-dense food through compost management, education, and consultation. He lives in the Rockaways, Queens, New York, and holds a bachelor’s in communications from Springfield College (Mass.).
April 6, 2023Vernon interviews Bob Allnutt, and Leslie Nordin. Vernon and his guests Bob and Leslie will discuss how co-ops are solving housing needs for their adult children with special needs, Bob and Leslie also introduce The Neighborhood of Maryland, Inc, and the Big Wave Project, two programs they have established as a vehicle for their efforts. Bob Allnutt is a real estate broker and developer in Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC. Bob and his wife Amy are parents to three children, daughters Elizabeth and Emma, and their son Jack. Non-speaking and autistic, Jack learned to communicate via typing at age 10 and was mainstreamed in the public school system. Now 21, Jack has graduated from high school and will start college to pursue his interest in finance and the stock market. Jack was one of the stories featured in the 2017 documentary Far from the Tree, based on the Andrew Solomon bestseller.Bob has used the knowledge and contacts accumulated from over 40 years of real estate experience – supplemented by zealousness, passion, and urgency created by the needs of Jack and his peers – to make progress in creating a community for which there was no perfect template to be found. Bob has a degree in finance from Virginia Tech and an MBA from The George Washington University. Before launching his own commercial real estate practice in 1995, Bob was a vice president at Boston Properties. Bob enjoys sports, outdoors, and music, playing harmonica and singing in a local blues band.The Neighborhood of Maryland, Inc. was established in 2021 as a charitable non-profit to facilitate the creation of a community focused on addressing the requirements of special needs adults. The Neighborhood of Maryland has been shaped by the myriad of applicable laws and regulations, and in its current form is two distinct entities. The public benefit, non-profit will build and own a regional community center catering to the special needs population in general. The privately funded housing cooperative comprising primarily of special needs parents, will develop and own the adjacent residential community.Leslie Nordin is an attorney and mother to Sawyer, who will be a future resident of Big Wave. Since Sawyer’s birth in 2004, Leslie has been actively involved with the work of various non-profit organizations. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of Perkins School for the Blind, Leslie has acted as a public spokesperson for multiple organizations that benefit children and adults with disabilities, including autism and visual impairment.Leslie’s perspective and experiences parenting a child with special needs have been featured on the radio and in print. In 2009, Leslie ran the Boston Marathon blindfolded in an effort to inspire Sawyer and raise awareness of the abilities of people who are blind or visually impaired. Her blindfolded marathon run was highlighted in local media, and appeared in Runners World magazine and the book, Boston, Inspirational Women. Leslie and her husband, Dayton, are passionate about the mission of Big Wave. They believe that Big Wave will provide Sawyer and many others with an environment where they can establish friendships, engage with their community, and live life at their highest potential. Leslie and Dayton were particularly drawn to the diversity of residents at Big Wave and the level of commitment that all families share.Leslie has a B.A. in Political Science and a J.D. from Duke University School of Law. Dayton and Leslie are also parents to a daughter, Riley, who is Sawyer’s true best friend. The family loves to enjoy the outdoors together, including hiking, fishing, kayaking, and much more.
April 27, 2023This week Vernon continues his discussion of "Humanity@Work&life-Global Diffusion of the Mondragon Cooperative Ecosystem Experience,” with an interview of contributing author, John Holdsclaw IV, President and CEO of Rochdale Capital. Vernon and John discuss the challenges and opportunities of financing worker cooperatives, and new initiatives of Rochdale Capital.John Holdsclaw IV currently serves as president and CEO of Rochdale Capital, a newly formed, national non-profit community development loan fund that provides financing and technical assistance to cooperative enterprises and other community-based organizations. Rochdale Capital focuses on making financial services accessible to under-resourced communities, specifically to women and/or minority-owned small and growing businesses. John currently serves on the board of directors of Global Communities, Groundswell, Partners for Common Good, and American Bankers Association (ABA) Stonier Graduate School of Banking. In addition, John is the immediate past president of the Community Development Financial Institution Coalition (CDFI Coalition), and immediate past chair of ABA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Group.“Humanity@Work&life - Global Diffusion of the Mondragon Cooperative Ecosystem Experience”, published by Oak Tree Press, frames a collective labor of earned merit, vision and determination by 36 contributors in six countries, three continents, proving how solidarity, innovation, and conviction forge sustaining local and global social economy practice on behalf of the greater common good.
April 13, 2023Michael Alden Peck, Co-founder/Executive Director of 1worker1vote, and Co-editor of "Humanity@Work&life-Global Diffusion of the Mondragon Cooperative Ecosystem Experience,” and contributing author, Sara Horowitz. Michael and Sara will give an overview of the book, discuss the Build Mutualism and Humanity@Work&life campaigns, and explore next steps on the pathway to the greater common good.Michael Peck serves as executive director and cofounder of 1worker1vote. Emerging from the October 2009 collaboration MOU between the United Steelworkers and Mondragon International, 1worker1vote serves as fiscal sponsor for the 2022-2023 Build Mutualism Campaign. Peck is alsoco-founder and managing director of a second for-profit start-up, The Virtuous Cycle Collaboratory, a majority-minority worker cooperative and social enterprise (mission: to “flatten unequal socioeconomic curves into shared prosperity virtuous cycles”).Michael is a board member for the American Sustainable Business Network, and was the 2019 recipient of ASBC’s Sustainable Leaders Award. At ASBN, Michael focuses on three campaigns: “Ownership4All”; “Own The Metrics” - Alternative ESG Human & Social Capital Assets with UNRISD + SEE and Rebuild Social Economy Ukraine through the SEE/ASBN Sustainability Collaboration Partnership announced in December 2020.Sara Horowitz, is one of the 36 contributors of Humanity@Work&life, and author of Mutualism: Building the Next Economy from the Ground Up. She co-founded the Freelancers Union and Freelancers Insurance Company; and was formerly chair of the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Horowitz is a recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship, and she has been featured on NPR, and in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the Atlantic, among other publications. Sara prides herself as being a lifelong mutualist. In her book "Mutualism: Building the Next Economy from the Ground Up," Sara takes a profound look at the crisis of work and the collapse of the safety net, and gives a vision for a better way forward, rooted in America’s cooperative spirit. She brings us a solution to the current crisis of work that’s rooted in the best of American traditions, which she calls mutualism.“Humanity@Work&life - Global Diffusion of the Mondragon Cooperative Ecosystem Experience”, published by Oak Tree Press, frames a collective labor of earned merit, vision and determination by 36 contributors in six countries, three continents, proving how solidarity, innovation, and conviction forge sustaining local and global social economy practice on behalf of the greater common good.
April 20, 2023Everything Co-op continues its coverage of "Humanity@Work&life-Global Diffusion of the Mondragon Cooperative Ecosystem Experience,” with co-editor Christina Clamp, Director of the Center for Co-operatives & Community Economic Development, and contributing author, Terry Lewis, CFO at the Center for Community Based Enterprise. Christina gives an overview of the book, and Terry discusses her experience of Building Mondragon in Detroit.Christina Clamp is the Director of the Center for Co-operatives and Economic Development, and has over 40 years of teaching experience at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), as a professor of Sociology. She is also a consulting researcher on a national study of catalyzing community wealth with the American Sustainable Business Network.Nationally and internationally recognized for her work in the study and promotion of cooperative ownership of businesses, Christina has been actively involved in promoting the study of cooperatives since her dissertation, which was a study of management in the Mondragon cooperatives. She has served as a consultant to various clients including National Cooperative Bank and US Department of Agriculture Rural Development. Her board work includes board chair of LEAF, a CDFI (community development finance institution); the ICA Group and the Fund for Jobs Worth Owning. Terry Lewis is the CFO of the Center for Community-Based Enterprises (C2BE) and Principal of LIA Advisors, LLC, a private consulting firm providing advisory services in community economic development. Formerly, she was Vice President of Cooperative Development for National Cooperative Bank (NCB), where she advised internal NCB teams and NCB customers in multiple lines of business on the structuring and development of cooperative and other community ownership entities. She also served as President and CEO of NCB Community Works, LLC, an affiliated for-profit affordable multi-family housing development organization. In 2011 President Barack Obama appointed Terry to the Board of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. government’s development finance institution, where she served until the agency sunset, to be replaced by the U.S. Development Finance Corporation in 2019. At OPIC, she served as a member of the organization’s Audit and Risk Committees. From 1991 to 2014, she was a Director of the Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF), where she served as Treasurer, and 8 years as Chair, managing governance, strategy, and the oversight functions of multiple grant and loan funds. She was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in 2008.“Humanity@Work&life - Global Diffusion of the Mondragon Cooperative Ecosystem Experience”, published by Oak Tree Press, frames a collective labor of earned merit, vision and determination by 36 contributors in six countries, three continents, proving how solidarity, innovation, and conviction forge sustaining local and global social economy practice on behalf of the greater common good.
November 3, 2022John Holdsclaw IV, President and CEO of Rochdale Capital, discusses the founding of Rochdale Capital, the influence of Chuck Snyder and the mission and initiatives of Rochdale Capital.John Holdsclaw IV currently serves as president and CEO of Rochdale Capital, a newly formed, national non-profit community development loan fund that provides financing and technical assistance to cooperative enterprises and other community-based organizations. Rochdale Capital will focus on making financial services accessible to under-resourced communities, specifically to women and/or minority-owned small and growing businesses. Mr. Holdsclaw currently serves on the board of directors of Global Communities, Groundswell, Partners for Common Good, and American Bankers Association (ABA) Stonier Graduate School of Banking. In addition, John is the immediate past president of the Community Development Financial Institution Coalition (CDFI Coalition), and immediate past chair of ABA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Group.
March, 30, 2023Everything Co-op concludes its Commemoration of Women's History month with Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D., Professor at John Jay College, and social justice advocate. Dr. Nembhard discusses Black women's contributions to the co-op movement, and the Cooperative Development Fund's 2023 Unsung Heroes Inductee, Halena Wilson.Author of Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice (2014) and 2016 inductee into the U.S. Cooperative Hall of Fame, Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D., is a Professor at John Jay College, City University of NY. She is a political economist specializing in cooperative economics, community economic development, racial wealth inequality, Black Political Economy. She is a member of the Cooperative Economics Council of NCBA/CLUSA; the ICA Committee on Co-operative Research; an affiliate scholar with the Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, University of Saskatchewan; and past board member of Association of Cooperative Educators.
December 1, 2022 Jason Wiener, Principal of Jason Wiener|p.c., and co-founder of the Colorado Cooperative Developers discusses employee ownership in Colorado.Jason is the Principal of a boutique law and business consulting practice and co-founder of “Colorado Cooperative Developers”. Jason's specialty is in cooperative law, shared ownership models, cooperative finance, regenerative capital and financing strategies, sustainable economies law, teal lawyering, virtual outside general counsel, and worker-ownership. Jason has advised on more than a dozen worker-cooperative conversions, several multi-stakeholder ownership conversions, and more than a dozen platform cooperatives. Jason has also advised numerous clients through socially responsible financings, including through membership capital campaigns, private offerings, and qualified intrastate public offerings.Jason holds a B.S. from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations and a J.D. cum laude from Suffolk University Law School, where he received honors with a concentration in international law. Jason has served on the Boards of several worker-owned businesses around the country, including Stocksy United, Equal Exchange and Colorado recovery. Jason’s specialty is in cooperative law, shared ownership models, cooperative finance, regenerative capital and financing strategies, sustainable economies law, teal lawyering, virtual outside general counsel, and worker-ownership. Jason has advised on more than a dozen worker-cooperative conversions, several multi-stakeholder ownership conversions, and more than a dozen platform cooperatives.
March 23. 2023Everything Co-op closes its commemoration of Women's History Month with an interview of Stacey Sutton Ph.D., Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago. Dr. Sutton and Vernon discuss her new body of cooperative city research, "Real Black Utopias," where she examines the infrastructure and ideology of Black-led cooperatives and solidarity economy ecosystems in multiple cities.Stacey Sutton is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago in the Department of Urban Planning and Policy. Dr. Sutton Co-Directs the Solidarity Economy Research, Policy & Law Project and serves as the interim Director of UIC’s Social Justice Initiative. Her research focuses on solidarity economy, prefigurative politics, economic democracy and worker-owned cooperatives, racial equity, and disparate effects of place-based city policies. For the next two years, the Solidarity Economy Research, Policy & Law Project will serve as the ‘hub’ for the City of Chicago’s $15 million dollar Community Wealth Building Initiative that aims to promote the local, democratic, and shared ownership and control of community assets to transform our economy to be more sustainable and just by supporting worker cooperatives, community land trusts, housing cooperatives, and community investment vehicles.Dr. Sutton serves on the Board of the New Economy Coalition, she is a Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing, and a Senior Researcher with the Small Business Anti-Displacement Network (SBAN). Dr. Sutton is working on a book project titled, Real Black Utopias, which explores the infrastructures, ideologies, and practices of Black-centered worker cooperatives and solidarity economy ecosystems in numerous US cities. Dr. Sutton received a BA from Loyola University in Baltimore, an MBA from New York University, an MS from the New School for Social Research in New York, and a joint Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Sociology from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ.
March 16, 2023Everything Co-op continues its commemoration of Women's History Month, with an interview of Deb Trocha, Executive Director at Indiana Cooperative Development Center. Deb and Vernon will discuss the upcoming Housing Co-op Conference, and how the Co-op model can be used to address the current housing crisis. The hybrid conference is Free and will be held March 31, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. Visit ICDC.coop for more information.Deb Trocha joined the Indiana Cooperative Development Center (ICDC) in 2006 after serving as Executive Director of the Indiana Small Business Development Center. During that time, she has worked with many different types of cooperatives, from food co-ops and food hubs, to housing, artists, agriculture, and early childhood education. She is committed to increasing awareness of cooperatives and is passionate about the cooperative business model’s ability to empower people and their communities. Under her leadership, ICDC promotes cooperatives as a vibrant model to address economic and social needs.ICDC provides start-up, management, and technical assistance to a wide variety of co-ops in agriculture, arts, childcare, education, energy, and housing sectors. ICDC also provides training opportunities designed to bring together groups of people involved in co-op development.The theme for Women's History Month is "Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories." This theme recognizes "women, past and present, who have been active in all forms of media and storytelling. The stories of how co-ops have been used to address the current housing crises are powerful stories that will inform and inspire all who listen.
March 9, 2023Everything Co-op continues its commemoration of Women's History Month, with an interview of Dina Omar, founder of the Palestinian Soap Cooperative. Vernon and Dina discuss the rich history and heritage associated with Nablus soap.Dina is currently completing her doctorate degree at Yale University in Anthropology with a joint certification in Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies, she completed her undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley where she studied and taught with June Jordan’s Poetry for the People 2006 and 2010. Dina is also an activist/organizer. -She was a founder of National Students for Justice in Palestine and is currently an active member of the Palestinian Feminist Collective. To learn about the history of Nablus or to buy fragrance free pure olive oil soap and other accoutrements you can visit palestiniansoap.coop.The theme for Women's History Month is "Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories." This theme recognizes "women, past and present, who have been active in all forms of media and storytelling. The stories behind the soap tradition dating back 4500 years to ancient Iraq, that Nablus soap continues, with the journey of how the Palestinian Soap Cooperative became, are powerful stories that will teach and inspire all who listen.
March 2, 2023Everything Co-op kicked off its commemoration of Women's History Month with an interview of Andria Barrett, founding member of The Banker Ladies Council. Vernon and Andria discuss the evolution, history and practical use of ROSCAs (Rotating Savings and Credit Associations, and how they can support entrepernuership.Andria Barrett is a founding member of The Banker Ladies Council and is in a Partner Bank. She is a community activist from Canada and the founder of The Diversity Agency. Barrett’s focus is helping women-led entrepreneurs through mutual aid. She serves as a board member to the Culinary Tourism Alliance, HAGO (Help A Girl Out) and is a member of the Congress of Black Women. The Canadian SME named her one of the Most Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders two years in a row, and she was named the 2022 Rotman Family Entrepreneur of the Year. Andria is being mentored by Dr. Caroline Shenaz Hossein, Canada Research Chair, in Africana Development & Feminist Political Economy and Associate Professor of Global Development and Political Science at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Dr. Hossein coined the concept of Black Social Economy, (see Diverse Solidarity Economies Collective for more info).The theme for Women's History Month is "Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories." This theme recognizes "women, past and present, who have been active in all forms of media and storytelling. The stories behind the women who have been helped through the many affiliations of Andria Barrett hopefully will inspire others to do the same.
February 23, 2023Everything Co-op continues its commemoration of Black History Month with an interview of Attorney Renee C. Hatcher. Vernon and Renee discuss how she has used law as a vehicle of resistance.Renee Hatcher is a solidarity economy lawyer. She is an Assistant Professor of Law and the Director of the Community Enterprise and Solidarity Economy Law Clinic at UIC Law, a legal clinic that provides free legal support to grassroot organizations, cooperatives, and other solidarity economy enterprises. Daughter of the late civil rights activist and first elected Black mayor of a U.S. city, Richard Gordon Hatcher, Renee is committed to advancing the Black Freedom Movement through her work with co-ops and communities.Renee is a member of the leadership team for the Black Abolitionist Solidarity Economy (BASE) Fellowship, and a member of Law for Black Lives Movement Lawyering Squad. Renee also serves as a board member for the New Economy Coalition and the Detroit Justice Center. Prof. Hatcher is the Co-Director of the newly minted Solidarity Economy Law & Policy Initiative at the UIC Center of Urban Economic Development.
January 26, 2023Floran Syler-Woods, Ph.D, Director of Finance at the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund (Federation), discusses the important role financial systems play in the success of organizations and businesses. She and Vernon also unravel the complexities of understanding the determinants of wealth.In the capacity of Director of Finance Dr. Syler-Woods serves as the direct supervisor of the corporate accounting staff and indirect supervisor of all field accountants at the Federation. Prior to coming to the Federation Dr. Syler-Woods had an illustrious career either as a partner in public accounting firms, or director of finance in several organizations and firms.Since 1967 the Federation has been successfully working to provide Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives in the Southern region with cooperative development, land retention, and advocacy. The Federation is a member-owned and operated organization born out of the Civil Rights Movement to do the unique work of empowering its membership of Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives with racial and economic equity.
February 16, 2023Everything Co-op continues its commemoration of Black History Month with an interview of Pastor Keith Davis, President and CEO of the Camden Dream Center’s Technology Training School in Camden, New Jersey and Julian D. Miller, Esq., founding Executive Director of the Reuben V. Anderson Center for Justice, at Tougaloo College in Mississippi. Vernon and his guests will discuss Black Food Sovereignty.Reverend Keith Davis is a pastor and community leader, technologist, and thought leader in technology and workforce development. He is President and CEO of the Camden Dream Center’s Technology Training School, and co-chair of the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Educations (NICE) working group to promote career discovery and multiple pathways to high-paying cybersecurity jobs.Julian D. Miller, Esq., is the founding Executive Director of the Reuben V. Anderson Center for Justice and the co-founding Director of the Reuben V. Anderson Institute for Social Justice at Tougaloo College in Mississippi, where he also serves as an assistant professor of political science. He is a lawyer and community activist who is committed to economic, social, and racial justice through grassroots-led efforts to shift policy in a direction that uplifts all poor and working people.The 2023 theme for Black History month is Black Resistance. The themeexplores how “African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all forms, especially the racial terrorism of lynching, racial profiling, and police killings.” As societal and political forces escalate to limit access to and exercise of the ballot, eliminate the teaching of Black history, and work to push our country back into the 1890s, we can only rely on our capacity to resist.
February 9, 2023Everything Co-op continues it's celebration of Black History Month with an interview of Jennie L. Stephens Ph.D., CEO at the Center for Heirs' Property Preservation. Vernon and Dr. Stephens discuss how the Center provides legal education and direct legal services to help families obtain clear title to family land and learn how to make the land work for them, instead of working for the land.Dr. Jennie L. Stephens has been the Executive Director of the Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation since its inception in 2005. At the Center, she is responsible for overall strategic planning, revenue generation, financial & staff management, and program operations. Dr. Stephens has dedicated more than 25 years in the non-profit industry and is very passionate about building relationships with people who have experienced a history of abuse when it comes to their land and their rights. Jennie holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the College of Charleston, a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Charleston/University of South Carolina, and a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Regent University.The theme for Black History month 2023 is Black Resistance. Thetheme explores how “African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all forms, especially the racial terrorism of lynching, racial profiling, and police killings.” As societal and political forces escalate to limit access to and exercise of the ballot, eliminate the teaching of Black history, and work to push us back into the 1890s, we can only rely on our capacity to resist.Asalh (Association for the Study of African American American Life and History), and the organization that provides the Black History month themes, has issued a call to everyone, inside and outside the academy, to study the history of Black Americans’ responses to establish safe spaces, where Black life can be sustained, fortified, and respected.
February 2, 2023This interview with Rev. Dr. Reginald Flynn, founder and President of North Flint Reinvestment Corporation, (NFRC) is the first installment of Everything Co-op's commemoration of Black History Month.The theme for Black History month 2023 is Black Resistance. Thetheme explores how “African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all forms, especially the racial terrorism of lynching, racial profiling, and police killings.” Given the tumultuous times we are living in, our team felt that it would be soothing to begin our celebration of Black History Month with a spiritual leader, who preaches, promotes and practices the Nguzo Saba Kwanzaa principles Ujamaa, cooperative economics and Kujichagulia, self-determination. Rev. Dr. Flynn shares how he has used a (w)holistic approach to community economic development, and self-empowerment.Rev. Dr. Flynn is known as a visionary leader who is a vocal advocate for spiritual renewal, economic self-sufficiency, and political empowerment. He authored his first book in 2010, “So You Think Your Church Isn’t Big Enough,” a resource guide for pastors and small congregations interested in launching community economic development ministries in distressed neighborhoods. He has committed his professional and Spiritual career to rebuilding and transforming lives and communities.In 2009, the North Flint Reinvestment Corporation was established by Dr. Flynn, former senior pastor of Foss Avenue Baptist Church, as a community catalyst to improve the quality of life among low-income families residing in north Flint. By implementing a (w)holistic, place-based, neighborhood revitalization strategy, NFRC sought to dismantle intergenerational poverty through the establishment of high-quality early childhood and elementary education initiatives, economic development enterprises, and financial literacy and wealth building programs. The corporation is comprised of a grass-roots network of public and private sector partners committed to rebuilding and revitalizing economically distressed neighborhoods in North Flint.
January 19, 2023Steve Dubb, Senior Editor of Economic Justice at NPQ. Steve and Vernon will discuss the upcoming webinar "Remaking the Economy: Black Food Sovereignty, Community Stories" (nonprofitquarterly.org) focusing on the interconnections between food sovereignty, racial and economic justice, and community building, and other initiatives of NPQ. Steve and Vernon discuss Black food sovereignty, the Tulsa Massacre, and the webinar series and other programming provided by NPQ.Steve Dubb is senior editor of economic justice at NPQ, where he writes articles, and moderates Remaking the Economy webinars, and works to cultivate voices from the field, and help them reach a broader audience. Prior to coming to NPQ in 2017, Steve worked with cooperatives and nonprofits for over two decades, including twelve years at The Democracy Collaborative and three years as executive director of NASCO (North American Students of Cooperation). In his work, Steve has authored, co-authored, and edited numerous reports; participated in and facilitated learning cohorts; designed community building strategies; and helped build the field of community wealth building. Steve is the lead author of Building Wealth: The Asset-Based Approach to Solving Social and Economic Problems (Aspen 2005) and coauthor (with Rita Hodges) of The Road Half Traveled: University Engagement at a Crossroads, published by MSU Press in 2012. In 2016, Steve curated and authored Conversations on Community Wealth Building, a collection of interviews of community builders that Steve had conducted over the previous decade.
November 22, 2022Vernon Oakes, host of Everything Co-op, shares information on the definition of a cooperatives, and the fundamentals of marketing.Vernon Oakes, is a consummate advocate for cooperatives. He is a Past President of the National Association of Housing Cooperatives, and he's served on several boards and committees to advance the interests of cooperatives. Recently, he served on the Limited Equity Cooperative Task Force, established by Anita Bonds, At-Large Member of the Council of the District of Columbia. Vernon is an MBA graduate of Stanford University, who has used his business acumen to benefit the community, by promoting the added value of the cooperative business model.
December 15, 2022RL Condra and Vernon discuss how the Mid-term Election results might impact the cooperative landscape, and the importance of advocacy and how he became involved in the cooperative movement.As Senior VP of Government Affairs RL Condra is responsible for advocating for issues that directly impact NCB’s cooperative customer segments. Since joining NCB, he has advocated for cooperatives to have access to SBA lending programs, risk retention changes for cooperative housing, and the RCDG program for cooperative development centers. Mr. Condra serves as the advocacy chair for Cooperation Works, a national network of organizations and individuals working on co-op development and on the Inter-agency working group for cooperatives. In addition, he serves as Vice-Chair on the Consumer Federation of America Board of Directors, and is on the board of the Food Co-op Initiative.Prior to joining NCB, Mr. Condra was Vice President of Advocacy for the NCBA CLUSA and spent several years on Capitol Hill as a staff member on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Nutrition and as Director of Congressional Affairs for the Delta Regional Authority. Mr. Condra earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arkansas.
September 22, 2022
John Zippert, former Director of Program Operations for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund discusses his career in advocacy from a student working with CORE and SNCC to his work with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives.
John Zippert served as the Director of Program Operations for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund at their Rural Training and Research Center in Epes, Alabama, for 49 years from 1971-2018. He retired in December 2018 but continues to volunteer and serve as Program Director Emeritus for the Federation. Zippert has also worked with the Federation on the development of affordable housing for low-income people in Alabama, including development, loan packaging and construction of over 250 units of single-family housing, self-help housing and four rural multi-family projects with 126 units.
John has over 50 years’ experience in community organizing, cooperative and credit union development, community based economic development and rural development in distressed communities. He serves on the boards of many national, regional, state, and local organizations to support rural development activities.
Zippert has a BA degree in history from the City College of New York; and has participated in numerous training sessions and courses to enhance his skills in rural development. He and his wife Carol are co-publishers of the Greene County Democrat, the weekly newspaper distributed in their home rural community. The Zipperts were inducted into the National Cooperative Hall of Fame in 2017.
September 29, 2022 Everything Co-op continues its recognition of the 2022 Cooperative Hall of Fame Inductees. Vernon interviews Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D., Professor at John Jay College, and Ajowa Nzinga Ifateyo, Co Editor at Grassroots Economic Organizing. Both are also economic social justice advocates. Vernon and his guests will discuss the Unsung Cooperative Hero Award, and its first recipient Ella Jo Baker.
Author of Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice (2014), and 2016 inductee into the U.S. Cooperative Hall of Fame, Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D., is a Professor at John Jay College, City University of NY. She is a political economist specializing in cooperative economics, community economic development, racial wealth inequality, Black Political Economy. She is a member of the Cooperative Economics Council of NCBA/CLUSA; the ICA Committee on Co-operative Research; an affiliate scholar with the Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, University of Saskatchewan; and past board member of Association of Cooperative Educators.
Ajowa Nzinga Ifateyo is passionate about cooperatives as a community economic development tool and lifestyle strategy. She has an MBA and a Masters in Community Economic Development, and also earned a degree in Mass Media Arts from the University of the District of Columbia. She is a co-founder of the Ella Jo Baker Intentional Community Cooperative, an affordable housing cooperative in Washington, DC, and was a founding board member of the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives. Ajowa has a wide range of experiences on various boards and is a long-time member of the Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy. She also has a passion for working around internalized superiority/inferiority issues, and the role of love and spirituality in changing the world.
September 15, 2022 Sarah Kaplan is a Partner at Cutting Edge Counsel, a California-based firm that specializes in open public capital-raising strategies that allow community members to participate in supporting local businesses. During her interview, she shares examples of how Cutting Edge Counsel has provided legal services that has impacted and empowered social enterprises. Sarah is a corporate and securities lawyer working to support economic community empowerment. Sarah has ten years of experience serving a wide range of cooperatives, including worker, consumer, agricultural, platform, investment, and multi-stakeholder cooperatives, including limited cooperative associations.
Sarah’s experience includes structuring new legal entities, advising on private and public capital-raise campaigns, structuring community investment funds, and co-op conversion transactions. Sarah has been part of the Fellows program at the Sustainable Economies Law Center since 2013. She graduated magna cum laude from Chicago-Kent College of Law and has an A.B. in Ecology from Princeton University.
Cutting Edge Counsel provides a full range of legal services exclusively to social enterprises. From formation through financing to ongoing operations and succession planning. Cutting Edge works with clients in every phase of business development and specializes in innovative capital raise structuring and design. Implementing sustainable business practices in every possible way, helps Cutting Edge and its clients, become driving forces toward a more democratic economy.
August 25, 2022 Everything Co-op continues its recognition of the 2022 Cooperative Hall of Fame Inductees with Dan Waddle, Senior VP of NRECA International. Dan discusses his Career in Cooperatives and shares the history of NRECA's electrification efforts in Rural areas throughout the world.
For more than 40 years, Dan Waddle’s professional focus and personal passion has been to support rural communities to improve living conditions and stimulate income growth by supporting community-owned, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions. Understanding the power of the cooperative business model in developing countries, Dan has drawn on his academic background and experience to evaluate the viability of rural utilities, to contribute to design of infrastructure, and to train community members to form and operate cooperative electric utilities. These rural enterprises are designed to provide power for irrigation, dairy and grain processing, water supply, as well as health, education, and public security. In his present role as Senior VP of NRECA International, he not only leads NRECA contributions to global electrification expansion, but continues to lead projects in Latin America, Africa, and Asia with his trusted colleagues.
Dan joined NRECA International in 1991 after completing the design of a new electrification program for NRECA in Bolivia, where he led a team of NRECA electrification specialists. The experience of working with the cooperative leaders in Bolivia was eye-opening; seeing the unique role that cooperatives can play with local agricultural and commercial enterprises, the collaboration with health and educational institutions, and the dedication to improving the quality of life of members brought a realization of how cooperatives are uniquely positioned to serve communities like no other business model. In the intervening years, Dan has led many electrification projects and programs all of which have focused on building improved energy services to support quality of life and income generation in rural communities.
Under Dan’s leadership, NRECA International has implemented successful, sustainable, scalable rural electrification programs that improve education, health care, safety, and economic opportunities in communities across the world. These cooperative ventures provide electric power to support agriculture, small and medium community enterprises, improved lighting and telecommunications for schools and health facilities, and for other public facilities including security lighting in village streets and common areas. Working with collaborating partners at federal, state and local levels in multiple countries that include Bangladesh, the Philippines, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Afghanistan, Uganda, Yemen, South Sudan, Colombia, and many others, Dan and his colleagues have steadfastly focused on the needs of beneficiary communities by introducing the benefits and fruits of the cooperative model as a means of organizing and sustaining electric service to support community growth and well-being.
Dan’s effective leadership comes from a commitment to listening to consumers, understanding local economic conditions and “building human capacity.” By focusing on supporting local community self-determination and trusting in the capacity of each community to understand its needs, Dan has focused his knowledge and skills to support poverty reduction through creation of vibrant and sustaining power solutions to meet all energy needs of client communities.
September 8, 2022 Our host, Vernon Oakes interviews Malik Kenyatta Yakini, Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN), and Trevor Claiborn, Sr. Co-founder of Black Soil: Our Better Nature. Vernon and his guests discuss the food sovereignty movement, and how cooperative food alliances, and the focus on Ag marketing and food distribution has impacted communities of color.
Malik Kenyatta Yakini is an activist and educator who is committed to freedom and justice for African people in particular, and humanity in general. Yakini is a co-founder and the Executive Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, which operates a seven-acre farm in Detroit and spearheaded efforts to establish the Detroit Food Policy Council. He served as a member of the Michigan Food Policy Council from 2008 - 2010. From 2011 - 2013 he served on the steering committee of Uprooting Racism Planting Justice. He is a co-founder and on the leadership team of the National Black Food and Justice Alliance.
Malik has an intense interest in contributing to the development of an international food sovereignty movement that embraces Black farmers in the Americas, the Caribbean and Africa. He views the "good food revolution" as part of the larger movement for freedom, justice and equality. To that end, he has sought opportunities to educate the public.
Trevor Claiborn, Co-Founder of Black Soil: Our Better Nature, is an author, musician, environmental educator, co-operative extension professional, youth program director, and public speaker. In 2017 Trevor and Ashley C. Smith co-founded Black Soil: Our Better Nature, to help reconnect Black Kentuckians to their heritage and legacy in agriculture. Black Soil fosters the next generation of Kentucky Black farmers and chefs and leads efforts to address racialized disparities and barriers. Mr. Claiborn has received awards from the Central Kentucky Diversity Consortium, by the Kentucky Association of Environmental Educators (KAEE). In August, Trevor Claiborn Sr. and Ashley C. Smith received the Grassroots Black Leadership Award from The Lexington Black Prosperity Initiative.
September 1, 2022 Everything Co-op posthumously honors Allan D. Gallant, leader in food cooperatives, and 2022 Cooperative Hall of Fame Inductee. Alan’s Son, Sam Gallant, and Stuart Reid, Executive Director of Food Cooperative Initiative, pay tribute to Mr. Gallant, recall major milestones in his life, and discuss how he influenced initiatives that addressed food insecurities in the World.
Allan Gallant, former Blooming Prairie Foundation and Food Co-op Initiative Board Member was a galvanizing leader in food cooperatives for more than 40 years. Allan served as CEO of the Alaska Commercial Company, secured the future of the Food Co-op Initiative, fought for equitable economic opportunities, and was a leader whose impact continues after his passing.
Deeply influenced by the civil rights movement and the riots after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Allan merged ethical business strategies with community development at the Ford Foundation and launched the National Council for Equal Business Opportunities. He later created the Responsive Management Group to work with organizations and cooperatives in the food industry.
Allan became a powerhouse in organic food distribution and mentored young people passionate about agriculture and food co-ops. It was through his work with Puget Consumer Cooperative, now PCC Community Markets, that Allan got involved with the Blooming Prairie Warehouse in Iowa City, IA and its subsequent sale that provided $3 million to establish the Blooming Prairie Foundation for cooperative development. With Allan’s help and guidance as an influential member of the Food Co-op 500 Task Force, the Blooming Prairie Foundation became a primary funder of the Food Co-op Initiative (FCI), where Allan served as founding director. Since FCI began its work in 2006, over 150 new food cooperatives have opened their doors, contributing over $180 million annually to the economy and supporting more than 1,600 jobs.
In 2019, Allan was awarded the Consumer Cooperative Management Association’s Cooperative Service Award. This award is given in recognition of dedicated leadership and exemplary service to a cooperative or cooperatives. Allan, who passed away at age 87 on July 24, 2021, will always be remembered for his commitment to food cooperatives and the communities they serve.
July 21, 2022 Vernon Oakes, host of Everything Co-op, and producer, Pat Thornton, will discuss what You need to know about the 2022 elections, and the importance of the Midterm Gubernatorial Elections.
"The 2022 United States Gubernatorial Elections will be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. During this midterm election year, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate will be contested. Thirty-nine state and territorial gubernatorial and numerous other state and local elections will also be contested. This will be the first election affected by the redistricting that will follow the 2020 census." (Wikipedia). Vernon and Pat will share information that will empower you to make informed decisions at the ballot box.
Our host, Vernon Oakes, is a consummate advocate for cooperatives. He is a Past President of the National Association of Housing Cooperatives and has served on several boards and committees to advance the interests of cooperatives. Vernon served on the Limited Equity Cooperative Task Force, established by Anita Bonds, At-Large Member of the Council of the District of Columbia. Today, Council member Anita Bonds includes co-ops as a part of her platform. Vernon is an MBA graduate of Stanford University, who has used his business acumen to benefit the community, by promoting the added value of the cooperative business model.
Pat Thornton prides herself as an emotionally intelligent leader, who is dedicated to using her time and talents to provide support to entities that seek to make this Country a more egalitarian place for its citizenry. She is strategic thinker with a proven record of success in developing integrated marketing strategies and brand identity solutions in multiple market segments. She is also an economic strategist, with extensive experience in business development, non-profit management, community engagement, and establishing public-private-partnerships between the private sector, local and jurisdictional representatives. Pat hosts her own radio show, The Thornton Business Hour, that focuses on information she feels is important for people to know, and is the producer of Everything Co-op.
August 18, 2022 Laura Vogel, Senior Advisor for NRECA Political Affairs discusses Co-ops Vote, and National Voter Registration Day.
Laura Vogel is the Senior Advisor for NRECA Political Affairs. As a member of the Political Affairs team, she is responsible for developing programs to encourage Co-op member and staff engagement in political issues that matter to the Co-op family and is the program manager for their voter initiative, Co-ops Vote. She is involved in NRECA’s political training programs, serving as an instructor for the Grassroots Course for co-op Directors. Laura also provides strategic input for NRECA’s annual Youth Tour program.
Laura has a master’s degree in Political Management from George Washington University, a bachelor’s degree in History from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and a Certificate in PAC and Grassroots Management from the Public Affairs Council.
Visit vote.coop to access information about voting in your jurisdiction, candidates who are running for office, or for links to register to vote, and much, much, more.
July 28, 2022 Everything Co-op continues its recognition of the 2022 Cooperative Hall of Fame Inductees with Margaret Lund, Margaret is a community development specialist, who was instrumental in establishing the Unsung Cooperative Hero Award with a team of co-op leaders. Margaret shares the evolution of the Award, and gives an introduction to its first recipient, Ms. Ella Jo Baker.
Margaret Lund is an independent consultant specializing in the areas of community development, finance and shared ownership strategies. Throughout her career, Margaret has worked across cooperative sectors including credit unions, consumer co-ops, housing co-ops, worker co-ops, healthcare and sustainable food systems. Before launching her consulting practice in 2008, Margaret spent 16 years as a small business lender to cooperatives.
Lund is a past member of the boards of the U.S. National Cooperative Business Association, and Health Partners, the largest consumer-governed healthcare organization in the United States. Past awards include the Howard Bowers Cooperative Service Award from the Consumer Cooperative Managers Association, and the 2014 John Logue Award for “acting as a catalyst for innovation and change” from the Association of Cooperative Educators.
August 11, 2022 Everything Co-op continues its recognition of the 2022 Cooperative Hall of Fame Inductees, with Gary Oakland, former Executive Director of BECU. Vernon and Gary discuss his 32-year career at BECU, and how he helped grow BECU to become the 4th largest Credit Union in the Country.
After earning a degree in economics from Washington State University in 1975, Gary started his cooperative journey as a teller at Seattle Telco Federal Credit Union. He went on to work for BECU in 1980 where he began his 32-year tenure, first as Director of Finance and then as CEO in 1986. When he took over BECU, it had around $700 million in assets. Gary helped grow Washington-based BECU to the 4th largest credit union in the country, with 700,000 members and $10 billion in assets when he retired as CEO in 2012.
While Gary led BECU to unprecedented growth, it was his commitment to improving the financial lives of members and serving the needs of other cooperatives and communities, that make him a true cooperator. He helped found two low-income-designated credit unions to help ensure people in those communities had access to safe and affordable financial services. He located the funds to keep more than a dozen low-income credit unions afloat during times of hardship and created a credit union service organization that provides mortgage solutions to approximately 600 credit unions. Gary’s commitment to financial education, and education in general, was not limited to BECU’s membership. Gary raised the first $500,000 to fund the PBS syndicated show Biz Kid$ and encouraged a coalition of credit unions to bring $2.6 million to support the program. This Emmy Award-winning television program, and now popular website, teaches financial literacy and entrepreneurship to middle school and high school aged children. The impact of Gary’s work is felt well beyond BECU and its members and communities. A dedicated and loyal credit union leader, his generosity and selflessness were recognized when he was awarded the Herb Wegner Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2013. Gary Oakland’s legacy will inevitably be his unwavering commitment to member service.
August 8, 2022:
Esteban Kelly, Executive Director of the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives discusses the upcoming National Worker Co-op Conference, Worker Cooperative State of the Sector Report, and recently passed legislation.
Esteban Kelly is the Executive Director at the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives. He is also an important leader and creative force in solidarity economy and co-op movements. He has served on numerous boards including the USFWC, the US Solidarity Economy Network, the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA-CLUSA), and the Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF). He is a co-founder of the cross-sector Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance (PACA), and recently worked at the New Economy Coalition as Development Director and then Staff Director. Esteban is a mayoral appointee to the Philadelphia Food Policy Advisory Council, following eight years as a worker-owner at Mariposa Food Co-op institutionalizing its staff collective and expanding food access in West Philly.
The United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives (USFWC) is the national grassroots membership organization for worker cooperatives. USFWC's mission is to build a thriving cooperative movement of stable, empowering jobs through worker-ownership. USFWC advances worker-owned, -managed, and -governed workplaces through cooperative education, advocacy and development.
July 14, 2022 Everything Co-op kicks-off its recognition of the 2022 Cooperative Hall of Fame Inductees with Paul Hazen, executive director of the Overseas Cooperative Development Council (OCDC). Vernon and Paul discuss his experiences in the cooperative movement throughout his career, and the role he feels cooperatives have played in helping cities to rebound from the economic collapses of the past.
Paul Hazen became executive director of the Overseas Cooperative Development Council in February 2012. Throughout his career, Hazen has championed the U.S. cooperative system. He has helped establish federal legislation promoting rural co-op development, formed a national network of co-op development centers and initiated national research into the impact of co-ops on the U.S. economy.
Prior to joining OCDC, Hazen was CEO of the Washington, D.C.-based National Cooperative Business Association, (NCBA). Under Hazen's leadership, NCBA's cooperative development portfolio grew from $8 million to over $30 million annually. During his 25-year tenure with the organization, he held key positions, including chief operating officer, vice president of public policy, vice president of member services and director of consumer cooperatives.
Active in cooperative matters at many levels, Hazen is the one of the founders of Dot Coop, the top-level domain for cooperatives around the world. He also shares his cooperative expertise and leadership as a member of various boards, including Rochdale Capital Corporation, and the Community Purchasing Alliance Cooperative. Past board service includes the International Co-operative Alliance, the National Cooperative Bank, Capital Impact Partners, Consumer Federation of America, Cooperative Development Foundation and Cooperative Business International.
June 30, 2022
Chris Tilly, Professor of Urban Planning and Sociology at UCLA, with several of his graduate students: Geoff Gusoff, Eliza Jane Franklin, and Ernest Johnson, discuss their Co-op Community Development Capstone Project, in Crenshaw, South Central, LA.
Chris Tilly holds a joint Ph.D. in Economics and Urban Studies and Planning from MIT. For over thirty years, Tilly has conducted research on bad jobs and how to make them better. His current research includes ongoing examination of how implementation of digital technologies is transforming US retail jobs, as well as separate research on informal worker organizing around the world. Prior to becoming an academic, he spent seven years doing labor and community organizing. His books include Half a Job: Bad and Good Part‑Time Jobs in a Changing Labor Market, Stories Employers Tell: Race, Skills, and Hiring in America, The Gloves-Off Economy: Labor Standards at the Bottom of America’s Labor Market, and Are Bad Jobs Inevitable?
Geoff Gusoff is a family medicine physician and public health fellow with the National Clinician Scholars Program at UCLA. His public health work focuses on the health impacts of community ownership models including worker-owned cooperatives and community land trusts. He has worked with solidarity economy projects in Peru and El Salvador and helped develop a worker-owned construction cooperative with day laborers in Philadelphia.
Eliza Jane Franklin is a UCLA Urban and Regional Planning graduate student. She created her own independent area of concentration called Critical Race Studies, Digital Mapping, and Heritage Conservation. As a system impacted person and descendant of a lynching victim, Eliza remains engaged in the fight against mass incarceration and racialized gendered violence through multiple mapping projects. She promotes liberation for marginalized communities worldwide who occupy rural and urban spaces through a Black Girl Cartography (Butler, 2018) lens. Her published works include A Planning Mixtape: Black Healing (Matters), Housing, and the Prison Nation and a podcast episode Sankofa: Black Healing Matters. More of her work can be found at the website elizajanefranklin.com
Ernest Johnson is also a graduate student at UCLA in Urban and Regional Planning. In partnership with Cooperation LA, Earnest researched, “How to Start a Worker Co-Op in LA” 2021. As a part of his research, he developed a land use analysis to describe the opportunities for potential restaurants within the city of Los Angeles. The team conducted a case assessment of local restaurant owners to forecast the potential conflicts an aspiring group may face. Once collected, in conjunction with the resources provided by Los Angeles City Planning and the Department of Bureau and Street and Services a toolkit was created. The goal of the deliverable was to present a conclusive examination of the zoning where restaurants could be applicable and the complimentary facets of permitting, fees, parking, and community cohesiveness. It is hoped that the tool kit will be a catalyst for more equitable representation within the food sector in Los Angeles.
On June 23, 2022, Vernon interviewed Emily Nail, Executive Director for the Cooperative Council of North Carolina (CCNC), along with two returning students: MaKayla Chaplin and Kylie Chandler, and one new student, Hampton Scott. Vernon and his guests discuss the Cooperative Camp experience, and how it can be used for the overall development of its participants.
As Executive Director for the CCNC, Emily administers executive planning, administration, communications, education and marketing. Since assuming the position in 2015 she has worked to enhance the programs membership and get the cooperative movement networking. Emily also directs the Cooperative Leadership Camp for the summer program and training for the Cooperative Dynamics Workshop, both hosted by CCNC. Prior to her appointment at CCNC Emily served as training coordinator for High Plains Federal Credit Union and was a branch Vice President for American Chartered Bank.
The Cooperative Leadership Camp is a week-long camp that allows teens to form a worker/owner cooperative, and work together to solve business challenges as they develop leadership and team-building skills. This year the camp had 78 students registered, which is the largest enrollment since its inception.
The CCNC’s mission is to Educate, Promote and Connect Cooperatives across the state. Visit https://www.ccnc.coop/ to learn more about how this mission is being fulfilled!
On June 9, Zen Trenholm, Director of Employee Ownership Cities and Policy at Democracy At Work Institute (DAWI), discusses the metrics of using employee ownership to build equitable economies though employee ownership.
Zen Trenholm builds capacity, partnerships, and resources to scale democratic employee ownership across the country. He currently leads the Shared Equity in Economic Development Fellowship program (SEED), where he convenes and equips city and community leaders with tools and support to build equitable economies using employee ownership.
Prior to DAWI, Zen was an organizer for fossil fuel divestment, a director at the California Student Sustainability Coalition, and a co-founder of the Student Environmental Resource Center at UC Berkeley. Zen has a Bachelor’s degree in Conservation and Resource Studies, with a special focus on Cooperative Business Development.
Ted Rau, Co-founder of Sociocracy For All, and John McNamara, Ph.D., Sr Cooperative Development Specialist at Northwest Cooperative Development Center NCDC, discuss the Sociocracy in Cooperatives Conference, being held on June 23rd.
Ted Rau is an Operational leader at SoFA. Ted spends most of his time training and consulting in sociocracy and leading SoFA as an organization. Ted is co-author of the sociocracy handbook Many Voices, One Song. He enjoys writing articles, and teaching meeting facilitation. People and their universal need to connect and move things are at the center of his attention. He pays attention to the co-housing movement, transgender rights, and non-violent communication.
Sociocracy for All envisions a world in which people engage together to meet their individual and collective needs in an equitable way, with respect for all living beings. SoFA's mission, is to promote sociocracy locally and globally as a sustainable way of governance. This is done by: generating communities of practice and innovating, making decisions together, sharing what we learn, and inspiring each other through accessible and transferable materials, training, and resources.
6.2.2022 Gina Schaefer is founder and CEO of A Few Cool Hardware Stores appeared on Everything Co-op June 2, 2022. Gina shared the strategy of how she and her husband Mark, have used their hardware stores to build and serve communities throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area.
Gina Schaefer is founder and CEO of A Few Cool Hardware Stores. Gina's big passion is for developing urban markets, supporting small businesses and helping women to succeed in all aspects of the hardware industry. A self-proclaimed "localist", Gina has tirelessly focused on the "Return to Main Street" movement in the District of Columbia, to promote Shop Local campaigns and community revitalization in urban areas. She and her husband are members of the Ace Hardware Cooperative, and they own and operate 13 hardware stores in DC, Baltimore, Alexandria, VA and Montgomery County.
Gina has received numerous accolades for her many accomplishments, including recipient of the Women Who Mean Business award from the Washington Business Journal of 2009, recognized as an industry Top Gun in 2011 by the National Retail Hardware Association, honored by Profiles in Diversity Journal as one of its Women Worth Watching in 2013 and recognized by Hardware and Building Supply Dealer as one of 14 of the 2016 "People of the Year." She also serves on the Corporate Board of CCA Global and the nonprofit board of The Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
When her busy schedule allows, Gina likes to relax by making greeting cards (she's a big believer in the power of the written note), kayaking, taking spin classes, traveling, reading and, of course, mentoring other small business owners.
Ayoke Williams, is a Program Manager for Guilded, a Freelance Co-op. She and Vernon discuss how Guilded leverages the power of pooled benefits, collective purchasing, and collective advocacy; to build agency, decision-making and economic power of freelance and gig economy workers.
Guilded, is an initiative of the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives. Ajoke joins the Federation's team that provides tech development, fundraising, communications, project management, and consulting for artist and activist organizations. Originally from New Orleans, she has lived in several cities throughout the US and now resides in Silver Spring, Maryland. Although relatively new to the cooperative scene, she has been working on a means to bring equitable financing and access to capital to cooperative businesses throughout the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia area, or DMV.
Previously, Ajoke worked with the DC Stakeholders Coop Association where she helped design and establish an online asset base to enhance cooperation within their network. She also established a digital online platform for lending pools between members of the Movement for Black Lives DC coalition and provided logistical and development support for a number of BLM campaigns during her time there. Ajoke is passionate about bridging the promise of cooperative business with the urgent social needs of black and brown people. As an aspiring credit union founder, she currently serves on the board of Appeal's Credit Union, and is a founder of Social Conscience PBC, a lending and tech consulting firm.
Guilded, is a freelancer cooperative that focuses on the agency, decision making and economic power of the freelancer. Its vision is deeply informed by the work of the United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives (USFWC). Since 2004, the USFWC has leveraged the collective bargaining, scale, and organizing power of a national membership structure to pool benefits and build political and social influence for its members. Now, through Guilded, the USFWC is using its expertise to bring the power of pooled benefits, collective purchasing, and collective advocacy to freelance and gig economy workers. Guilded provides contract management, invoicing, guaranteed payments, tax preparation and access to supplementary health care - so that its members can focus on their businesses, instead of the process for doing business.
May 19, 2022
Marjaana Saarikoski, Director, Cooperative Affairs at SOK Corporation discusses her extensive experience with cooperatives, and how the country of Finland is impacted by having more than 90% of its households as members of cooperatives.
Marjanna Saarikoski has spent a major part of her career with consumer cooperative S Group. Since 1983 she has held various leadership positions in sales, marketing, chain/concept management and its membership & loyalty program of 2,5 million co-op members (80% of the Finnish households).
Since 2015 Ms. Saarikoski has been representing S Group in the national and global cooperative movement. Since 2017 she has been a committed member at the Board of the ICA. In addition, since 2020 she has held the office of President of the Euro Coop, a European sectoral organization of the consumer cooperatives.
Ms. Saarikoski has extensive education and training. She holds a Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration from The University of Tampere; has participated in leadership and strategy studies in Templeton College, Oxford in Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration where she acquired a Diplomas from the Leadership and Strategy Program AaltoJOKO, and Marketing for Professionals.
May 12, 2022 Vernon interviews Pamela Madzima, Alabama State Coordinator for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/LAF. Ms. Madzima discusses the Alabama Cooperative Ecosystem, and her experiences at the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/LAF.
Based at the Rural Training and Research Center in Epes, Alabama, Pamela Madzima has worked with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund for 18 years providing technical assistance and support to member-cooperatives of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives Land Assistance Fund, and the Alabama State Association of Cooperatives.
Ms. Madzima’s primary responsibilities have included directing and coordinating outreach, and technical assistance programs to member cooperatives, and to small, limited resource landowners that are interested in forming agricultural/marketing cooperatives; and assisting cooperatives with: organizing and becoming incorporated; developing by-laws that are consistent with cooperative principles; exploring marketing outlets for value-added products; resource development; and facilitating education and training plans to assist cooperative leaders and members to function as a cooperatives.
Pamela has served on various committees and led community development projects, including the Federation/LAF’s Rural Development Americorps VISTA program, which placed 15 volunteers with local cooperatives in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. Ms. Madzima has also served as a member of the Board of Directors and Loan Committees of Shared Capital Cooperative and the Southern Reparations Loan Fund; and as a community associate with the Black Belt Community Foundation. In 2019, Pamela was promoted to her current position as the Alabama State Coordinator with the Federation/LAF.
On May 5, 2022, Vernon interviewed Stuart Reid, Executive Director of the Food Co-op Initiative (FCI). Vernon and Stuart discussed his experiences and accomplishments at FCI, along with his projections and initiatives for the future.
Stuart Reid began his career in grocery as a carry-out and stock clerk for the Windom, Minnesota Hy-Vee store back in 1972, never believing for a minute that he would still be working in the grocery business 40+ years later. He probably wouldn’t if he hadn’t discovered food co-ops in Minneapolis when he moved there for college. Since then he has volunteered, co-managed, managed, and served on the boards of many food co-ops, worked for the co-op-owned DANCe warehouse, and helped open the Just Food Co-op in Northfield as their first general manager. Ultimately, Stuart became the first Executive Director of the Food Co-op Initiative.
The Food Co-op Initiative is fast approaching a major transition as Stuart announced that he is retiring this year. Founded in 2005 as an experiment in improving the startup path for new food co-ops, FCI incorporated in 2010. Twelve years later, Stuart’s retirement comes at an exciting time for FCI. New inquiries from communities interested in starting food co-ops are coming in at a record pace with growing numbers in smaller rural and metropolitan communities of color—both areas neglected by mainstream grocers and suffering food insecurity. Right now, FCI is working with 93 communities that have active startup efforts, and have additional inquiries from 84 groups considering moving forward. FCI’s support is helping improve both economic and social welfare where it is needed most.
In recognition of Stuart’s contributions to the success of and furthering the mission of FCI, the “FCI Cooperative Futures Fund” was launched in May. The fund was launched to ensure that FCI can continue its successful work supporting the creation of new food co-ops across the country, and to ensure that it has the resources needed for the tasks ahead. FCI relies entirely on grants and donations to support its mission, and to provide services to startup organizers and development colleagues for free. This endowment will help bridge the gap in years where other grants and gifts fall short, and will enable FCI to continue to accomplish its mission of helping communities take control of their own future by building food co-ops.
Visit https://fci.coop/futures to contribute to the fund.
Ann Fedorchak and Mary Alex Blanton, of National Cooperative Bank (NCB); and Alison Powers, of Capital Impact Partners discuss the history, purpose and impact of the Cooperative Innovation Award.
National Cooperative Bank in partnership with Capital Impact Partners, launched the 2022 Co-op Innovation Award to empower organizations to increase economic opportunity for the communities they serve, and advance cooperative development in communities of color and/or historically disinvested communities. Priority will be given to food, worker, and housing co-ops, but all sectors are invited to apply.
Interested parties may visit Capital Impact Partners website https://bit.ly/3iR4CYk to access the application and register for an informational webinar on April 27th. Organizations must submit letters of intent by May 3rd, to apply for a grant award of up to $50,000.
Ann Fedorchak is a Senior Vice President at National Cooperative Bank. She directs NCB’s cooperative and community development initiatives and strategy; and leads the Specialty Finance line of business, covering a range of mission-focused sectors including healthcare, affordable housing, not for profit organizations and Community Development Financial Institutions.
Mary Alex Blanton is Senior Vice President, Director of Strategic Marketing for National Cooperative Bank. In this role, she manages NCB’s marketing, advertising, corporate communications, public relations, and brand for the bank.
Alison Powers is the Director of Economic Opportunities at Capital Impact Partners. Alison works to amplify the potential of the co-op model for all people through technical assistance, grant funding, and financing for capital projects.
National Cooperative Bank's mission is to support and be an advocate for America’s cooperatives and their members, especially in low-income communities, by providing innovative financial and related services.
Capital Impact Partners is a national Community Development Financial Institution that invests capital and commitment to help people build communities of opportunity that break barriers to success.
Professor Stacey Sutton discusses the Ideology of Black-led Cooperatives and the Solidarity Economy Ecosystem. The discussion focused on discussion will focus on Sutton’s research study "Real Black Utopias," a cooperative city research study, where she examines the infrastructure and ideology of Black-led cooperatives and solidarity economy ecosystem in multiple cities.
Stacey Sutton partners with grassroots and community organizations committed to racial and economic justice, equitable development, anti-displacement, participatory democracy, and cooperative economics. Her scholarship and teaching are in community economic development, with a central focus on racial and economic justice; economic democracy and worker-owned cooperatives; movement building and the solidarity economy; gentrification and dispossession; neighborhood small business dynamics; and disparate effects of punitive policy.
Sutton has led APA award-winning student projects for the Plan Making Studio and co-developed feasibility studies for community partners in her Solidarity Economy course. She served as the principal investigator of a Mellon Foundation Sawyer Seminar (entitled Urban Edges – Dreams, Divisions, and Infrastructures: Comparative Cross-Disciplinary Dialogues about 21st Century American Cities) that brought together leaders within and beyond the academy to advance visions of more just and equitable cities. Sutton has supported the work of numerous community organizations in Chicago and was appointed to the Community Wealth Building Working Group, Office of Equity and Racial Justice in the City of Chicago’s Office of the Mayor.
Sutton received a BA from Loyola University in Baltimore, an MBA from New York University, an MS from the New School for Social Research in New York, and a joint Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Sociology from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ.
John Holdsclaw IV, President and CEO of Rochdale Capital, a new loan development fund that aims to support community-based organizations and co-ops, discusses the launch of Rochdale Capital, and the Importance of Community Loan Programs.
John Holdsclaw IV recently launched Rochdale Capital. The recently formed loan fund was formed to advance the development of community ownership and asset building in rural and urban distressed communities. "We look forward to working with National Cooperative Bank (NCB), and other Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) across the country on achieving this mission,” stated John Holdsclaw IV. Prior to Rochdale Capital, John served as Executive Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at NCB.
In addition, John worked as director of policy and development at Capital Impact Partners, a national certified CDFI, where he developed and implemented the organization’s public policy strategy. John worked at the National Head Start Association, the only national organization dedicated solely to the Head Start program and community as grassroots coordinator and associate director of its government affairs division.
Mr. Holdsclaw currently serves on the board of trustees of Global Communities, board of directors of Groundswell, Partner for Common Good (CDFI), and American Bankers Association (ABA) Stonier Graduate School of Banking. Most recently, John was appointed to the Cooperative Development Foundation's Board of Directors.
Rochdale Capital is a national non-profit community development loan fund that will provide financing and technical assistance to cooperative enterprises and other community-based organizations. The organization hopes to be certified as a CDFI by the US Treasury later this year, thus joining the more than 1,200 private-sector organizations across the country that attract capital from private and public sources.
National Cooperative Bank (NCB) serves as the founding strategic partner of Rochdale Capital. NCB’s mission is to support and be an advocate for America’s cooperatives and their members, especially in low-income communities, by providing innovative financial and related services.
Ron Hantz, Executive Director of Network for Developing Conscious Communities, and educator/author Dr. Ann Gessler give an overview of the upcoming Black Cooperative Agenda National Conference, and New Orleans' cooperative development.
Ron Hantz has been instrumental in advocating a new community development paradigm based on “conscious community development” He is a former Adjunct Professor, in the Africana Studies Department, at the University Maryland Baltimore County, and founded the Network for Developing Conscious Communities (NDCC) in 2014. He now leads the organization’s efforts on advocacy and building a sustainable ecosystem for Black governed community development organizations. Under his leadership, NDCC has emerged as a grass roots voice on promoting the use of principle-based practices to regenerate under-resourced Black communities.
Dr. Anne Gessler is a clinical associate professor in the First Year Seminar and Humanities programs at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. She is the Mieszkuc Memorial Professor in Women's and Gender Studies for 2021-2022. Dr. Gessler will discuss her upcoming luncheon address, “Cooperating in the Crescent City: Lessons Learned from New Orleans’s Intergenerational Black Cooperative Movement,” at the Black Cooperative Agenda National Conference. Based on her book, Cooperatives in New Orleans: Collective Action and Urban Development, where Dr. Gessler traces how New Orleans community cooperatives contribute to a social history of grassroots social justice mobilization in the South. She examines how the long civil rights movement shaped current New Orleans cooperatives. Exploring the work of Black hospital administrator Albert Dent, who worked with multiracial New Deal southern liberals to establish a cooperative public health plan for Black Louisianans.
The Network for Developing Conscious Communities was founded 2014 as a 501 © (3) non-profit community development membership organization. Through implementing principles of conscious community development, the organization seeks to build economically cooperative and equitable communities through transparency, inclusiveness and collectivism. NDCC successfully works to improve financial sustainability, encourage business ownership and increase residential real estate ownership in Black neighborhoods.
Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D., Professor at John Jay College, and economic social justice advocate discusses her research on Black women in the U.S. co-op movement, and the Cooperative Development Fund's "Unsung Heroes Project"
Author of Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice (2014) & 2016 inductee into the U.S. Cooperative Hall of Fame, Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D., is a Professor at John Jay College, City University of NY. She is a political economist specializing in cooperative economics, community economic development, racial wealth inequality, Black Political Economy. She is a member of the Cooperative Economics Council of NCBA/CLUSA; the ICA Committee on Co-operative Research; an affiliate scholar with the Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, University of Saskatchewan; and past board member of Association of Cooperative Educators.
Everything Co-op kikced off its recognition of Women's History Month, with a focus on this year's theme of "Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope." In our first installment, Vernon interviews Melbah McAfee Smith, retired Executive Director of the Mississippi Center for Cooperative Development, and a 2009 inductee into the Cooperative Hall of Fame. Vernon and Ms. McAfee Smith discussed her experiences working with cooperatives to address issues experienced by the communities she worked in. They also discussed her hopes to pass on her family's legacy of farming to the next Generation of she and her brother's Grandchildren.
Melbah McAfee Smith worked for nearly 40 years as a trusted co-op developer in some of the most impoverished areas of the country. She started her career with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, returning to her home state to lead the Mississippi Association of Cooperatives and the Mississippi Cooperative Development Center. Her visionary leadership and hands-on, grassroots approach to building communities have helped bring health care, economic development, and social justice to people in need through the cooperative model.
February 24, 2022 Everything Co-op closes out its recognition of Black History Month, with a webinar, focused on this year's theme of "Black Health and Wealth." The featured guest for the inaugural webinar were Thomas and Anita Roberson, owners of Botanical Bites and Provisions, LLC. Vernon and the Robersons discuss the role their plants, vegetables, and farm products play in the "Health and Wealth" of their patrons.
Thomas and Anita Roberson are passionate fourth generation farmers who operate Botanical Bites and Provisions, LLC, a veteran-owned and operated farm established in 2013. On their farm they grow a diverse assortment of fresh farm-grown produce. Their commitment to agriculture arises from their passion for healthy living by growing with no pesticides, preservatives or herbicides. which has earned them the distinction as being a Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) enterprise.
On their 10-acre farm all products are mostly hand-raised or handcrafted and naturally grown in three high tunnels, several rotating fields, or generated from their small apiary. In addition to fresh produce, Botanical Bites and Provisions offers spectacular cut flowers, honey, and value-added cosmetics from their farm, and honey and propolis from their hives. Their on-farm market accepts SNAP, and they are always welcoming new customers and friends.
The Robersons are members of the Virginia Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Coalition, Virginia Farm Bureau, the Minority and Veteran Farmers of the Piedmont, and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives. Anita also serves on Virginia State University's (VSU) Small Farm Outreach Program Advisory Committee, and the Board of Directors for the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture Innovation and Rural Sustainability (VAFAIRS). They both serve as mentors for new and beginning farmers for the VSU Small Farm Outreach Program
February 17, 2022
As Everything Co-op continues its recognition of Black History Month, with a focus on the 2022 theme of Black Health and Wealth, Vernon interviews Jamila White, racial and social justice advocate, and proprietor of BlakQuity.
Jamila White is a racial equity, social justice advocate and global community development expert, who works with organizations, businesses, and individuals. She was raised in Virginia and Southeast Washington D.C. and comes from a long line of powerful trailblazing women who instilled in her a deeply rooted commitment to community service and social justice. In 1961, Jamila's Late Aunt Lula, then 22 years old, joined 300+ Freedom Riders who risked their lives riding public transportation throughout the South to test the law integrating transportation facilities- she was arrested and sent to Mississippi's notorious Parchman Prison. Jamila's life's work has been built upon those same values held by her aunt, often learned around her grandmother's kitchen table, to empower Black people at home and abroad.
After working in Africa and the Caribbean for over a decade, Jamila returned to the US to start her own business. Her firm, BlakQuity, tackles wealth and equity gaps in Black and Brown communities by bringing funding, investment, partnership, and developmental resources together in sustainable ways. During her first overseas experience in Senegal, Jamila witnessed absolute poverty, and absolute beauty. As a consequence, at the age of 19 she decided to dedicate her life to poverty alleviation, women's empowerment, liberation, equity, and economic mobility.
Jamila is a trusted advisor serving the community in various leadership positions and programs, including, representing Ward 8A as a locally elected member of Washington D.C.’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission, and serving as the co-founder of the Geraldine N. Coleman “a Seat at the Kitchen Table” College Scholarship Fund.
Jamila holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Hampton University, and a Master’s in Public Administration, with a concentration in Economic Development and International Affairs from Indiana University. From her work to her community commitments, Jamila's life is guided by an underlying belief that all people deserve a dignified life, and she has dedicated her life to achieving that goal.
Black History Month, 2-10-2021 Everything Co-op continues its recognition of Black History Month, focusing on this year’s theme of Black Health and Wellness, with Dãnia Davy, Director of Land Retention & Advocacy at the Federation of Southern Cooperatives. Vernon and Dãnia focus on farming, and the critical role that the Federation of Southern Cooperatives has played in helping Black farmers recover from the losses experienced as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Dãnia serves as Director of Land Retention and Advocacy at the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund. The Federation is the largest and oldest cooperatively-owned organization whose membership includes black farmers, landowners and cooperatives. Dãnia began her legal career as a Skadden Fellow at the North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers Land Loss Prevention Project implementing a project she designed which provided community education and estate planning services to improve Black farmers' access to legal services in the rural South. She developed the documentary - "Our Land, Our Lives: The North Carolina Black Farmers' Experience" and served on the inaugural North Carolina Sustainable Local Food Advisory Council.
Emory Shaw Campbell, author, historian, and CEO of the Cultural Heritage Consulting, discusses the importance of preserving cultural heritage. Campbell formerly served as the Director of the Penn Center on St. Helena Island from 1980 - 2002. The historic Penn Center, which opened in the 1800s to educate freed slaves was previously used as a training center and meeting place for civil rights leaders. Today it serves as a center to preserve the history and heritage of the Sea Island and Gullah culture.
When Penn School first opened in 1862, it was an experimental program to educate Sea Island slaves freed at the beginning of the Civil War. Over the years, it served many functions within the community. The school’s mission was to teach freed slaves trades and how to read in an effort to help them transition into an economically stable lifestyle. By the 1900s, the Penn Center had adopted Booker T. Washington’s model of industrial training, and in the early stages of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s the center was often used as a meeting place and training center by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
During his tenure at the Penn Center, Campbell spearheaded efforts to create a family connection between the Gullah people and the people of Sierra Leone in West Africa. In 1988, he hosted Sierra Leone President Joseph Momoh at the Penn Center for the Gullah reunion and became an Honorary Paramount Chief in 1989, when he led the historic Gullah Reunion to Sierra Leone. In Campbell’s career as Executive Director of the Penn Center he helped preserve the former school, restoring 15 of 21 buildings on campus. He also reorganized the board of trustees, developed programs for small farmland use planning, and organized the Penn Center Heritage Days Festival, one of the premier celebrations of Gullah culture in the nation. He retired from the Penn Center in 2002 and became Executive Director Emeritus of Penn Center.
Immediately following his retirement, he wrote Gullah Cultural Legacies, which was first published in 2002. Mr. Campbell heads up Gullah Heritage Consulting Service and operates Gullah Heritage Trail Tours with his family. In 2008 Mr. Campbell was elected Chairman of the Gullah-Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission, an organization empowered by the U.S. Congress to develop a program to commemorate Gullah culture in the low country region from Wilmington, North Carolina to Jacksonville, Florida. For Campbell, the dedication to preserving Gullah culture has been a labor of love and a cause that he hopes will continue to resonate with future generations.
January 27, 2022 Co-op advocate and Author Clifford N. Rosenthal discusses the role CDFIs play in the development of co-ops, and his book "Democratizing Finance: Origins of the Community Development Financial Institutions Movement."
Clifford N. Rosenthal is a nationally and internationally recognized innovator, advocate, and developer of programs to provide financial access for low-income and underserved people. He joined the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions in 1980 and served as its president and CEO for more than thirty years. He also co-founded the national Coalition of CDFIs, and served in its leadership for two decades. Throughout his career Clifford has developed food cooperatives for Native American and migrant farmworker organizations, and written manuals, monographs and articles on community development finance, credit unions, and savings to preserve the knowledge he attained. In 2018 he released Democratizing Finance: Origins of the Community Development Financial Institutions Movement. He has received the highest honors of the National Credit Union Foundation and the Opportunity Finance Network, as well as the Lawyers Alliance of New York City and the Insight Center for Community Economic Development. The Clifford N. Rosenthal Community Center in the St. Claude community of the Upper Ninth Ward of New Orleans honors his assistance in helping the ASI Federal Credit Union recover from Hurricane Katrina. He was inducted into the African American Credit Union Hall of Fame in 2019, the first non-African American so honored.
Researchers Dr. Prieto and Dr. Phipps discuss their book "African American Management History: Insights on Gaining a Cooperative Advantage," and the African philosophy that was the primary inspiration for the book.
Dr. Prieto and Dr. Phipps are highly acclaimed researchers and educators, who are members of the Thinkers50 (i.e., The Oscars of Management Thinking) Radar Class of 2021. Their work has been published in a number of outlets including the Journal of Business Ethics, Academy of Management Learning & Education, Harvard Business Review, MIT Sloan Management Review, and the Journal of Management History. They have been recognized by the Academy of Management for publishing “ground-breaking African-American Management History research,” and have also written a book entitled "African American Management History: Insights on Gaining a Cooperative Advantage."
Leon C. Prieto, PhD is the Director of the Center for Social Innovation & Sustainable Entrepreneurship, and Associate Professor of Management at Clayton State University. He also serves as an Associate Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School's Centre for Social Innovation. His research lies at the intersection of Management History, Business Ethics, Sustainable Entrepreneurship & Social Innovation.
Simone T. A. Phipps, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Management in the School of Business at Middle Georgia State University (USA), and an Associate Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School's Centre for Social Innovation (UK). Her research interests include Management History, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Social Innovation, Social Sustainability, and relationships between the organization and society. Her research usually involves the exploration of gender, racial, and ethnic minorities, with the aim of highlighting their struggles and contributions, as well as finding possible solutions to improve the minority experience in business and society.
January 13, 2022 David Hincapie, Economic Development Specialist with SBA, discusses, his observations regarding the experiences of co-op businesses with PPP and COVID disaster loans, and the basics of SBA lending programs.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the US Small Business Administration has offered lending programs designed to help businesses maintain their workforce and provide gap funding for losses experienced as result of the pandemic. David Hincapie has worked closely with Washington Area organizations and businesses to ensure that local businesses are aware of the nuances involved with the lending programs.
Currently, SBA is not accepting new applications for COVID-19 relief loans or grants, but it continues to offer PPP loan forgiveness and EIDL increases. Fortunately, due to lobbying efforts of NCBA/CLUSA and other organizations, cooperative businesses were eligible to apply for the loans associated with the pandemic. As cooperative businesses chart their way through the SBA lending process it's important to share information regarding their experiences, and best practices. During this interview David shares his insights and lessons learned regarding the lending experiences of cooperatives. He also encouraged them to take advantage of the services offered through SBA's resource partners. Small Business Development Centers; Womens Business Centers; Veterans Business Outreach Centers; and SCORE Mentors. To learn more Visit SBA.gov
Michael Partis, Executive Director at the Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative (BCDI), discusses the correlation between Cooperatives and Economic Democracy. Michael also shares several instances where BCDI has supported the formation of cooperatives.
Michael Partis is also a Researcher at the Bronx African American History Project, where he and Professor Mark Naison are editing “After The Fires:” a collection of post-1970s South Bronx oral histories. He is also co-founder of The Bronx Brotherhood Project, a community-based college success program for Black and Latino teens at the New Settlement College Access Center. Formerly, he was the Director of South Bronx Rising Together (SBRT): a collective impact initiative dedicated to improving health, grade-level reading and math, and post-secondary outcomes in the neighborhoods of Morrisania and Crotona Park West.
The Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative is a community-led planning and economic development organization. BCDI’s approach to cooperative development is to continuously grow its network of community and labor organizations, anchor institutions, and small businesses to build an equitable, sustainable, and democratic local economy that creates shared wealth and ownership for low-income people of color, which is referred to as economic democracy. BCDI firmly believes that economic democracy will position Bronx residents as the collective decision-makers and owners of the borough’s future.
Mark Winston Griffith, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Movement Center (BMC), and Board member of the Cooperative Economics Alliance of New York City, discusses the history of BMC, and the relationship of the principles of Kwanzaa and those of the cooperative business model.
Mark Winston Griffith is is a nationally recognized thought leader, community organizer and journalist. He's also the co-founder and Executive Director of the Brooklyn Movement Center (BMC), a membership-based, community organizing group serving Bedford-Stuyvesant and North Crown Heights. BMC is a multi-issue organization currently building campaigns around public education, food sovereignty, sexualized street harassment and police accountability.
In the early nineties, Mark co-founded the Central Brooklyn Partnership, a community organizing group that focused on economic justice issues, and was co-founder of Central Brooklyn Federal Credit Union, which at the time was the nation's largest black-run, community-based, financial cooperative.
December 23, 2021 -Esther Enyolu, Executive Director of Women’s Multicultural Resource and Counselling Centre of Durham (WMRCC), discusses how WMRCC used Grant Funds to Development seven Worker Co-ops.
Esther Enyolu is a dynamic leader committed to cross-cultural issues, such as, equity, equality, diversity and inclusion, human rights and social justice. She has extensive knowledge of employer/employee relationship issues in both unionized and non-unionized environments. Under her leadership WMRCC has developed seven worker cooperatives; and continues to provide resources and counseling to women overcoming obstacles of life.
Esther has diligently served the community and has been instrumental in developing innovative community programs for more than 30 years. She works with different universities and colleges, including community organizations to promote entrepreneurship for women from diverse backgrounds.
On December 16, 2021, Vernon interviews LaKeisha Wolf, Executive Director of Ujamaa Collective, and Kandis Quam, an artist with the Ancestral Rich Treasures of Zuni Cooperative (ARTZ. Kandis and LaKeisha discuss the ethical and cultural principles of their cooperatives, and the Artwork available at their storefronts and on their websites for the Holiday season.
LaKeisha Wolf is a co-founder and serves as executive director of non-profit Ujamaa Collective. She leads through the lens of creativity and community, working with artists and organizers to develop place-making strategies, models of equity for community resources, as well as local and global partnerships rooted in the values of fair trade entrepreneurship, mutual aid and wellness. Additionally, as a community cultural worker and teaching artist, LaKeisha provides support and workshops in the areas of culturally responsive arts and wellness practices and cooperative enterprise development. She is a 2021 Sybil’s Shrine Artist-in-Residence, a new artist home residency program for Black creative mothers based in Pittsburgh, PA. Ujamaa Collective is a grassroots organization that works to center Black/Africana people within a cooperative economics practice. provides a cooperative retail boutique for makers and artists to connect with conscientious consumers.
Kandis Quam is one of many artist at the Ancestral Rich Treasures of Zuni Cooperative (ARTZ). She grew up in an artistic family, where she learned how to navigate the art show world by observing her parents, Jayne and Lynn Quam. Her main subject matter of choice is imagery with a heavy Zuni influence. Through the use of visual media Kandis seeks to bridge the past with the present, and create change through beauty. She also hopes to instill a sense of cultural preservation in the modern age younger generation through art.
The Ancestral Rich Treasures of Zuni Cooperative is the only Zuni Artists Owned and Managed Cooperative in New Mexico. The formation of the Cooperative was founded to give back the power to the artist. To ensure that they receive the full monetary value they ask for.
On December 9, 2021, Vernon interviews Dr. Caroline Shenaz Hossein, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto Scarborough, and founder of Diverse Solidarity Economies (DiSE) Collective. Dr. Hossein discusses ROSCAS (Rotating Savings & Credit Associations), and her research on alternative solidarity financial systems.
Dr. Shenaz Hossein is Associate Professor of Global Development and Political Science at the University of Toronto Scarborough, and founder of Diverse Solidarity Economies (DiSE) Collective, pushing for equitable economies. She holds an Ontario Early Researcher Award (2018-2023) and her project “African origins in the Social Economy” was funded by the SSHRC (2017-2020). Dr. Hossein is an elected board member to the International Association of Feminist Economics, academic advisor at Oxford University Press and an editorial board member to the U.N. Task Force for the Social and Solidarity Economy. Dr. Hossein is the author of Politicized Microfinance (2016), co-author to Critical Introduction to Business and Society (2017) and editor of The Black Social Economy (2018), as well as numerous book chapters and articles, and she has a forthcoming co-edited book Community Economies in the Global South by Oxford University Press.
Bijiibah Begaye, co-director of Cooperative Catalyst of New Mexico, discusses development of Cooperative Ecosystem in the Navajo Nation, and how the Cooperative Catalyst of New Mexico serves as a resource for individuals, groups, companies, and other organizations in New Mexico that are interested in forming, converting to, or growing cooperatives.
Bijiibah Begaye is a true believer in supporting the Navajo community at every stage of development. She has previously served as Program Director for the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, and as Executive Director of Tse Ko Community Development Corporation. In addition to her work experience, her biggest influences come from being raised in Coalmine Mesa on the Navajo Nation where her family has managed Staggered Hearts Ranch for over 40 years.
Kandis Quam, an artist with the Ancestral Rich Treasures of Zuni Cooperative (ARTZ)discusses the ARTZ Cooperative, and the rich Zuni Culture. ARTZ is the only Zuni Artists Owned and Managed Cooperative in New Mexico. The formation of the Cooperative was founded to give back the power to the artist. To ensure that artist members receive the full monetary value for their creations.
Kandis grew up in an artistic family, where she learned how to navigate the art show world by observing her parents, Jayne and Lynn Quam. Her main subject matter of choice is imagery with a heavy Zuni influence. Through the use of visual media Kandis seeks to bridge the past with the present and create change through beauty. She also hopes to instill a sense of cultural preservation in the modern age younger generation through art.
Casey Fannon, Acting Chief Executive Officer at National Cooperative Bank (NCB) discusses the role of NCB in cooperative development, and future strategic plans for NCB,
Since joining NCB in 1996, Mr. Fannon has dedicated his entire career to National Cooperative Bank and has served as its President since March 2020. In that role, Mr. Fannon has worked on new product and market development, commercial real estate, capital markets and has managed NCB’s loan and deposit production across all NCB’s customer segments.
He is known within the cooperative community as an advocate for affordable housing and for supporting new cooperative development. Mr. Fannon has worked closely with NCBA CLUSA in advancing the Principle Six Initiative, which brings cross-sector co-ops together to accelerate cooperative growth.
In addition to serving on NCB’s Board, Mr. Fannon currently serves on the Board of Directors of Capital Impact Partners, a national Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
Mr. Fannon received a BS in Finance from Bentley University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst charter holder.
About National Cooperative Bank: National Cooperative Bank is dedicated to strengthening communities nationwide through the delivery of banking and financial services, complemented by a special focus on cooperative expansion and economic development. NCB provides financial products and services for the nation’s cooperatives, their members, and socially responsible organizations.
Vernon Discusses the United Nations General Assembly's proclamation of the International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD), which was made in December 2013, for the decade of 2015 through 2024. He discusses previous social justice movements, notes the similarities between them, and then offers the alternative to use cooperatives to solve the community problems cited by the different movements.
Vernon Oakes, and co-host, John Holdsclaw, are joined by Leaders from the cooperative community to pay tribute to Chuck E. Snyder, President/CEO of National Cooperative Bank (NCB), who made his transition on November 6, 2021.
Chuck was a highly respected leader who left an impression on everyone he met. Everything Co-op was pleased to provide a platform for the co-op community to express their extreme sense of loss, and the impact Chuck had on their lives, and/or organizations.
Those who paid tribute to Chuck included the following people: Doug O'Brien, Roberta MacDonald, Mary Ann Rothman, Cornelius Blanding, Liz Bailey, Mike Mercer, Leslie Mead, Martin Lowery, Barry Silver, Rich LaRochelle, Paul Hazen, Mary Alex Blanton, David Thompson, RL Condra, Michael Peck, and Pat Thornton. The comments were so heartfelt, and rich we felt they should be shared, and would serve to sooth the pain of Chuck’s unexpected transition. For that reason, we invite you to listen to the show on the live stream platforms on Thanksgiving, November 25, 2021
10/14/2021 - Karen Zimbelman, Sr. Director of Membership and Cooperative Relations at National Co+op Grocers discusses her career in the cooperative movement. Karen was recently inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame for her contribution to the co-op movement over her career of more than 40 years.
Karen Zimbelman’s cooperative career began in the 1980s at the North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO) where she implemented board of director trainings. Over her 40-year career, she has organized hundreds of trainings benefiting thousands of cooperative board members. Since then, Karen has worked at North Coast Co-op, NCBA CLUSA, Rochdale Institute, and National Co+op Grocers (NCG). After three years as North Coast Co-op’s Director of Membership and HR, Karen began her next career phase as a cooperative consultant. During this time, she served as the newsletter editor for the Association of Co-op Educators, developed a tailored co-op orientation manual for food co-op staff, and served as the Executive Director for the Cooperative Grocers’ Information Network (CGIN), the Northwest Cooperative Grocers’ Association (NWCGA) and Pacific Cooperative Grocers’ Association (PCGA).
Under Karen’s leadership, CGIN became a vital consumer co-op resource housing an extensive library of job descriptions, operation manuals, recipes, board training, and much more. During Karen’s time at CGIN, she authored and published a manual to instruct others on How to Start a Food Co-op. This manual became the foundation of Food Co-op Initiative’s Guide to Starting a Food Co-op.
As the founding Executive Director for two regional cooperative grocers’ associations, Karen established and managed regional supply agreements, promotions, training, audits, and other programs. In that role she became a contributor to a movement to form a national food co-op association -– an effort that ultimately resulted in the formation of the National Co+op Grocers. Today, NCG represents 148 food co-ops in 39 states with over 1.3 million consumer-owners, unifying natural food co-ops in order to optimize operational and marketing resources and strengthen purchasing power. Karen’s sincerity, intensity, and zeal for the cooperative way has created institutions that will live as a part of her legacy.
In observance of Hispanic Heritage Month,on October 7, 2021, Vernon interviews Pablo DeFilippi, CUDE, Sr Vice President of Membership and Network Engagement at Inclusiv. The theme for this year's celebration is “Esperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope.” The theme encourages us to reflect on all of the contributions Hispanics have made in the past, and will continue to make in the future. Throughout his career Pablo has worked tirelessly to expand access to capital for Hispanics. Particularly in underserved communities. Vernon and Pablo discuss the impact that Community Development Credit Unions have on low-income communities.
Pablo DeFilippi is currently Sr. VP at Inclusiv, a national, nonprofit association of over 400 credit unions and CDFI intermediary that represents supports and invests in credit unions serving predominantly low-income, financially underserved communities. In this capacity he leads Inclusiv’s membership development and engagement strategies and manages Inclusiv /Network, a network of community development finance practitioners that provide valuable consulting services to CDCUs. Mr. DeFilippi has more than 20 years of experience in community finance, working with regulated financial institutions both in the domestic and international arena. Originally from Chile, DeFilippi came to the US in the early 90s and almost immediately became involved in credit unions.
After working at MCU, a large credit union serving New York City employees, he joined the Lower East Side People’s FCU (LESPFCU) a credit union serving Hispanics and other underserved populations in the New York City area and acted as its CEO until early 2004. From then and until the end of 2005, Mr. DeFilippi managed the World Council of Credit Unions, Inc. (WOCCU)‘s International Remittance Program (IRnet), a world-wide initiative to provide alternative remittance services to consumers both in the US and in recipient countries through the credit union system.
Mr. DeFilippi holds a B.A. in Social Studies from Universidad de Chile, as well as a Professional Accounting Certificates from Baruch College and New York University. He has a Masters of Business Administration from Pace University, and is a graduate of CUNA’s Management School and NCUF’s Social Impact Management Institute. He is also a Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE) and a UK Credit Union Development Educator.
Vern Dosch, retired National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC) President and CEO, discusses his experiences throughout his career. Vern coupled the spirit of cooperation, a commitment to rural America, and cutting-edge technology to help utilities and telecoms provide quality, affordable service to consumer-members. Under his leadership, NISC became a leading provider of IT and software solutions to utility and telecommunication cooperatives, helping its members become more efficient and improve customer service while setting the stage for economic expansion in rural America.
NISC’s success under Vern’s leadership (2002-2020) is well documented. Membership grew from 392 to more than 850; the employee population grew from 400 to approximately 1,400; investment in research and development grew from $1 million to more than $50 million; and his stewardship delivered record annual margins.
Vern's influence, however, extends far beyond those numbers. Throughout his career, he was active in local and national efforts designed to advance the co-op business model and leadership excellence, and continues to be active to this day. He authored Wired Differently: How to Spark Better Results with a Cooperative Business Model, Servant Leadership and Shared Values; and has been a guest lecturer at University of Mary Washington’s cooperative business course and at North Dakota State University on ethics and leaderships. Vern was also the 2020 recipient of Prairie Business Magazine’s Leaders and Legacies Award.
Doug O’Brien, President and CEO of the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA), John Torres, VP of Communication and Public Relations at NCBA/CLUSA, and Paul Hazen, Executive Director of the U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council (OCDC)discuss the 2021 Cooperative IMPACT Conference.
Follow link to register: https://web.cvent.com/event/c9469aae-156e-42c1-9c44-ec4ff9a4bf4c/regProcessStep1
NCBA CLUSA’s Cooperative IMPACT Conference will be held October 4-8, 2021. This annual conference provides an unparalleled platform to reenergize the cooperative movement and galvanize its champions around building an inclusive economy. The conference is a hybrid event this year and includes a robust lineup of virtual programming with select live events taking place at the National Press Club on October 7 and 8. With five days of programming, 40 sessions and close to 100 speakers, IMPACT 2021 will explore how our cooperative identity finds expression. Whether working to dismantle racism, build resilience in the face of climate change or preserve small businesses during a pandemic, last year reminded us that cooperatives have the greatest impact when cooperators live up to their identity. IMPACT sessions will challenge cooperators everywhere to deepen their understanding of the values and principles that truly make cooperative enterprise unique.
For the third year, NCBA CLUSA is partnering with the U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council to bring a rich and diverse International Track to the IMPACT Conference. The dedicated international programming—available to development practitioners free of charge— will cover entrepreneurship, climate change and co-op principles in practice. Made possible by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), these sessions are sponsored by OCDC and its members.
NCBA CLUSA works to build a better world and a more inclusive economy that empowers people to contribute to shared prosperity and well-being for themselves and future generations. By leveraging the shared resources of the cooperative movement, NCBA CLUSA seeks to engage, partner with and empower people from all walks of life—particularly those left behind by a shifting economy and facing the greatest economic and societal barriers. It achieves this vision through collaborative partnerships in development, advocacy, public awareness and thought leadership.
OCDC brings together nine organizations committed to building a more prosperous world through cooperatives. Its mission is to champion, advocate and promote effective international cooperative development. Its members’ international activities are powered by grants from the Cooperative Development Program of USAID. Together, they promote sustainability and self-reliance through local ownership.
Cynthia Pinchback-Hines PhD, Racial Justice Educator & Co-op Developer, of Co-op Cincy, discusses the "Power in Numbers: Black Co-op U" and "Business Legacy Fund" Programs, and announced the Annual Union Co-op Symposium, which will be held on November 12 & 13, virtually and in-person. The 1st day of the conference will be virtual, and the 2nd day will be in-person in Cincinnati. Dr. Pinchback-Hines, has a professional career spanning four decades. She is a community activist and organizer, educator, organizational development consultant, diversity leader, entrepreneur, and board member to several non-profits.
Cynthia holds a PhD. in Educational Leadership for Higher Education. She has taught at Virginia State University, Delaware State University, and served as Associate Dean of African American Affairs & Ethnic Services at Northern Kentucky University, where she provided academic, cultural, and social support to African American students. In addition, she has presented at numerous professional conferences and conducted countless workshops. The Cincinnati Enquirer named her one of the ten most influential educators in Cincinnati and presented her with a Diversity Leadership Award for her achievements at Cognis Corporation.
Clark R. Arrington, General Counsel of The Working World, Inc., a cooperative that builds cooperative businesses in low-income communities; and Senior Fellow at Seed Commons, a community wealth cooperative. He’s an experienced attorney and educator who specializes in worker ownership cooperatives and socially responsible business practices. Prior to joining The Working World Inc., and Seed Commons, he spent most of his professional life teaching courses related to cooperatives, business law, and community economic development at more than half a dozen institutions in the U.S. and abroad. Beginning with a teaching job immediately after college in Chicago, he went on to The University of Southern New Hampshire, The Open University of Tanzania; and Kampala International University-Dar es Salaam College.
Throughout his career, Clark has used his legal acumen to address capital formation issues for worker cooperatives, and has played a critical role in leveraging millions of dollars of new investment for social justice cooperatives. As a young lawyer he learned about cooperatives and community land trusts when he was with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives. Well known as an innovator in cooperative finance, Clark finds innovative ways for worker-owned, social justice-minded businesses to raise capital and be profitable without sacrificing democratic control.
Clark served as Chair, General Counsel and Capital Coordinator of Equal Exchange and has also served on the boards of the ICA Group, the Social Venture Network, and the Cooperative Fund of New England. His bold vision, reliable pragmatism, and tireless efforts are key to promoting and developing innovative financing structures that are sensitive to the cooperative principles of member ownership, control and benefit.
Camille Kerr, Founder & principal of Upside Down Consulting, discusses ChiFresh, and how social justice is integrated into her business. through Upside Down Consulting Camille is working to build a democratic economy in service to U.S. social justice movements including organizations advancing Black liberation, immigrant rights, food justice, and the U.S. labor movement. She specializes in cooperative startup development, managing complex worker-centered initiatives, supporting existing businesses to become worker-owned, as well as policy advocacy and drafting.
In partnership with Chicago organizers, Camille helped found ChiFresh Kitchen, a worker cooperative food service contracting business owned and determined primarily by formerly incarcerated folks living in the south and west sides of Chicago. She is currently a nonvoting shareholder and management consultant for ChiFresh.
Before starting Upside Down Consulting, Camille served as the Associate Director of The ICA Group, the Director of Field Building at the Democracy at Work Institute and the Director of Research at the National Center for Employee Ownership. She has a law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law where she was awarded a human rights fellowship and graduated cum laude.
2021 Cooperative Hall of Fame Inductee Andrew Reicher, Executive Director of Urban Homesteading Assistance Board (UHAB], discusses his career in creating communities through cooperative housing in New York City.
Andrew Reicher has devoted his entire career to improving the lives of people struggling to rise from poverty through access to stable, affordable housing. Andy’s efforts have helped create programs within the New York City government crucial to fostering the development of housing cooperatives for low-income New Yorkers. Through his leadership at the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board (UHAB), Andy has brought homeownership to thousands of city residents, and is generous in sharing his expertise with others in the U.S. turning to the cooperative model as a source of homeownership for low-income residents.
For nearly 40 years, New York City contracted with UHAB to provide technical assistance to income-restricted cooperatives going through the Tenant Interim Lease program. Under Andy’s leadership, programs for accounting and bookkeeping assistance; pre-paid legal assistance; and training and education programs from how to run a heating and boiler systems to how to run an efficient meeting were developed. More recently, Andy has steered UHAB’s programs towards climate and social justice goals through access to share loans and expanded use of renewable energy in low-income communities and communities of color.
Because of Andy’s selfless dedication, constant innovation, and high achievement, low-income housing cooperatives in New York City exist and thrive. Strongly rooted in the communities he serves, Andy’s insight, experience, and tireless efforts has had a lasting and profound impact on the lives of thousands.
Attorneys Renee C. Hatcher, director of the Business Enterprise Law Clinic, and Assistant Professor of Law at UIC John Marshall Law School, and Dorcas R. Gilmore, a principal of Gilmore Khandhar, LLC, and teacher at The George Washington University Law School, discuss the many facets of fostering sustainable economic justice through community development law.
Renee Hatcher is a human rights and community development lawyer. who is also an Assistant Professor of Law, and Director of the Community Enterprise & Solidarity Economy Clinic at UIC John Marshall Law School (JMLS). The legal clinic provides free legal support to cooperatives, community-based institutions, and other types of solidarity economy initiatives and projects. As director of the Clinic and Assistant Professor of Law at JMLS, Renee is redefining what it means to bring about sustainable economic justice through community development law.
Hatcher currently serves as a board member for the New Economy Coalition, a member of Resist, Reimagine and Rebuild (R3), Black Lawyers Solidarity Economy Network (BLESN), and a member of the Law for Black Lives Clinic Cohort Development Team. Her work and research focus on solidarity economy theory/practice and law.
Dorcas R. Gilmore is an attorney, advocate and consultant on issues of leadership, racial equity, and community lawyering. She has spent a large part of her career working with nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, and small businesses. Currently, she is a principal of Gilmore Khandhar, LLC, a solidarity economies law firm, and a teacher in the Small Business & Community Economic Development Clinic at The George Washington University Law School. Prior to her current position, she was an attorney with the national office of NAACP and Community Law Center in Baltimore, and taught at American University Washington College of Law.
Dorcas is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Black Worker Center Project, the Baltimore Algebra Project, co-founder of the Baltimore Action Legal Team, and a founding board member of Baltimore Activating Solidarity Economies (BASE).
Dãnia Davy, director of Land Retention and Advocacy at the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, discusses land retention; the Federation's 54th Annual Meeting; and the upcoming Heir Property Conference.
Dãnia serves as Director of Land Retention and Advocacy at the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund. The Federation is the largest and oldest cooperatively-owned organization whose membership includes black farmers, landowners and cooperatives. Dãnia began her legal career as a Skadden Fellow at the North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers Land Loss Prevention Project implementing a project she designed which provided community education and estate planning services to improve Black farmers' access to legal services in the rural South. She developed the documentary - "Our Land, Our Lives: The North Carolina Black Farmers' Experience" and served on the inaugural North Carolina Sustainable Local Food Advisory Council.
Michael Johnson, co-founder of The Growing Democracy Project and community advocate for transformative community development, discusses his most recent book, "The Growing Democracy Project: A Cultural Strategy for Taking Our Love, Power, and Democracy to New Levels." Michael and Vernon also illustrate the role culture plays in in shaping how we live, and how democracy can be used to address the issues of polarization that the Country is struggling with.
Michael Johnson has been immersed in cooperative/solidarity economic movements since 2007. His involvement began with the Valley Alliance of Worker Co-operatives (New England), Grassroots Economic Organizing Collective (GEO), and SolidarityNYC. In 1980 he Co-founded the Ganas Community in Staten Island, New York. The Ganas Community is in part a place to live and work together, and an experiential research center in democratic culture. For 20 years Michael participated in this transformative community of practice.
Throughout his professional career Michael has been deeply involved in group dynamics and community organizing. To that end, he co-authored BUILDING CO-OPERATIVE POWER! Stories and Strategies from Worker Co-Operatives in the Connecticut River Valley (2014), and launched The Growing Democracy Project in 2021. The Project seeks to enable everyday citizens to make democracy the most potent political force in the United States.
Harold Feld, Senior Vice President at Public Knowledge discusses The Digital Platform Act, and the role cooperatives can play in securing access to Broadband in Rural communities.
Harold Feld is the Senior Vice President for Public Knowledge, one of the nation’s premier consumer advocacy organizations working at the intersection of copyright, telecommunications and the Internet. Feld is a highly regarded thought leader in the areas of telecommunications and digital consumer protection, and author of The Case for the Digital Platform Act: Breakups, Starfish Problems and Tech Regulation. He was previously Senior Vice President at the Media Access Project (MAP), a public interest law firm, where he advanced competition policies in media, telecommunications and technology. Prior to joining MAP, Feld was an associate at Covington & Burling, and clerked for the DC Court of Appeals.
Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D, Professor of Community Justice and Social Economic Development at John Jay College of the City University of New York discusses how Co-ops are being used to "Build Back Better," and democratize community development.
Dr. Gordon Nembhard, is Professor of Community Justice and Social Economic Development at John Jay College, of the City University of New York; Author of Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice, and a 2016 inductee into the U.S. Cooperative Hall of Fame. She is an affiliate scholar at the Centre for the Study of Co-operatives at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, where she is co-investigator for the Measuring the Impact of Credit Unions Community and University Research Partnerships (CURA) Project; and an affiliate scholar with the Economics Department’s Center on Race and Wealth at Howard University.
Dr. Gordon Nembhard is a political economist specializing in community economics, Black Political Economy and popular economic literacy. Her research and publications explore problematics and alternative solutions in cooperative economic development and worker ownership, community economic development, wealth inequality and community-based asset building, and community-based approaches to justice.
July 1, 2021 Michael Alden Peck, executive director and co-founder of 1worker1vote and former Delegate for Mondragon Corporation, discusses projects, conferences and 1worker1vote Initiatives with host Vernon Oakes.
In January 2014, Michael helped to launch 1worker1vote.org, a non-profit, dedicated to building a national network of unionized worker-owned cooperative businesses to overcome opportunity, mobility, and income inequality. In his work, Michael strives to overcome inequalities of wealth/income, opportunity, and social mobility by applying the sixty years of Mondragon experience and principles to form, transform, and transition worker co-ops, and union co-ops. From late 1999 until recently, Michael served as the North American delegate for Mondragon, the world's largest industrial worker cooperative. He is a dedicated advocate for the cooperative business model, and continues to use his experience with Mondragon to contribute to the cooperative movement on many platforms.
Melissa K. Scanlan is the Lynde B. Uihlein Endowed Chair in Water Policy, and director of the Center for Water Policy at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Sciences. She is also a Professor in the School of Freshwater Sciences and affiliated faculty at University of Wisconsin’s Law School. Vernon and Melissa discuss her book, Prosperity in the Fossil-Free Economy, and the role cooperatives can play in a post-COVID-19 society.
Scanlan is the founder of a variety of enterprises in the social economy. She brings a deep understanding of starting and stewarding enterprises to her scholarly work. The U.S. State Department awarded her a Fulbright Senior Scholar position in Spain in 2019 to pursue research about Spanish co-ops that are sustainability leaders. Her book, Prosperity in the Fossil-Free Economy (Yale University Press 2021), compares Spanish and U.S. cooperatives to reveal insights about legal design for the triple bottom line.
Professor Scanlan brings an interdisciplinary approach to her work. She earned a Juris Doctorate and Master of Science in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, from University of California, Berkeley. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in World Politics from Catholic University of America, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She is licensed to practice law in Wisconsin (U.S.).
Vernon discusses the impact of cooperation. From the race massacre 100 years ago in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to community efforts of Downtown Crenshaw to purchase the Crenshaw Mall today.
In this monologue Vernon talks about the role of cooperation and co-ops in community development and community empowerment. He cites research that documents the impact of cooperatives, and shares examples of how cooperatives continue to be used to solve community problems.
Emily Nail, Executive Director for the Cooperative Council of NC discusses the Cooperative Leadership Summer Camp. As Executive Director for the CCNC Emily administers executive planning, administration, communications, education and marketing. Since assuming the position in 2015 she has worked to enhance the programs, membership and get the cooperative movement networking. Emily will also direct the Cooperative Leadership Camp for the summer program and the training for the Cooperative Dynamics Workshop, both hosted by CCNC.
Emily possesses a Master's of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Eastern New Mexico University, and an undergraduate degree in Small Business Ownership with a Minor in Economics, from Illinois State University. Prior to her appointment at CCNC Emily served as training coordinator for High Plains Federal Credit Union, and was a branch VP for American Chartered Bank.
The CCNC’s mission is to Educate, Promote and Connect Cooperatives across the state. Visit https://www.ccnc.coop/ to learn more about how this mission is being fulfilled!
Roger Green, Co-chair of the "Coalition to Transform Interfaith Medical Center" discusses community efforts to reform the Health Care Systems in Brooklyn, New York.
Roger Green is the Founder of "Citizen Share Brooklyn," and the "Society for Effective Economic Democracy" (SEED). In 2014 Green assumed a co-chairmanship of the Coalition to Transform Interfaith Medical Center. Previously, Green served as an elected member of the New York State Assembly in Central Brooklyn, representing the 57 district from 1981 to 2006. He has also been a distinguished lecturer at Medgar Evers College, part of the CUNY (City University of New York) system, and is a strong supporter of economic democracy.
Dr. Lisabeth Ryder, founder of WORCS, Worker Ownership Resources and Cooperative Services, discusses the Merits of Worker Ownership Cooperatives.
Dr. Lisabeth Ryder has been a mechanic, small business owner, university teacher and anthropologist, plus a database analyst and computer programmer. She has also been a life-long social justice, environmental and human rights activist, who has been involved in both community and political organizing. She has worked for organized labor over two decades, having worked for both SEIU and AFSCME. She has been involved in cooperatives since the early 1970’s.
Dr. Ryder is co-founder and co-owner of LUCI LLC, a developer and incubator of worker cooperatives in Southern California, and co-chairs the Union Co-op Council for the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives. She is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles.
Dr. Judith Hermanson, Director of the International Cooperative Research Group (ICRG) of the US Overseas Cooperative Development Council; Dr. Isaac K. Nyamongo; and Leah M. Lucas, international development professional, discuss the US Overseas Cooperative Development Council's four country study, "What Difference Do Cooperatives Make," and the International Evidence Summit. The summit will be held on May 26, 2021, 9:00 am - 11:00 am. For more info visit ocdc.coop.
Dr. Judith Hermanson is a both a previously tenured professor of public administration at Northern Illinois University and leader in the international non-profit sector. At the ICRG she brings her expertise as an academic and scholar in combination with her deep knowledge of international development practice. Examples of her recent research include: PI on a recently completed multi-year, four country study, What Difference Do Cooperatives Make? She was a CO-I and recently published a peer reviewed article in Development Practice on Side Selling in the Malt Barley Value Chain in Ethiopia (2020). Other cooperative research areas include resilience, gender inclusion, access to finance, governance, and climate change. Dr. Hermanson holds a BA, from Smith College, and a PhD from The George Washington University.
Isaac K. Nyamongo currently serves as the Deputy Vice Chancellor of (Cooperative Development, Research and Innovation), at the Cooperative University of Kenya. He holds a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Florida, USA and has close to 30 years in teaching, research and consultancy. He has supervised and mentored more than 40 students both at Doctoral and Masters levels. Prof. Nyamongo has held research and training grants from many organizations. His research and training experience spans several countries within the Africa region. Prof. Nyamongo has more than 80 peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals. In addition, he has published books and book chapters. Further, he has held visiting Professor positions in the US as a Fulbright Scholar (2009-2010) and in South Africa where he was a Carnegie Mellon Fellow (2012). His current research focuses on empowering communities through cooperatives.
Leah M. Lucas is an international development professional with work experience spanning five continents and eight countries. Since 2010, she has worked with research organizations, United Nations and nongovernmental organizations, specializing in agriculture, food security and nutrition, rural economic livelihoods, social enterprise, gender, and humanitarian response. Through the World Food Prize Foundation’s Fellowship Programs for young leaders in agriculture and food security, Lucas has worked with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India, the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) and the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Washington DC. She was a 2015 Fulbright Scholar in Mozambique and a 2014 Davis Project for Peace Grant Recipient in Guatemala.
Dr. Lisabeth Ryder, founder of WORCS: Worker Ownership Resources and Cooperative Services appears on Everything Co-op. Vernon and Dr. Ryder discuss her live of advocacy, and the fundamentals of worker cooperatives.
Dr. Lisabeth Ryder has been a mechanic and small business owner, a university teacher and anthropologist, plus a database analyst and computer programmer. She has also been a life-long social justice, environmental and human rights activist, and has been involved in both community and political organizing. She has worked for organized labor over two decades, having worked for both SEIU and AFSCME. She has been involved in cooperatives since the early 1970’s. She is a co-founder and co-owner of LUCI LLC, a developer and incubator of worker cooperatives in Southern California and co-chairs the Union Co-op Council for the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives. She is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles.
Bahni Turpin, Co-founder of SoLA Food Co-op shares the journey taken in the development of SoLA, and how the organization plans to practice sustainability, fair trade, fair labor, and support local agriculture.
Bahni Turpin is an accomplished actress of stage and screen, and an award winning narrator of audiobooks. The co-op bug bit quite unexpectedly when she found her self living in the food desert of South Los Angeles. Bahni jumped in, getting the ball rolling to create SoLA Food Co-op, because she truly believes that her community should take its food system into its own hands.
Dallas Robinson, Communications Director at CoFED, Cooperative Food Empowerment Directive discusses programs and grants administered by CoFED to expand the food justice and the culture of cooperation.
Dallas is a Black farmer and land steward. Dallas is committed to healing Black life in the south through agriculture. As the Enchanter of Engagement, Dallas looks forward to connecting and building cooperative power amongst young BIPOC. Dallas was one of 2019's Racial Justice Fellows at CoFED. The fellowship project was a mix of oral history collection and on-farm workshops [at the Harriet Tubman Freedom Farm]. Dallas listened to and learned from the stories of farmers and rural elders, many of whom are the children of sharecroppers, to bring light to the rich history of the region as well as inform the context for growing in Eastern North Carolina.
E.G. Nadeau, author and founding Director of Cooperative Development Services, discusses his newly released book, "Strengthening the Cooperative Community," and the history of cooperative development.
In 1985 Nadeau was the founding director of Cooperative Development Services, a pioneering co-op business-planning organization in the United States. During a period from 1985 to 2017, Nadeau did domestic and international co-op consulting work for the National Cooperative Business Association/CLUSA, Land O’Lakes International Development Division, the Overseas Cooperative Development Council, and other organizations. Through that time, he worked on over 50 co-op projects in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Nadeau has authored or co-authored five books and numerous articles on cooperatives and societal cooperation. He also taught more than 25 courses with cooperative themes, including as a faculty member at the International Centre for Co-operative Management at St. Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He has been the Co-Director of The Cooperative Society Project since 2015. The primary activities of this project have been the publication in 2016 of The Cooperative Society: The Next Stage of Human History, and of a second edition in 2018 (both co-authored with Luc Nadeau), and a bimonthly e-Newsletter.
E.G. Nadeau graduated magna cum laude in sociology from Harvard University), and received a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has been researching, developing, teaching, and writing about cooperatives and community development for more than 50 years, beginning with his work as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal in 1970.
Trevor Claiborn and John Henry Harris discuss 1 Million Black Shovels, a Community, Home, & School Garden Groundbreaking Event Celebrating Black Farmers, Growers and Producers. Vernon and his guests discuss the importance of the reclamation of Black-owned farm land, and the significance that agriculture plays in survival and life.
Trevor Claiborn, Co-Founder of Black Soil: Our Better Nature is an author, musician, environmental educator, co-operative extension professional, youth program director, and public speaker. In 2017 Trevor and Ashley C. Smith co-founded Black Soil: Our Better Nature to help reconnect Black Kentuckians to their heritage and legacy in agriculture. Black Soil fosters the next generation of Kentucky Black farmers and chefs and leads efforts to address racialized disparities and barriers.
John Henry Harris holds a degree in economics and is pursuing a degree in Agricultural Economics. He developed his affinity for farming while working with his grandfather on the family farm. As a way of paying homage to his grandfather, for the past 10 years he has worked with Black Soil deliver programs that help youth to appreciate agriculture, and farming.
Dr. Nina Banks is Associate Professor of Economics at Bucknell University and president of the National Economic Association (NEA). Her publications focus on social reproduction and migrant households, Black women and work, and the economics of the first Black economist in the U.S. - Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander. Professor Banks teaches courses on U.S. women's economic history, gender and migration, and poverty in the U.S.
Dr. Banks serves on the Board of Directors of the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) and the Editorial Board of The Review of Black Political Economy. She is the Faculty Director of Bucknell in Ghana, and the university’s Academic Director for the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty. Professor Banks received her doctorate in economics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Professor Banks is working on several book projects including a biography of Sadie T.M. Alexander and an edited volume Democracy, Race, and Justice: Select Speeches and Writings of Sadie T.M. Alexander (Yale University Press): June 2021; a manuscript titled, Gender, Race, and Environmental Activism: Women of Color Working for Tomorrow (University of Toronto Press); and a co-edited book with Cecilia Conrad and Rhonda Sharpe on Black Women in the U.S. Economy: the Hardest Working Woman (IAFFE Feminist Economics Series, Routledge).
Sara Horowitz discusses her book "Mutualism: Building the Next Economy from the Ground Up." Sara Horowitz is the founder of the Freelancers Union and the Freelancers Insurance Company. Formerly chair of the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Horowitz is a recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship and has been featured on NPR and in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Atlantic, among other publications. A lifelong mutualist, she lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and daughter.
In her recently released book Mutualism: Building the Next Economy from the Ground Up, Sara takes a profound look at the crisis of work and the collapse of the safety net, and gives a vision for a better way forward, rooted in America’s cooperative spirit. She brings us a solution to the current crisis of work that’s rooted in the best of American traditions, which she calls mutualism. If you are looking for a new way to build collaboratively, create the new American social contract, and prosper in the twenty-first century, be sure to tune in for this broadcast.
Community Advocate Christie Gardner talks about her life of advocacy, and the Community Grocery Cooperative for East of the River, and other initiatives.
Christie Gardner is advocate for community justice and equity – racial, social, economic, and health. Born in Kinston, NC, her family moved to Washington, DC when she was an infant. She attended Aiton Elementary, Kelly Miller Junior High School, and HD Woodson Senior High School’s Art Program, where she specialized in sketching and sculpturing. This work led to a subsequent scholarship and matriculation at American University. She has worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Now a senior citizen with a disability, and domestic violence survivor, her investment in her neighbors and the rights of others is demonstrated in her endless commitment to advocacy.
Recently, Christie was nominated for GOODProject’s Black Justice Fellowship out of 4,000 entries for her contributions to the community. Christie is a founding board member of the Douglass Community Land Trust; serves as secretary for the Client Advisory Council at Bread for the City; and also participates in advocacy via the Fair Budget Coalition, DC Greens, Grey Panthers, Empower DC, and ONE DC. Her latest endeavor is serving on the steering committee/engagement committee of the newly forming Community Grocery Cooperative for the East of the River communities. The Co-op plans to have organically grown produce, along with educational programming for their customers about how to eat and stay healthy. The Community Grocery Co-op is essential to addressing the present food dessert in these East of the River communities, which also have the highest rate of health issues, including diabetes, obesity, and kidney failure.
Renee Hatcher, JD discusses the Solidarity Economy and Community Enterprise. As Director of the Community Enterprise and Solidarity Economy Institute, Renee Hatcher challenges listeners to reimagine institutions in a way that fulfills ones humanity.
Renee Hatcher is a human rights and community development lawyer. She is an Assistant Professor of Law, and the Director of the Community Enterprise & Solidarity Economy Clinic at UIC John Marshall Law School Chicago The legal clinic provides free legal support to cooperatives, community-based institutions, and other types of solidarity economy initiatives and projects.
The framework of Hatcher’s scholarship and legal practice operates under the solidarity economy theory. In many ways, the work she does elevates “the good news” and not “just the resist work,” she adds. This can look like people organizing around worker cooperatives, building innovative enterprises or using bartering services or time-banking, for example, to address worker exploitation.
Hatcher currently serves as a board member for the New Economy Coalition, a member of Resist, Reimagine and Rebuild (R3), Black Lawyers Solidarity Economy Network (BLESN), and a member of the Law for Black Lives Clinic Cohort Development Team. Her work and research focus on solidarity economy theory/practice and law.
Dr. Douglas Rushkoff, author and educator discusses economic "cooporativism" and circular economics. Dr. Rushkoff sets the premise that if the rest of the Country replicated many of the economic strategies used in Black communities, we could resolve many of the challenges being faced.
Winner of the Media Ecology Association’s first Neil Postman award for Career Achievement in Public Intellectual Activity, Dr. Douglas Rushkoff is an author, teacher, and documentarian who focuses on the ways people, cultures, and institutions create, share, and influence each other’s values. He is Professor of Media Theory and Digital Economics at CUNY/Queens, where he founded the Laboratory for Digital Humanism. He is a columnist for Medium, technology and media commentator for CNN, a research fellow at the Institute for the Future, and a lecturer on media, technology, culture and economics around the world.
His new book, a manifesto called Team Human, calls for the retrieval of human autonomy in a digital age. Prior to that, his book Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus: How Growth Became the Enemy of Prosperity argued that we have failed to build the distributed economy that digital networks are capable of fostering, and instead doubled down on the industrial age mandate of growth above all.
Rushkoff has taught regularly for NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program, The New School University, the MaybeLogic Academy and the Esalen Institute. He also lectures about media, art, society, and change at conferences and universities around the world. He has been awarded a Fullbright Scholarship, and Senior Fellowships by the Markle Foundation, the Center for Global Communications, and the International University of Japan. He served as an Advisor to the United Nations Commission on World Culture and regularly appears on TV shows from NBC Nightly News and Larry King to the Colbert Report and Bill Maher. Rushkoff is on the board of several new media non-profits and companies, and regularly speaks about media, society and ethics to museums, governments, synagogues, churches, universities, and companies.
Allen Edson, President of the Pasadena Branch of the NAACP, discusses the history, objectives, Initiatives of the branch, as related to the 2021 Black History Month theme: "Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity."
For 15 years Allen worked in the Aerospace industry with the majority of those years working for Lockheed California company. He also worked 20 plus years in non-profit management with a interest in Environmental Justice. Alan developed this interest and formed his own Environmental Remediation Company. In 2006 his company was awarded the "Emerging Business of the Year" award in San Francisco. Currently Allen serves as the President of the Pasadena Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Allen is a Pasadena native. He attended Pasadena public schools, Pasedena City College, and earned a BA in Economics from UC Berkeley. Allen is the father of three, Ishmael, Khali, and Nadira.
Niki Okuk, Downtown Crenshaw Board Chair, and Damien Goodmon, Downtown Crenshaw Board Member, discuss plans for the acquisition and redevelopment Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. The historic Crenshaw Mall being acquired through Downtown Crenshaw Rising, a community nonprofit established to purchase and redevelop the mall. Downtown Crenshaw plans to reinvent the mall as an “urban village.” The 40-acre site will be used to create worker owned businesses, community space, cooperative housing and much more.
Niki Okuk attended Audubon Middle school in South LA and went on to complete her degree in Economics at Columbia University, a Masters from the Nanyang University in Singapore, and a certificate in Sustainability at MIT Sloan School of Business before returning home to start a green-collar business in Compton. Rco Tires existed for nearly a decade as an example of black woman owned small business, employing dozens of formerly incarcerated community members, recycling millions of pounds of tire rubber into new products and creating decent, dignified, and democratic workplaces in South LA, which she talked about in her 2017 TED talk, "Fire the Boss".
“Niki and her mom, Lis Ryder, are co-founders of LUCI (Los Angeles Union Cooperative Initiative). Lis, together with Mary Hoyer, is a co-founder of the Union-Coop Council, part of the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives. Both the USFWC Union Coop Council and LUCI are closely aligned with the 1worker1vote movement.”
Niki continues to work at the intersection of sustainability, industry and environmental justice and is currently serving on the leadership team for Downtown Crenshaw Rising, the ambitious community led effort to purchase and redevelop the historic Crenshaw Mall 40-acre site into a thriving urban village under collective and cooperative models which will house, employ, stabilize, and nurture the Crenshaw community for generations to come.
Damien Goodmon, a 27-year Leimert Park resident, has been labeled a “visionary” by the LA Times, recognized as one of the L.A.’s “100 Most Influential African-Americans” by the LA Wave Newspapers, chosen beside former LA Mayor Richard Riordan and actress Drew Barrymore for the 2009 “LA People” issue of LA Weekly, and is a lead subject of the award-winning documentary “Beyond the Echo of the Drum,” which premiered at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. As a nonprofit executive director he has led some of the Crenshaw and Black Los Angeles' most impactful community advocacy campaigns. As a political operative he has managed, led departments and advised electoral campaigns from the school board level up to the presidential. As an executive management consultant and systems thinker, he has built, reconstructed and managed multiple large companies and departments, including some with over 400 employees, and successfully guided complex projects and partnerships, featuring actors with divergent interests. A graduate of L.A. Loyola High School, he has studied at the University of Washington and Harvard University programs.
Trevor Claiborn Sr., is a 4-H Cooperative Extension Assistant at Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky. An avid Agriculturist, and co-founder of "Black Soil: Our Better Nature," throughout his career he has continuously sought ways to use lessons in agriculture to connect generations. Trevor is also an author, musician, environmental educator, youth program director, and public speaker. In 2017 Trevor and Ashley C. Smith co-founded Black Soil: Our Better Nature to help reconnect Black Kentuckians to their heritage and legacy in agriculture. Black Soil fosters the next generation of Kentucky Black farmers and chefs, and leads efforts to address racialized disparities and barriers.
In 2015 while earning his B.S. in Agriculture, Food, and Environment at Kentucky State University Land Grant College, Mr. Claiborn created and developed “Farmer Brown Tha MC.” He used this platform to deliver presentations about agriculture, diversification of agricultural and STEM fields, and to deliver creative youth engagement strategies to tens of thousands of youth and families in Kentucky and across the country. This work led to the establishment of Black Soil, where he continues to use education in agriculture as a tool to connect generations.
Mr. Claiborn has received awards from the Central Kentucky Diversity Consortium, the 1890’s Association of Research Directors Research Symposium, and been named as a Rising Star by the Kentucky Association of Environmental Educators (KAEE). He is also a 2018 ee360 Green Fellow, and a former member of the KAEE Board of Directors. Mr. Claiborn currently serves on the Principal advisory Board at Locust Trace Agri-science center in Lexington, KY and Governor Andy Beshear’s 2020 Agri-tech Council.
Hugh Jeffers, VP of Origination at Centennial Mortgage Vets a Live Pitch for funding From Jacqueline Rivera of Hope Housing, moderated by Everything Co-op host, Vernon Oakes. They discuss the necessary steps to secure support from HUD to develop limited Equity Housing and worker cooperatives in Baltimore, and the necessary components of an impressive concept package for such a project.
Hugh Jeffers is responsible for originating new business. He has 25 years of experience originating FHA loans. Hugh's expertise is in cooperative housing, and he serves on the board of the National Association of Housing Cooperatives. Prior to Centennial, he worked for Love Funding, Bellwether Enterprise, Arbor Commercial Mortgage and managed the affordable housing team at the National Cooperative Bank. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Lafayette College, and a master’s degree from NYU’s Stern School of Business.
Jacqueline Rivera is a mother of four, and owner and CEO of JBM Construction Development Group in Baltimore, Maryland. Her early career experience included working for Hope Housing in the early 90’s, an affiliate of Community of Hope, as their Project Manager overseeing development and renovation projects for formerly homeless families and low- income residents in Washington, DC. As a construction professional she has worked for some of the nation’s largest commercial construction firms. During her tenure at Centex Construction, Jackie became their first female Superintendent and served as a member of the Safety Team for Centex Mid Atlantic. She later became a Project Manager for an international construction management firm, Hill International. She has a total of 32 years of experience in the building industry.
CEO Curtis Wynn, President of NRECA's Board of Directors discusses the five pandemics facing the US, and how the electric co-op industry is managing change and innovation.
Curtis Wynn is President & CEO of Roanoke Electric Cooperative. With nearly 42 years of experience in the electric cooperative industry, Curtis began his career at West Florida Electric Cooperative. He has served on the NRECA Board of Directors since 2007, where he is entering his last year as Board President. A graduate of Troy University, Curtis holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration and management information systems. Curtis has led numerous movements at his co-op from the introduction of broadband service to new demand response capabilities. Under his leadership, Roanoke Electric has been a two-time recipient of NRECA’s Community Service Network Award, and Curtis is a past winner of the J. C. Brown Leadership Award.
This year Curtis Wynn is coming to the end of his two-year term as NRECA President. When he took office, he set out to focus on how co-ops can navigate the rapid pace of change in the industry. However, this platform took on new meaning in 2020 with a heightened focus on racial inequality in America. In the December 14th episode of Along Those Lines, NRECA’s podcast, Wynn discusses diversity, equity and inclusion in the co-op workforce and reflects on how the electric cooperative industry is managing change and innovation. To listen to his podcast click on the link below:
https://alongthoselines.libsyn.com/curtis-wynn-on-co-ops-and-diversity-equity-and-inclusion
Shirley Sherrod, Executive Director of the Southwest Georgia Project for Community Education discusses her life-long experiences as an advocate for farmers, the outcomes of the Georgia runoff elections, and the successful work completed by the Southwest Georgia Project.
Sherrod is quoted in an article that appeared in the Washington Post on Sunday, January 17, regarding Tom Vilsack’s nomination as agriculture secretary by the Biden Administration. She states: “He has to create a culture of racial and social justice across the agency to even begin to undo the harm that has occurred,” (see link Below) www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/01/14/vilsack-usda-black-farmers/
Shirley Sherrod is a Baker County Georgia native who grew up on her family’s farm. In March 1965, her father was murdered by a white farmer who was not prosecuted. The tragic murder of her father when she was 17 years old had a profound impact on her life and led to her decision to stay in the south to work for change.
Shirley helped to start the civil rights movement in Baker County and later married Charles Sherrod, one of the founding members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and leader of SNCC’s work in Southwest Georgia.
With her husband and others, she helped to form New Communities, Inc., the first Community Land Trust in the United States. New Communities serves as a laboratory and model in the movement toward the development of community land trusts (CLTs) throughout the country. There are more than 200 CLTs today.
Shirley has a B.A. in Sociology from Albany State University in Albany, Georgia and a M.A. in Community Development from Antioch University in Yellow Springs, Ohio. In 2015, she was awarded a Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Sojourner-Douglas College in Baltimore, Maryland. She has received many awards for her work in civil rights, and as an advocate for farmers and rural residents.
In 2009, Shirley was appointed by the Obama Administration as USDA Georgia State Director of Rural Development. She became the first person of color to hold the position. Shirley was forced to resign her position in 2010 after conservative blogger, Andrew Brietbart edited a speech she made at a NAACP banquet, to make it appear that she discriminated against a white farmer while serving in her federally appointed position. Subsequent events showed that Brietbart’s edited video was taken out of context and was part of broader comments that conveyed a completely different meaning. USDA Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack apologized and offered her another position, which she declined.
Hugh Jeffers, Vice President of Origination at Centennial Mortgage, Inc. discusses the renewed interest in cooperative housing, and the National and Regional Resources being used to support them.
Hugh Jeffers is responsible for originating new business. He has 25 years of experience originating FHA loans. His expertise is in cooperative housing, and he serves on the board of the National Association of Housing Cooperatives. Prior to Centennial, he worked for Love Funding, Bellwether Enterprise, Arbor Commercial Mortgage and managed the affordable housing team at the National Cooperative Bank. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Lafayette College, and a master’s degree from NYU’s Stern School of Business.
Civil and Voting rights advocate Rev. Wendell H. Paris, discusses relationship between Cooperative and Voting Rights movements. Rev. Paris of Jackson, Mississippi, is one of the early foot soldiers of the Civil and Voting Rights Movements. Paris, was a founding member of the Tuskegee Advancement League (TIAL), a campus organization affiliated with the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). In the 1960s he helped to register voters and participated in direct action campaigns in Alabama and Mississippi.
After a record-breaking Presidential Election in November, amid unprecedented voter suppression tactics, Rev. Wendell H. Paris was reminded of rhetoric he heard during registration drives in Alabama and the Selma-to-Montgomery march. “Whenever you hear him say, ‘law and order,’ that’s coded language,” said Paris. “We have reverted back to the racial situation of the 1950s and the 1960s.”
Rev. Paris also discussed the importance of the run-off elections in Georgia, and the impact the outcome of the election will have on his right to vote in the future. He talks about how southern cooperatives have worked with organizations that have protected the rights of farmers and Black communities. With shared how the Southwest Georgia Project has supported empowering people to participate in voting process, and encouraged people to support its efforts.
Be certain to listen to this legendary voting rights advocate, who has spent his lifetime standing up for the civil and voting rights since his involvement as a founding member of the SNCC in the 1960s.
Vernon interviews John Zippert, former Director of Program Operations for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund. Vernon and John discuss his career with the Federation, the interconnectedness of the cooperative and political movements, and the importance of the two runoff elections for the U.S. Senate in Georgia.
John Zippert served as the Director of Program Operations for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund at their Rural Training and Research Center in Epes, Alabama, for 49 years from 1971-2018. He retired in December 2018, but continues to volunteer and serve as Program Director Emeritus for the Federation. Zippert has also worked with the Federation on the development of affordable housing for low-income people in Alabama, including development, loan packaging and construction of over 250 units of single-family housing, self-help housing and four rural multi-family projects with 126 units.
John has over 50 years’ experience in community organizing, cooperative and credit union development, community based economic development and rural development in distressed communities. He serves on the boards of many national, regional, state, and local organizations to support rural development activities.
Zippert has a BA degree in history from the City College of New York; and has participated in numerous training sessions and courses to enhance his skills in rural development. He and his wife Carol are co-publishers of the Greene County Democrat, the weekly newspaper distributed in their home rural community. The Zipperts were inducted into the National Cooperative Hall of Fame in 2017.
Maurice Smith, CEO of Local Government Federal Credit Union (LCFCU), and Civic FCU; and Chairman of the Board of Directors at National Cooperative Bank, discusses his book "Sowing Seeds: Life Lessons From My Father". Smith shares how the life lessons his father taught him has impacted his career, and shaped his life.
Maurice Smith is the CEO of Local Government Federal Credit Union (LCFCU), and Civic FCU. Both are financial cooperatives serving the financial needs of employees, appointed officials, elected officeholders and volunteers of local governments in North Carolina. Smith began his career in financial services as a loan officer for State Employees’ Credit Union, and has served in several capacities including vice-president/ city executive and vice-president of marketing/training. He joined LGFCU in 1992 as the Executive Vice President and was promoted to President in 1999 and later CEO.
Smith is a self-proclaimed cooperative nerd. He believes that a business model that empowers its members to engage in democratic, self-help, classless principles is superior to other business types. As a fan of credit union ideals, Smith is avid about his beliefs.
Dr. John A. McNamara, Senior Cooperative Development Specialist at Northwest Cooperative Development Center, discusses Cooperative development, and Co-op Metrics. John joined NWCDC in the Spring of 2014. Prior to coming to NWCDC John garnered 26 years of practical experience in the worker cooperative world with Union Cab of Madison. John holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration and a Masters in Management: Cooperative and Credit Unions, from Saint Mary’s University (Halifax). As a student researcher, and assisted in the development of the Co-op Index Report, a tool for measuring co-ops against the values and principles of cooperation.
John also taught a summer course on worker cooperatives at The Evergreen State College (2014-2018) and at Presidio Graduate School in their Cooperative Management Certificate program. He co-edited a collection of essays on measuring co-operatives available as an e-book at no cost from the Cooperative Difference. John also serves as Chair of the Union-Coops Council of the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives.
NWCDC is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3), organization devoted to assisting new and existing cooperative businesses in every sector with a special emphasis on Resident Owned Communities, home care agencies, and converting existing businesses into worker-owned or community-owned cooperatives.
Ron Hantz, Board President of the Network for Developing Conscious Communities (NDCC discusses place based private capital and philanthropic foundation giving strategies that support BIPOC equitable community development.
Hantz has more than 28 years of experience in the development of affordable housing. After careful reflection upon his many years of experience he said, "Our ultimate goal should be to learn how to replicate best practices, how to develop indigenous leadership and how to build collaborative community based partnerships. He further states, "In many urban communities and neighborhoods throughout America, we need to reexamine our approach and strategies to community development."
The Network for Developing Conscious Communities was founded 2014 as a 501 © (3) non-profit community development membership organization. Through implementing principles of conscious community development, the organization seeks to build economically cooperative and equitable communities through transparency, inclusiveness and collectivism. NDCC successfully works to improve financial sustainability, encourage business ownership and increase residential real estate ownership in Black neighborhoods.
Barry Silver, President/CEO of Coop Equity, LLC, and Sarah Smith, of the Associated Milk Producers Incorporated (AMPI), discuss the NCB Co-op 100®, a listing of the nation’s top 100 revenue-earning cooperative businesses. Barry has been at the forefront of producing the list since its inception. Sarah grew up on a dairy farm and now she serves as a communications specialist at a dairy farm. Together they discuss the value and benefits of NCB's Co-op 100®.
As President and CEO of Coop Equity, LLC Silver provides international financial and cooperative consulting. His consulting work includes involvement in lending, credit, product development and portfolio management; at the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), he provides cooperative and finance consulting for a $2 billion project, to include establishment of farm co-ops bringing farm production to market; lastly at the US Agency for International Development (USAID)/ACDI-VOCA) he consults with agricultural, coffee and cacao co-ops on refinement of capital plans and financial restructuring.
Recently, National Cooperative Bank, known for providing banking solutions tailored to meet the needs of cooperatives and their members nationwide, released its annual NCB Co-op 100®, listing the nation’s top 100 revenue-earning cooperative businesses. In 2019, these businesses posted revenue totaling approximately $228.2 billion. The NCB Co-op 100® remains the only annual report of its kind to track the profits and successes of cooperative businesses in the United States.
Mo Manklang, Policy Director at the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives discusses findings of the Federation's survey, "Worker Co-ops: Weathering The Storm of COVID-19 and Beyond," and how those those findings will shape the work ahead toward building a stronger economy.
As Policy Director, Mo Manklang leads policy efforts at the federal level, works with its membership on state and local initiatives, and heads up health benefits initiatives. She has been convening people in cooperatives and social impact for the past twelve years in a variety of roles, including five years with local news and events group Generocity.org. Mo is a founding board member of the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance, the Media and Marketing Committee of the Kensington Community Food Co-op, the Policy Committee of the Sustainable Business Network. She is also the co-founder and organizer of The Bechdel Test Fest, an annual festival highlighting women and transgender comedians in Philadelphia.
John Holdsclaw IV, Executive VP of Strategic Initiatives at National Cooperative Bank discusses the state of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Cooperative Movement with host Vernon Oakes.
During NCBA CLUSA International’s recent IMPACT Conference, Mr. Holdsclaw moderated a session entitled "Cooperatives Can Advance DEI: Lessons, Issues and Ways Forward." John shares strategies panelist shared during the session of the concrete steps needed to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in our cooperative movement.
John Holdsclaw is NCB's Executive Vice President of Strategic Initiatives. John is charged with establishing NCB as a thought leader in community development and cooperative expansion that leads to business development and solutions. He also promotes and advances social investment opportunities within the philanthropic arena and in product development, furthering NCB's commitment to mission banking.
Earlier this year John was named Chair of the Board of Directors of the Coalition of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI Coalition). Last year John was named the recipient of the 2019 Stan Dreyer Spirit of Cooperation Award. The honor is bestowed to those who live and work with the spirit of the cooperative principles.
Deb Trocha, Executive Director of ICDC, discusses the Cooperatives and Diverse Communities 2020 conference that was held on October 30th, entitled “Reimagining Work: The Worker Cooperative Model.” She and Vernon talk about how the evolution and primary focus of the conference, and how worker co-ops are helping employees create businesses that are more equitable and just.
Deb Trocha joined the Indiana Cooperative Development Center (ICDC) in 2006 after serving as Executive Director of the Indiana Small Business Development Center. She has over 20 years of economic development experience. Under her leadership, ICDC promotes cooperatives as a vibrant model to address economic and social needs. ICDC provides start-up, management, and technical assistance to a wide variety of co-ops in agriculture, arts, childcare, education, energy, and housing sectors. ICDC also provides training opportunities designed to bring together groups of people involved in co-op development.
Vernon interviews Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D, Professor of Community Justice and Social Economic Development at John Jay College of the City University of New York, and Renee Hatcher, Assistant Professor of Law at UIC John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Vernon and his guests will discuss strategies to address diversity, equity and Inclusion in cooperatives.
Dr. Gordon Nembhard, is Professor of Community Justice and Social Economic Development at John Jay College, of the City University of New York; Author of Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice, and a 2016 inductee into the U.S. Cooperative Hall of Fame. She is an affiliate scholar at the Centre for the Study of Co-operatives at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, where she is co-investigator for the “Measuring the Impact of Credit Unions,” Community and University Research Partnerships (CURA) project; and an affiliate scholar with the Economics Department’s Center on Race and Wealth at Howard University.
Dr. Gordon Nembhard is a political economist specializing in community economics, Black Political Economy and popular economic literacy. Her research and publications explore problematics and alternative solutions in cooperative economic development and worker ownership, community economic development, wealth inequality and community-based asset building, and community-based approaches to justice. University.
Renee Hatcher is a human rights and community development lawyer. She is an Assistant Professor of Law, and the Director of the Community Enterprise & Solidarity Economy Clinic at UIC John Marshall Law School Chicago, a legal clinic that provides free legal support to cooperatives, community-based institutions, and other types of solidarity economy initiatives and projects.
Hatcher currently serves as a board member for the New Economy Coalition, a member of Resist, Reimagine and Rebuild (R3), Black Lawyers Solidarity Economy Network (BLESN), and a member of the Law for Black Lives Clinic Cohort Development Team. Her work and research focus on solidarity economy theory/practice and law.
Laura Vogel, Senior Advisor for NRECA Political Affairs, and Kate LaTour, Director of Government Relations for the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International, discuss the importance of the 2020 Presidential election and resources provided through vote.coop for ALL voters. Laura Vogel joined NRECA in 2014, and is a member of the Political Affairs team. She is responsible for developing programs to encourage Co-op member and staff engagement in political issues that matter to the Co-op family, and is the program manager for their voter initiative, Co-ops Vote. She is also involved in NRECA’s political training programs, serving as an instructor for the Grassroots Course for co-op Directors, and provides strategic input for NRECA’s annual Youth Tour program.
In 2019 Laura was named to the national steering committee for National Voter Registration Day. She has a Master’s Degree in Political Management from George Washington University, a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and a Certificate in PAC and Grassroots Management from the Public Affairs Council.
Kate LaTour is the Director of Government Relations for the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International. Prior to joining NCBA CLUSA, Kate served as a Legislative Aide in the U.S. Senate working on economic policy issues. She earned her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in political science and international affairs, and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree from Johns Hopkins University.
Co-ops Vote is a non-partisan project of America's Electric Cooperatives designed to inform its members on the key issues and encourage them to vote and support their co-ops and the communities they serve when they go to the polls.
Vernon interviews Allison Hellenbrand and Brad Forbes, participants from the 2020 Cooperative IMPACT Conference Cooperative Leaders and Scholars Institute (CLSI). The conference was held virtually, October 5 - 9, 2020. In acknowledgment of National Co-op Month, everyone who registers will have access to the sessions throughout October.
The Cooperative Leaders and Scholars Institute is an opportunity to develop and engage young professionals (ages 18-35), and post-secondary students of any age with participation in this national Cooperative conference, and exposure to co-op industry and thought leaders, policymakers, and other key stakeholders.
NCBA CLUSA's 2020 Cooperative IMPACT Virtual Conference is the only national, cross-sector event elevating the national conversation around co-ops, a trusted, proven way to do business and build communities. The annual conference provides an unparalleled platform to re-energize the cooperative movement and galvanize its champions around building the next economy. This year's conference will amplify how cooperatives are addressing their obligations to create diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces and boards, and how co-ops can better meet the needs of communities that have been excluded from economic participation and advancement.
NCB CEO Charles , Snyder joins NCBA CLUSA's President/CEO Doug O'Brien and VP of Communications and Public Relations John Torres, to discuss the 2020 Cooperative IMPACT Conference. This year the conference will be held virtually, October 5-9, 2020. Online registration is open at www.ncbaclusa.coop, and has the capacity to accommodate unlimited registrants. This conference offers an opportunity to join hundreds of co-op developers, financiers, community and city leaders, innovators, economists and policymakers. Everyone who registers will have access to the sessions throughout October, in acknowledgment of National Co-op Month.
As President & CEO of NCBA CLUSA, Doug O'Brien works with the cooperative community, both domestically and internationally, to deepen its impact on individuals and communities. Doug has been with NCBA since 2016, where he has served as the Executive Vice President of Programs before becoming president and CEO in January 2018. John currently serves as the Vice President of Communication and Public Relations for NCBA CLUSA, an organization that serves as the primary voice in the U.S. for people who use cooperatives to build a better world. NCBA CLUSA provides cross-sector education, support, and advocacy that helps co-ops thrive, with an international development portfolio of 18 active programs in 17 countries, reaching over 600,000 people.
Charles E. Snyder is the Chief Executive Officer of NCB and leads its Executive Council, a team of senior managers representing business development units and functional areas across the company. Mr. Snyder serves on the board of the Consumer Federation of America and the American Bankers Association Foundation. He previously served on the board of the National Cooperative Business Association, a membership association representing every type of cooperative in America. In 2011, Mr. Snyder was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame and in 2007 received the Jerry Voorhis Award, the National Association of Housing Cooperative's most prestigious honor
NCBA CLUSA's Cooperative IMPACT Virtual Conference is the only national, cross-sector event elevating the national conversation around co-ops, a trusted, proven way to do business and build communities. The annual conference provides an unparalleled platform to reenergize the cooperative movement and galvanize its champions around building the next economy. This year's conference will amplify how cooperatives are addressing their obligations to create diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces and boards, and how co-ops can better meet the needs of communities that have been excluded from economic participation and advancement.
Rob Larew, President of the National Farmers Union discusses racial equity in co-ops, and how COVID-19 has impacted farmers. EArlier this year Rob was elected as the National Farmers Union's 15th president during the organization's 118th anniversary convention. Larew, who was raised on a West Virginia dairy farm, served as NFU's Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Communications since fall 2016. In that role, he oversaw the organization's legislative advocacy in Congress and the executive branch as well as its public relations activities. Prior to his employment with NFU, Larew served over 22 years in Congress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), most recently as the staff director of the House Committee on Agriculture.
Rob Larew has called for any additional aid to be distributed to those who need it the most. (See his statement below)
"Even as restrictions ease, it is evident that farmers will be feeling the effects of the pandemic for quite some time. Markets have been slow to recover, prices remain low, and processing facilities are still backed up. While these challenges persist, farmers will certainly need assistance to stay solvent - and we are grateful that USDA is providing it through another round of CFAP.
"This support is absolutely crucial - but it is just as crucial that it is distributed fairly and equitably. The first round of funding, though greatly appreciated, was not without its flaws; not only did it favor large farms over smaller ones, it also sent millions of dollars to foreign-owned operations and excluded some farmers entirely. With Congressional oversight, we ask that USDA rectify these issues and ensure that payments are commensurate with demonstrated need.
"It's important to note that farmers are by far not the only Americans in need of relief right now; millions are out of work and experiencing food insecurity, family-owned businesses are struggling to stay afloat, already strained rural hospitals are hemorrhaging money, and students without broadband access are falling behind in school. It's unacceptable that it has been months since these groups have received any help at all; Congress must act quickly to provide the support that all Americans need to withstand this crisis."
Vernon Oakes talks with three more of Start.coop's 2020 Cohort of Entrepreneur Teams. The interviews are a precursor to The People's Pitch, a pitch event celebrating Start.coop's class of 2020. This week Vernon will interviews: Angela Dawson, President/CEO of Forty Acre Co-op, A Black-led cooperative advancing innovative agriculture and technology for socially disadvantaged farmers nationwide; Sarah Speare, CEO/Co-Founder of Tootie's Tempeh Inc, a worker-owned consumer foods cooperative that provides tasty, ready-to-cook, and sustainably made tempeh that supports local agriculture everywhere, and Stephen Bediako, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Turning Basin Labs, a cooperative staffing agency that connects temporary workers to the benefits of permanent employment.
But Wait... This is Your Preview to an Experiential Event!
All listeners of Everything Co-op, and readers of NCBA CLUSA's Co-op Weekly, have been invited to be active participants of The People's Pitch, on Friday October 9th, for final graduation pitches from Start.coop's 2020 cohort teams, and to actually cast their VOTE to determine which start-ups are awarded funds from the $10,000 graduation prize pool. The event will be held in conjunction with the National Co-op Business Association (NCBA), as the close to their 2020 Impact 2020 conference.
Start.coop exists to build an ecosystem that lifts up, supports, and accelerates cooperative entrepreneurs on their business journey. The program's accelerator selects the most promising teams from across North America and provides them with training and support embedded in its rigorous business curriculum and world-class mentor community. Start.coop considers its program "an accelerator of the next generation of co-operative entrepreneurs."
Forty Acre Co-op is a farmer-owned agtech company. Forty Acre is wholly owned by and operated for socially disadvantaged ranchers, urban growers, and farmers. The co-op produces proprietary superior quality hemp seeds, partners with farmers to grow these seeds, and aggregates value-added hemp product processing to create commercial hemp and CBD products.
Tootie's Tempeh is a worker-owned consumer foods cooperative innovating a high protein, plant-based category-tempeh. It is the first commercial tempeh producer to ferment without plastic bags, to package with plant-based and recyclable materials, and to expand through a regional cooperative/franchise model. So, wherever Tootie's Tempeh is purchased it is supporting local farmers, communities and workers. Tootie's is introducing a series of pre-seasoned, ready to cook tempeh products to the growing consumer market for healthy, plant-based, local, high protein, and sustainably produced and packaged foods.
Turning Basin Labs is a cooperative staffing agency that creates value for progressive Bay Area businesses by sourcing, placing, and supporting the best, most diverse talent. The co-op seeks to provide a permanent home for temporary workers seeking stability, and to be an ally to workers seeking dignified, high-road, $18+/hour work. Underpinning the cooperative is an unwavering focus on and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) for its workers and with the employers that are supported.
Everything Co-op has partnered with Start.coop to interview graduates from its 2020 cohort of entrepreneur teams. The interviews are a precursor to "The People's Pitch", a pitch event celebrating the Start.coop's class of 2020. This week Greg Brodsky, Co-Director of Start.coop, joins representatives from two of the teams: Austin Robey, Co-Founder of Ampled, and Lewis Weil, founder of Money Positive, discusses the upcoming event with host, Vernon Oakes.
But Wait... This is Your Preview to an Experiential Event!
All attendees of NCBA CLUSA's 2020 Impact conference, have been invited to be active participants of "The People's Pitch," on Friday October 9th, for final graduation pitches from Start.coop's 2020 cohort teams, and to actually cast their VOTE to determine which start-ups are awarded funds from the $10,000 graduation prize pool. The event will be held in conjunction with the National Co-op Business Association (NCBA), as the close to their 2020 Impact conference.
Start.coop exists to build an ecosystem that lifts up, supports, and accelerates cooperative entrepreneurs on their business journey. The program's accelerator selects the most promising teams from across North America and provides them with training and support embedded in its rigorous business curriculum and world-class mentor community. Start.coop considers its program "an accelerator of the next generation of co-operative entrepreneurs."
Ampled is a platform that allows music artists to be supported by their community with direct, recurring payments. Structured as a co-op, Ampled is 100% owned by its artists, workers, and community. Founded in 2018 by a group of designers, software engineers, and musicians, Ampled lets fans directly support their favorite musicians in exchange for exclusive content and experiences.
Money Positive is a worker-owned financial planning service focused on democratizing financial planning and building long-term financial health for everyone. Sitting at the intersection of human smarts and technological efficiency, Money Positive uses a proprietary software platform that allows its financial planners to help clients build intuitive budgets and personalized strategies for their savings, debts, and investments at a fraction of the price of traditional financial planning services.
Alison Powers, Cooperative & Community Initiatives Manager at Capital Impact Partners, and Camille Kerr, Founder of ChiFresh Kitchen discuss the 2020 Co-op Innovation Award, and the work being done by co-op owners of ChiFrish Kitchen.
Capital Impact Partners, in partnership with National Cooperative Bank, awarded a total of $100,000 to the 2020 Co-op Innovative Awardees, - ChiFresh, The Guild, and the Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative. This year the Co-op Innovation Award focused on organizations educating new audiences on the impact and potential of the cooperative model to disrupt income inequality, steward community ownership, and create strong vibrant places of opportunity. The Innovative Award aims to increase co-op development in communities with low incomes and/or communities of color.
ChiFresh Kitchen was awarded $50,000 to expand its commercial kitchen, owned and determined by formerly incarcerated Chicagoans, primarily Black women. ChiFresh pushed forward its intended launch in response to the COVID-19 crisis and its impact on Chicagoans of color and residents with low incomes.
Camille Kerr is the founder of ChiFresh Kitchen. Through her various leadership positions in worker ownership organizations over the past eight years, Camille has had the opportunity to shape some of the most innovative initiatives in the field. She has authored thought pieces, drafted legislation, managed cooperative development initiatives, designed new corporate forms, and supported individual businesses in their transition to worker ownership.
Micha and Vernon discuss how the Cooperative Fund of New England (CFNE) uses its expertise to address racial inequities in financial institutions, by providing technical assistance, instituting standardized policies that account for racial biases; and partnering with other community organizations to deliver services.
As Executive Director, Micha is responsible for executive leadership, program development, capitalization, and operations. He first joined CFNE in 2010 as a Program Manager, helping raise grant and loan capital, managing compliance reporting, and new program development. Micha's co-op involvement goes back to his undergraduate membership in the Oberlin Student Cooperative Association. He has a background in nonprofit financial management and community organizing, and holds a BA in environmental studies from Oberlin College and an MS in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University. He has also participated in the Opportunity Finance Network's leadership training program.
CFNE is a certified CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution), founded in 1975 to work for economic, social, and racial justice by advancing community based, cooperative, and democratically owned or managed enterprises with a preference to assisting cooperatives in low-income communities.
CFNE has disbursed $66 million in flexible financing and delivered customized technical assistance to emerging and established cooperatives across the region, of which 75% are still in business. This has created or preserved thousands of jobs and affordable housing units and over 100,000 cooperative ownership opportunities largely in low and moderate income communities. CFNE serves New England and parts of New York.
Vernon Interviews Nikishka Iyengar, founder and CEO of The Guild, a social enterprise, focused on building community wealth through real estate and entrepreneurship programs. Nakishka is also the owner of the Whole Systems Collective, an impact consulting and media firm with a focus on working towards a just and regenerative economy. Nikishka and Vernon discuss the democratization and governance of assets broadly, with a specific emphasis on business and real estate.
The Guild was recently awarded $25,000 as a recipient of the 2020 Co-op Innovation Award, to support its mission of building community wealth through real estate, entrepreneurship programs, and access to capital, creating equitable and sustainable communities by addressing the root causes of economic inequality.
The grant will help The Guild democratize ownership of businesses and real estate through a racial equity lens, and support its "whole systems" approach to providing technical assistance to Black and Brown enterprises through its Community Wealth Building Accelerator; launch its Integrated Capital Fund that will coordinate and deploy different types of capital and investments to entrepreneurs of color; and launch the Groundcover Community Investment Trust to introduce an alternative real estate development model to the Atlanta community.
Vernon and Amanda discuss how the Center builds capacities of worker cooperatives and cooperative ecosystems across the state of West Virginia, and the region.
Amanda is an Appalachian Cooperative educator and advocate who develops, organizes, and implements non-traditional modes of learning within the University context. She holds an MA in Geography and conducts action research focused on cooperatives enterprises as an alternative means of grassroots economic organizing. Amanda is also a founder of FIRSTHAND Co-op a fair trade coffee company in the heart of Appalachia.
As Director of Education and Outreach with the WVU Center for Resilient Communities, her work forefronts justice and equity at the center of our food systems, supporting access, affordability, and dignity for all. Amanda has used cooperative models, values, and ethos to organize with rural communities facing significant food access barriers and work with organizations aiming to build cooperative food production power across the state of West Virginia, envisioning a food sovereignty plan for communities across the state and the region.
Most recently, Amanda has been working with a group of cooperators in Charleston, WV aiming to build worker cooperatives and cooperative ecosystems throughout the state to address the need for equitable, well-paying, and responsive community jobs in a region heavily reliant on extractive industry dominated by outside interests.
Vernon interviews Ann Fedorchak, Managing Director at National Cooperative Bank (NCB), and Michael Partis, Executive Director at the Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative (BCDI), and his team. Vernon and his guests discuss the 2020 Co-op Innovation Award, and its foundation.
Anthony Cook, Professor at Georgetown University, discusses how he uses the clinical experiential education program at Georgetown Law, to bridge the gaps between wealth, income and power. He also talks about his journey to discovering the value of the cooperative business model, and realization of how a cooperative ecosystem can be used to address the needs of under-served communities.
Professor Anthony Cook is a law professor at Georgetown University. He is a graduate of Yale Law School, a magna cum laude graduate of Princeton University's program in Public and International Affairs, and is a doctoral candidate in Sustainable Urban Development at Oxford University.
He teaches courses in Race and Democracy, Community Development, Cooperatives and a Practicum on Law, Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation that provides legal and business planning support to startup and early stage social impact entrepreneurs.
Professor Cook is a nationally recognized scholar in critical race theory and the work and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His book, The Least of These: Race, Law and Religion in American Culture, explores the relevance of the social gospel and King's conception of the Beloved Community for race, class and cultural divides in American Society.
For his work as a scholar and community development practitioner - working at the intersection of critical theory and systemic racism and inequality - the American Bar Association honored Professor Cook as One of 21 Lawyers Leading America into the 21st Century, citing his "unique synergy of thought and action."
He is a national officer of the nation's oldest community development organization, the Community Development Society, and is a member of the International Association of Community Development. He practices and lives in the Washington D.C. area where he is presently spearheading an innovative community development initiative to build cooperative ecosystems.
Sarah Hrisak, Lead Coffee Roaster and Production Supervisor at Equal Exchange, Inc., talks about the employee centered focus and cooperative business structure of Equal Exchange. Vernon and Sarah also discuss how Equal Exchange has supported its employees during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Sarah supervises the roasting of about 5.5 million pounds of coffee a year to a range of roast profiles and strict quality standards. Since roasting her first batch of coffee in 2013, her roast philosophy has evolved to focus on balance and sweetness. She loves that coffee roasting is always new and changing because of the seasons of the product and New England. As an owner, Sarah served two terms as Worker-Owner Coordinator, and is currently serving her first term on the co-op's Board if Directors, where she helped rewrite the By-laws and Articles of Organization. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, good beer, and going on adventures with her fiancé, Ashley.
Rob and Vernon discuss Marketing and Branding during COVID-19, and the role he feels it should play in the process of reshaping businesses in a post COVID-19 World.
Rob is the head of Small World Communications, a web hosting and online marketing company focused on small businesses (smallworld.coop). He is a veteran of the Southern California tech scene with roots in several Idealab startups. Rob is passionate about helping people and organizations identify and achieve their goals using the same cutting-edge tools and best practices larger tech companies deploy. Rob has built several sales and support organizations, led multiple company divisions, trained leaders to develop their management skills, mentored new managers, and taught website planning workshops for local businesses through the SBA. A Chicago native, Rob embodies the combination of hope and stoicism that one expects from a rabid Chicago Bears fan.
Vernon Oakes, host of Everything Co-op discusses the plight of the United States Postal Service (USPS).
We are in serious jeopardy of losing USPS unless we speak up. As cooperatives and as individuals we are all dependent on the United States Postal Service (USPS). We believe it’s time for the cooperative community to add its collective voice to the public calls for action to save the USPS.
We have never needed the United States Postal Service (USPS) more than we do today! Throughout the pandemic crisis, the postal service has been a critical lifeline for the millions of American, particularly seniors and people living with disabilities, who would otherwise be forced to leave their homes for necessities like prescription medications and household essentials. This has been particularly crucial in rural America where the digital divide still looms and the services of the USPS serve as a lifeline to the rest of the world.
Bottom line, we need Congress and the Administration to be reminded of the importance of the USPS and the essential services it provides! If you are a member of the cooperative community and are interested in finding out more about how you can support USPS, then visit www.USPS.coop
Vernon Oakes, is a consummate advocate for cooperatives. He is a former President of the National Association of Housing Cooperatives, and has served on several boards and committees to advance the interests of cooperatives. Recently, he served on the Limited Equity Cooperative Task Force, established by Anita Bonds, At-Large Member of the Council of the District of Columbia. Vernon is an MBA graduate of Stanford University, who has used his business acumen to benefit the community, by promoting the added value of the cooperative business model.
Rebecca Henderson, John and Natty McArthur Professor at Harvard University discuss her recently released book "Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire," and the role she feels cooperatives can play in a post COVID-19 world.
Rebecca Henderson is one of 25 University Professors at Harvard University, a research fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research and a fellow of both the British Academy and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She is an expert on innovation and organizational change, and her research explores the degree to which the private sector can play a major role in building a more sustainable economy focusing particularly on the relationships between organizational purpose and innovation and productivity. Her publications include the books Leading Sustainable Change and Accelerating Energy Innovation: Lessons from multiple sectors and Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire, published in April 2020. Rebecca sits on the boards of Amgen and of Idexx Laboratories. In 2019 she was named one of three "Outstanding Directors of the Year" by the Financial Times.
Dr. Martin Lowery, Executive VP Emeritus of NRECA discusses the role of cooperatives in addressing issues that have been raised by the two pandemics being experienced right now; COVID-19 and systemic institutionalized racism. He invokes the International Cooperative Alliance's "Declaration on Positive Peace Through Cooperatives."
For more than three decades, Dr. Martin Lowery has been a forceful advocate for the cooperative business model. He is Executive Vice President, Emeritus, of the NRECA, and the past chair of the National Cooperative Bank Board of Directors. Dr. Lowery was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in May 2014, the highest honor that the U.S. cooperative community bestows on individuals who have made heroic contributions to the cooperative movement. He is currently the elected U.S. representative to the board of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA). Dr. Lowery received a bachelor's degree (cum laude) from DePaul University and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Duke University.
National Cooperative Bank(NCB) President Charles E. Snyder & President and CEO of National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International Doug O'Brien, discuss the roles cooperatives can play in a post COVID-19 World. They also share how their organizations have helped the cooperative community through advocacy and service during the pandemic.
Charles E. Snyder is the Chief Executive Officer of NCB and leads its Executive Council, a team of senior managers representing business development units and functional areas across the company. Mr. Snyder joined NCB in 1983 as corporate vice president and chief financial officer. In 1992, he was named president and chief executive officer.
Mr. Snyder serves on the board of the Consumer Federation of America and the American Bankers Association Foundation. He previously served on the board of the National Cooperative Business Association, a membership association representing every type of cooperative in America. In 2011, Mr. Snyder was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame and in 2007 received the Jerry Voorhis Award, the National Association of Housing Cooperative's most prestigious honor. Both awards recognize Mr. Snyder for his longstanding work of promoting and preserving cooperatives.
Doug O'Brien is President and CEO of NCBA CLUSA, where he works with the cooperative community, both domestically and internationally, to deepen its impact on individuals and communities. NCBA CLUSA is the primary voice for cooperatives in the U.S. that use the cooperative business model to empower people in their businesses and communities. Doug has been with NCBA CLUSA since 2016, where he served as the Executive Vice President of Programs before becoming President and CEO in January 2018.
Prior to coming to NCBA CLUSA, Doug led the work of the White House Rural Council and served in top positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, a community economic development agency with over 40 programs and 5,000 employees that annually finances more than $30 billion dollars. Doug has also worked in the U.S. Senate, U.S. House and for two governors. His experience in academia includes teaching, researching and writing at the University of Arkansas Agricultural and Food Masters in Law Program and Drake University Law School.
Mo Manklang, Communications Director at the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives discusses the Federations response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, and feedback received from it members regarding how they are fairing. Mo also shares information regarding virtual offerings that are available to support cooperators including solidarity sessions, and worker cooperative information sessions.
Mo Manklang is the Communications Director for the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives. She leads policy efforts at the federal level, works with its membership on state and local initiatives, and heads up health benefits initiatives. She has been convening people in cooperatives and social impact for the past twelve years in a variety of roles, including five years with local news and events group Generocity.org. Mo is a founding board member of the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance, the Media and Marketing Committee of the Kensington Community Food Co-op, the Policy Committee of the Sustainable Business Network. She is also the co-founder and organizer of The Bechdel Test Fest, an annual festival highlighting women and transgender comedians in Philadelphia.
For more than 4o years Ben Burkett has made his mark on his community and the world as a farmer, advocate and cooperative organizer for southern Black farmers. After graduating from Alcorn State University, he carried on his family legacy, and became a fourth-generation farmer in Petal, Mississippi. Vernon and Ben discuss his experiences as both a farmer, and advocate for farmers in the Black Belt.
Ben Burkett has been a tireless activist, and visionary leader, who has helped farmers in rural Mississippi gain access to federal and state programs; expand their distribution; and gain access to technical assistance that allowed them to qualify for USDA farm programs. Ben also Organized neighboring farm families to expand markets denied them because of ingrained discrimination, and helped farmers preserve land ownership and optimize its agricultural use.
While continuing to farm and serve as a local co-op leader, in 1978 Ben joined the staff of the Emergency Land Fund (ELF), a non-profit whose mission was to save and expand Black farms and assist Black farmers with heirs' property issues. His role was to identify and work with other Black farmers and landowners to protect their landholdings. When ELF merged with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives in 1985, Ben's role was expanded to include spreading the word about the cooperative business model and he began teaching diversified crop development for conservation and marketing purposes. Ben's knack for connecting with rural communities in the South, his passion for farming, and unique ability to get things done made him a sought-after agricultural trainer.
Ben was also a compassionate true leader. Following Hurricane Katrina, he Identified rural communities in need of assistance and coordinated relief efforts for farmers in Louisiana. His reputation as a farming and rural development expert garnered the attention of Mike Espy, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Secretary of Agriculture under the Clinton Administration. Espy appointed Ben to the USDA's Farm Service Agency Committee for Mississippi and was largely responsible for the inclusion of technical assistance funds that enabled more minority farmers to qualify for USDA farm assistance. Through his work with the FSA State Committee, Ben encountered and supported Lester Spell's candidacy for Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce. Key to Spell's election, Ben was appointed to the State Marketing Board where he served two terms and continues to be involved.
A tireless promoter and advocate for the cooperative business model, Ben embodies the spirit of cooperation. As such, his work has received numerous awards including the James Beard Foundation Leadership Award in 2014.
Christina Jennings, Executive Director at Shared Capital Cooperative, and Rachel Battles of Happy Earth Cleaning discuss how Shared Capital has helped it's cooperative members to navigate through the multilayered impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Christina has worked for 22 years in community development, finance and microfinance in the US and internationally. Since 2008, she has been Executive Director of Shared Capital Cooperative, a national CDFI loan fund that works to build a democratic economy by investing in cooperative businesses and housing. Based in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Shared Capital was founded 40 years ago ,and operated under the name Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund until 2015. Shared Capital is cooperatively owned and governed by more than 250 cooperatives in 35 states that borrow from and invest in the fund.
David Hincapie, Economic Development Specialist at U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA); John Holdsclaw IV, Senior VP of Corporate Affairs at National Cooperative Bank (NCB); and Esteban Kelly, Executive Director, and Mo Manklang, Communications Director with the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives talk about COVID-19 response on Everything Co-op.
Vernon and his guests will discuss loan programs available in response to COVID-19, and the role worker cooperatives can play as we work though and establish recovery plans.
During the first segment David Hincapie discuss SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan, and Paycheck Protection Program updates. In the second segment John Holdsclaw IV and Esteban Kelly, share how their organizations are responding to the pandemic, and in the third segment Mo Manklang joins the discussion to talk about the communications strategies that have been implemented by the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives to keep its members property informed.
Michael Alden Peck Discusses the Impact of COVID-19 and Next Steps for Recovery. From the paradigm shift that will inevitably occur in how we pay and view essential workers; to the revelations about the inequities that exist in our economy; to the consideration of the need to make the U S Postal Service a Worker Cooperative, and ultimately the resolution to abandon the trickle-down economic structure and create a Gusher-up (Bottom-up) economy.
Michael is co-founder of 1worker1vote, and The Virtuous Cycle Collaboratory. In response to COVID-19, he became part of a team that is co-imagining/co-launching the People's Rising Sunshine Exchange (PRSE) - a digital platform for micro PPE purchases on behalf of front-line healthcare, home-care and emergency response workers - helping to save lives at risk of those saving others.
Earlier this year, Michael co-founded The Virtuous Cycle Collaboratory (tvc2), a majority-minority, for-profit worker-cooperative domiciled in Alexandria/Virginia, that designs, launches and scales shared-values, purpose-driven and profit-seeking social enterprises and social enterprise ecosystems (start-ups, conversions, supply chains, tax and technology innovation, B2B and B2C platforms) for the emerging Stakeholder Economy.
In 2015, Michael co-founded and serves as the executive director of the non-profit 1worker1vote movement (New York), with regional hybrid model, shared ownership ecosystems based in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, and Central Brooklyn. Michael served as the International Delegate (USA) for the Mondragón Co-operative Corporation (1999 -2019 www.mondragon-corporation.com), and for the past decade has served as board secretary of the American Sustainable Business Council, as a Blue Green Alliance corporate advisory board member since its start in 2006, and as a co-founding (2019) board member of Citizens' Share Brooklyn (CSG).
Carmen Huertas-Noble, founding director of the Community & Economic Development Clinic (CEDC) at CUNY School of Law, and C0-founder of 1worker1vote, discuss her career in the cooperative movement and the role cooperatives have and can play in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professor Huertas-Noble earned her J.D. from Fordham University Law School, where she was a Stein Scholar in Public Interest Law and Ethics and served on the staff of the Environmental Law Journal. Prior to joining the CUNY faculty, Professor Huertas-Noble was an Adjunct Professor at Fordham Law School where she supervised students in its CED Clinic. She also served as a senior staff attorney in the Community Development Project (CDP) of the Urban Justice Center (UJC). As part of CDP, she worked with neighborhood residents to form nonprofits as well as established organizing groups to create alternative institutions, such as worker-owned cooperatives (cooperatives).
Professor Huertas-Noble has played a leading role in providing transactional legal support to worker-owned cooperatives in New York. While at UJC, she counseled cooperatives in navigating their legal entity formation options and on creating democratic governance structures. She worked with ROC-NY in creating COLORS, a worker-owned restaurant in Manhattan and Green Workers Cooperatives in creating ReBuilders Source, a South Bronx worker-owned business that collects and recycles construction materials. Since then, numerous community groups and attorneys have consulted with Professor Huertas-Noble on entity formation options and democratic decision making structures for cooperatives. Such groups, include Cidadao Global, a current client of the CEDC. Cidadao Global is in the process of creating the first eco-friendly house cleaning cooperative based in Queens.
Professor Huertas-Noble's research and scholarship focuses on promoting alternative ownership models, including community land trust and worker-owned cooperatives (alternative institutions). Her scholarship emphasizes the role of lawyer in creating meaningful, client participatory decision making processes as part of the lawyer's counseling process and in support of client-centered lawyering on behalf of alternative institutions.
Everett Dobrinski, Chairman of CoBank and a 2020 Cooperative Hall of Fame inductee discuss his career in cooperatives and future plans. As a third-generation grain and oilseed farmer, Everett recognized at an early age, the value of cooperatives in providing essential services that his family farm needed to compete in a global marketplace. Today, as he approaches his 50th anniversary of marriage to his wife Peggy, he can now enjoy his years of retirement knowing that he has passed on his family farm to yet another generation. He has the privilege of helping his son Darren, who has taken over the family farm.
Everett first became active in Verendrye Electric Cooperative, eventually becoming Board Chair in 1990. He understood that the cooperatives needed to attract commercial business, such as the Minot Air Force Base, in order to maintain affordable, high-quality electric service for all customer-owners. Catering to the local community's needs, Everett's guidance was instrumental in financing a new daycare and convenience store in the more rural parts of Verendrye's territory.
Everett is an advocate of cooperative education in the boardroom, schools and universities and the statehouse. He frequently educated members about cooperatives and championed the need for cooperative director education in other industry sectors. As an Advisory Board Member of the Quentin Burdick Center for Cooperatives at North Dakota State University, Everett provided valuable advice to develop curriculum about cooperatives for high school and college students. As a former member of the North Dakota House of Representatives, he championed political engagement and advocated on issues of cooperative taxation, retail wheeling, and territorial integrity. His personal commitment and leadership within the cooperative sector are a testament to his belief that cooperatives empower farmers.
David Hincapie, Economic Development Specialist with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) discusses updates to the SBA and CARES Act Loan programs in response to COVID-19. Vernon and David discuss the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, Paycheck Protection Program, and SBA programs that address disenfranchised populations.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced new programs created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to support small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. David shares updated information regarding the programs, the application process and reviews the eligibility requirements for cooperative businesses non-profit entities; and Self Employee and Gig-worker programs
Monica E. Mitchell, Vice President of Community Development at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., discusses how her work has impacted communities throughout the Washington Metro Area, and her involvement in cooperative enterprises.
Monica Mitchell has over 20 years' experience in banking and community development. In her role, Monica leads Corporate Philanthropy and Community Development work for the Maryland and Greater DC regions, responsible for affordable housing, workforce development, entrepreneurship and financial education efforts for low-to-moderate income communities, with a personal passion to address the intersectionality of these issues with public health outcomes.
Monica is the founding President of the Board of the all-girls Lillie May Carroll Jackson Middle School in Baltimore City. She also serves on the boards of Junior Achievement of Central Maryland, LISC DC, Baltimore Community Lending and Associated Black Charities. She was a founding member of the United Way of Central Maryland's Emerging Leaders United Program to promote the professional development and community involvement of Maryland's next generation of leaders.
Monica has received numerous awards including: Baltimore Business Journal 40 Under 40, Baltimore Chamber of Commerce Education Advocate of the Year, Associated Black Charities Icon Award for contributions in Corporate Leadership and Philanthropy, Girl Scouts Distinguished Women honors and was inducted into The Maryland Top 100 Women Circle of Excellence - the youngest inductee in the program's 21 year history.
Sarah McKinley, Author and Manager of Community Development Programs for The Democracy Collaborative, discusses the value of establishing an ecosystem of interdependent cooperatives in major cities. Sarah also talks about case studies included in "Cites Building Community Wealth," a book she co-authored, and community wealth building strategies, such as; community development, finance institutions and cooperatives.
Sarah McKinley is Manager of Community Development Programs for The Democracy Collaborative. She manages the Learning/Action Lab for Community Wealth Building, a multi-year initiative supported by the Northwest Area Foundation, assisting five organizations in Indian Country to create social enterprises and employee-owned companies. She co-authored Cities Building Community Wealth, The Anchor Dashboard: Aligning Institutional Practice to Meet Low-Income Community Needs, and Raising Student Voices: Student Action for University Community Investment. She has a background in community development and has worked with a number of community groups, including the Greater Southwest Development Corporation, a Chicago-based community development corporation, and the National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations.
While earning her master degree in urban and regional planning at Cornell University, McKinley was a co-author of "A People's Plan for New Orleans" a bottom-up community development plan for the 9th Ward after Hurricane Katrina. She holds a bachelor's degree in urban history from the University of Chicago. In her spare time, McKinley, an avid food lover, is a member of the board of Slow Food DC, the local chapter of an international organization that promotes a good, clean, and fair food system.
As we begin our celebration of Women's History Month, and focus on this year's theme of "Valiant Women of the Vote," we pay tribute to valiant women, who have impacted the cooperative movement. This week Vernon interviews Elizabeth (Liz) Allen Bailey. principal of The Bailey Group, Vernon and Liz recognize many valiant women who exemplify the values and principles of the modern day cooperative, in their work.
Liz Bailey is Managing Principal of The Bailey Group LLC, a Washington DC-based consulting firm focused on economic and community development that includes member-owned cooperative business enterprises. Ms. Bailey provides her clients the benefit of her career experience in strategic public policy that combines the private sector, the executive branches of state and federal governments and extensive non-profit program management. For much of the past decade, Ms. Bailey held leadership positions with the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International, including Interim CEO, VP for Public Policy & Cooperative Development and almost eight years as Executive Director of the Cooperative Development Foundation, NCBA CLUSA's non-profit affiliate. Bailey holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin and the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas.
The Bailey Group LLC is a Washington DC-based public policy consulting group focused on economic and community development that includes cooperative business enterprises. Client work includes design and implementation of strategic policy and communications initiatives that raise the profile of the cooperative model, address barriers to development and encourage new applications of the business model.
Heather Gray, Activist, Journalist and Media Specialist Discusses 2020 Black History Month Theme: "African Americans and the Vote." Heather recounts her involvement in historical moment of the Civil Rights Movements, and shares how those experienced helped to shaped the trajectory of her lifework to address the inequities of those who are less fortunate.
Heather is the founder and editor of the "Justice Initiative," and co-producer of the "Just Peace" program on the WRFG-FM (89.3FM), a community radio station in Atlanta, Georgia. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Anthropology from Emory University and Georgia State University, and a Master's Degree in Sociology from Georgia State University. Heather has been involved in regional, national and international organizing work, research, advocacy and peace and justice issues since the 1960's.
Mike Mercer, former CEO of the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates discusses how benefits credit unions create for its members. He also explains how credit unions help people to afford their lives, and empowers them to be free, and become more enthusiastic about life.
Mike Mercer recently retired as the CEO of the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates. In this capacity, he was responsible for providing leadership for trade association services across a three-state footprint to include Alabama, Florida and Georgia. Mr. Mercer represented the interests of credit unions in numerous ways for almost four decades.
Mike came to Georgia in 1980 as President of Georgia Central Credit Union. He was named President/CEO of Georgia Credit Union Affiliates in 1985 and moved into his role as CEO of LSCU & Affiliates prior to his retirement. He studied economics at the University of Rhode Island and earned his master's degree in banking and finance at the University of Wisconsin.
He has been the recipient of numerous industry awards over the years. These include the 2015 Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement, presented by the National Credit Union Foundation; the Knights Cross Medal, presented by the former president of Poland, for his work in helping the establishment of credit unions in Poland and the National Cooperative Bank Stan Dreyer Spirit of Cooperation Award. Mercer will also be inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in May of 2020.
Reverend Graylen Scott Hagler, Co-chair of the Washington DC chapter of the Poor People's Campaign, and Senior Minister of Plymouth Congregational Church in Washington, DC discuss the "Poor Peoples Campaign," initially formed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and its relevancy to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History's 2020 Black History Month theme: African Americans and the Vote.
As we celebrate Black History Month, and focus on the different issues surrounding the importance of African Americans and the Vote, we are reminded of the need for the Poor Peoples Campaign, and the need to keep the issues of the campaign at the forefront of the political platform. Rev. Hagler, a co-chair the Washington, DC Chapter of the Campaign discusses the continued need for a campaign that represents the concerns of those who are without voice.
Rev. Hagler has been deeply involved in civil rights activities from the beginning of his ministry up to the present. He is a graduate of Oberlin College, an institution that played an integral part in the Civil War and was part of the Underground Railroad. He attended the Chicago Theological Seminary during a time when the city was in serious upheaval. From Chicago, to Boston, to Washington, D.C. he has spoken truth to power in the great tradition of Old Testament Prophets, of Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth, Martin Luther King, Jr. and The Rev. William Barber of the Poor Peoples' Campaign. He has protested injustices against blacks and Latinos, confronted corporations on hiring practices, and challenged local governments' systemic injustices, including those of police departments. Rev. Hagler has marched, organized coalitions, and been arrested, all the while continuing to be a voice of distributive justice and compassion in the rich and progressive tradition of non-violence.
During February, Everything Co-op celebrates Black History Month by focusing on ASALH’s (Association for the Study of African American Life and History) theme. The 2020 theme is African Americans and the Vote. Therefore, it was quite fitting to bring David Thompson, President of Twin Pines Cooperative Foundation back to Everything Co-op to discusses the efforts of cooperatives to prepare and register African Americans to vote. David Thompson has conducted extensive research for his upcoming book, Cooperatives and the Civil Rights Movement. Through his research for the book, he has learned a great deal of valuable information regarding the involvement of cooperatives in efforts to get African Americans registered.
David traces early efforts of cooperative involvement in voter registration to the "Progressive Club," a cooperative that promoted voter registration, and trained local Black residents to pass the voter registration test. The co-op would ultimately share the proponents of its program with the Highlander Center, in Tennessee, where Martin Luther King, Jr., John Lewis, Rosa Parks, Amb. Andrew Young, and many other leaders of the Civil Rights Movement would be trained.
When reflecting upon the influence of the Progressive Club, David remarked; "I think it's rather lovely that this tiny little co-op, on this small Island off the coast of South Carolina, was where voter registration classes took their first form," and ended up registering about 1 million voters in the South using the same kind of program.
David Thompson, has worked for national cooperative organizations of the United States, Britain and Japan as well as the United Nations. He served as Vice President of the National Cooperative Business Association and Regional Director of the National Cooperative Bank's Western Office. He specializes in funding the capital needs of the cooperative development sector; and nonprofit and cooperative housing. He was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in Washington D.C. in May 2010, and continues to work with cooperatives.
Jim Schulman, AIA, Executive Manager of the Alliance for Regional Cooperation Appears on Everything Co-op. Vernon Oakes, host of Everything Co-op, and Jim discuss the need to reschale, and retool our local economy to become more sustainable, and the need to establish an ecosystem to achieve that goal. Jim plans to begin this process through the Cooperative Alliance, the first endeavor of the Alliance for Regional Cooperation.
Through the Cooperative Alliance the organization plans to help all of the 250 cooperatives it has identified in the Washington Metropolitan Region to be able to help each other through the formation of a cooperative of cooperatives. Then, after the organization becomes established, it plans to open up the membership to small and mid-size businesses that are not cooperatives.
Jim Schulman, AIA is a regional sustainability strategist, an environmentally-sensitive Architect, and a social entrepreneur. He is the Executive Manager of the Alliance for Regional Cooperation, a regional economic development organization. Between 1999 and 2014 Jim administered a variety of deconstruction and salvage job training programs in the District of Columbia in partnership with the Youth Build Public Charter School, the DC Housing Authority, and US-EPA Region III. During the same period he also served in a leadership role on a number of restorative landscaping projects for the DC Department of Health, several Washington area foundations, and the Washington Navy Yard. He is the former Treasurer of the Building Materials Re-use Association and founded Community Forklift, a used building materials store in Prince George's County, Maryland.
Vernon interviews Brian Dahlk, Senior Manager at Wegner CPAs. Vernon and Bian discuss the personalized services, education, and knowledge that Wegner CPAs provides for its customers. Also, since it's the beginning of 2020, we know that many of you are ready to get an early start on preparing your taxes. Therefore, Brian also discussed the accounting services that are provided to cooperatives through his company's platform
Brian Dahlk has been the Senior Manager at the accounting firm Wegner CPAs in Madison, Wisconsin for the past thirteen years. During this time he has provided audits, financial reviews, tax returns, and consulting services for hundreds of cooperative organizations all across the country. He received his master's degree in business in 1992 and his Certified Public Accountant designation in 2006. Prior to joining Wegner CPAs, he owned a business and worked as a financial manager for several nonprofits and cooperatives in Wisconsin and California. Brian also prepares tax returns for cooperative organizations..
Jack Barnett, Co-founder and President of the Northeastern Pennsylvania-based Clean Energy Co-op, discusses its formation and projects the organization has supported. Clean Energy Co-op was started in 2014 as a 'spin-out' from the local non-profit Sustainable Energy Education & Development Support (SEEDS), with a mission to develop clean energy resources for the benefit of its rural community and it's current 80+ members. Jack is a board member with SEEDS. He has been a solar advocate for decades, and past chair of a state chapter of the American Solar Energy Society.
To date the Clean Energy Co-op has financed two commercial-scale solar system projects at farms and one on a non-profit community center. This Spring Clean Energy Co-op hopes to complete a fourth project with a local government entity, using cooperative capital, along with grant funding.
Courtney Berner, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives, discusses the Center's cooperative development efforts with Host Vernon Oakes. She highlights: programs that are being used to help communities establish worker cooperatives to address succession planning; research efforts that are targeted to explore the many facets of cooperative governance; and conferences, roadshows and other techniques that are being used to educate the community about the cooperative model.
Courtney joined the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives in 2011 and served as a cooperative development specialist until assuming the role of executive director in January 2018. Courtney develops research, outreach, and education programs on cooperatives and provides support to new and established cooperatives in a wide range of industries. Her areas of expertise include cooperative education, business development, cooperative finance and governance, and innovative uses of the cooperative model. Courtney also teaches a course on cooperatives at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and loves challenging students to think critically about why co-ops emerge, how they differ from other forms of enterprise, and how the model can be used to address current social and economic issues.
Prior to joining the Center, Courtney worked at the Worldwatch Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based research institute devoted to global environmental concerns. Courtney holds an M.S. in agroecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.S. from Pacific Lutheran University. Courtney originally hails from Oregon where she grew up riding horses, eating salmon, and picking blueberries. She moved to Madison in 2009 where she lives with her husband, son, and two orange cats. In her free time, Courtney enjoys gardening, cooking, travel, and channeling her Finnish heritage in her backyard sauna.
Cathy Statz, Education Director of the Wisconsin Farmers Union (WFU), discusses its origins and history. She also discusses the many programs and initiatives of WFU.
Cathy discusses the original efforts to organize farmers in the area that began in 1902, which came far before the official Charter was received in 1930. When speaking about why cooperatives are so unknown she recites a statement made by an advocate of cooperatives from the 1930s as follows; "People do not know about cooperatives because of two things. First, a lack of information concerning cooperation, and second, the fact that its principles are opposed to privilege." Thus, she further cites that "Cooperatives have two things working against it; ignorance and selfishness."
In the role of education director, Cathy Statz facilitates cooperative education programs for Farmers Union members, youth and the general public, including Farmers Union's 80+ years old cooperative camp program. She has assisted with cooperative youth leadership development programs on a state, national and international level, and co-coordinates the National Farmers Union College Conference on Cooperatives.
Cathy is a member of the boards of the Association of Cooperative Educators (ACE), the Ralph K. Morris Foundation and the InSPIREation Foundation, and has served as president of the Rotary Club of Chippewa Falls and the Lawrence University Alumni Association.
Felicia Wong, President/CEO of the Roosevelt Institute, discusses "The Hidden Rules of Race: Barriers to an Inclusive Economy," and potential solutions to address the barriers with host, Vernon Oakes. Dr. Wong illustrates the interrelationships of occupational segregation, school segregation and the racial wealth gap. She also suggest that she feels that cooperatives can be a part of addressing some of those ills.
Felicia Wong is the President and CEO of the Roosevelt Institute, a New York-based think tank and campus network that promotes a bold economic and political vision capable of bringing the ideals of Franklin and Eleanor into the 21st century. She helps lead the Roosevelt Institute's work on a rewriting the rules agenda, a comprehensive economic program and narrative that has become increasingly influential. She is the co-author of The Hidden Rules of Race: Barriers to an Inclusive Economy (Cambridge University Press, 2017) and her work has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Time, Democracy: A Journal of Ideas, and the Boston Review.
Felicia came to the Institute from the Democracy Alliance, and previously ran operations and product development at a venture-funded education services company. Her public service includes a White House Fellowship in the Office of the Attorney General and a political appointment in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy. She holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley. Her doctoral dissertation on the role of race and framing in K-12 public education politics received the 2000 American Political Science Association award in Race, Ethnicity, and Politics.
Rodney North, Cooperative Consultant and member of the DC Cooperative Stakeholders Group, discusses a mapping project of Cooperatives in the DMV, resources for cooperatives, and priorities of the DC Stakeholders Group.
Rodney North has spent more than two decades in co-ops, helping co-ops, or advocating for the co-op model, and usually was doing all three at the same time. Today Rodney is consultant to cooperatives, and an active member of the DC Cooperative Stakeholders Group. This is a group of local people and institutions who have been meeting for 2 1/2 years, to explore ways to strengthen and support co-ops in the city. The city is supporting this effort because business cooperatives are one thread in the city's overall economic development strategy.
Before returning to the DC area in 2015 Rodney spent 20 years as part of Equal Exchange - one of the nation's largest, most successful, and influential worker-owned cooperatives. You may know Equal Exchange for its brand of organic Fair Trade coffee, chocolate or other foods. But it is also a $65 million dollar enterprise 100% owned and controlled by the 150 men and women who work there. Rodney held many roles there: Vice chair of the board of directors, worker-owner, staff trainer and other leadership positions.
Vernon interviews Bruce Mayer, Partner at Wegner CPAs. Vernon and Bruce will discuss the role of CPAs in the business side of running a cooperative, and the importance of observing all the rules associated with non-profit accounting. They also discuss how Wegner's belief in doing what is right for its clients and employees results in creating an environment that improve performance and operational effectiveness, while also enabling Wegner to prosper as well.
Bruce Mayer joined Wegner CPAs in 1988 and currently serves as a Partner in the Assurance Department, working primarily on audits and tax returns of cooperatives, commercial businesses, nonprofits and employee benefit plans. With over twenty-nine years' experience, Bruce performs audits of all kinds and provides consulting services on taxation of nonprofits and cooperatives. Bruce enjoys helping clients solve problems and providing clients advice on accounting and tax strategies that meet their needs.
When not at work, Bruce enjoys a variety of pursuits indoors and out. He keeps a vegetable garden along with fruit and nut trees, and is an avid bicycle rider having participated in dozens of century and cross-state rides.
Everything Co-op broadcast live from the New Deal Cafe, in Greenbelt, Maryland. This was the first of our live Broadcasts, to be held at a cafe where our listening audience was able to witness the broadcast while patronizing a co-op restaurant.
The café is a non-stock, cooperative membership corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland. It was named in honor of Works Project Administration, a part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's Depression-era New Deal, which built the city of Greenbelt. The cafe is Greenbelt's living room.
Everything Coop broadcast live from the Cincinnati Union Co-op Initiative's (CUCI) 4th Biennial Union Co-op Symposium, Liberating our Futures Together: Building the Cooperative Ecosystem. Vernon interviews Roger Green, Organizer of Brooklyn's Save Interfaith Coalition. Vernon and Roger discuss the construct he has been formulating to build community labor coalitions and unionized worker co-ops to address the rapid demise of health care institutions. Roger Green is one of the key organizers behind Central Brooklyn's "Save Interfaith Coalition." The Coalition's work has resulted in a multi-hospital network in underserved communities self-transforming into worker and union cooperatives facilitating, regenerative institutions.
Roger previously served in the NY State Assembly for over 25 years and was the campaign chair for Jesse Jackson's Presidential campaigns. He also has been a distinguished president at Medgar Evers college, part of the CUNY (City University of New York) system, and is a strong supporter of economic democracy.
The international Union Co-op Symposium is a two-day conference that brings together over 250 practitioners, social entrepreneurs, labor organizers, co-op workers, community development practitioners, and people interested in practical tools on how to start and run union worker cooperatives. This year's theme Liberating Our Futures Together: Building the Cooperative Ecosystem, built on the work of co-ops that have been present in this country for over 200 years, by using an international model from Mondragon, Spain.
Daniel Weickenand, CEO of Orion Federal Credit Union is interviewed by Vernon Oakes. Vernon and Daniel discuss how Orion's commitment to community development has transformed communities, and the strategies he used to turn around distressed financial institutions.
Under Weikenand's leadership, Orion has grown to become the largest credit union in west Tennessee with more than 72,000 members and nearly $1 billion in assets. Originally from Houston, Texas, Daniel has more than 25 years of credit union experience and demonstrated expertise in turning around distressed financial institutions. Since joining Orion in 2010, he has led the company's success through competitive products, state-of-the-art branch locations, and a significant commitment to community through support for local organizations including the Levitt Shell, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Shelby Farms Park, and many more. Orion was one of the first corporate partners to invest in developing the Memphis Edge District by relocating its headquarters to the former Wonder Bread factory in 2019 after a complete renovation of the space.
Daniel earned his MBA and BBA in Accounting from UT San Antonio. He is a trusted industry professional and a member of the National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU) Board. He has also been a board member for local organizations including the Levitt Shell, Memphis in May, and the Regional One Foundation, among many others. In 2018, Daniel was named CEO of the Year by Inside Memphis Business magazine. Founded in Memphis in 1957, Orion currently has 10 locations in Shelby County, Tennessee and recently expanded to Little Rock, Arkansas.
Daniel embodies Orion’s vision, “To be the leading source of financial independence in the communities we serve.” In his own words, Daniel "Seeks to keep as much money in the pockets of his members."
Everything Co-op broadcast live from Capitol Hill, with attendees of the Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy (ECWD). The conference was held in Baltimore, Maryland, October 18 - 20, 2019. Four attendees of the conference discuss their backgrounds in cooperatives, and what they hope to gain from participating in the conference.
The ECWD, founded in 2002, is a conference that builds awareness of worker-owned businesses while strengthening existing worker co-ops. This three day conference in Baltimore will make space for connection, education, skill-building, and sharing, for worker-owners and allied leaders who work to improve the lives of workers and their families.
The ECWD has been convened every two years in the Eastern United States, and was last hosted by Baltimore in 2011. This will be the first year that the program is organized directly by the US Federation of Worker Co-ops, this country's national grassroots membership organization for worker-owned cooperatives.
Ron Hantz, Board President of the Network for Developing Conscious Communities (NDCC), appears on Everything Co-op. Ron and Vernon discuss NDCC's upcoming 2019 Symposium: Racial Equitable Community Development, and how the Network uses cooperative principles to build economically sound and equitable communities.
Hantz has more than 28 years of experience in the development of affordable housing. After careful reflection upon his many years of experience he said, "Our ultimate goal should be to learn how to replicate best practices, how to develop indigenous leadership and how to build collaborative community based partnerships. He further states, "In many urban communities and neighborhoods throughout America, we need to reexamine our approach and strategies to community development."
The Network for Developing Conscious Communities was founded 2014 as a 501 © (3) non-profit community development membership organization. Through implementing principles of conscious community development, the organization seeks to build economically cooperative and equitable communities through transparency, inclusiveness and collectivism. NDCC successfully works to improve financial sustainability, encourage business ownership and increase residential real estate ownership in Black neighborhoods.
Councilmember Anita Bonds(CM Bonds), the At-Large Member of DC Council, discusses the Limited Equity Co-op Task Force, and other Affordable Housing Strategies on Everything Co-op. Vernon and CM Bonds discuss the Limited Equity Cooperative Task Force she established, and her view of how cooperatives can be used to address housing and other community concerns in the District of Columbia.
Anita Bonds is an At-Large member of the Council of the District of Columbia, and is currently the Chairwoman of the Committee on Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization.
In addition to creating and preserving affordable housing, CM Bonds has been vocal about the need to improve the District's public-school system, expand violence prevention initiatives, and promote the idea of "good government." CM Bonds is also deeply concerned about shielding senior citizens from physical abuse, financial abuse, and neglect; ensuring that they have the resources needed to age in place.
In all, CM Bonds has authored, co-authored, and helped pass into law more than 150 pieces of legislation that helps to make the District of Columbia a safer, more equitable, and more vibrant place to live and do business.
Some of her most recent legislation to pass into law includes the:
Vacancy Increase Amendment Act, which preserves housing affordability by lowering the maximum rent increases on particular turnover housing units.
Limited Equity Cooperative Task Force Act, which establishes a task force that will provide policy recommendations to improve existing and add new cooperative housing in the District.
Elder Abuse Response Team Act, which establishes the Elder Abuse Response Team (EART) as a commission of the Office of the Attorney General to coordinate victims' services including investigations, prosecutions, and medical forensic care for all types of elder abuse.
Feminine Hygiene and Diapers Sales Tax Exemption Amendment Act, which eliminates the sales tax on feminine hygiene products and baby and adult diapers in the District.
Outside of the Council, CM Bonds seeks opportunities to further her commitment to serve and improve the lives of others. She is a member of the National Conference of State Legislatures' Task Force on State and Local Taxation (NCSL SALT), the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), a board member of the national Democratic Municipal Officials (DMO), served as the Chair of the DC Democratic State Committee and a former member of the Executive Committee from 2006-2018. She has also worked on numerous campaigns to elect like-minded, high-profile Democratic candidates at the national, state, and municipal levels. She has served as a cabinet member in the administrations of Mayors Anthony Williams, Sharon Pratt, and Marion Barry.
Members of NCBA CLUSA's Youth Empowerment Through Agriculture Group are Interviewed on Everything Co-op, at at its 2019 IMPACT Conference, Power in Purpose, Building the Next Economy.
Everything Co-op was honored to serve as NCBA CLUSA's media partner for this year's IMPACT Conference. The IMPACT conference, is a premier opportunity to network with co-op developers, financiers, economists, government agencies, educational institutions and foundations all working to bring the co-op economy to scale.
The four young leaders of tomorrow who were interviewed were quite impressive.
Greg Brodsky, Director of Start.coop discusses the Start dot Co-ops Accelerator Program for cooperatively owned businesses. Start.coop empowers entrepreneurs in building transformative, scalable, cooperatively owned businesses, and in creating viable, sustainable alternatives to economic consolidation.
Brodsky is the Director of Start.coop, which is an accelerator for cooperatively owned businesses. Prior to assuming his current position, he founded the Bike Cooperative which is a purchasing group for bicycle stores; and co-founded the Independent Brewers Alliance, which is a purchasing group for craft brewers. Greg is also the current Board Chair at the Cooperative Development Institute.
Dr. Martin Lowery, Executive Vice President, Emeritus of National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) is interviewed on Everything Co-op. Vernon and Dr. Lowery discuss significant moments he has experienced as an advocate of cooperatives, and the work he is currently doing. He also chronicles many historical moments of the International Cooperative Alliance, NRECA, National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International, and many other organizations.
For more than three decades, Dr. Martin Lowery has been a forceful advocate for the cooperative business model. He is Executive Vice President, Emeritus, of the NRECA, and the immediate past chair of the National Cooperative Bank Board of Directors. Dr. Lowery was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in May 2014, the highest honor that the U.S. cooperative community bestows on individuals who have made heroic contributions to the cooperative movement. He is currently the elected U.S. representative to the board of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA). Dr. Lowery received a bachelor's degree (cum laude) from DePaul University and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Duke University.
Ed Whitfield and Sohnie Black, of the Fund for Democratic Communities are Interviewed on Everything Co-op. Vernon and his guests discuss the journey of the Renaissance Community Cooperative. Renaissance is a food co-op that recently closed. Even though the cooperative closed, a lot of lessons were learned during the whole process of planning and finally opening the grocery co-op covered a span of eight years. The introspective look at those lessons was quite revealing.
Ed Whitfield is co-founder and co-managing director of the Fund for Democratic Communities (F4DC). He is a social critic, writer and community activist who has lived in Greensboro since 1970. Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, Ed's political activism started with attending Little Rock Central High School and beginning to do anti-war work as a teenager. He retired after 30 years in industry before becoming involved with philanthropy. Now Ed speaks and writes on issues of cooperatives and economic development while continuing to be interested in issues of war and peace, as well as education and social responses to racism. Ed serves on the boards of the New Economy Coalition, The Working World, and the Southern Reparations Loan Fund
Sohnie joined the F4DC staff in 2012 as a community organizer. A native of Winston-Salem, she has lived in Greensboro for 40 years. She brings with her a lifelong passion for justice and community organizing. At F4DC she focuses on food access, democratic ownership of natural resources, and ecological sustainability. Sohnie was part of the technical assistance team for the Renaissance Community Cooperative, a community owned grocery that recently closed after two years of operations. She believes great cities are built through organized and empowered neighborhoods that are resilient, sustainable and democratic.
This conversation is quite insightful!
Vernon interviews John Torres, VP of Communication and Public Relations for the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International. Vernon and John discuss the 2019 Cooperative IMPACT Conference, and other initiatives being sponsored by NCBA CLUSA. The conference will be held on October 2-4, at the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel, in Arlington, Virginia.
John currently serves as the Vice President of Communication and Public Relations for the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA). The organization serves as the primary voice in the U.S. for people who use cooperatives to build a better world. It provides cross-sector education, support, and advocacy that helps co-ops thrive, with an international development portfolio of over $48 million in active programs in 20 countries.
NCBA CLUSA's 2019 Co-op IMPACT Conference program provides an opportunity for attendees to be part of the conversation at this year's only national, cross-sector event for cooperatives and the people and communities that make them possible. Under the theme, "Power in Purpose: Building the Next Economy," IMPACT 2019 will amplify how cooperatives-as principled, purpose-driven businesses-are building a stable, sustainable economy.
From the Roosevelt Institute's Felicia Wong, to District of Columbia Councilmember Anita Bonds, NCBA CLUSA has pulled together a robust docket of speakers representing foundations, governments, financiers and developers.
The tracks this year include: Co-ops in Communities, Co-ops in Business, Co-ops in Development and Purchasing Co-ops. On Friday, October 4, the international content has been expanded to include a full day of programming with three tracks to choose from: Sustainability and Self Reliance, Stability and Innovations in Co-op Development.
To register, or learn more about the conference visit NCBA CLUSA's website at NCBACLUSA.coop/impact-conference.
On Thursday, August 15, 2019 Everything Co-op host Vernon Oakes, and co-producer RL Condra hosted the show live from the Federation of Southern Cooperatives Land Assistance Fund's 52nd Annual Meeting.
Vernon Oakes discusses the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Federation of Southern Co-operatives with the Executive Director, Cornelius Blanding, and RL Condra and Vernon discuss the history of Everything Co-op, and the most memorable lessons, and guests of the show.
Vernon and Cornelius also discussed the upcoming events of the three-day annual meeting, including the Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony. This year the Federation honored Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson Sr. This award is given in memory of Estelle Witherspoon, a woman whose dedication to the advancement of her community and to all humanity epitomizes the true spirit of community and cooperation..
Highlights of the upcoming workshops, round-table discussions, and networking programs, scheduled to take place at the Federation's Rural Training and Research Center in Epes, Alabama on August 16 and 17 were also discussed.
Don't miss this insightful conversation!
Representative Edmond Dwayne Jordan, is a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 29. Vernon and Rep. Jordan discuss his role on the Board of Directors of Essential Federal Credit Union, how cooperatives can be used to address community problems in Louisiana, and how his commitment to those persons who are underrepresented in society aligns with cooperative values and principles.
Representative Jordan is an attorney and politician. On May 14, 2016, he won a special election runoff to succeed fellow Democrat Ronnie Edwards, and was recently re-elected to serve another 4-year term on August 8, 2019, in an uncontested race. He current serves on the following Legislative Committees: Commerce, Homeland Security, Insurance, Judiciary, and Legislative Audit Advisory Council.
A Life-long Brusly resident, Jordan graduated from the historically black Southern University and the Southern University Law Center, both in the capital city of Baton Rouge. An attorney since 1998, Jordan has represented the Louisiana Public Service Commission, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, and the United States Department of Homeland Security. He co-owns Cypress Insurance Agency in Baton Rouge; serves on the Board of Directors of Essential Federal Credit Union, and is a graduate of the leadership programs offered by both the West Baton Rouge/Iberville Chamber of Commerce, and the Council For A Better Louisiana.
Richard Larochelle, Co-op Instructor, and Cooperative Hall of Fame member is interviewed by host Vernon Oakes. Vernon and Richard discuss the co-op course he teaches at the University of Mary Washington, and the different ways he continues to support the cooperative movement.
Although retired now, Rich Larochelle continues to contribute to the advancement of cooperatives through his involvement with a startup food co-op in his community, and by teaching cooperative principles. Rich is a founding director of the Fredericksburg Food Co-op and is currently the co-op's Board Chair. He is also an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Mary Washington, where he co-teaches a course on Cooperative Business.
Rich Larochelle has spent his life championing the cooperative business model. During a 40-year electric cooperative career -including nearly a decade with the federal Rural Electrification Administration (REA) and later senior leadership posts with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation-he demonstrated his passion for helping cooperative consumers by fighting to improve the quality of rural life at every turn.
Bianca Vazquez, Director of Beloved Community Incubator (BCI), discusses the genesis of the organization, and resources and services that are offered to support the development of cooperatives. She also walks through the case history of Dulce Hogar Cleaning Cooperative, a cooperative the organization helped to form.
Bianca Vazquez has been at the Steinbruck Center since August of 2011. In 2011. Bianca graduated with an interdisciplinary major in Sociology and Political Science from Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore, MD. During her time at Loyola, she was active in Spring Break Outreach, Loyola's Alternative Break Program. She participated in trips to Baltimore, MD, Biloxi, MS, and Pine Ridge Reservation, SD where she was exposed to the power of alternative breaks and allowing marginalized communities to become her teachers. Bianca is committed to facilitating transformative service and educational experiences for groups and reimagining what volunteering and community engagement can look like. Beloved Community Incubator was established as a part of the Steinbruck Center a ministry of Luther Place Memorial Church that provides transformative urban immersion experiences for groups through a combination of education, direct service, experiential learning, critical analysis, and reflection.
Kimberly Smith, CEO and founder of Marjani, a Beauty and Cosmetics Company for women of color is interviewed on Everything Co-op. Vernon and Kimberly discuss how Marjani fulfills its mission, and how it has used a cooperative business model to accommodate the business structure that was desired.
As an Ivy League trained attorney, Kimberly advised companies navigating the complex regulatory world of the health care industry, but growing up, Kimberly always had a passion for fashion and beauty. "I can remember being one of the few girls who always wore heels and a full face of make up to class on my college campus," says Kimberly. "Expressing myself through different hairstyles, make-up, and fashion, has always been fun for me." Eventually Kimberly started an online business, and eventually expanded to open a store in partnership with her best friend.
Marjani opened its doors eight months ago. Marjani's Pledge: "We aim to not just be a retailer, but a community where shopping is a fun, memorable experience. Bringing international beauty and cosmetic products to the local consumer, and using this platform to empower brown girls, across nationalities, age, hair textures and shades to embrace and claim their beauty."
For more information on Kimberly or Marjani's visit marjanibeauty.com.
Peggy Fogarty, Executive Director at the Keystone Development Center, KDC, discusses how KDC works with the development of emerging Co-ops. She talks about her background in the cooperative movement, and shares examples of how KDC has helped to develop co-ops in each of the Cooperative sectors; including worker, consumer, purchasing and marketing.
In addition to being the Executive Director of KDC, Peggy Fogarty is the board/organization liaison. She oversees KDC's funding plan, finances, operations, systems, projects, clients, and staff. She has been employed by KDC since 2005, and has served as the ED since 2014. Her experience includes over 19 years of program development and administration, 15 years teaching in adult education, and 7 years as a produce farmer. Her focus has been on increasing KDC's impact and developing systems to measure and report on the success of KDC's clients. She has also been instrumental in expanding the reach of the organization regionally and in the diversity of the projects KDC engages in. Peggy's entrepreneurial spirit, vision and ability to leverage community partners are key ingredients to KDC and her client's success in important phases of development and expansion.
For more information or to donate to KDC, visit KDC.coop
Community development specialist Margaret Lund, and research analyst Leiha Edmonds discuss The "ABCs of Co-op Impact," and cooperative development.
Margaret Lund is an independent consultant specializing in the areas of community development, finance and shared ownership strategies. Throughout her career, Margaret has worked across cooperative sectors including credit unions, consumer co-ops, housing co-ops, worker co-ops, healthcare and sustainable food systems. Before launching her consulting practice in 2008, Margaret spent 16 years as a small business lender to cooperatives. Lund is a past member of the boards of the U.S. National Cooperative Business Association, and Health Partners, the largest consumer-governed healthcare organization in the United States. Past awards include the Howard Bowers Cooperative Service Award from the Consumer Cooperative Managers Association, and the 2014 John Logue Award for "acting as a catalyst for innovation and change" from the Association of Cooperative Educators.
Leiha Edmonds is a research analyst in the Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center at the Urban Institute. Edmonds conducts mixed methods research focused on community and economic development and place-based policy initiatives. Recent projects include policy research on the state and local legislation influencing cooperative development across the United States, participatory action research with community members in East Baltimore, and the evaluation of the US Economic Development Administration. Before joining Urban, Edmonds worked as an inclusive mobility planner for the City of Evanston, Illinois, and as a community and union organizer in Chicago and East St. Louis, Illinois. Edmonds holds a master's degree in urban planning and policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago
Stephen R. McDow II, Director of Membership, Outreach and Education at the Keystone Development Center is interviewed on Everything Co-op, by host Vernon Oakes. Vernon and Stephen discuss the role cooperatives can play in addressing community problems. Most especially that of food desserts, and the recent proliferation of dollar stores in low income communities, and the impact the lack of access to healthy food can have on life expectancy in those communities.
Stephen R. McDow II has dedicated his life to bringing together rural and urban America for the purposes of achieving an inclusive economy. He firmly believes that any approach to diversity must be deliberate, but he also feels the challenge is the need a identify a validator who relates to the individuals you are trying to connect with.
When discussing the challenges of diversity in cooperatives Stephen states; "I think oftentimes, we are so siloed in our communities that we don't see the similarities - but the equaliser is co-ops, because they can address these challenges. And the approach is the same: encouraging everyone to care for the community and participate in a democratic process."
Previously, Stephen managed membership and stakeholder relations for the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA CLUSA) and handled membership outreach and retention for the Montgomery County Medical Society (MCMS) and MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society.
Alex Stone, Executive Director of CooperationWorks! (CW), is interviewed on Everything Co-op, by host Vernon Oakes. Vernon and Alex discuss her experiences in the cooperative movement, and how Cooperation Works! uses its national network of Cooperative Development Centers, to help revitalize communities through effective cooperative enterprise development.
Alex Stone first became involved with co-ops through student housing co-ops at UC Berkeley, where she lived for three years and participated as a house-level manager and board member. She was deeply involved with the creation of the Berkeley Student Food Collective and served as the store's first Operations Manager through its first two years. Alex co-founded the Cooperative Food Empowerment Directive and coordinated its first training involving over twenty students from seven universities across the west coast. As Executive Director of CW, she looks forward to expanding CW's impact in the field of cooperative development.
CooperationWorks! is the Center of Excellence for cooperative business development. The organization is a dynamic and innovative national cooperative created to grow the cooperative model across the United States. Its mission is to strengthen America's cooperative movement by building and empowering a network of skilled cooperative development practitioners. CW members, a national network of Cooperative Development Centers, work together to revitalize communities through effective cooperative enterprise development.
Jennifer Bryant, Program Manager for Community Wealth Building Initiatives at Washington Area Community Investment Fund(Wacif), appears on Everything Co-op. Jennifer and Vernon discuss strategies to preserve wealth in communities, and how worker owned cooperatives can be used as an exit strategy for retiring baby boomer executives.
As Program Manager for Community Wealth Building Initiatives, Jennifer leads the DC Employee Ownership Initiative, a strategic investment to preserve legacy businesses and create new pathways to entrepreneurship. Prior to joining the staff at Wacif Jennifer worked for several years in the labor and cooperative movements. She is grounded in the belief that shared ownership and community wealth are central to building racial and economic equity.
Jennifer is committed to revitalizing and expanding employee ownership in the District. She was a founding steering committee member of Cooperation DC, a grassroots group that organized trainings, learning journeys, and community popular education for low-income communities of color. She helped establish DC's first Black Worker Center before moving to the International Labor Communications Association, a constituent organization of the AFL-CIO. She currently is a member of the DC Cooperative Stakeholders Group which was initiated by the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development in 2016.
Jennifer is a member of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leaders Program, which brings together leaders across the country and across sectors to address health inequities and implement transformative public health initiatives. Her team's project explores economic determinants of health and the impact of worker cooperative ownership on health outcomes in Southeast Washington.
Gina Schaefer Co-Founder & CEO of 11 ACE Hardware Stores is interviewed by Vernon Oakes, Host of Everything Co-op. Gina and Vernon discuss how she and her husband Marc have been able to open so many stores, their path to success, their benefit packages, community participation and the value of treating people well.
Gina Schaefer is the Co-Founder and CEO of 11 ACE Hardware stores located in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Maryland, and Alexandria, Virginia. She is a passionate entrepreneur who grew her company from one to eleven stores in a twelve year period, and with her husband leads a multi-million dollar small business that employs more than 250 people.
Gina has tirelessly focused on the "Return to Main Street" movement in her own city of Washington D.C. to promote Shop Local campaigns and community revitalization projects in urban areas. She serves on several Boards, and is a member of the ACE Center for Excellence.
Gina has received many accolades for her accomplishments including:
Recipient, Women Who Mean Business Award by the Washington Business Journal of 2009 Recognized as an Industry Top Gun in 2011 by the National Retail Hardware Association Honored by Profiles in Diversity Journal as one of its Women Worth Watching in 2013 Recipient, SmartCEO's "Brava Award" for Top CEO in the Washington, DC area in 2014 Recipient, Washington Woman of Excellence by the Washington DC Commission on Women 2016
Host of Everything Co-op, Vernon Oakes interviews Rod Kelsay, Executive Director of Mid America Cooperative Council (MACC). Vernon and Rod discuss efforts of the Council to address the lack of unique co-op educational resources available in the Midwestern region, and the moral values and principles that will help sustain cooperative businesses. MACC is a multi-state, non-profit trade association founded in January 2003, by a group of like-minded individuals. These individuals understood the impact cooperative principles have on the sustainability of co-ops, yet they began to see a widespread erosion of co-op knowledge among co-op communities. All sectors of cooperatives were engaged in establishing MACC. The founders also wanted to address the lack of unique co-op educational resources available in the Midwestern region. Members co-aligned and co-created MACC, filling this advocacy gap. If you are a member of a co-op with new or tenured employees who need to have a better understanding of the unique differences between the cooperative business world, and the corporate business world, Mid America Cooperative Education offers both member and non-members a Co-ops 101 class. For more information visit www.macc.coop.
Amy White Abbott, Director of Community Purchasing Alliance (CPA), appears on Everything Co-op, a nationally broadcast radio show. Vernon and Amy discuss benefits provided to members of CPA, Employment opportunities to join CPA, and examples of how the cooperative has helped leverage the power of its members to address common problems.
Prior to CPA Amy was a community organizer in Northern Virginia where Amy taught citizens how to build power in order to change their communities. Amy helped hundreds of people organize around preschool access and won over 800 new slots of pre-k for low-income children. Amy grew up in rural Ohio and is the product of both the immigrant and the American dream. Her grandparents came to the United States from Italy seeking a better life for themselves and their family. Because of this, Amy feels a deep responsibility to make systemic changes and seeks to address issues of inequality, racism and poverty with others who want a more just society.
At Catholic Charities, Amy built successful and diverse teams as the Director of Transitional Housing tackling difficult issues of homelessness, poverty and mental health. She has 11 years of experience in non-profit management and particularly enjoys recruiting, mentoring and training volunteers. Amy serves on the Board of Directors for BEACON, a non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of immigrants. She holds a B.A. degree from the Ohio State University and an Executive Certification in Non-Profit Leadership from the Center for Social Leadership. Amy sees CPA as a vehicle that allows institutions to align their purchasing power with their values in order to have a more just, equitable and sustainable society and is excited to be part of the team.
Vernon Oakes, host of Everything Co-op interviews Roberta MacDonald, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Cabot Creamery Cooperative. Vernon and Roberta discuss the 2019 Cooperative Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony, the ABC's of Cooperatives, and much, much, more!
Roberta thrives on her 40 years of marketing experience. She and her much beloved fellow Farmer Champions throughout Cabot Creamery Co-op have spent the last thirty helping a nearly bankrupt, small farm family owned dairy cooperative become a national player. Thanks to award-winning cheese and indelible, award-winning, and occasionally, over-the-top trial campaigns.
Roberta previously served as Vermont's first Marketing Director, a position created for her by Governor Kunin in 1984. Over her career, Roberta has accepted many awards on behalf of the Cabot farmers for design, promotions, and high-impact public relations programs, including the Tal Haussig Award - the highest individual award given by B Corps.
Prior to moving to Vermont, Roberta served as staff or provided services to the San Francisco Opera, the Ford Foundation, American Express, NYU, CBS, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Roberta currently serves on the End of Life Council for the National Hospice & Palliative Care Association a culmination of over a decade volunteering for hospice in Burlington, Vermont.
Recently, Roberta started an informal Above Ground Railroad for select women released from prison with no family or resources in order to reunite them with their children. The first recipient made it to TN last week with a phone, cash, clothes, and presents. She was vetted by Roberta's niece who is serving 25 to life at Chittenden Correctional.
2019 Co-op Hall of Fame Inductee, Richard Ensweiler is interviewed on Everything Co-op on May 2, 2019. Vernon and Richard discuss his career, and the many contributions he has made to the cooperative movement.
Richard Ensweiler's legendary, 50-year career in cooperative finance began in college, where he planned to score a career in basketball coaching. Instead, he took a summer job at State Central Credit Union. Soon, he was a management trainee headed for the top position at Harley Davidson Credit Union.
In 1995, Richard joined the Texas Credit Union League. Today, it's the largest regional credit union trade association in the country, comprised of more than 540 credit unions that serve close to 9 million members.
In 2013, Richard led an effort to merge the Texas Credit Union League with the Credit Union Association of Oklahoma and the Arkansas Credit Union League, forming today's Cornerstone Credit Union League. At the time, credit union league membership was dwindling and leagues were struggling to provide services. By joining forces to create a larger organization with broader reach, the organization became an influential voice with potential partners, vendors, regulators, and national associations.
Richard went on to serve as President and CEO of Cornerstone Credit Union League, Cornerstone Credit Union Foundation, and Credit Union Resources for more than two decades.
He was also dedicated to extending the benefits of credit union benefits to under served markets. At Texas Credit Union League, Richard created Juntos Avanzamos ("Together We Advance"), an outreach program focused on serving Texas' Hispanic population. The Richard L. Ensweiler Fund was established to preserve his vision, enabling credit unions to earmark funds for the program. In 1999, Richard even served as an advisor on then President-Elect Vincente Fox's transition team, working to ensure that the Mexican community in the United States could transfer funds back to their families through credit unions at substantial savings.
Throughout his career, Richard was a driving force behind credit union advocacy. He led the effort to build Credit Union House, a facility cooperatively funded by each of the 38 state credit union leagues. Located in the nation's capitol, Credit Union House is a critical hub for the industry's advocacy work.
Vernon interviews 2019 Co-op Hall of Fame Inductee, Anne Reynolds, Director of the University of Wisconsin Center for Co-ops, retired. Vernon and Anne discuss her career, and the many contributions she has made to the cooperative movement.
In 1996, Anne joined the staff of the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives, as the center was beginning to transfer its internationally renowned cooperative library online. Anne's role at the center transitioned over the years; by 2014, she was Executive Director.
A fixture of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Center for Cooperatives-the U.S.'s premier cooperative research center-Anne has contributed significantly to scholarship on cooperatives. Her career has not only spanned co-op sectors, but bridged gaps: between academics and business leaders, between strategic thinking and practical application and across deep ideological and cultural divides.
Anne Reynolds retired in 2018 from her position as the Executive Director of the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives, where she led the Center's outreach, education and development program. She is currently doing consulting on cooperatives and is an active volunteer in her community. Anne has worked with numerous organizations on strategic planning, fund-raising, organizational development and community organizing. Anne serves on several boards, including the Ralph Morris Foundation, Shared Capital Cooperative (a community development finance institution), 350 Madison, and the Madison Public Market Foundation. Before joining the Center for Cooperatives, she worked at the Credit Union National Association (CUNA).
2019 Co-op Hall of Fame Inductee, Richard Stammer is interviewed on Everything Co-op, a nationally broadcast radio show. Stammer is the former President and CEO of Agri-Mark Inc. and Cabot Creamery Cooperative. Vernon and Richard discuss his career, and the many contributions he has made to the cooperative movement.
A leader in the U.S. dairy industry for half a century, Richard Stammer helped New England dairy cooperatives sidestep bankruptcy with a daring merger that today generates sales approaching $1 billion, and worked to shape public policies to protect the economic interests of the nation's diary farmers.
Richard began his career as a tenured professor of Agricultural Economics at Rutgers University, but left to put theory into practice at a pivotal moment in the dairy industry. The 1980s and 90s were tough times for the milk industry in New England; family farms were shuttering and dairy co-ops were collapsing. With no value-added products, Agri-Mark was hit hard. At first, it seemed like Cabot Creamery would weather the downturn; it was expanding distribution of its branded butter and cheeses. But unstable milk prices persisted, falling 30 percent by the summer of 1991. By 1992, Cabot, too, was on the verge of bankruptcy.
What if Agri-Mark, a cooperative of dairy farmers, merged with Cabot, a creamery co-op with a full line of consumer branded dairy products? Richard, then Vice President and COO of Agri-Mark, effectively made the case for the bold-and fiercely debated-farm-to-market merger. By the mid-90s, the combined co-op had already realized $90 million in sales.
In 1994, Richard took on the additional role of CEO at Cabot, where his foresight was again rewarded. Under his leadership, Cabot commanded the market for aged cheddars, boosting sales and winning awards, while also positioning itself for what would be the next artisan cheese trend: flavored cheddars. Richard also helped Cabot solve a persistent waste disposal problem by turning a virtually useless byproduct of cheese processing-whey-into milk protein concentrate, now used to boost the protein content of everything from infant formula to sports nutrition products.
Richard's contributions to the dairy industry not only made it more economically viable, but also more sustainable. He helped tell the story of the economic, social, and environmental contributions of dairy farms long before corporate sustainability was a buzzword. Cabot became the first dairy co-op in the U.S. to earn the rigorous third-party verification of B-Corp certification by focusing on its triple bottom line. In 2014, Cabot received the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award for Outstanding Dairy Processing and Manufacturing Sustainability.
In 2011, Richard assumed yet another leadership role: CEO of Agri-Mark. Today, he continues to serve the co-op as Senior Executive Vice President on a part-time basis, playing a critical role in dairy industry lawsuits involving Agri-Mark and National Milk Producers Federation.
Kristen Barker, Executive Director of the Cincinnati Union Co-op Initiative (CUCI, discusses how the Union Co-op has helped Cooperatives to Form, Grow and Transition from Employer to Employee owned businesses.
Kristen Barker is a social entrepreneur. She is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Cincinnati Union Co-op Initiative, and is a Co-Founder of 1worker1vote. She designs and leads participatory education events with English- and Spanish-speaking co-op workers, and helps worker-owners make their businesses more successful. Kristen also helps CUCI's design team determine the feasibility of potential co-op businesses, helps retiring business owners determine whether they can sell their business to their employees, and helps viable co-ops access the capital they need to leverage their ideas.
Kristen has done groundbreaking work in adopting the Mondragon model to the U.S. context, and hosts delegations from around the country, including the participants in CUCI's semi-annual Union Co-op Symposium. Kristen is also a 2016-2018 Business Alliance for Local and Living Economies (BALLE) Fellow.
Before becoming CUCI's Executive Director, she worked for 12 years fostering partnerships between people of faith, union members, and community members of diverse backgrounds. Kristen is a graduate of Xavier University, and a lifelong Cincinnati resident, except for two years in El Salvador. Kristen is a single mother of a resilient daughter with special needs.
2019 Co-op Hall of Fame Inductee, Terry Appleby is interviewed on March 28, 2019. Vernon and Terry discuss his career and many contributions to the cooperative movement.
Mr. Appleby started his co-op career at Puget Consumer Co-op, in 1980. He worked in several areas at PCC, starting as a clerk, department and store management, merchandising director and general management, and also served two terms on the PCC board of directors during a period of rapid growth. After leaving PCC in 1992, he became the general manager of the Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society and worked there until his retirement at the end of 2016.
During his tenure at Hanover new approaches to interactions with local farmers led to significant benefits for farmers, the co-op and consumers. Three additional store locations were opened, an off-site food production facility was created, local products available to consumers dramatically increased, and revenues were increased from $15 million to $75 million.
While at Hanover Mr. Appleby was involved in several cooperative efforts on both regional and local levels. He was a board member and then board president of Northeast Cooperatives (a natural food wholesaler), Equal Exchange (a co-op involved in fair trade), Associated Grocers of New England (a cooperative food wholesaler) and the National Cooperative Grocers where she also served a term as board president. He helped found the Cooperative Grocers Association of the Northeast, the National Cooperative Grocers Association, the Neighboring Food Co-op Association, Local First (a group promoting local business), and Willing Hands (a food reclamation non-profit that redistributes hundreds of tons of food to local groups and individuals in the Upper Connecticut River Valley).
This interview is the first of four interview of the 2019 Cooperative Hall of Fame Inductees.
As Everything Co-op continues its celebration of Women's History Month, Julian Rowand honors his mother, Nancy Rowand, the first site manager of Beecher Cooperative, and other women who helped to establish the cooperative. Julian Rowand was a long-time member of the Beecher Cooperative and is now the cooperative’s site manager. He and Vernon also discuss the role women have played in the establishment of cooperatives in the Washington DC area, and throughout the world. Julian shares the history of how Beecher Cooperative came into existence as a result of tenants claiming their building when the owner of Beecher gave its tenants an eviction notice on Christmas eve in 1977. The tenants banded together and in 1979 they purchased the building from the owner and formed Beecher Cooperative. Today Julian is the current site manager of the cooperative that his mother co-founded when he was only 1-years old. This is a true story of a community overcoming and continuing to thrive.
In celebration of National Women's History Month, Everything Co-op honors women in the cooperative movement. The 2019 theme for Women's History Month is "Visionary Women: Champions of Peace and Nonviolence." This week Vernon interviews a visionary woman, Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard,
Dr. Gordon Nembhard is Chair of the Department of Africana Studies at John Jay College, City University of New York, and Professor of Community Justice and Social Economic Development. She is also author of "Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice." Mr. Oakes and Dr. Gordon Nembhard discuss the role that African American women have played in the cooperative movement, and the contributions of Nannie Helen Burroughs, Helena Wilson, Freedom Quilting Bee, Ella Jo Baker, Fannie Lou Hamer and the Young Negroes Cooperatives league.
Dr. Gordon Nembhard, is a cooperative ambassador, political economist and community economic development expert. She is also an Affiliate Scholar, at the Centre for the Study of Cooperatives, at the University of Saskatchewan. After 15 years of careful research, she published "Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice". Her book argues that co-ops not only should be, but have historically been a social justice tool within African American communities.
Dr. Gordon Nembhard stated that is very concerned about the lack of succession planning in the African American cooperative communities. During the interview she further notes that, although her research revealed that cooperatives were used as a solution to the community problems that arose in every generation, it was Not usually because the same organizations remained open. That said, during her final comments she states that education is a key factor to ensure that future generations can learn from the advancements of present generation with regards to cooperatives. In the African American cooperative communities we have to pass on the education, documentation and enthusiasm to our next generation to strengthen our communities.
LaKeisha Wolf, Executive Director of Ujamaa Collective discusses the history of the collective and its plans to expand. Vernon and Lakeisha also discuss the role that Ujamaa Collective plays in the community, and how it has incorporated the needs of the community to create other cooperatives, which is in keeping with the meaning of it's name.
Ujamaa is the fourth of the seven Nguzo Saba principles of Kwanzaa, and it means Cooperative Economics. Vernon and Lakeisha also discuss the other six principles of Kwanza and how their meanings are used as guiding principles of life.
As a first-generation Pittsburgher, LaKeisha Wolf has developed her roots across the community working at the intersection of social justice, arts, culture and entrepreneurship. She is a founding member of the Hill District based non-profit Ujamaa Collective, serving as Executive Director since 2013. In this role, LaKeisha focuses on the business affairs and cooperative development of emerging Africana women-owned craft industries. She has over 17 years' experience in community, organizational and leadership development, consulting with numerous organizations including Sankofa Community Empowerment, Inc., Community Human Services Corporation, The Legacy Arts Project, Inc., and the Alliance for Police Accountability. LaKeisha holds a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Penn State University (2001) where she served as Black Caucus President, helping to establish the State of Pennsylvania's first Africana Research Institute at PSU. In addition, she's also a graduate of NASCO Institute's Emerging Cooperative Leaders Program.
Ujamaa Collective Marketplace opened its doors in 2010, offering the high-quality and handmade goods of the women of the Ujamaa Collective, local and international artisans to the Pittsburgh Region. The idea was a simple one: Black women, entrepreneurs, acting in unity for the benefit of the individual entrepreneur, the collective and the community. Integral to this concept was the inclusion of a green marketplace that would benefit the Hill District community physically, economically, socially and spiritually.
Deb Trocha, Executive Director of the International Cooperative Development Center, and Stuart Reid, Executive Director of the Food Co-op Initiative, are interviewed Live by Vernon Oakes at the Up & Coming Conference on February 28, 2019. They discuss the sessions offered at the conference, the history of the conference and the different audiences that may benefit from the conference.
Held each year since 2010, Up and Coming is coordinated by the Indiana Cooperative Development Center, and its partner Food Co-op Initiative. Each year the conference is hosted by a food co-op, This year, the local food co-op host is Outpost Natural Foods.
The 2019 conference had over 50 workshops and 45 speakers. There was "Something for Everyone!" If you are in the initial stages of planning to open a food co-op, then this conference is for you.
It was an honor for Everything Co-op to broadcast live from the Up & Coming Conference. This conference seeks to serve everyone. This year attendees came from 35 states, 12 sessions were translated in Spanish, and there were several different tracks that were created to appeal to diverse populations.
If you weren't able to attend the conference this year, make sure you have it on your calendar for next year.
Debbie Trocha, Executive Director of the Indiana Cooperative Development Center (ICDC), is interviewed by Vernon Oakes. Vernon and Deb discuss the Up & Coming Food Co-op Conference on on February 14, 2019.
The Up and Coming Food Co-op Conference is focused on helping communities start and launch their own food co-ops. This event also offers resources and workshops for co-ops in the first years of operation, with the aim of helping them achieve success.
The 2019 conference will be hosted at the Hyatt Rency Milwaukee, 333 W. Kilbourn Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203, on March 1 - 2, 2019, with optional workshops on February 28.
Click on the link below to register. http://upandcoming.coop
The Indiana Cooperative Development Center (ICDC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that promotes cooperatives as a vibrant model to address the economic and social needs of Indiana’s communities. It began offering services in 2003 and was incorporated in 2006.
ICDC provides assistance to a wide variety of cooperatives including food, agricultural, arts and crafts, child care, energy, and housing with start-up, management, and other technical assistance. It also provides training opportunities designed to bring together groups of people involved in the same type of cooperative development.
David Hincapie, Economic Development Specialist and Veteran Business Development Officer for the Washington Metropolitan Area District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration, and Debbie Trocha, Executive Director of the Indiana Cooperative Development Center (ICDC) are interviewed by Vernon Oakes on Everything Co-op, February 14, 2019.
For more information on the Up & Coming Conference visit http://icdc.coop/up-coming-2019.
Vernon and his guests discuss recent developments regarding the enabling legislation that requires SBA to guarantee loans to cooperatives (Main Street Employee Ownership Act of 2018), and the Up & Coming Food Co-op Conference, which will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on March 1-2, with (with optional workshops on Feb. 28).
Everything Co-op begins it's celebration of Black History Month by embracing the 2019 theme of Black Migrations, as declared by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History with Co-op leader and author David Thompson. David returns to the mick to discuss a different aspect of his upcoming book, Cooperatives and the Civil Rights Movement, by focusing on the cooperative affiliations of leaders who planned and participated in the March on Washington.
David Thompson, has worked for national cooperative organizations of the United States, Britain and Japan as well as the United Nations. He served as Vice President of the National Cooperative Business Association and Regional Director of the National Cooperative Bank's Western Office. He specializes in funding the capital needs of cooperative housing, and the nonprofit and cooperative development sectors. He was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in Washington D.C. in May 2010, and continues to work with cooperatives.
An excerpt from Cooperatives and the Civil Rights Movement At the epi-center of the cooperative movement in Harlem was a housing cooperative called the Dunbar Apartments. Filling an entire city block, this 511-unit housing cooperative was funded by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. as the first black housing cooperative in the country. When it opened in 1928, on the eve of the Great Depression, the Dunbar was the first home ownership opportunity for blacks in New York City. If the members paid the carrying charges for 22 years, they would own the apartment outright. Those who lived at the Dunbar were a virtual Who's Who of Black America: Countee Cullen, W.E.B. DuBois, Mathew Henson, Langston Hughes, A. Philip Randolph, Paul Robeson, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, and others.
Mike Houston, General Manager of TPSS Co-op, discusses how the food co-op supported its members throughout the recent Government shutdown.
Mike has been the General Manager of TPSS since August of 2018. Prior to joining the Co-op, Mike was Store Manager at Dawson’s Market in Rockville for six years. Not only does Mike have many years of management level experience in the natural food industry, he brings a passion and strong commitment to environmental stewardship. Under his leadership, Dawson’s was awarded the outstanding Leadership in Environmental Practices from the Rockville Mayor and City Council in 2017. Mike also brings a commitment to community and to supporting local suppliers. Dawson’s also received a Community Partnership award in 2015. We believe that Mike will be a great General Manager and are excited to have him on board.
Anthony Demangone, COO of NAFCU (National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions) discusses how NAFCU members supported its members throughout the Government shutdown. He also talks about the benefits of co-ops, and invites listeners to consider co-ops as an option for their banking needs.
Anthony Demangone is executive vice president and chief operating officer at the National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU). Demangone oversees day-to-day operations and manages the association’s education, membership, human resources, building facilities, finance and information technology functions. He also authors NAFCU’s executive blog, Musings from the CU Suite. Before assuming the COO position, Demangone served as NAFCU’s vice president of regulatory compliance, where he led a staff of compliance attorneys and managed the day-to-day affairs of NAFCU’s compliance assistance program.
Reverend Graylen Scott Hagler, co-chair of the Washington DC chapter of the Poor People's Campaign, and senior minister of Plymouth Congregational Church in Washngton, DC is interviewed by Vernon Oakes. Vernon and Rev. Hagler discuss the similarities between the Poor People's Campaign and the cooperative movement.
They also discuss the history of the Poor Peoples Campaign, how people can become involved in the movement, "Jammin for Justice," "the Bacon Revolt," his arrest for praying on the steps of the Supreme Court on the day that the Court ruled to allow Ohio to purge voters from its voter roles, and how "The People are the Revolution of tomorrow".
Cornelius Blanding, Executive Director, Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Discusses the Impact Government Shutdown on Farmers on Everything Co-op with Vernon Oakes. Unfortunately there are multi-layered effects of the Partial Government Shutdown. Many Black farmers in the Southern Belt stand to possibly even suffer the loss of their land. For those farmers who need to process loans through USDA, PLEASE NOTE that USDA was reopened on January 17, and will be open until January 22, to handle urgent matters. Click on the link to follow for more info: https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2019/01/16/usda-reopen-fsa-offices-limited-services-during-government-shutdown
Vernon and Cornelius discuss support that the Federation of Southern Cooperatives Land Assistant Fund, (FSC/LAF)affords to farmers in the states that they represent. The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund, assists limited resource farmers, landowners, and cooperatives across the South with business planning, debt restructuring, marketing expertise, and a whole range of other services to ensure the retention of land ownership and cooperatives as a tool for social and economic justice. The overall mission is to reverse the trend of black land loss and be a catalyst for the development of self supporting communities via cooperative economic development, land retention and advocacy.
Michael A. Peck, Executive Director of 1worker1vote, Pat Conaty, Associate of Co-operatives UK, and Dr. Julian Manley, Chair of the Preston Cooperative Development Network are interviewed on Everything Co-op on January 10, 2019. Vernon and his guests discuss cooperative development in the UK, Belgium and Italy, and the role unions can play in the establishment of cooperatives.
Doug O'Brien, President/CEO; John Torres, VP Public Relations and Communications; and Val Roach, CFO of NCBA CLUSA Discuss Tragic Bus Accident in Uganda on Everything Co-op with Host Vernon Oakes
Wednesday, December 19, a bus accident in Uganda claimed the lives of 18 project staff members from InterAction member organization NCBA CLUSA, and three other individuals. Fifteen staff members survived the crash and are receiving medical treatment. The staff worked on NCBA CLUSA's Youth Empowerment Through Agriculture (YETA) project.
Co-op would like to express our deepest sympathies to all staff and families of NCBA CLUSA affected by this devastating loss. On Thursday, January 3rd, Everything Co-op dedicated a show to focus on the important work thatis being done in Uganda by NCBA CLUSA, the disaster relief efforts underway, and what the public can do to support those efforts.
For anyone wishing to support efforts underway to assist the families of those whose lives were lost, a contribution can be made to the Cooperative Development Foundation's Disaster Recovery Fund. CDF's Disaster Recovery Fund assists cooperatives, families and communities when they are most in need of help.
To Donate, Visit CDF at: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E332248&id=38
Jamila Medley, executive director of the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance (PACA)is interviewed on Everything Co-op on December 13, 2018 on Everything Co-op. Host, Vernon Oakes and Jamila discuss how PACA has used the cooperative business model to support businesses, and grow the cooperative economy. They also discuss the structure of PACA and how the organization continues to uncover ways to support their cooperative members organically, as their needs surface.
Jamila Medley is a passionate advocate and educator for the advancement and growth of the cooperative economy. Her career has been devoted to supporting mission-based organizations in the nonprofit and cooperative sectors that serve diverse constituencies. In her work with existing and start-up co-ops, she provides support for leadership development, cooperative economics education, navigating group dynamics, and creating adaptive systems to support group process and learning.
Medley has been a presenter at several conferences and events, such as: CommonBound, Co-op Impact Conference, and the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia's Best Practices Forum. She has presented on a range of topics, including the intersections of race, class, displacement and food co-ops; creating and sustaining democratic workplaces; and building an analysis around relationship-centered cooperative development.
Jamila holds a M.S. degree in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania and earned her B.A. degree in Urban Studies from Connecticut College. She is the Philadelphia Community Fellow for the 2018 Shared Economics in Equitable Development Fellowship, serves on the board of directors for Media Mobilizing Project, and also works as a consultant with CDS Consulting Co-op.
To learn more about PACA, CDS Consulting Co-op or Jamila Medley visit https://philadelphia.coop/about-us/staff/
Appointed Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives in February 2018, Deputy Mayor Thompson is responsible for spearheading a diverse collection of priority initiatives. He oversees New York City's signature Pre-K for All program, which provides free, high-quality pre-kindergarten to 70,000 four-year olds each year, and the continued expansion of the nation's first-ever 3-K for All. He will also ensure the continued success of the Community Schools, Young Men's Initiatives and ThriveNYC, the nation's most comprehensive approach to mental health.
Additionally, the Deputy Mayor has been charged with expanding the city's investment in minority and women-owned businesses, leading the Mayor's comprehensive strategy to encourage greater voter participation and improve the way the city carries out elections, DemocracyNYC.
Deputy Mayor Thompson's agency portfolio includes the Department of Youth and Community Development; the Department of Small Business Services; the Commission on Human Rights; the Department of Veterans' Services; the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs; the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities; the NYC Public Engagement Unit; and the Mayor's Office of Workforce Development.
Deputy Mayor Thompson has an extensive background in New York City Government. In 2003 and 2010 he served as an expert on the NYC Charter Revision Commission, and before that served in the Dinkins Administration as the Deputy General Manager for Operations and Development, where his portfolio included the New York City Housing Authority. Before that he had roles as the Director of the Mayor's Office of Housing Coordination as well as the Mayor's Liaison to the NYC Districting Commission. He also served previously an advisor and assistant to the chief of staff in the Manhattan Borough President's Office.
Deputy Mayor Thompson received a B.A. in Sociology from Harvard University in 1977, a Masters in Urban Planning from Hunter College in 1986, and a PhD from the City University of New York Graduate Center in 1990.
William Spriggs, Economic and Cooperative Development Director at the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation, is interviewed by Vernon Oakes on the Nationally broadcast radio show, Everything Co-op. Vernon and William discuss his plans to educate the Government and constituents of Bermuda about the value of cooperatives in all sectors.
Mr. Spriggs is responsible for a wide range of small and medium sized business socio-economic development projects and programs. He is also responsible for designing the foundational framework for cooperatives to develop and thrive within Bermuda, and is a relative neophyte to the cooperative development space. The British territory island nation that supports some 65,000 people and resides within the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, currently has only 1 true cooperative in the likes of the Bermuda Credit Union.
Personally, William enjoys designing study groups to support Bermuda's administrative professionals with passing the Certified Administrative Professional or CAP exam, offered bi-annually by the International Association of Administrative Professionals out of Kansas City, MO; his innovative study strategies to master the IAAP CAP exam body of knowledge have minted 26 new Bermuda CAP awardees to date. William is a Certified Management Accountant and a Certified Administrative Professional.
Vernon Oakes, host of the nationally broadcast radio show Everything Co-op, hosts the show's second Open Mic, to give listeners a chance to give Thanks for their Cooperative Blessings.
Since the Spirit of Thanksgiving is all about showing gratitude for a person's good fortune and giving to those who are less fortunate. Listeners were encouraged to "Pay it Forward," and call-in to share how cooperatives have: improved their quality of life; saved them money; improved their financial literacy, standard of living or access to healthy food; provided greater access to products and services, or taught them the principles of living cooperatively.
Several callers chimed to discuss how cooperatives have improved their lives.
Vernon Oakes, host of Everything Co-op Interviews Audrey Dickerson, a participant at the National Association of Housing Cooperatives (NAHC) 58th Annual Conference, Lighting the Way: Build for the Future. Each year, NAHC's Annual Conference brings together peers, colleagues and industry experts in cooperative housing to discuss issues and learn how to strengthen cooperative housing. The conference is a premier opportunity to network with Cooperative Board Members, Professional Cooperative Managers, and Industry Professionals such as lawyers, CPAs and leaders who service the housing cooperative community.
The National Association of Housing Cooperative's mission is to support and educate existing and new cooperative housing communities as the best and most economical form of home ownership.
Mark Winston Griffith, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Movement Center BMC), and Board member of the Cooperative Economics Alliance of New York City (CEANYC) is interviewed by Vernon Oakes on Everything Co-op. Vernon and Mark discuss the role cooperatives have played in both economic development and ensuring economic justice in Central Brooklyn. They also discuss cooperative strategies he has used to "trap" Black money to keep the dollars spent within the communities for a longer period of time.
Mark Winston Griffith is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Brooklyn Movement Center (BMC), a membership-based, community organizing group serving Bedford-Stuyvesant and North Crown Heights. BMC is a multi-issue organization currently building campaigns around public education, food sovereignty, sexualized street harassment and police accountability. Mark currently teaches a graduate course in community organizing at the Murphy Institute.
In the early nineties, Mark co-founded the Central Brooklyn Partnership, a community organizing group that focused on economic justice issues, and was co-founder of Central Brooklyn Federal Credit Union, which at the time was the nation's largest black-run, community-based, financial cooperative.
Mark currently serves on the leadership boards of the Central Brooklyn Food Coop, the Brooklyn Cooperative Federal Credit Union, the Cooperative Economics Alliance of New York City, the National Black Food and Justice Alliance, the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, Communities United for Police Reform and Free Speech TV.
The Cooperative Economics Alliance of New York City strengthens and expands community-led, democratically-controlled initiatives - from worker, financial and consumer co-ops to community land trusts and gardens, mutual housing, and low-income housing co-ops. The goal of CEANYC is to build an economy based on values of social and racial justice, ecological sustainability, cooperation, mutualism, and democracy.
John Torres, VP of Public Relations and Communication for NCBA CLUSA is interviewed by the host of Everything Co-op, Vernon Oakes on September 27, 2018. John and Vernon discuss NCBA CLUSA's upcoming events: the 2018 Co-op IMPACT Conference and the 2018 Co-op Festival on the National Mall, and the Impact cooperatives have had on the economy.
John currently serves as the Vice President of Communication and Public Relations for the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International. (NCBA CLUSA) serves as the primary voice in the U.S. for people who use cooperatives to build a better world. NCBA CLUSA provides cross-sector education, support, and advocacy that helps co-ops thrive, with an international development portfolio of over $48 million in active programs in 20 countries.
John is a proven strategic communicator with more than 20 years of experience in corporate communication planning and development, crisis communication, and multimedia and social content development. An experienced traveler, John has worked in multi-cultural environments conducting various communication efforts in more than 30 countries.
This is a very informative engaging interview that will help people understand the role cooperatives have played in helping to solve many community problems.
Hnin W. Hnin, Executive Director of Cooperative Food Empowerment Directive (CoFED) appeared on Everything Co-op on September 13, 2018, a weekly Nationally broadcast radio show. Vernon and Hnin discussed how CoFED is building the leadership of young people of color at the intersection of food systems change, solidarity and cooperative economics.
Hnin W. Hnin is a storyweaver, educator, and facilitator who is guided by the ancestors and mother earth to transform systemic injustices into compost for collective liberation. As the current Executive Director of Cooperative Food Empowerment Directive (CoFED), they design and facilitate transformative experiences where young people of color (un)learn cooperative values and economics through food and land. Rooted in the movements for food justice, solidarity and cooperative economics, and just transitions, Hnin is a 2018 Movement Voices Fellow with New Economy Coalition. They have written for Grist and Civil Eats, been interviewed by Colorlines and Synergy Airwaves, and presented at conferences including Just Food, CommonBound, and Vegan Praxis of Black Lives Matter.
Before CoFED, Hnin worked with World Learning as a global human rights educator and held national positions at Slow Food USA and Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, building power to transform the food system. They previously served on the Board of Advisors at CoFED and Southeastern African American Farmers Organic Network (SAAFON). Hnin graduated from Williams College with a degree in Political Economy and International Studies.
CoFED partners with college students and administrators to start or scale campus food co-ops with a triple bottom line of food sovereignty, sustainability and social justice. Since 2011 the organization has developed 11 new cooperative projects, trained over 500 students on over 60 campuses, and cultivated a community of nearly 4,000 supporters. CoFED forefront's racial and economic equity at the core of cooperative development.
Cecile Green, co-founder of Round Sky Solutions, and Communications Wizard, Rebecca Fisher-McGinty discuss how the implementation of a collaborative organizational process can impact an organization.
Cecile Green, co-founder of Round Sky Solutions, is a visionary, entrepreneur, experiential philosopher, and farmer with a passion for assisting mission driven organizations achieve their visions. As an integral scholar practitioner and life-long learner, she holds a B.S. in Community Supported Agricultural Systems and has over two decades of experience in entrepreneurial environments.
She has participated in nearly a dozen organizational launches and built from the ground up four successful businesses. As the innovator of a cutting edge, rapid culture change tool kit, Collab, which effectively converts all kinds of organizational challenges into fuel for the organization, she has been researching and experimenting with questions of power, systems of decision-making, and efficient operations for over 20 years in both academic and experiential arenas. Cecile is the author of the book "Collaboration that Works: A Ruthlessly Practical Handbook for a Generative World," a training manual which summarizes her research and introduces these tools for practical application in organizations.
Rebecca Fisher-McGinty, the Communications Wizard, entered the cooperative movement to manifest and better understand her vision for economic justice. She's always had a sense that our current economy and direction is dehumanizing for us all. She completed her bachelors of science in environmental policy at University of California, Berkeley in 2013 and jumped into non-profit work. However, that work simply didn't satisfy the desire to analyze and work toward systemic change. Thus, she is committed to building up, participating in, and depending on "new economy" structures starting with her dedication to her own worker cooperative.
She recently began deepening her study and understanding of cooperatives through St. Mary's University Masters of Cooperative Management. She's currently rooted in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she spends her time community organizing for racial justice, participating in cooperative structures (Time Bank & Participatory Budgeting), playing volleyball, and dancing Argentine Tango.
Round Sky Solutions works with leaders, aspiring leaders, and organizations that value and want to improve their democratic and collaborative processes in their teams and hone in on their leadership potential. Round Sky is a cooperative that helps teams work more efficiently and inclusively together so they can do the work of their missions. Throughout its learning process, leaders are supported through the intensive and remote Collaborative Leadership Certification Program, coaching, and team based trainings, grounded in the collaborative operating system and processes which are called Collab
Vernon Oakes, host of Everything Co-op, and Dr. Sutton discuss her research on "Cooperative Cities," and proven strategies to educate legislators on the potential impact of cooperatives on economic development.
Stacey Sutton is Assistant Professor of Urban Planning and Policy in the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs (CUPPA) at the University of Illinois Chicago. Her research focuses on community economic development, economic democracy and equitable development.
In a forthcoming study, Stacey examines "Cooperative Cities," specifically how city governments create enabling environments for the development and sustainability of worker-owned cooperatives, as well as potential limits of local state involvement in the cooperative movement. Stacey has also published research on race and gentrification, commercial revitalization, and the disparate impact of punitive city policies, such as tickets, fines and fees. Stacey holds a Ph.D. in Urban Planning and in Sociology from Rutgers University, a MBA from New York University, and a BA from Loyola University in Baltimore
Helen Rosenthal, Council Member for the 6th District of the New York City Council appears on Everything Co-op on October 11, 2018. Vernon and Ms. Rosenthal will her advocacy in support of worker cooperatives on the New York City Council, and the steps that were taken to ensure that legislation that was passed was enforced.
Helen Rosenthal represents New York City's 6th Council District, encompassing the upper West Side in the New York City. She is a leading voice on issues of accessibility, civic engagement, affordable housing, pedestrian safety, the environment, and gender equity. She has also been a strong advocate for leading the city council to provide funds to support worker owner cooperatives.
As Chair of the Contracts Committee from 2013 to 2017, Helen fought successfully to increase funding for the hundreds of nonprofit social service providers who serve 2.5 million New Yorkers, yet are chronically underpaid. Helen also played a leading role in the recent passage of 19 bills that provide greater protections for tenants against harassment and unsafe conditions. This includes Helen's groundbreaking legislation creating an "Office of the Tenant Advocate" within the NYC Department of Buildings.
In 2018, Helen was named Chair of the City Council's Committee on Women. She is also co-chair of the Manhattan Delegation, and a member of the Council's Budget Negotiating Team. Helen serves on the following Council Committees: Civil and Human Rights; Contracts; Economic Development; Finance; and Housing and Buildings.
Members and Affiliates of The Federation of Southern Cooperatives and the 51st Anniversary Meeting by Everything Co-op
This Broadcast of Everything Co-op, a National weekly show, features interviews from the first "On the Road" interviews recorded at National Cooperative Bank's recent Board meeting, which was held at the flagship REI store in Seattle, Washington. Vernon joined Chuck Snyder, NCB President, Martin Lowery, NCB Board Chair, and a host of Board members for the organization's Board Meeting. NCB has sponsored Everything Co-op since its inception. Vernon Oakes, and the staff of Everything Co-op are proud to be affiliated with such a purposeful organization.
National Cooperative Bank provides comprehensive banking products and services to cooperatives and other member-owned organizations throughout the country. What makes NCB unique is that the bank was created to address the financial needs of an under served market niche, --people who join together cooperatively to meet personal, social or business needs, especially in low-income communities.
NCB's customers are cooperatives, such as grocery wholesaler co-ops, food co-ops, purchasing co-ops, credit unions or housing co-ops. Other customers share in the spirit of cooperation, driven by democratic organizing principles. They may be Native American enterprises, which by their very nature, are member-run and member-owned. Others may be community health centers or nonprofit organizations driven entirely by community needs. What they all have in common is a single fundamental principle - they have joined together cooperatively to meet personal, social, and/or business needs.
Vernon Oakes takes the show on the road to the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund's 51st Annual Meeting. Vernon interviews Cornelius Blanding, Executive Director of the Federation, and Bruce Harold. Vernon and his guests discuss initiatives and accomplishments of the organization, initiatives that have been spearheaded by the federation to help its members, and the contributions of Ralph Paige, long-time advocate and former Executive Director of FAS/LAF, who made his transition on June 28, 2018.
Blanding assumed the position of Executive Director in March of 2015, and has worked with the Federation for the past 20 years. He has worked in various program and leadership capacities to propel the organization and its membership forward. Immediately prior to his appointment he served as the Federation's Deputy Director. Mr. Harold is the outreach specialist for Louisiana.
The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund (FAS/LAF) will hold its 51st Annual Meeting and 17th Estelle Witherspoon Life Achievement Award Dinner beginning in Birmingham, Alabama on August 16 and ending in Epes, Alabama on August 18. The FAS/LAF has worked for more than half a century to reverse the trend of African American land loss and spur land-based economic development. At this year's event a special tribute will be presented in honor of Ralph Paige, former Executive Director and long-time advocate of the FSC/LAF.
Vernon Oakes and John Holdsclaw honor the memory of Ralph Paige, with many listeners, who call into the Everything Co-op to pay tribute to this tireless Civil Rights leader. Mr. Paige was the former director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives. He was a consummate advocate for disenfranchised farmers, worked tirelessly to keep families and farmers on their land, and constantly promoted a more just system of agriculture.
Mr. Paige played a major role in creating cooperatives encompassing many sectors, including: credit unions, agricultural, housing and worker cooperatives and alternative agricultural development for minority farmers. He worked for the Federation for more than 45 years from 1969, and served as Executive Director for thirty years from 1985 to 2015.
Initially, Mr. Paige worked as a field organizer developing cooperatives among family farmers and rural residents in Georgia and throughout the South. He led measures to secure new public and private resources to support cooperative development, and in the 1970s, he served as director of the Federation's Business Development Office. From 1977-1981, Mr. Paige served as director of the Federation's VISTA project involving over 100 volunteers at 60 cooperative and credit union sites. He then became the national field director of the Federation/LAF.
During his leadership, the Federation received the Martin Luther King, Jr., Humanitarian Award; a United Nations award for significant contribution of shelter to the poorer segments of the community; and the first Fannie Mae "Excellence in Low Income Housing Development Award." Mr. Paige studied extensively at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He received his bachelor's degree in education from Fort Valley State University in Georgia.
Mr. Paige retired as Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives on February 28, 2015. Shortly after his retirement he received the 'Stanley Dreyer- Spirit of Cooperation Award' from the National Cooperative Bank (NCB) at their annual meet in in Washington, D. C. This is the highest award conferred by NCB for a person with a lifetime of achievement with cooperatives. Certainly his contributions shall be felt in the cooperative world for many years to come.
Malik Kenyatta Yakini, Director, Detroit Peoples Black Community Food Security Network is interviewed by Vernon Oakes, host of Everything Co-op. Vernon and Malik discuss initiatives of the Detroit Peoples Food Co-op, and the journey his organization has taken to establish a food cooperative, while raising funds to purchase the building for the co-op and serving as the developer for the building
Malik Kenyatta Yakini is an activist and educator who is committed to freedom and justice for African people in particular and humanity in general. Yakini is a co-founder and the Executive Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, which operates a seven-acre farm in Detroit and spearheaded efforts to establish the Detroit Food Policy Council, which he chaired from December 2009 - May 2012. He served as a member of the Michigan Food Policy Council from 2008 - 2010. From 2011 - 2013 he served on the steering committee of Uprooting Racism Planting Justice. He is a co-founder and on the leadership team of the National Black Food and Justice Alliance.
Malik has an intense interest in contributing to the development of an international food sovereignty movement that embraces Blacks farmers in the Americas, the Caribbean and Africa. He views the "good food revolution" as part of the larger movement for freedom, justice and equality. To that end, he has sought opportunities to educate the public and currently serves as the C.E.O. of Black Star Educational Management.
Stuart Reid, Executive Director of Food Co-op Initiative (FCI), appears on Everything Co-op. Vernon and Stuart discuss how FCI works with communities to establish food Cooperatives in diverse neighborhoods, and other programs and initiative spearheaded by FCI.
Stuart Reid has been working in the grocery business for more than 40 years, and has been part of FCI since its earliest years. He began his career in grocery as a carry-out and stock clerk for the Windom, Minnesota Hy-Vee store back in 1972. Since then he has volunteered, co-managed, managed and served on the boards of many food co-ops, worked for the co-op-owned DANCe warehouse, and helped open the Just Food Co-op in Northfield as their first general manager.
FCI aims to increase the number, success, and sustainability of new food cooperatives delivering access to healthy food in diverse communities across this country. It provides information, training, and technical assistance, as well as seed capital, and engages in research, to blaze, maintain and improve the development path for new food coops.
Gary Pittsford, CFP®, President of Castle Wealth Advisors, appears on Everything Co-op. Vernon and Gary discuss succession planning, the transition from individual ownership to worker owned businesses, and the world of purchasing co-ops.
Castle Wealth Advisors is a private wealth management firm based in Indianapolis, IN. For 45 years, Gary has worked with hundreds of family business owners in all 50 states, helping them with retirement and estate planning strategies to protect their businesses and their net worth, as well as providing one on one business consulting, business valuations and succession planning.
Gary is deeply involved with the National Cooperative Business Association in Washington, D.C. and is a member of the US Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council. Over the years Gary has worked with dozens of co-op organizations and he continues to help them by providing convention speeches, monthly newsletters, webinars, educational videos, and most recently a book titled "Your Family Business, Your Family Net Worth," available on Amazon.com.
Vernon Interview Roger Green, one of the key organizers of "The Coalition to Transform Interfaith," formerly know at the "Save Interfaith Coalition." The Coalition's work has resulted in a multi-hospital network in underserved communities self-transforming into worker and union cooperative facilitating, regenerative institutions. It has been predicted that the Vital Brooklyn movement will bequeath a transformational healthcare template that will unsettle America's healthcare sector.
The Coalition is a group of community members and health care union representatives, participated in the drafting of Northwell's transformation plan. Vernon and Roger discuss the components of the plan, and economic innovations that were implemented to ensure that a portion of the $40 Billion of consumables and services are supplied by businesses within the local community.
Roger previously served in the NY State Assembly for over 25 years and was the campaign chair for Jesse Jackson's Presidential campaigns. He also has been a distinguished president at Medgar Evers college, part of the CUNY (City University of New York) system, and is a strong supporter of economic democracy.
Sheella Mierson, a founding member of The Sociocracy Consulting Group is interviewed by host of Everything Co-op, Vernon Oakes. Vernon and Sheella discuss sociocracy, a whole systems approach to collaborative decision-making, and how it creates more inclusive and effective organizations, where no voice can be ignored.
Sheella specializes in helping companies and organizations unleash their creativity and increase productivity. She helps organizations implement Sociocracy in support of their strategic goals, and to create adaptive and effective organizations where all members' voices matter. In addition to being a Sociocracy Consultant, she is a Certified Facilitator for the Blueprint of We Collaboration Process, used to build trust, creativity, effortlessness, and resilience in relationships.
Sheella draws on broad experience as a teacher, business trainer, facilitator, and organizational consultant. Initially trained as a biophysicist, she became skilled at fostering collaborative teamwork in both research and classroom environments and has published articles on highly interactive methods of teaching in academic and business settings. After a career in science, she shifted from laboratory research to the people skills that deeply impact the outcomes of scientific ventures. Sheella incorporated Sociocracy into her consulting practice as the most effective method for making decisions and for creating cultures that support strong collaborative skills. She has worked with clients across several continents in the pharmaceutical, insurance, financial, apparel, service, and health care industries, as well as in education, government, and the nonprofit sector.
Find out more about Sheella, and The Sociocracy Consulting Group at www.sociocracyconsulting.com
Marla Bilonick, Executive Director; and Karina Mendoza, Small Business Coach, of the Latino Economic Development Center, (LEDC), appear on Everything Co-op. Vernon, Marla and Karina discuss how LEDC's programs comport with the cooperative business model. They also discuss how the Center works cooperatively within their communities to help Latinas and other underserved populations build wealth.
Vernon Oakes, host of Everything Co-op shares a commentary on Cooperative events and conferences that occurred during the week of the 2018 Cooperative Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony. He also discusses the cooperative principles and values.
Vernon Oakes is President of Oakes Management Inc. As President, he has renovated and managed his own properties, and those owned by other entities since 1985. Vernon is the immediate Past President of the National Association of Housing Cooperatives, and serves on several boards to advance the interests of cooperatives. He formerly served as coordinator of the MBA program at Howard University, and is an MBA graduate of Stanford University. Vernon has used his business acumen to benefit the community by providing quality housing across all populations, and is a consummate advocate for cooperatives.
On May 17, 2018, Vernon Oakes, host of Everything Co-op interviews Rudy Hanley, retired President and CEO of SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, and 2018 inductee to the Cooperative Hall of Fame. Vernon and Rudy discuss how he became involved in the cooperative movement, and how credit unions can impact communities.
Mr. Hanley began his illustrious co-op career as an attorney for the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), where he became an advocate for the co-op model, successfully defending credit unions' tax-exempt status. Hanley continued to defend credit unions throughout his career, both on Capitol Hill and in the California Statehouse.
Following his work at CUNA, Hanley lead the research and development department of the California Credit Union League. He joined SchoolsFirst FCU in 1982. For 31 years, Hanley led SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, which grew under his direction from a single location with $150 million in assets into the largest U.S. credit union for school employees, with 45 branches in California, $10 billion in assets and 600,000 members.
Hanley embraced innovative technologies, bringing ATMs and other electronic services to the membership and co-founded an organization to research and develop technology solutions for credit unions. On May 2, 2018, Rudy Hanley was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame, the most distinguished honor in the cooperative community.
In honor of Paul Bradley’s Inductee into the 2018 Cooperative Hall of Fame, five of ROC USA’s Association Directors appeared on Everything Co-op on May 3, 2018. Lois Parris, Colleen Preston, Natividad Seefeld, Kim Capen and Lorie Cahill discussed how programs and projects implemented by ROC USA have impacted their manufactured communities. They also discussed the value, importance and difference that being a cooperative has had on both their lives and their homes.
During March Everything Co-op celebrates Women's History Month by focusing on the theme selected by the National Women's History Project. The theme for 2018 is, "Nevertheless She Persisted: Honoring Women Who Fight For All Forms of Discrimination Against Women." This week Vernon honors Carla Decker, President/CEO of DC Federal Credit Union.
Carla Decker joined District Government Employees (DC) Federal Credit Union as President/CEO in 2001. Chartered as an employer-based credit union, DGEFCU later acquired a community charter intended on serving the Latino population in Washington, D.C. Carla advanced DGEFCU's community charter through ACCESO, an innovative collaborative and credit union service organization that linked multiple credit unions in addressing the financial needs of the local immigrant and under-served community. Under her leadership, DGEFCU attained the designations of Low Income Credit Union and Community Development Financial Institution. Prior to joining DGEFCU, Carla held various financial and operational management posts in tenures with PAHO/WHO Federal Credit Union and Transportation Federal Credit Union.
Carla currently serves on the boards of the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions, the Cooperative Development Foundation, and the National Cooperative Business Association & Cooperative League of the U.S.A. (NCBA/CLUSA). She is the U.S.A.'s delegate to the Board of the Co-operatives of the Americas, a Region of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA). Carla also designs and delivers curriculum to the Caribbean Credit Union Development Education program.
Vernon interviews Rosemary Mahoney, Principal of Mahoney Consulting, LLC, and 2018 inductee to the Cooperative Hall of Fame. Vernon and Rosemary will discuss best practices in cooperative development, and her 30-year career as a co-op developer.
Ms. Mahoney is Principal of Mahoney Consulting, LLC, where she works as an independent consultant on cooperative development and community projects. She is the former CEO of CoopMetrics, and has worked as a consultant on international cooperative development projects and cooperative business development projects. She was a founding partner of MainStreet Cooperative Group, LLC, director of New Venture Development for Cooperative Solutions, LLC, executive director of Cooperative Development Services (CDS) and Regional Director for Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.
Mahoney has long advocated the community development potential of 'hybrid' cooperatives and was the founding chair of CooperationWorks! Board. She helped launch Blue Hawk Distributor Cooperative, which serves independent heating and air conditioning businesses, and for several years coordinated the Purchasing Cooperative Conference with the support of the National Cooperative Bank and NCBA CLUSA.
Mahoney continues to serve as a senior advisor at CoMetrics and has served on or is serving on more than 13 boards, including The Cooperative Foundation, NCBA CLUSA, Capital Impact Partners, National Cooperative Bank, dotCoop and CooperationWorks!.
Vernon Interviews Marilyn, Retired Manager of CDS Consulting. Vernon and Marilyn discuss best practices for forming co-ops, CoMetrics, the Co-op Management Institute, her experience as a cooperator, and her upcoming induction into the Cooperative Hall of Fame.
Marilyn Scholl has played a prominent leadership role in nearly every major development in the U.S. food co-op sector since she took her first co-op job at Gordon Park Cooperative in Milwaukee in 1978.
Working at the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives, Scholl organized education programs and conferences for co-ops. Focusing on the challenges of business sustainability, membership care and strategic planning, Scholl helped create the Cooperative Management Institute.
She later led a food co-op consulting team that became CDS Consulting Co-op, a group of 38 people dedicated to helping co-ops reach their full potential. Seeing the need for systematic governance at food co-ops, Scholl and her CDS CC colleagues developed the Cooperative Board Leadership Development program to provide ongoing support for effective governance and built the 4 Pillars of Cooperative Governance model.
With the help of National Cooperative Bank and the National Co+op Grocers, Scholl's team created a small grants program for start-ups that became Food Co-op Initiative, a non-profit supporting the opening of more than 130 new food co-ops. She was one of the creators of the food co-op development model 4 Cornerstones in 3 Stages.
In 2004, Scholl led the project team that developed the reorganization plan for the National Cooperative Grocers Association. Today National Co+op Grocers represents 148 co-ops operating more than 200 stores in 37 states.
Recently retired as manager of CDS Consulting Cooperative, Scholl continues to be a member and consultant at CDS CC; she also serves on the boards of Cooperative Fund of New England and Food Co-op Initiative.
Christina Jennings has worked in community development finance and microfinance in the US and internationally for twenty years. Since 2008, Christina has been Executive Director of Shared Capital Cooperative, a national CDFI loan fund that works to build a democratic economy by investing in cooperative businesses and housing.
Based in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Shared Capital was founded 40 years ago and operated under the name Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund until 2015. Shared Capital is cooperatively owned and governed by more than 225 cooperatives in 35 states that borrow from and invest in the fund.
To learn more about Shared Capital Cooperative visit their website at www.sharedcapital.coop
Frankie Harris, Member of Ujamaa Collective, is Interviewed by Everything Co-op Host, Vernon Oakes by Everything Co-op
Marjaana Saarikoski, Director of Cooperative Affairs and Partnerships at SOK Corporation, and Vice Chair of The Alliance Gender Equality Committee, is interviewed by Vernon Oakes, host of Everything Co-op in honor of Women's History Month.
Ms. Saarikoski has been with S Group since 1983 in various leadership positions in sales, marketing, chain/ concept management and its customer loyalty program. She has wide business experience of retailing and cooperation with various stakeholders, and is currently a member of on the International Co-operative Alliance, (ICA) Board of Directors. Ms. Saarikoski has received several honors and acknowledgements in the Cooperative sector.
She states: “I believe that the cooperative movement is a flourishing business model for the future, and in working together more deeply in new ways we are able to build a better world.”
In observance of Black History Month, Vernon Oakes, host of Everything Co-op discusses the revitalization of the poor peoples campaign, originally introduced by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. He discusses the 10 Reasons that people should join the campaign today, as written by Rev. Theoharris, who is the Co-Chair of todays campaign with Rev. William Barber.
Jessica Gordon Nembhard, Ph.D., Professor of Community Justice and Social Economic Development, and author of Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice discusses the her book and upcoming projects with host, Vernon Oakes on Everything Co-op.
During February, Everything Co-op celebrates Black History Month by focusing on the Association for the Study of African American Life and History's Theme. This year's theme is "African Americans in Times of War." Given the extensive research that Dr. Gordon Nembhard has conducted on the involvement of African Americans in Cooperatives in the Post Civil War Era, it was quite appropriate to have her return to Everything Co-op to discuss her findings and future projects.
Dr. Gordon Nembhard, is a cooperative ambassador, economist and community economic development expert. After 15 years of careful research, she published "Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice". Her book argues that co-ops not only should be, but have historically been a social justice tool within African American communities.
Her research has focused on community and asset-based economic development and democratic community economics; cooperative economics and worker ownership; racial and economic wealth inequality and wealth accumulation in communities of color, and alternative urban economic and youth educational development strategies. Her future research and policy analyses will connect community-based economic development, asset building, and economic justice strategies with community-based approaches to justice.
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Vernon interviews Michael Peck, Co-founder of 1worker1vote.org and Delegate for Mondragon Corporation. Vernon and Michael discuss the National Union Coop Symposium, 1worker1vote.org, and Mondragon Corporation, the largest worker cooperative in the world. Michael Peck strives to overcome inequalities of wealth/income, opportunity, and social mobility by applying the sixty years of Mondragon experience and principles to form, transform, and transition worker co-ops and union co-ops. Since late 1999, Michael Alden Peck has served as the North American delegate for Mondragon, the world's largest industrial worker cooperative. On March 26th, 2012, the United Steelworkers (USW), Mondragon, and the Ohio Employee Ownership Center (OEOC) announced the union-coop template, to create worker-owner hybrid projects and businesses with the goal of revamping U.S. manufacturing through worker empowerment and ownership. In January 2014, Michael helped to launch 1worker1vote.org, a non-profit dedicated to solving America's unhealthy & unequal opportunity, mobility, and wealth divides through broad-based, equal share worker ownership.
Induction into the Cooperative Hall of Fame is the highest honor that the U.S. cooperative community bestows on the extraordinary men and women who have made genuinely heroic contributions in support of the cooperative form of enterprise. This year's inductees are: Dennis Bolling, outgoing president and CEO of United Producers, Inc., who will be interviewed on May 19; Dennis A. Johnson, former president and CEO of the St. Paul Bank for Cooperatives, who will be interviewed on May 26; and Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard, author of "Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice," who was interviewed on February 25. (Click Here for interview) Vernon Oakes shares an overview of the 2016 Cooperative Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, and illustrates how the 2016 inductees have integrated cooperative principles into their contributions to the cooperative movement. These cooperative leaders will be recognized at the annual Cooperative Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on the evening of May 4, 2016. In conjunction with the ceremony, a public forum on cooperative development and leadership will be held in the afternoon. This year's theme is The Changing Nature of Work and the Role of Cooperatives.
Vernon interviews Brad Mitchell, Managing Director, Battelle for Kids. Vernon and Brad discuss his innovative approached to advance education reform, with an emphasis on his focus on rural collaboratives. As a Managing Director, Brad leads Battelle for Kids' efforts to advance innovative education reform, especially around rural collaboratives that serve as practice partners in research and practice partnerships focused on advancing access, equity and quality for rural students. He previously led the Ohio Appalachian Collaborative, a partnership between Battelle for Kids and 27 school districts in southeast Ohio dedicated to developing a comprehensive approach to accelerating college and career readiness. Throughout his career, Brad has worked at the national and state levels in the role of educational policy analyst, serving on the staff of the 1982 National Commission on Excellence in Education (A Nation at Risk) and as Director of Community Partnerships for the Ohio Children and Family First Initiative.
Vernon interviews Bruce Reynolds, Program Leader for the Department of Agriculture's Cooperative Programs in their Rural Development Division.
Vernon and Ed discuss the democratization of wealth, how cooperatives are used to enhance communities and development, and democratic ownership. Ed Whitfield is co-founder and co-managing director of the Fund for Democratic Communities (F4DC). A long time social justice activist, Ed had been involved in labor, community organizing and peace work since the late 60's when he was a student activist at Cornell University. He was the chairman of the Greensboro Redevelopment Commission for 9 years and formerly board chairman of Greensboro's Triad Minority Development Corporation. He is currently helping to provide technical assistance to a group of people living in an urban food desert struggling to develop a community owned cooperative grocery store.
Vernon and David discussed the emergence of food co-ops, his new book, and the role of cooperatives in the Economy. This month marks the 2nd anniversary of Everything Co-op, and the celebration of National Co-op Month. Cooperative Network's 2015 Co-op Month theme, Take Ownership, celebrates how the cooperative model gives consumers a real stake in their economic destinies, because co-ops are owned and controlled by the people who use their services. Therefore, it is quite fitting to celebrate this milestone by bringing David Thompson to the mic again, to announce his new book being released this month, that focuses on food co-ops. Thompson, has worked for national cooperative organizations of the United States, Britain and Japan as well as the United Nations. He served as Vice President of the National Cooperative Business Association and Regional Director of the National Cooperative Bank's Western Office. He specializes in funding the capital needs of the cooperative development sector and nonprofit and cooperative housing. He was also inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in Washington D.C. in May 2010.
Vernon and Judy discuss her involvement in the cooperative movement, trends in cooperative development, and how to effectively engage politicians in the cooperative movement. For over 40 years, Judy has been a champion for cooperative development, articulating a steady and unswerving vision about the power of cooperation, and persistently reminding cooperatives and cooperative institutions that they exist to empower people. Her incredible capacity as a strategist has resulted in cross-sectoral coalitions that have created critical infrastructure for the co-op community domestically and internationally. Ziewacz was instrumental in launching the nation's first statewide cooperative development center - now known as Cooperative Development Services. She also played a key role in establishing CooperationWorks!, a national cooperative development network, which is responsible for the creation of hundreds of co-ops, thousands of jobs, and serving hundreds of thousands of members. As the Executive Director of the Cooperative Development Foundation, she led the charge for the creation of dotCoop, an important branding tool for cooperatives in the internet age.
Vernon interviews Hall of Fame Hero Dr. Ann Hoyt. Vernon and Dr. Hoyt discuss her journey as a Cooperator, cooperatives in the Italian prison system, consumer cooperatives, economic justice, and economic Democracy.
Vernon and his guests discuss the evolution of housing cooperatives in Washington, D.C., the prospect of forming a federation of limited equity housing cooperatives, and the role cooperatives play in improving the quality of life for its participants. Ajowa Nzinga Ifateyo has been a co-editor of Grassroots Economic Organizing, (GEO) for more than 10 years. GEO, a 30-year-old publication, reports on cooperative developments around the world, and provides advocacy for alternative economic solutions. Her work with GEO has inspired her to research and think about ways to empower individuals to make personal changes to better organize and participate in cooperative/group entrepreneurial enterprises. Ajowa has nine years of experience on cooperative boards, including: Ujamaa Collective, the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives, and the Eastern Conference on Workplace Development. In 2000, she and four other D.C. residents co-founded an affordable housing co-op for community organizers, the Ella Jo Baker Intentional Community Cooperative, in Washington, DC, where she served as treasurer and secretary-treasurer for about six years. Presently, Ajowa is researching how to effectively incorporate spirituality in the work of organizing co-ops. Amanda Huron is an Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences in the Department of Political Science, History, and Global Studies at the University of the District of Columbia. She has conducted extensive research on cooperatives, and written several articles on the subject, including Creating a Commons in the Capital: The Emergence of Limited-Equity Housing Cooperatives in Washington, D.C. (Washington History, Fall 2014).
Vernon discusses the Community Purchasing Alliance and interviews Marile Rist, President of Christ Lutheran Church. The Community Purchasing Alliance (CPA) is a social-purpose cooperative that leverages the buying power of community institutions to help lower operating costs, while also making investments in sustainability, worker equity, and community organizing. As a cooperative, CPA is wholly owned by its members, that serves the needs of its members first. Through aggregation and group procurement of services, CPA helps its members save money and get better service, while also holding vendors to higher standards in terms of environmental and worker practices.
ernon and David discuss his recently published article, "Thurgood Marshall, From Cooperative Apartment to Supreme Court," and his life work in the cooperative movement. During February, Everything Co-op celebrates Black History Month by focusing on the Association for the Study of African American Life and History's Theme. This year's theme is The Crisis in Black Education. Therefore, it is quite fitting to bring David Thompson to the microphone again, for a discussion about his article on Thurgood Marshall, and his upcoming book, Cooperatives and the Civil Rights Movement. An excerpt from Cooperatives and the Civil Rights Movement. At the epi-center of the cooperative movement in Harlem was a housing cooperative called the Dunbar Apartments. Filling an entire city block, this 511-unit housing cooperative was funded by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. as the first black housing cooperative in the country. When it opened in 1928, on the eve of the Great Depression, the Dunbar was the first home ownership opportunity for blacks in New York City. If the members paid the carrying charges for 22 years, they would own the apartment outright. Those who lived at the Dunbar were a virtual Who's Who of Black America: Countee Cullen, W.E.B. DuBois, Mathew Henson, Langston Hughes, A. Philip Randolph, Paul Robeson, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, and others. David Thompson, has worked for national cooperative organizations of the United States, Britain and Japan as well as the United Nations. He served as Vice President of the National Cooperative Business Association and Regional Director of the National Cooperative Bank's Western Office. He specializes in funding the capital needs of the cooperative development sector and nonprofit and cooperative housing. He was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in Washington D.C. in May 2010, and continues to work with cooperatives. Don't miss this informative discussion.
Vernon interviews Terry D. Simonette, President and CEO of Capital Impact Partners (CIP). Vernon and Terry discuss how CIP uses it's CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) Status to transforms underserved communities into strong, vibrant places of opportunity. Capital Impact Partners is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution which operates nationally to help underserved people build strong, vibrant communities. Mr. Simonette is responsible for the overall direction and execution of Capital Impact Partners strategic mission, financial management functions, and senior leadership development. While at Capital Impact Partners, he has promoted an insightful strategy that has steadily increased the size and scope of the organization. In addition to extensive community investment activities, under Mr. Simonette's stewardship, Capital Impact Partners has broadened its activities to include, nonprofit and cooperative capacity building, social innovation programs, and state and federal policy development. Throughout this expansion, Mr. Simonette has focused Capital Impact Partners' goals of escalating its tangible impact on the problems and issues of low-income communities across the country. To that end Capital Impact Partners has disbursed more than $2.0 billion in financial and development services to community-based organizations nationwide. To learn more about Capital Impact Partners visit www.capitalimpact.org/
Vernon Oakes reviews the Democratic Debate and compares the principles and positions that were discussed with the seven core cooperative principles.
Vernon interviews Monique Rizer, Executive Director of Opportunity Nation. Vernon and Monique discuss Our Opportunity Nation, the 2017 Opportunity Index, and other research and reports being used to close the opportunity gap in America. Since September of 2015, Monique Rizer has been the Executive Director of Opportunity Nation. Under her leadership, the team has grown supporters by 35 percent and developed "Our Opportunity Nation," a national opportunity plan that was featured in the Washington Post, and garnered the endorsement of more than 130 organizations. Prior to joining Opportunity Nation, Monique served as the Chief of Staff for Be The Change, Inc., Opportunity Nation's parent organization. She also served as deputy director of military spouse programs for the Military Officers Association of America, where she founded Keeping a Career on the Move®, which earned the American Society for Association Executives (ASAE) 'Power of A' Silver Award. Monique is a national spokesperson on opportunity. She has been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, Black Enterprise and NPR. She has also served as a speaker of choice for the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She has also testified before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, about the impact of deployments on military spouse careers. Monique is a proud first-generation college graduate, who frequently speaks about her experiences as a young mother, and the obstacles faced growing up in a low-income family.
Vernon Oakes, Host of Everything Co-op, Interviews Janis Hazel, ANC Commissioner and Director of Communications for Washington, D.C. Councilmember, Vincent Gray. Vernon and Janis discuss legislation introduced by Councilmember Gray, and how cooperatives can help to advance his agenda. Janis is serving a third term as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC 7D05) in Ward 7 of Washington, DC. She is the Director of Communications for Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent C. Gray and has served as Director of Communications in the Executive Office of the Mayor. She was appointed by the Obama Administration to manage the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of the Census Decennial operations for the District of Columbia’s 2010 Census and has served as the Director of Development and Communications for Howard University Television (WHUT-TV). A native of Detroit, MI and a political science major at the University of Michigan, she began her career in public policy with Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm (NY), and later worked for Senator Donald W. Riegle, Jr. (MI) and Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (MI). She has served as Director of Marketing for the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation and Events Marketing Manager for the Detroit Convention Bureau and was part of the team that won the bid for Detroit to host Super Bowl XL. She has served as Executive Director of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation producing Grammy events featuring Aretha Franklin, Prince, Bonnie Raitt, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton and other iconic artists. Janis can be seen in cameo appearances on the Emmy award winning Netflix series "House of Cards."
Vernon and his guests discuss the evolution of housing cooperatives in Washington, D.C., the prospect of forming a federation of limited equity housing cooperatives, and the role cooperatives play in improving the quality of life for its participants. Ajowa Nzinga Ifateyo has been a co-editor of Grassroots Economic Organizing, (GEO) for more than 10 years. GEO, a 30-year-old publication, reports on cooperative developments around the world, and provides advocacy for alternative economic solutions. Her work with GEO has inspired her to research and think about ways to empower individuals to make personal changes to better organize and participate in cooperative/group entrepreneurial enterprises. Ajowa has nine years of experience on cooperative boards, including: Ujamaa Collective, the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives, and the Eastern Conference on Workplace Development. In 2000, she and four other D.C. residents co-founded an affordable housing co-op for community organizers, the Ella Jo Baker Intentional Community Cooperative, in Washington, DC, where she served as treasurer and secretary-treasurer for about six years. Presently, Ajowa is researching how to effectively incorporate spirituality in the work of organizing co-ops. Amanda Huron is an Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences in the Department of Political Science, History, and Global Studies at the University of the District of Columbia. She has conducted extensive research on cooperatives, and written several articles on the subject, including Creating a Commons in the Capital: The Emergence of Limited-Equity Housing Cooperatives in Washington, D.C. (Washington History, Fall 2014).
Vernon interviews Andrew Reicher,and Alex Roesch, Project Associate for co-op outreach and research at UHAB (the Urban Homestead Assistance Board. The gentleman discussed their current research project, "Building Capacity to Serve and Grow the Cooperative Housing Community, and initiatives of the Urban Homestead Assistance Board).
Vernon and Alan discuss the role he plays as an advocate, the recent Congressional Fly-in, and how the Cooperative Legislative Caucus, and Interagency Workgroup can be used to advance initiatives and concerns of the cooperative community within the legislature.
Vernon interviews Ralph M. Paige, the former Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives Land Assistance Fund (Federation/LAF). Vernon and Ralph discussed his illustrious career, and the role cooperatives have played in the economic recovery of many communities in the United States of America. Mr. Paige has played a major role in creating cooperatives encompassing credit unions, agricultural, housing and worker cooperatives and alternative agricultural development for minority farmers. He worked for the Federation for more than 45 years from 1969, and served as Executive Director for thirty years from 1985 to 2015. Initially, Mr. Paige worked as a field organizer developing cooperatives among family farmers and rural residents in Georgia and throughout the South. He led measures to secure new public and private resources to support cooperative development, and in the 1970s, he served as director of the Federation's Business Development Office. From 1977-1981, Mr. Paige served as director of the Federation's VISTA project involving over 100 volunteers at 60 cooperative and credit union sites. He then became the national field director of the Federation/LAF. During his leadership, the Federation received the Martin Luther King, Jr., Humanitarian Award; a United Nations award for significant contribution of shelter to the poorer segments of the community; and the first Fannie Mae "Excellence in Low Income Housing Development Award." Mr. Paige studied extensively at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He received his bachelor's degree in education from Fort Valley State University in Georgia. Mr. Paige retired as Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives on February 28, 2015. Shortly after his retirement he received the 'Stanley Dreyer- Spirit of Cooperation Award' from the National Cooperative Bank (NCB) at their annual meet in in Washington, D. C. This is the highest award conferred by NCB for a person with a lifetime of achievement with cooperatives. Certainly his contributions shall be felt in the cooperative world for many years to come.
Vernon interviews Esteban Kelly, educator, community organizer, and radical geographer. He's the current Board President of the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance (PACA). He works for the New Economy Coalition, and is also a founder and worker-owner of AORTA, (Anti-Oppression Resource and Training Alliance, a worker co-op of educators whose facilitation and consulting strengthens cooperatives and social justice groups.
Vernon and William discuss his involvement in the cooperative movement, the Cooperative Hall of Fame, and his vision for the next phase of the movement. William Nelson's involvement in cooperative education began in the 1970s while serving as community education director for the Minneapolis public school system, focusing on connecting urban and rural schools around food and hunger issues. In this role, Nelson was first introduced to a new wave of food cooperatives in the Twin Cities. Nelson went on to spend 13 years at the University of Minnesota-Waseca, teaching courses on cooperatives, agriculture, entrepreneurship and leadership. Nelson is a founding member and director for the Ralph K. Morris Foundation. He has also brought stable leadership and financial support to the Association of Cooperative Educators. And through his long tenure as president of The Cooperative Foundation, Nelson helped expand support for cooperative development, extension, education and research.
Vernon Discusses the Role of cooperatives in Black History. He also reflects upon comments made by past guest related to the same.
Vernon interviews Beth Ann Caspersen, Quality Control Manager at the Equal Exchange Cooperative. She is a sensory specialist and manages Equal Exchange's coffee quality from the point of origin through to the finished product. She has a B.A. in Anthropology from Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, is a graduate of the Sensory Science and Consumer Testing certificate program at UC Davis and has been with Equal Exchange for more than 17 years.
Vernon interviews Former Diplomat James Joseph. Mr. Joseph is a Professor of Public Policy Studies at Duke University. Vernon and Mr. Joseph discussed several initiatives and programs implemented by him, and the Spirit of Ubuntu, the Zulu principal that is said to be the reason President Mandela was able to forgive his captors, and eventually work with them.
Vernon Oakes interviews Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard on Everything Coop, a weekly radio show that airs on Radio One's landmark station, WOL 1450 AM, in the Washington, DC market. Dr. Gordon Nembhard discussed her book Collective Courage: The History of African American Economic Thought and Practice. The book traces economic cooperation from the early 1700's to the present. From Mutual Aid Societies to The Federation of Southern Cooperatives.
Papa Sene has been serving with NCBA CLUSA for three decades, but has a life’s history of accomplishments in the cooperative movement and their impact on development. Sene grew up in Naikhar, Senegal, where cooperating was a natural way of life. Throughout his life, he shared, taught, enhanced, and finally globalized the values and practicality of cooperatives everywhere he went. He began spreading the message of cooperating in the Boy Scouts, but moved outside of scouting when he led a transformative co-op housing movement in Dakar in the 1960s. Sene began with CLUSA as a consultant, eventually leading the design of the “CLUSA Approach,” a method which has been used across sectors and around the world. This approach has since been applied to natural resource management, community health, and governance strengthening. During his 30 years with NCBA CLUSA, Sene has been recognized by USAID and the World Bank for his achievements. He has also written several books and received numerous awards.
Vernon interviews RJ Taylor, Board Chair for Equal Exchange, and Sales representative based om Virginia. Vernon and RJ discuss the organizational structure of Equal Exchange, Fair Trade, the relevancy of being involved in a purpose driven business, and the concept of voting with your dollars.
Vernon interviews Esteban Kelly, educator, community organizer, and radical geographer. He's the current Board President of the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance (PACA). He works for the New Economy Coalition, and is also a founder and worker-owner of AORTA, (Anti-Oppression Resource and Training Alliance, a worker co-op of educators whose facilitation and consulting strengthens cooperatives and social justice groups.
Vernon interviews John Holdsclaw, Senior VP of Corporate Affairs at National Cooperative Bank (NCB). Vernon and John discuss the role NCB has played in building communities, and the tools that are used to sustain them. They also discuss many examples of how cooperatives were used to solve community problems by empowering the community within to create cooperatives, and take control of their destiny. Mr. Holdsclaw is NCB's first senior vice president of corporate affairs. He is charged with the development of new bank relationships and management of the bank's existing affiliations with Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs). He also promotes and advances social investment opportunities within the philanthropic arena and in product development, furthering NCB's commitment to mission banking. Prior to joining NCB, Mr. Holdsclaw served as the Director of Policy Development for Capital Impact Partners, a strategic partner of NCB. As Director of Policy at Capital Impact Partners, he was instrumental in the development and implementation of its government relations program and building a respected brand with other CDFIs.
Vernon interviews Doug O'Brien, Senior Policy Advisor for Rural Affairs, for the White House Domestic Policy Council. Vernon and Doug discuss marketing cooperatives, the impact cooperatives have had in Rural America, and other initiatives of the Policy Council. Doug O'Brien has served as the Senior Policy Advisor for Rural Affairs since January 2015. Before that time and since March of 2009, O'Brien served in a number of leadership capacities at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including as the Acting Under Secretary for the Rural Development Mission Area. At the White House, he helps lead the work of the White House Rural Council, which President Obama created in 2011 to encourage interagency cooperation and improve the effectiveness of federal programs in rural areas. Recently, the Council announced Rural Impact, an effort focused on rural child poverty. This work builds on O'Brien's leadership in rural community economic development that has focused on both emerging opportunities and in impoverished areas. Prior to serving in the Obama Administration, he worked for two State governors, the Senate Agricultural Committee, the U.S. House of Representatives, and in legal academia as a professor and author. O'Brien has degrees from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, the University of Iowa Law School, and a Masters in Law from the University of Arkansas. He was raised on a diversified farm in Iowa and has dedicated his career to food and rural policy.
Vernon and Judy discuss her involvement in the cooperative movement, trends in cooperative development, and how to effectively engage politicians in the cooperative movement. For over 40 years, Judy has been a champion for cooperative development, articulating a steady and unswerving vision about the power of cooperation, and persistently reminding cooperatives and cooperative institutions that they exist to empower people. Her incredible capacity as a strategist has resulted in cross-sectoral coalitions that have created critical infrastructure for the co-op community domestically and internationally. Ziewacz was instrumental in launching the nation's first statewide cooperative development center - now known as Cooperative Development Services. She also played a key role in establishing CooperationWorks!, a national cooperative development network, which is responsible for the creation of hundreds of co-ops, thousands of jobs, and serving hundreds of thousands of members. As the Executive Director of the Cooperative Development Foundation, she led the charge for the creation of dotCoop, an important branding tool for cooperatives in the internet age.
Vernon Interviews Rodney North, Public Relations Manager for Equal Exchange, a 100+ person worker co-operative. Rodney joined Equal Exchange 19 years ago and has been a member of the co-op for 17 years. During this time the co-op has grown into a $55 million enterprise, best known for its Fair Trade coffee, tea & chocolate. North has held a variety of other roles within the co-op.
Vernon and Daniel discussed his involvement in the cooperative movement, the reform of the farm credit system, and the Cooperative Hall of Fame. Daniel T. Kelley is the owner and operator of Kelley Farms, a diversified corn and soybean operation in Normal, Illinois. He is an authentic leader and champion of cooperative development, who has spent more than three decades serving the cooperative sector. Most recently, he retired as board chairman and president of the agriculture supply cooperative GROWMARK, Inc. Kelley's roots in the cooperative movement began in 1970 when, as a full-time farmer, he joined his local cooperative, Evergreen FS. He later served as president of the organization from 1985 to 2008. In the 1980s, Kelley shouldered efforts to reform the Farm Credit Banks, creating a foundation for success that the Farm Credit System, its member-owners and rural communities enjoy today. Over his career Kelley has served on many cooperative boards. He is currently on the board of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, CoBank and Illinois Agriculture Leadership Foundation, which he chairs.
Vernon interviews Annie Hill , President of the Potomac Association of Housing Cooperatives. Vernon and Annie discuss her role as a leader in the cooperatives movement, the role cooperatives play in providing affordable housing options, and the Association's 41st Annual Conference, which will be held April 27 - 29, in Dover Downs Hotel. The Potomac Association of Housing Cooperatives, Inc. (PAHC), was founded in 1976 by representatives from 13 housing cooperatives and 1 condominium association. The primary objective of PAHC is to provide continuing education for its Board of Directors and members of cooperative communities. Ms. Hill has led the organization to become one the premiere cooperatives organizations in the Washington Metropolitan Region. The organization has sponsored three Baltimore City housing cooperatives, and representatives of PAHC served on each interim Board of Directors. They, along with other PAHC representatives provided new member orientation and extensive leadership training to each respective cooperative community.
Vernon and Dr. Hoyt discuss the influence Women have had within the cooperative movement; organizations and resources available to help cooperative startups, and how women have used cooperatives to solve community problems. Hoyt is an internationally known expert on cooperatives, who began her distinguished career in the 1960s as a member of the Berkley Consumer Food Co-op. Her academic interest in cooperatives took root in graduate school at University of California at Davis, where her Master's Thesis focused on the Consumer Cooperative of Sacramento. Always active in the national food cooperatives, Ann began her 25 year directorship of the annual Consumer Cooperative Management Association (CCMA) in 1988. Her love of teaching led to work in board education and governance, and the launch of an intensive education program for food cooperative managers, the Cooperative Management Institute (CMI). She has trained several thousand cooperative and non-profit directors and managers throughout the country and is the creator of a video-based director training program for cooperatives. Hoyt is the recipient of the 2014 Cooperative Service Award from CCMA and the Howard Bowers Fund. Currently Dr. Hoyt is Board President of Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin.
Vernon Oakes Interviews John Holdsclaw, Senior VP of Corporate Affairs at National Cooperative Bank (NCB). Vernon and John discuss the role cooperatives play in addressing critical issues in low to moderate Income communities, and the tools that are used to sustain them. Holdsclaw is NCB's first Senior VP of Corporate Affairs. He is charged with the development of new bank relationships and management of the bank's existing affiliations with Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs). He also promotes and advances social investment opportunities within the philanthropic arena and in product development, furthering NCB's commitment to mission banking. Prior to joining NCB, Mr. Holdsclaw served as the Director of Policy Development for Capital Impact Partners, a strategic partner of NCB. As Director of Policy at Capital Impact Partners, he was instrumental in the development and implementation of its government relations program, and building a respected brand with other CDFIs.
Vernon interviews David Levine, President/CEO of the American Sustainable Business Council, (ASBC). Vernon and David discuss the philosophy and strategies ASBC uses to educate and inform the public and policy makers about the benefits of a more sustainable economy. David is the co-founder and chief executive officer of the American Sustainable Business Council. He has worked as a social entrepreneur for over 30 years focusing on the development of whole systems solutions for a more sustainable society through building strategic partnerships and broad stakeholders' initiatives. Previously, he was the Founding Director of Continuing Education & Public Programs at The Graduate Center, City University of New York. From 1984-1997, David was Founder and executive director of the Learning Alliance, an independent popular education organization. Established in 2009, the American Sustainable Business Council is a network of businesses and business associations that have committed themselves to the triple bottom line of People, Planet, and Profit. ASBC members believe that sustainable business is good business, and a sustainable economy is a prosperous and resilient one. Today, together with the organizations that have joined in this partnership, ASBC represent over 250,000 businesses and social enterprises.
Vernon interviews Ellis Carr, President and CEO of Capital Impact. Vernon and Ellis discuss how Capital Impact effects systemic change - from social systems to government programs - so that all people have paths out of poverty. Ellis Carr has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services and mortgage industries. Mr. Carr served as Capital Impact's Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer from July, 2012 until his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer in May, 2016. Prior to joining Capital Impact, he held various positions in the investments, capital markets, strategy and corporate finance areas within Freddie Mac and in fixed income fund management both domestically and abroad at Deutsche Bank. Mr. Carr is a trustee of the NHP Foundation; the Treasurer and Board member of Martha's Table and Housing Partnership Network (HPN); Vice Chairman and Board member of the Opportunity Finance Network (OFN). In 2015, he was recognized as one of the "Top 40 under 40" business executives by the Washington Business Journal. Mr. Carr graduated from Towson University with an undergraduate degree in accounting, and from Georgetown University with a master's degree in real estate with a concentration in finance.
Vernon interviews Rebecca Smith, General Manager of REI's Flagship store in Washington, DC. Vernon and Rebecca discuss how REI got started, its evolution, culture, business structure, and how it functions as a consumer cooperative. In October of 2016 REI, the national outdoor co-op, opened its fifth flagship store in Washington, D.C. The 51,000 square-will foot store, located in the NOMA neighborhood is just blocks from the U.S. Capitol. The store offers the outdoor community a spot to reconnect with one another and discover world-class outdoor gear curated specifically for the region. REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation's largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of 5.5 million active members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. REI has 143 stores in 35 states.
Vernon interviews John D. Johnson, retired President & CEO, CHS Inc., and 2017 Cooperative Hall of Fame Inductee. Vernon and John discuss his life work and experiences as a leader in the cooperative movement, and the history of CHS Inc. and how the cooperative business model and guiding principles were used to establish the business. John Johnson's vision and unwavering belief in the cooperative value proposition reshaped U.S. agricultural co-ops' ability to capture 21st century success. Grounded by his rural North Dakota and South Dakota roots, he dedicated his 34-year career to embracing innovative opportunities to connect producers from their farms and ranches to the global marketplace through their cooperatives. Johnson's leadership style combined a clear vision of the benefits of pursuing new paths, initially for Harvest States Cooperatives and later for CHS Inc., with an exceptional ability to articulate the benefits of these bold steps to member-owners, board members and employees with trust, integrity and transparency. Among the groundbreaking actions of his tenure were major investments in food manufacturing, establishment of global operations, development of alternative ownership structures, and issuance of publicly traded, non-voting preferred stock as an additional growth capital tool. With his fellow cooperative chief executive at Cenex, Inc., he recognized the long-term strategic value of uniting the two co-ops in 1998. To date, hundreds of thousands of CHS member co-ops and producer-owners have benefited from dependable product supply, global market access and unprecedented economic returns through their connections to CHS energy, fertilizer, grain marketing, value-added food and food ingredients and business services.
Vernon interviews Melissa Hoover, founding Executive Director of the Democracy at Work Institute, and Anh-Thu Nguyen, Director of Special Projects for the Democracy at Work Institute. Vernon and his guests discuss the recent growth in worker cooperatives, worker cooperative initiatives being implemented at the city level across the country, the recent developments surrounding initiatives to develop cooperatives in New York City, and the many programs and resources that are offered through the Democracy at Work Institute. Melissa Hoover is the founding Executive Director of the Democracy at Work Institute, the think-and-do-tank that expands worker cooperatives as a strategy to address economic and racial inequality. A leader in the worker ownership movement for over fifteen years, Melissa helped start and grow the United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives, the national grassroots membership organization for worker-owned businesses. She was a cooperative business developer for many years with the Arizmendi Association of Cooperatives in Oakland, doing business and capital planning, training cooperative members, and serving as CFO in the first year of each startup's operations. She currently sits on the Board of Directors of The ICA Group/Local Enterprise Assistance Fund and The Working World, and serves as a strategic advisor to foundations, investors, nonprofits, unions, local governments and other organizations that want to incorporate worker ownership into their economic development and community wealth-building programs. Originally from Kansas City, Melissa attended Stanford University on a full scholarship, earning a BA in History with a research focus on immigrant women's role building cooperative movements in the U.S. Anh-Thu Nguyen is Director of Special Projects for the Democracy at Work Institute, where she leads the incubation of a transparent, ethical, and cooperative-led value chain within the textile and fashion industries. She was most recently Director at We See Beauty Foundation, where she supported women-led, worker-owned initiatives. Born and raised in Tampa Bay, Florida to Vietnamese parents, Anh-Thu early on developed a wide array of interests that led her to study Classics and Government at Georgetown University and earn her JD at the University of Texas School of Law. Her work experience includes luxury/artisan branding and marketing, international humanitarian law, transitional justice, and dental laboratory technology. year: 2017 genre: Speech (id 101) track: 4062017
Vernon Interviews Campbell C. Johnson III, Chair of the Urban Housing Alliance, (UHA). Vernon and Campbell discuss how UHA provides assistance to help DC residents address issues related to gentrification, and the rising cost of owning property in Washington DC. Urban Housing Alliance (UHA) is a community-based, non-profit organization that implements a range of educational advocacy, services and programs to fight displacement of low and moderate income residents, improve their quality of life, and to foster economic development that uplifts this community and its constituents (families, youth, elderly, and special needs). The core belief, obligation and pledge of UHA is: "Economic development should uplift a community, it should not and must not uproot its residents".
John Torres, VP of Communication and Public Relations for the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International is interviewed on Everything Co-op. Vernon and John discuss the Co-op Festival, 2017 Co-op Impact Conference, and other initiatives being sponsored by NCBA/CLUSA. John Torres serves as the Vice President of Communication and Public Relations for the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA), an organization that serves as the primary voice in the U.S. for people who use cooperatives to build a better world. NCBA CLUSA provides cross-sector education, support, and advocacy that helps co-ops thrive, with an international development portfolio of over $48 million in active programs in 20 countries. John is a proven strategic communicator with more than 20 years of experience in corporate communication planning and development, crisis communication, and multimedia and social content development. An experienced traveler, John has worked in multi-cultural environments conducting various communication efforts in more than 30 countries. John holds an under graduate degree in Communication.
Vernon interviews Monique Rizer, Executive Director of Opportunity Nation. Vernon and Monique discuss Our Opportunity Nation, the 2017 Opportunity Index, and other research and reports being used to close the opportunity gap in America. Since September of 2015, Monique Rizer has been the Executive Director of Opportunity Nation. Under her leadership, the team has grown supporters by 35 percent and developed "Our Opportunity Nation," a national opportunity plan that was featured in the Washington Post, and garnered the endorsement of more than 130 organizations. Prior to joining Opportunity Nation, Monique served as the Chief of Staff for Be The Change, Inc., Opportunity Nation's parent organization. She also served as deputy director of military spouse programs for the Military Officers Association of America, where she founded Keeping a Career on the Move®, which earned the American Society for Association Executives (ASAE) 'Power of A' Silver Award. Monique is a national spokesperson on opportunity. She has been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, Black Enterprise and NPR. She has also served as a speaker of choice for the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She has also testified before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, about the impact of deployments on military spouse careers. Monique is a proud first-generation college graduate, who frequently speaks about her experiences as a young mother, and the obstacles faced growing up in a low-income family.
Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated in Canada, in the United States, in some of the Caribbean islands and in Liberia. It was originally celebrated as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. On Thanksgiving, Vernon hosted Everything Co-op's first Open Mic, to give cooperatives, and the public a chance to give Thanks for their Cooperative Blessings. Several listeners called in to talk about their appreciation as consumers of cooperative businesses. However, Vernon took the opportunity to actually give an overview of the seven guiding principles of cooperatives. So, if you ever wanted to take a Co-op 101 course, then look no further. You only have to listen to this show. Vernon Oakes is President of Oakes Management Inc. As President, he has renovated and managed his own properties, and those owned by other entities since 1985. Mr. Oakes is the immediate Past President of the National Association of Housing Cooperatives, and serves on several boards to advance the interests of cooperatives. He formerly served as coordinator of the MBA program at Howard University, and is an MBA graduate of Stanford University, who has used his business acumen to benefit the community by providing quality housing for all populations. Vernon is a consummate advocate for cooperatives. Everything Co-ops staff wishes Everyone a wonderful holiday season, and we Thank You for your support!
Vernon Interviews Ms. Noémi Giszpenc, Executive Director of Cooperative Development Institute. Vernon and Noémi discuss the role that cooperatives can play in the Arts,the role that African American Women have played in the cooperative movement, and CDI's work to help start-up cooperatives, and support existing cooperative businesses. Ms. Giszpenc, manages the day-to-day activities of the organization. She began her career as an economics researcher at the World Bank, worked as an editor at the Nonprofit Quarterly, a magazine for nonprofit managers, and became a principal at Ownership Associates, Inc., a consulting firm in Cambridge, MA specializing in developing an ownership culture at employee-owned firms. As part of earning a Master's in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University, she did a thesis on the creation of a cooperative economy in the Northeast, including the practical development of an interactive cooperative directory, which has now evolved into the Data Commons Cooperative (www.datacommons.coop).
Richard Larochelle, retired Senior Vice President, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, and 2017 Cooperative Hall of Fame Inductee appears on Everything Co-op, Vernon and Richard discuss the food co-op he's helping to form in his community, and his life work and experiences as a leader in the cooperative movement. Rich Larochelle has spent his life championing the cooperative business model. During a 40-year electric cooperative career -including nearly a decade with the federal Rural Electrification Administration (REA) and later senior leadership posts with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation-he demonstrated his passion for helping cooperative consumers by fighting to improve the quality of rural life at every turn. His achievements were many: encouraging Congress to create the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program (REDL&G); securing passage of the REA Improvement Act of 1992; overcoming a presidential veto of the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992; establishing Kauai Island Utility Cooperative in Hawaii; and fashioning a fee structure for the USDA Guaranteed Underwriter Program that delivers sustainable funding for REDL&G. Drawing on his decades of cooperative financial expertise, he has also lent insights and guidance to dozens of seminal studies and offered technical assistance that helped electric cooperatives in the Philippines establish the Rural Electrification Finance Corporation.
Gail Taylor, is the owner/operator of Three Part Harmony Farm. A long-time resident of the District, Taylor has worked as an organizer and social justice activist focusing on Latin America solidarity (internationally) and affordable housing issues (locally.) She has been farming organically since 2005. Taylor speaks regularly on food and farming issues and has been featured in The Washington Post in 2014 and 2015 for her role as a leader in the urban ag movement. In 2015, she was featured as one of Fifty+ under 50: Innovative leaders transforming metro DC’s food system. She is a member of the Seed Keeper’s Collective, Ecohermanas, and co-founder of Community Farming Alliance. Three Part Harmony Farm exists to grow food for people, but it also exists in part to challenge our assumptions on how urban farms should look. It intentionally seeks to create a viable and just local food economy while at the same time dismantling racism and the ever present, entrenched forms of oppression in that same food system. Three Part Harmony Farm has an active work exchange program where people can work in exchange for fresh produce from the farm. The farm donates produce to soup kitchens and food pantries that redistribute food to people in need. Gail and other affiliates of the farm also work on campaigns to create more equity in the food system. The Farm's mantra defines its’ core principles: Food as Medicine. Food as Culture. Food for our Future.
Vernon interviews Marcella Charles Casto, Assistant Principal and Career Technology Education Administrator at Mingo Central High, Vernon and Marcella the Simulated Workplace Program, other programs she administers at Mingo Central High School, and how cooperatives can be incorporated into the academic programs to further enhance them. The simulated workplace program is the brainchild of Kathy D'Antoni, assistant state superintendent of schools for the Division of Technical, Adult and Institutional Education, and it is going into its fifth year. Students must apply for a job, go through an interview, be subject to a random drug testing, and develop a portfolio of work projects and certifications. Ms. Charles Casto is dedicated to working with youth in this program. The program address common concerns that businesses have of today's youth. "Over the last three years, what we have heard from business and industry leaders is that kids don't understand customer service, they don't have a strong work ethic, and they don't understand real-world situations or processes," said Charles. "The purpose of this initiative is to change that.”
Vernon interviews Kate Mereand, Program Manager for Tech & Innovation, DC Department of Small and Local Business Development. Vernon and Kate discuss the Stakeholders Co-op group, and other programs and initiatives of DC Department of Small and Local Business Development. Ms. Mereand provides one-on-one technical assistance to any DC-based business seeking to grow, with a special focus on diversity inclusion across all business industries and the tech sector. Her work includes providing support for the overall entrepreneurial ecosystem, to ensure it is both inclusive and innovative. She also conducts stakeholder groups and pilot programs to support specific populations in the District as they pursue entrepreneurship, including: youth, the disability community, cooperatives, and those involved with the justice system. To that end Ms. Mereand has been supporting a monthly, open stakeholder group on building the cooperative ecosystem in DC for the last six months, and will operate that programming through at least the end of 2017.
Vernon and Doug discuss the programs, resources and events offered through NCBA/CLUSA. They also so discuss efforts to establish a food cooperative in Washington, DC's Wards 7 and 8, and resources that are available to assist groups with starting food cooperatives. They rounded out the show with a discussion about the work that is being done through the CLUSA International arm of the organization. Doug O'Brien serves as Executive Vice President for Programs at NCBA CLUSA, where he works with the cooperative community, both domestically and internationally, to deepen its impact on individuals and communities. NCBA is the primary voice for cooperatives in the United States for using the cooperative business model to empower people in their businesses and communities. Before coming to NCBA CLUSA, Doug led the work of the White House Rural Council and served in top positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, an organization with over 40 programs and 5000 employees that annually finances more than 30 billion dollars in community economic development. O'Brien's experience in academia includes teaching, researching and writing at the University of Arkansas Agricultural and Food Masters in Law Program and Drake University Law School. In his role at the White House, O'Brien drove the work of the White House Rural Council, a group of cabinet members from across the federal government focused on breaking down silos so that government makes a more positive impact in rural places. O'Brien's projects at the council included the creation of Rural Impact, an interagency effort to break the cycle of poverty in rural areas. While at USDA, O'Brien led numerous innovative initiatives to help create opportunity and improve rural quality of life. He instituted new poverty targeting mechanisms that resulted in hundreds of millions of increased dollars for persistent poverty areas and served on the leadership team for USDA's priority initiative to support local and regional food systems.
Vernon and Michael discuss his White Paper, "MRAGA" - Make Rural America Great Again: An Infrastructure Road-Map for Rural America's High-Road Institutional Stewards. Michael Peck strives to overcome inequalities of wealth/income, opportunity, and social mobility by applying the sixty years of Mondragon experience and principles to form, transform, and transition worker co-ops and union co-ops. Since late 1999, Michael Alden Peck has served as the North American delegate for Mondragon, the world's largest industrial worker cooperative. On March 26th, 2012, the United Steelworkers (USW), Mondragon, and the Ohio Employee Ownership Center (OEOC) announced the union-coop template, to create worker-owner hybrid projects and businesses with the goal of revamping U.S. manufacturing through worker empowerment and ownership. In January 2014, Michael helped to launch 1worker1vote.org, a non-profit dedicated to building a national network of unionized worker-owned cooperative businesses to overcome opportunity, mobility, and income inequality. He is a dedicated advocate for the cooperative business model, and has made major contributions to the cooperative movement.
Vernon and Justin discussed the importance cooperatives, and how some of the Executive Orders and other actions taken by President Trump might impact communities that are dependent on Federal aid. During his career, Justin has worked in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, developing a keen insight into solving the challenges that face Virginia families today. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Deputy Coordinator of the Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force, Justin saw the power that law enforcement and criminal justice reform can have to keep communities safe, while providing appropriate second chances, saving hard-earned taxpayer dollars, and changing communities and lives. As Lieutenant Governor, Justin vows to work every day to build the foundation of economic and educational opportunity that every Virginian deserves. He also realizes the importance of cooperatives and understands how they can be integrated into the fabric of Virginia life.
Vernon interviews community organizer, Silvia Inéz Salazar. Vernon and Ms. Salazar discuss the role she has played in organizing cooperatives in Washington, DC, and how cooperatives can be used to solve community problems. Silvia Inéz Salazar has been organizing housing and worker owned cooperatives in DC for the past ten years. She serves as a Trustee for the Consumer Health Foundation and Board Member and was recently appointed Board Chair for the Latino Economic Development Center. As a volunteer organizer and Leadership Council Member for Cooperation DC, she is organizing worker-owned childcare cooperative in the District of Columbia called Co-Familia. In 2005, Silvia, along with her fellow founding members, decided to reach out to their neighbors in an effort to start a tenant association to fix ongoing maintenance problems and resist displacement to make way for condominiums. The combination of organizing actions, lawsuits, media coverage, and community support finally caused the landlord to sell the building to the tenants. Her efforts were instrumental in securing $9.7 million in funding from the District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development towards the purchase of the building. In 2011, Silvia and her neighbors converted the Norwood Tenant Association into an affordable housing cooperative. Silvia led the effort to reach out to District of Columbia government agencies, community organizations, and faith-based associations to prevent displacement and resist gentrification efforts. She is working towards addressing the lack of affordable childcare in her neighborhood by exploring partnerships and collaborations to find a location for the Co-Familia Childcare Cooperative. Silvia emigrated from El Salvador as an undocumented immigrant at the age of seven. She volunteers at the Smithsonian Museum of American History where she serves as a bilingual Spanish-English language docent that leads tours of the museum. In a professional capacity, she has worked for the federal government at the National Institutes of Health in the area of cancer social science research since 2003.
Vernon Oakes, host of Everything Co=op interviews Charles E. Snyder, President and CEO of National Cooperative Bank (NCB). Vernon and Mr. Snyder discuss the impact NCB has had in the cooperative community, and the importance of the cooperative principles. Charles E. Snyder is the president and chief executive officer of National Cooperative Bank and leads its Executive Council, a team of senior managers representing business development units and functional areas across the company. Mr. Snyder joined NCB in 1983 as corporate vice president and chief financial officer. In 1992, he was named president and chief executive officer. Mr. Snyder serves on numerous boards, including the Consumer Federation of America, National Cooperative Business Association, a membership association representing every type of cooperative in America. In 2011, Mr. Snyder was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame and in 2007 received the Jerry Voorhis Award, the National Association of Housing Cooperative's most prestigious honor. Both awards recognize Mr. Snyder for his longstanding work of promoting and preserving cooperatives.
Vernon Oakes, host of Everything Co-op, interviews Hugh B. Price, Civil Rights Leader, Attorney, Author and Foundation Executive. Vernon and Hugh discuss his autobiography, and how the cooperative principles were interwoven throughout his family history. Hugh B. Price is a long-time civil rights leader, activist and public intellectual. As president of the National Urban League from 1994 to 2003, he launched the League's historic Campaign for African-American Achievement, spearheaded pressure on the federal government to combat police brutality and racial profiling, vigorously defended affirmative action, and helped repair frayed relations between the black and Jewish communities. He has been an editorial writer for the New York Times, senior vice president in charge of national production at WNET/Thirteen in New York City, and vice president of the Rockefeller Foundation. Recently Prince released his reflective autobiography, This African American Life (Blair, 2017). His numerous television appearances range from Meet the Press and The Newshour with Jim Lehrer to Charlie Rose and The O'Reilly Factor. Price is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a member of the American Philosophical Society. In the Fall of 2012 he taught a class at Princeton University, "Innovations in Urban Economic Development: Potential of Worker Cooperatives for Revitalizing Inner Cities and Reducing Poverty." He continues to be fascinated by how the cooperative business model is being used today.
Vernon Oales interviews Jessica Johnson, Regional Director of Community Purchasing Alliance (CPA). Vernon and Jessica discuss the business practices of CPA, and how the organization has saved its members over #3 million dollars in the past three years. Vernon Oakes interviews Jessica Johnson, Regional Director of Community Purchasing Alliance (CPA). Vernon and Jessica talk about how CPA has leveraged the buying power of community institutions to help lower operating costs, while also making investments in sustainability, worker equity, and community organizing. As Regional Director of CPA, Jessica Johnson manages the group purchasing and strategic sourcing of CPA's 75 member community institutions in the Washington DC region. Jessica has 13 years of management, sales, and contracting experience working in the for-profit, non-profit and government sectors. Most recently Jessica led a team at Education Data Systems, Inc. where she assisted with the procurement of $2 million in annual contracts. She also managed and oversaw the daily operations of the TANF program that enrolled over 1,500 program participants each year. Jessica's focus at CPA co-op is growing the organization's membership in the MD-DC-VA metro region, and building new programs to meet the needs of members. Jessica holds a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and International Studies from Elmira College in NY and Masters in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania.
Vernon Oakes and Ms. Haynes discussed her life work and experiences as a leader in the cooperative movement, and how Faith Community United Credit Union changed lives and addressed so many community problems during her tenure. Rita Haynes dedicated her nearly 60-year career to serving the financial needs of disadvantaged communities in Cleveland, Ohio. Her innovations transformed the credit union industry with the development of products to combat predatory lending and harnessed financial resources to support community development. Rita is recognized for serving over fifty years as director, manager, treasurer and CEO of Faith Community United Credit Union, Cleveland, Ohio. Through vision, collaboration and sheer grit, Rita led the transformation of a small credit union operating out of a church basement, into a 6000-member financial institution with $12 million in assets, all the while never losing sight of the financial needs of the credit union's low income members and their communities. A pioneer in faith based credit unions, she brought together credit unions and local government resources to create a revolving-loan fund to provide small business loans to minority contractors in Cuyahoga County, led the credit union effort to attain Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) certification from the US Department of Treasury, and successfully worked to have Faith Community United CU become a Small Business Administration lender.
Everything Co-ops Host, Vernon Oakes, interviews Rodney North, Cooperative Consultant, and member of the DC Cooperative Stakeholders Group. Vernon and Rodney discuss events and initiatives of the Stakeholders Group, their upcoming workshop, “How Co-ops Strengthen Neighborhoods,” and the DC Anchor Partnership. Rodney North has spent more than two decades in co-ops, helping co-ops, or advocating for the co-op model, and usually was doing all three at the same time. Today Rodney is consultant to cooperatives, and an active member of the DC Cooperative Stakeholders Group. This is a group of local people and institutions who have been meeting for the last six months - thanks to support from the city's Department of Small and Local Business Development - to explore ways to strengthen and support co-ops in the city. The city is supporting this effort because business cooperatives are one thread in the city's overall economic development strategy. Before returning to the DC area in 2015 Rodney spent 20 years as part of Equal Exchange - one of the nation's largest, most successful, and influential worker-owned cooperatives. You may know Equal Exchange for its brand of organic Fair Trade coffee, chocolate or other foods. But it is also a $65 million dollar enterprise 100% owned and controlled by the 150 men and women who work there. Rodney held many roles there: Vice chair of the board of directors, worker-owner, staff trainer and other leadership positions. But he was best known as The Answer Man. He was called the Answer Man for many reasons, but especially because so often when people - inside or outside the co-op - needed answers Rodney was there to help, drawing on his many years of experience and his wide knowledge of the issues that mattered to Equal Exchange, its customers and it the thousands of farmers that supplied his co-op.
As we continue our celebration of Women's History Month, and focus on the theme of Honoring Trailblazing Women in Labor and Business, we pay tribute to an advocate who is a true trailblazer Ms. Elizabeth (Liz) Bailey. Vernon and Ms. Bailey discuss the role women have played in the "herstory" of cooperative movement, and in the facets of the movement that she has personally been involved with. Liz Bailey is Managing Principal of The Bailey Group LLC, a Washington DC-based consulting firm focused on economic and community development that includes member-owned cooperative business enterprises. Ms. Bailey provides her clients the benefit of her career experience in strategic public policy that combines the private sector, the executive branches of state and federal governments and extensive non-profit program management. For much of the past decade, Ms. Bailey held leadership positions with the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International, including Interim CEO, VP for Public Policy & Cooperative Development and almost eight years as Executive Director of the Cooperative Development Foundation, NCBA CLUSA's non-profit affiliate. Bailey holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin and the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. About The Bailey Group LLC A Washington DC-based public policy consulting group focused on economic and community development that includes cooperative business enterprises. Client work includes design and implementation of strategic policy and communications initiatives that raise the profile of the cooperative model, address barriers to development and encourage new applications of the business model.
Vernon interviews LaKeisha Wolf, Executive Director of Ujamaa Collective. Vernon and LaKeisha discuss her role as a leader in the cooperative movement; the evolution of Ujamaa Collective; and her development as a leader in the cooperative movement. As a first-generation Pittsburgher, LaKeisha Wolf has developed her roots across the community working at the intersection of social justice, arts, culture and entrepreneurship. She is a founding member of the Hill District based non-profit Ujamaa Collective, serving as Executive Director since 2013. In this role, LaKeisha focuses on the business affairs and cooperative development of emerging Africana women-owned craft industries. She has over 15 years' experience in community, organizational and leadership development, consulting with numerous organizations including Sankofa Community Empowerment, Inc., Community Human Services Corporation, The Legacy Arts Project, Inc., and the Alliance for Police Accountability. LaKeisha holds a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Penn State University (2001) where she served as Black Caucus President, helping to establish the State of Pennsylvania's first Africana Research Institute at PSU. In addition, she's also a graduate of NASCO Institute's Emerging Cooperative Leaders Program. Ujamaa Collective Marketplace opened its doors in 2010, offering the high-quality and handmade goods of the women of the Ujamaa Collective, local and international artisans to the Pittsburgh Region. The idea was a simple one: Black women, entrepreneurs, acting in unity for the benefit of the individual entrepreneur, the collective and the community. Integral to this concept was the inclusion of a green marketplace that would benefit the Hill District community physically, economically, socially and spiritually.
Monica Rainge, Esq, Director of Land Retention & Advocacy for The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund is interviewed by host of Everything Co-op, Vernon Oakes. Vernon and Monica discuss Heir Property, and the services that are provided through the Federation of Southern Cooperatives Land Assistance Fund (FSC/LAF) to help to retain, and regain land in the communities it represents. Monica A. Rainge, an agricultural lawyer, serves as the Director of Land Retention and Advocacy for The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/ Land Assistance Fund. Attorney Rainge leads the development and implementation of regional land retention and advocacy initiatives which support and advance the membership of FSC/LAF. She has worked in the public and private agricultural sectors for over 20 years, and previously served as the Florida State Coordinator for The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund. Attorney Rainge directs the Federation's Regional Heirs Property Center. This center was created to coordinate a collaborative and regional network of partnerships and resources to address the systemic problems of heirs property throughout the Black Belt region. Over the last 50 years, the Federation's overall mission has been to reverse the trend of African-American land loss and to encourage land based economic development. The Federation accomplishes its mission through cooperative development, land retention and advocacy, and Attorney Rainge plays an instrumental role in helping the organization to accomplish its mission.
Vernon Oakes Interviews John Holdsclaw, Senior VP of Corporate Affairs at National Cooperative Bank (NCB). Vernon and John discuss the role cooperatives play in addressing critical issues in low to moderate Income communities, and the tools that are used to sustain them. Holdsclaw is NCB's first Senior VP of Corporate Affairs. He is charged with the development of new bank relationships and management of the bank's existing affiliations with Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs). He also promotes and advances social investment opportunities within the philanthropic arena and in product development, furthering NCB's commitment to mission banking. Prior to joining NCB, Mr. Holdsclaw served as the Director of Policy Development for Capital Impact Partners, a strategic partner of NCB. As Director of Policy at Capital Impact Partners, he was instrumental in the development and implementation of its government relations program, and building a respected brand with other CDFIs.
Gina Schaefer Co-Founder & CEO of 11 ACE Hardware Stores appears on Everything Co-op. Vernon and Gina discuss the evolution of her business, how she and her husband Marc have integrated cooperative principles into their business practices, and how they have been able to open 11 stores in several markets in twelve years. Gina Schaefer is the Co-Founder and CEO of 11 Ace Hardware stores located in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Maryland, and Alexandria, Virginia. She is a passionate entrepreneur who grew her company from one to eleven stores in a twelve year period, and with her husband leads a multi-million dollar small business that employs 240 people. Gina has tirelessly focused on the "Return to Main Street" movement in her own city of Washington D.C. to promote Shop Local campaigns and community revitalization projects in urban areas. She serves on the Ace Hardware Corporation and CCA Global Partners, Inc. Board of Directors and is a member of the Ace Center for Excellence. She also serves on the non-profit boards of House of Ruth, Jubilee Jobs, and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
Rosemary Mahoney, Principal of Mahoney Consulting, LLC appears on Everything Co-op. Vernon and Rosemary discuss her career in cooperative development, and the strategies and analytical tools available to assess the viability of a cooperative. Ms. Mahoney is Principal of Mahoney Consulting, LLC, where she works as an independent consultant on cooperative development and community projects. She is the former CEO of CoopMetrics, and has worked as a consultant on international cooperative development projects and cooperative business development projects in the United States. She was a founding partner of MainStreet Cooperative Group, LLC, director of New Venture Development for Cooperative Solutions, LLC, executive director of Cooperative Development Services (CDS) and Regional Director for Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. At present, Rosemary serves on the board of directors of the National Cooperative Business Association, National Cooperative Grocers Association Development Cooperative, Thanexus, Inc., The Cooperative Foundation and Capital Impact Partners. Rosemary formerly served on the boards of directors of the National Cooperative Bank, the National Cooperative Grocers Association, Cooperative Development Institute and CooperationWorks.
Vernon Interviews Paul Hazen, Executive Director, U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council. Vernon and Paul discuss his career in the cooperative movement; the Community Purchasing Alliance, and how OCDC brings together organizations committed to building a more prosperous world through cooperatives. Paul Hazen became executive director of the Overseas Cooperative Development Council in February 2012. Previously, he represented one of the member organizations and served as OCDC's board chair and as a board member. One of his most-recent initiatives with OCDC is the formation of its Research Group, whose mission is to research, formulate and share effective strategies for the development, performance and growth of cooperatives in developing countries. Throughout his career, Hazen has championed the U.S. cooperative system, which encompasses 29,000 co-ops; generates $654 billion in revenue; and creates more than two million jobs, representing $75 billion in wages and benefits. U.S. co-ops include Ace Hardware, Land O'Lakes, Inc., Sunkist, REI and the Associated Press. Hazen helped establish federal legislation promoting rural co-op development, formed a national network of co-op development centers and initiated national research into the impact of co-ops on the U.S. economy. Active in cooperative matters at many levels, Hazen is the one of the founders of DotCoop the top-level domain for cooperatives around the world. He also serves on the boards of the National Cooperative Bank, Capital Impact Partners and the Community Purchasing Alliance Cooperative. Past board service includes the International Co-operative Alliance, Consumer Federation of American, Cooperative Development Foundation, Cooperative Business International and NCB Retail Finance Corporation.
Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard, Professor and Author of Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice appears on Everything Co-op. Mr. Oakes and Dr. Gordon Nembhard discuss her work on the development of worker Cooperatives with incarcerated and returning citizens, The Movement for Black Lives and other initiatives she has supported.
Vernon and Steve discuss Food For Change, his current film production, and how he uses a variety of storytelling techniques to convey the stories of today's cooperative movement. Alves is an award-winning documentary filmmaker who graduated from the University of Southern California Film School. After working in Hollywood and New York City as a film editor for 10 years, he moved to western Massachusetts and started his own documentary company, Home Planet Pictures. Two consistent themes in Alves' films are the inter-generational ties, and the role of community in American life. Since 1997, Alves has written, produced, and directed six films about New England and what it means to have a sense of place. His 2001 production. Together in Time, won a CINE Golden Eagle, Best Short Documentary at the International Family Film Festival, and a Gold Award from WorldFest-Houston. Alves is also the 2015 recipient of the Austin Miller Cooperative Hero Award, given by the River Valley Market. Alves continues this theme in his current production, Food For Change which tells the history of the co-op movement in the United Sates and role food co-ops are playing in the development of local food systems.
Vernon Oakes, Host of Everything Co-op, continues his evaluation of the 2016 Presidential Candidates as it relates to cooperative values and principles. Vernon takes the grades that were assigned to candidates during the previous discussion, and extends his evaluation based on the actions and platforms of the 2016 Presidential Candidates.
Vernon and Joe discuss the origins of GreenStar; the structure of the business, and its road to success. They also discuss Greenleaf's conversion to solar energy and many, the prospective opening of their new store, and the importance of participating in the upcoming Presidential election. Joe Romano has been the Marketing Manager at GreenStar Natural Foods Market for over a decade. Before his tenure at GreenStar, Joe worked in film and television in NYC for 20 years. Before that, he taught English Literature and Creative Writing at the City University of New York. He has a wife, a daughter and two cats, (in that order), and currently resides in Ithaca, NY. GreenStar Natural Foods Market was created by its members to successfully operate stores with a triple bottom line. The company holds profit, people and our planet as its primary concerns. The company supports the principles of fair wages and fair trade. Employees are paid fair wages and offer health benefits to employees who work 20 or more hours. Many of the goods and products that are sold are purchased locally and farmers and partners are paid fair wages. GreenStar is also committed to: cooperative principles and cooperation with other co-ops keeping prices as low as reasonable, community involvement and education, and cooperation with other co-ops and like-minded organizations are the guideposts we follow as cooperators.
Vernon interviews Gabe Snow and Laura Vogel, representatives from NRECA's (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association) Co-ops Vote team. Vernon and his guests discuss the resources that can be found on the Vote.coop website, the purpose of the site, and the importance of the upcoming presidential election. Co-ops Vote is a non-partisan project of America's Electric Cooperatives, designed to inform its members on key issues facing electric co-ops, and encourage them to vote and support their co-ops and the communities they serve when they go to the polls. The organization does not endorse or recommend any candidates for election, but offers access to information that will enable voters to make informed decisions when they vote. If you would like to review pertinent information about the candidates you will have an opportunity to vote for in the upcoming Presidential Election, but do not have the time to do the research, or just don't know where to begin, let Co-ops Vote do the work for you. The site features a Voter Resources page that offers links to voter information, including, but not limited to: a list of upcoming elections, Absentee Ballots, a polling place locator, and a list of Early Voting sites. If you want to find out if your name is still listed as eligible to vote, you can verify your eligibility right on the site. Visitors to the site can also review information on Presidential candidates, and all candidates associated with their voting districts. Co-ops Vote is your one-stop Vote site.
artist: Vernon Oakes title: Vernon Interviews Steve A;ves, Producer/Director of Food For Change album: Everything Co-op. year: 2016 genre: Speech (id 101) track: 9222016 Vernon and Steve discuss the film, the production of the film and how the film is being used to educate people about food cooperatives, and the history of cooperatives in general. Alves is an award-winning documentary filmmaker who graduated from the University of Southern California Film School. After working in Hollywood and New York City as a film editor for 10 years, he moved to western Massachusetts and started his own documentary company, Home Planet Pictures. Two consistent themes in Alves' films are the inter-generational ties, and the role of community in American life. Since 1997, Alves has written, produced, and directed six films about New England and what it means to have a sense of place. His 2001 production. Together in Time, won a CINE Golden Eagle, Best Short Documentary at the International Family Film Festival, and a Gold Award from WorldFest-Houston. Alves is also the 2015 recipient of the Austin Miller Cooperative Hero Award, given by the River Valley Market. Alves continues this trend in his current production, Food for Change, which tells the history of the co-op movement in the United Sates, and role food co-ops are playing in the development of local food systems.
Vernon interviews John Zippert, Director of Program Operations for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund (FSC). Vernon and John discuss his role in carrying out the objectives of FSC, and options for creating a formalized education program for cooperatives. John Zippert is the Director of Program Operations for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund at their Rural Training and Research Center in Epes, Alabama. He has over 45 years experience in community organizing, cooperative and credit union development, community based economic development and rural development in distressed communities. Prior to working for the Federation, he was a fieldworker for the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) in Louisiana. He has a BA degree in history from the City College of New York; and has participated in numerous training sessions and courses to enhance his skills in rural development. Zippert has worked with the Federation on the development of affordable housing for low income people in Alabama, including development, loan packaging and construction of over 250 units of single family housing, self-help housing and four rural multi-family projects with 126 units. Zippert and his wife Carol are co-publishers of the Greene County Democrat, the weekly newspaper in their home rural community. They have published the newspaper since it was acquired in December 1984 by a community group in the county.
Vernon interviews Cornelius Blanding Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives. Vernon and Cornelius wdiscuss FSC's upcoming Annual Meeting, and the role the Federation plays in assisting people to help themselves through cooperatives. Cornelius Blanding assumed the position of Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives earlier this year on March 1. He began his career in development work as an economic development intern for the City of Miami Beach. Since then he has gained a broad experience base including rural, international and cooperative economic development. Blanding has worked with the Federation for the past 17 years in various program and leadership capacities to propel the organization and its membership forward. Immediately prior to his appointment he served as the Federation's deputy director. During his tenure with the Federation, Blanding spearheaded several of the program's special initiatives, including its international work in Africa, the Caribbean and around the world. He has also spent more than two decades managing diverse, rural development projects worldwide. He has worked as a small business development and management consultant; managed a $3 million revolving loan fund, led disaster relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and a pilot urban agriculture project in Cleveland, Ohio. Blanding has also led the Federation's Cooperative Development Team working nationally and internationally to promote the cooperative movement. He developed the "Cooperative Roundtable" as part of the Federation's efforts to connect emerging and people-of-color cooperatives in the South with the more established cooperative movement in the nation. Cornelius has also served and continues to serve on various boards and committees, including the National Cooperative Business Association, Agricultural Safety & Health Council of America, Southeast Climate Consortium, Presbyterian Committee on the Self Development of People and was recently appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to serve on the Land Tenure Sub-Committee of the USDA Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers & Ranchers.
Vernon interviews Andrew Garte, the Chief Executive Officer at Community CleanWater Management Group, Inc. (CCMG). Vernon and Andrew discuss how CCMG has used co-op principals to create wealth building opportunities for the worker owners of their company. Andrew Garte is the Chief Executive Officer at Community CleanWater Management Group, Inc. Mr. Garte has over 30-years of experience in sustainability programs, pollution prevention,stormwater management, environmental management, site assessment and environmental consulting. Prior to joining CCMG Mr. Garte served as a Senior Environmental Scientist and Project Director at a number of large area environmental science and engineering firms. He holds a BS in Marine Biology from Southeastern Massachusetts University, is proficient in environmental regulations, including the Clean Water Act, and State and Local National Pollution Discharge Elimination Service requirements and Watershed Implementation Plans. He is experienced in water and land conservation planning and programs, natural resources management, sustainable development and renewable energy issues.
Vernon interviews Cornelius Blanding Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives. Vernon and Cornelius wdiscuss FSC's upcoming Annual Meeting, and the role the Federation plays in assisting people to help themselves through cooperatives. Cornelius Blanding assumed the position of Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives earlier this year on March 1. He began his career in development work as an economic development intern for the City of Miami Beach. Since then he has gained a broad experience base including rural, international and cooperative economic development. Blanding has worked with the Federation for the past 17 years in various program and leadership capacities to propel the organization and its membership forward. Immediately prior to his appointment he served as the Federation's deputy director. During his tenure with the Federation, Blanding spearheaded several of the program's special initiatives, including its international work in Africa, the Caribbean and around the world. He has also spent more than two decades managing diverse, rural development projects worldwide. He has worked as a small business development and management consultant; managed a $3 million revolving loan fund, led disaster relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and a pilot urban agriculture project in Cleveland, Ohio. Blanding has also led the Federation's Cooperative Development Team working nationally and internationally to promote the cooperative movement. He developed the "Cooperative Roundtable" as part of the Federation's efforts to connect emerging and people-of-color cooperatives in the South with the more established cooperative movement in the nation. Cornelius has also served and continues to serve on various boards and committees, including the National Cooperative Business Association, Agricultural Safety & Health Council of America, Southeast Climate Consortium, Presbyterian Committee on the Self Development of People and was recently appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to serve on the Land Tenure Sub-Committee of the USDA Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers & Ranchers.
Vernon interviews Judy Sullivan, Government Relations Representative for the National Association of Housing Cooperatives. Vernon and Judy discuss the role she plays in advocating in the interest of housing cooperatives as it relates to Bill #HR3863, that addresses the need for disaster relief through FEMA for cooperatives, and ways that others can participate in efforts to gain equal rights for cooperative housing. They also discuss other legislation and news that is relevant to cooperatives. Judy has over 25 years of comprehensive experience representing the National Association of Housing Cooperatives (NAHC) covering issues including Department of Housing and Urban Development home equity conversion mortgages or reverse mortgages, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Disaster Relief; Homeland Security flood insurance, Department of Veteran Affairs benefits, as well as tax issues. She is responsible for managing all congressional and federal regulatory issues of interest to NAHC, and represents NAHC with cooperative, multifamily housing and tax coalitions. Judy was a 2010 recipient of the Jerry Voorhis award, NAHC's highest honor that recognizes significant leadership in both theory and practice. She is a graduate of De Paul University in Chicago, IL, and was formerly a Government Relations Specialist with VanNess Feldman LLC.
Vernon and Melbah discuss the role women have played in the cooperative movement and in the facets of the movement that she has personally been involved with; and some of her experiences in working with groups to help form cooperatives and her personal experience of as a member of a local cooperative. Ms. McAfee Smith worked for nearly 40 years as a trusted co-op developer in some of the most impoverished areas of the country. She started her career with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, returning to her home state to lead the Mississippi Association of Cooperatives and the Mississippi Cooperative Development Center. Her visionary leadership and hands-on, grassroots approach to building communities have helped bring health care, economic development, and social justice to people in need through the cooperative model.Mrs. Smith was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in 2009.
Vernon interviews Charles Gould, Director-General of the International Co-operative Alliance. Vernon and Chuck discuss the "Blueprint for a Co-operative Decade," the impact of cooperatives on the economy, Co-op Identity, and new initiatives of The Alliance.
Vernon interviews John D. Johnson, retired President & CEO, CHS Inc., and 2017 Cooperative Hall of Fame Inductee. Vernon and John discuss his life work and experiences as a leader in the cooperative movement, and the history of CHS Inc. and how the cooperative business model and guiding principles were used to establish the business. John Johnson's vision and unwavering belief in the cooperative value proposition reshaped U.S. agricultural co-ops' ability to capture 21st century success. Grounded by his rural North Dakota and South Dakota roots, he dedicated his 34-year career to embracing innovative opportunities to connect producers from their farms and ranches to the global marketplace through their cooperatives. Johnson's leadership style combined a clear vision of the benefits of pursuing new paths, initially for Harvest States Cooperatives and later for CHS Inc., with an exceptional ability to articulate the benefits of these bold steps to member-owners, board members and employees with trust, integrity and transparency. Among the groundbreaking actions of his tenure were major investments in food manufacturing, establishment of global operations, development of alternative ownership structures, and issuance of publicly traded, non-voting preferred stock as an additional growth capital tool. With his fellow cooperative chief executive at Cenex, Inc., he recognized the long-term strategic value of uniting the two co-ops in 1998. To date, hundreds of thousands of CHS member co-ops and producer-owners have benefited from dependable product supply, global market access and unprecedented economic returns through their connections to CHS energy, fertilizer, grain marketing, value-added food and food ingredients and business services.
Vernon Oakes interviews Dennis Bolling, former President and CEO of Producers Livestock Association, and 2016 Cooperative Hall of Fame Inductee. Vernon and Dennis discuss his experience with the Producers Livestock Association and the importance of integrating training into the cooperative business plan to ensure that all members are knowledgeable of cooperative principles. Dennis Bolling was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Producers Livestock Association in April of 1989, for United Producers, Inc. until his recent retirement in December of 2015. Since his retirement Dennis has continued to provide consultation for the in-house training curriculum. It is clear that cooperatives will always be an integral part of his life. As such, earlier this month Dennis was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame for the lifelong contributions he has made to the cooperative community. Mr. Bolling has served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the National Livestock Producers Association, worked with the Governor's Task Force on Packer Retention, and chaired the finance panels for the Pork and Beef Strategic Planning projects in Ohio. He was instrumental in the formation of the National Livestock Sheep & Goat Fund in conjunction with USDA and served as the Fund's first chair. He recently completed a multi-year term as chair of the LEAD Program, a 2-year leadership program affiliated with Ohio State. Prior to joining United Producers, Mr. Bolling was an officer with the National Bank for Cooperatives, with responsibilities for regional cooperatives in Ohio.
Vernon uses excerpts from President Obama's speech during the reenactment of the March in Selma on Bloody Sunday 50 years ago to draw comparisons to the core principles of cooperatives.
Howard Brodsky, Co-founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of CCA Global Partners is interviewed by Vernon Oakes. Vernon and Howard discuss how he has used the cooperative business model to expand his cooperative partners, new ways to use social media to promote the cooperatives, and the organization he currently Chairs; Cooperatives for a Better World. Howard Brodsky is one of the leading cooperative leaders in America. He Co-founded CCA Global Partners with Alan Greenberg in 1984, and has never wavered in his commitment to expand his business, and promote the benefits of cooperatives. Brodsky is passionate about moving the cooperative business model forward to help bring power and equality back to local communities. Brodsky was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame, which recognizes individuals and companies who make unparalleled contributions in advancement of the principles of cooperation. One of his more notable accomplishments was being inducted into the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, along with such people as Michael Dell and Starbucks' Howard Schultz. Brodsky is Chairman of Cooperatives for a Better World, and on the Board of the National Cooperative Business Association. CCA Global Partners' cooperative business model has a proven track record of empowering thousands of entrepreneurs to succeed in a marketplace that is impacted by widespread consolidation. More than 2,800 retail stores in North America and abroad benefit from CCA's leadership through its 14 different businesses. CCA members and franchisees are engaged in: flooring, lighting products, biking, nonprofit and more.
Vernon Interviews Nikki Thompson and Judy Davis, Managers of GLUT Food Cooperative Vernon interviews Judy, a manager at GLUT Food Co-op. Vernon and Judy will discuss the structure of the cooperative, the value it brings to the community, and the area of the store she manages. Judy has been managing the Health and Beauty section of the store for more than 35 years. She orders everything from Essential Oils, Shea butter and Zuresh body cleansers to shampoo and Eco-friendly household cleaners. Nikki has been around Glut for a while. She orders a wide variety of snacks, cookies, crackers, pasta (including bulk pasta), chocolate, cereal, and packaged grains and mixes. Her section has a large number of flavors and options that our customers like, which are rotated depending price variations. Judy is joined by 11 other collective members each of whom manages a different section of the store. GLUT is a not-for-profit charitable trust, democratically managed by a collective. However, everyone is welcome to shop at GLUT Food Co-op, no membership or special card is required! The store carries quality vegetarian foods that are sold at reasonable prices. Among the store's specialties are organic and local produce, cheese and bulk department, where you will find grains, beans, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, baking supplies, granola, coffee, herbs and spices, pasta and more. The store also offers environmentally friendly health and beauty products, food supplements, vitamins and sundries. The Collective supports local and/or organic enterprises over conglomerates and agribusiness whenever possible. Glut has also traditionally supported peace, environmental and social justice movements.
Vernon interviews Charles Gould, Director-General of the International Co-operative Alliance. Vernon and Chuck discuss the "Blueprint for a Co-operative Decade," the impact of cooperatives on the economy, Co-op Identity, and new initiatives of The Alliance.
Vernon and his guests discuss the evolution of housing cooperatives in Washington, D.C., the prospect of forming a federation of limited equity housing cooperatives, and the role cooperatives play in improving the quality of life for its participants. Ajowa Nzinga Ifateyo has been a co-editor of Grassroots Economic Organizing, (GEO) for more than 10 years. GEO, a 30-year-old publication, reports on cooperative developments around the world, and provides advocacy for alternative economic solutions. Her work with GEO has inspired her to research and think about ways to empower individuals to make personal changes to better organize and participate in cooperative/group entrepreneurial enterprises. Ajowa has nine years of experience on cooperative boards, including: Ujamaa Collective, the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives, and the Eastern Conference on Workplace Development. In 2000, she and four other D.C. residents co-founded an affordable housing co-op for community organizers, the Ella Jo Baker Intentional Community Cooperative, in Washington, DC, where she served as treasurer and secretary-treasurer for about six years. Presently, Ajowa is researching how to effectively incorporate spirituality in the work of organizing co-ops. Amanda Huron is an Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences in the Department of Political Science, History, and Global Studies at the University of the District of Columbia. She has conducted extensive research on cooperatives, and written several articles on the subject, including Creating a Commons in the Capital: The Emergence of Limited-Equity Housing Cooperatives in Washington, D.C. (Washington History, Fall 2014).
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Vernon interviews Hall of Fame Hero Dr. Ann Hoyt. Vernon and Dr. Hoyt discuss her journey as a Cooperator, cooperatives in the Italian prison system, consumer cooperatives, economic justice, and economic Democracy.
Vernon Oakes interviews Kim Koontz, and Mai Nguyen, Executive Director and Cooperative Development Specialist at the California Center for Cooperative Development (CCCD). They discussed the upcoming California Co-op Conference, which will be held in San Diego, and programs and many different programs and services offered through CCCD.
Everything Co-op, is a radio show that airs on WOL, Radio One's premiere talk show station. The show features people who have influenced or participated in the advancement of the cooperative business model to change lives and/or help people to leverage cooperation, for the betterment of others.
Vernon interviews Charles E. Snyder, President and CEO of National Cooperative Bank (NCB). As Everything Coop begins its celebration of National Co-op Month and its 3rd Anniversary, Vernon explores this year’s theme of "Cooperatives Build." Vernon and Mr. Snyder discuss different types of cooperatives that are supported by NCB, and the importance of cooperative banking. Charles E. Snyder is the president and chief executive officer of National Cooperative Bank and leads its Executive Council, a team of senior managers representing business development units and functional areas across the company. Mr. Snyder joined NCB in 1983 as corporate vice president and chief financial officer. In 1992, he was named president and chief executive officer. Mr. Snyder serves on numerous boards, including the Consumer Federation of America, National Cooperative Business Association, a membership association representing every type of cooperative in America. In 2011, Mr. Snyder was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame and in 2007 received the Jerry Voorhis Award, the National Association of Housing Cooperative's most prestigious honor. Both awards recognize Mr. Snyder for his longstanding work of promoting and preserving cooperatives.
Ron Hantz, Board President of the Network for Developing Conscious Communities, Appears on Everything Co-op. Vernon and Ron discuss how the organization uses cooperative principles to build economically sound and equitable communities. Hantz, has more than 25 years of experience in the development of affordable housing. When addressing the need for minorities to challenge the institutional barriers that impede the economic, social and leadership development in their communities, he said, "Our ultimate goal should be to learn how to replicate best practices, how to develop indigenous leadership and how to build collaborative community based partnerships." The Network for Developing Conscious Communities was founded 2014 as a 501 © (3) non-profit community development membership organization. Through implementing the principles of conscious community development, the organization seeks to build economically cooperative and equitable communities through transparency, inclusiveness and collectivism. NDCC successfully works to improve financial sustainability, encourage business ownership and increase residential real estate ownership in Black neighborhoods.