Everything Co-op With Vernon Oakes

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 Par

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,

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,

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 i

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

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 pro

Co-op Festival

Steve Dubb, senior editor at The Nonprofit Quarterly, (NPQ) by Everything Co-op

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,

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 Este

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 develop

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 te

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 a

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, Y

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

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 resear

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.