Everything Co-op With Vernon Oakes

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 branch

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

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

​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 Boar

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 boo

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.