Everything Co-op With Vernon Oakes

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 Arizmend

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 Communicati

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 Vir

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 re

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 cre

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 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 GLU

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 A

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 Hardw

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

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 featu

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

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

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

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 Intention

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 A

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

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,