Everything Co-op With Vernon Oakes

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 manufacture

November 21, 2024 In 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.

December 12, 2024 Everything 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 Princ

November 14, 2024 In 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 lo

November 7, 2024 This 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 t

October 31, 2024 This 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 posi

October 24, 2024 Vernon Oakes, the host of Everything Co-op, conducts a comparative analysis of the cooperative values and principles of the presidential candidates.

October 17, 2024 Nathan 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, 2024 Following 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, 2024 In 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).

September 26, 2024 This 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 A

September 12, 2024 Vernon 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 k

September 5, 2024 Everything 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 inv

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

August 22, 2024 Everything 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 o

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. A

August 8, 2024 This 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 consulti

August 1, 2024 This 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 ju

July 24, 2024 Vernon 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