Everything Co-op With Vernon Oakes

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

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. S

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

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 includi

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 fr

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".

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 th

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,

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 Departmen

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 e

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,