Everything Co-op With Vernon Oakes

Vernon Oakes reviews the Democratic Debate and compares the principles and positions that were discussed with the seven core cooperative principles.

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 Monique Rizer, Executive Director of Opportunity Nation. Vernon and Monique discuss Our Opportunity Nation, the 2017 Opportunity Index, and other research and reports being used to close the opportunity gap in America. Since September of 2015, Monique Rizer has been the Executive Director of Opportunity Nation. Under her leadership, the team has grown supporters by 35 percent and developed "Our Opportunity Nation," a national opportunity plan that was featured in the Washington Post, and garnered the endorsement of more than 130 organizations. Prior to joining Opportunity Nation, Monique served as the Chief of Staff for Be The Change, Inc., Opportunity Nation's parent organization. She also served as deputy director of military spouse programs for the Military Officers Association of America, where she founded Keeping a Career on the Move®, which earned the American Society for Association Executives (ASAE) 'Power of A' Silver Award. Monique is a national spokesperson on opportunity. She has

Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated in Canada, in the United States, in some of the Caribbean islands and in Liberia. It was originally celebrated as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. On Thanksgiving, Vernon hosted Everything Co-op's first Open Mic, to give cooperatives, and the public a chance to give Thanks for their Cooperative Blessings. Several listeners called in to talk about their appreciation as consumers of cooperative businesses. However, Vernon took the opportunity to actually give an overview of the seven guiding principles of cooperatives. So, if you ever wanted to take a Co-op 101 course, then look no further. You only have to listen to this show. 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. Mr. Oakes is the immediate Past President of the National Association of Housing Cooperatives, and serves on several boards to adva

Vernon discusses the relationship between Spirituality and Cooperatives

Vernon interviews David Levine, President/CEO of the American Sustainable Business Council, (ASBC). Vernon and David discuss the philosophy and strategies ASBC uses to educate and inform the public and policy makers about the benefits of a more sustainable economy. David is the co-founder and chief executive officer of the American Sustainable Business Council. He has worked as a social entrepreneur for over 30 years focusing on the development of whole systems solutions for a more sustainable society through building strategic partnerships and broad stakeholders' initiatives. Previously, he was the Founding Director of Continuing Education & Public Programs at The Graduate Center, City University of New York. From 1984-1997, David was Founder and executive director of the Learning Alliance, an independent popular education organization. Established in 2009, the American Sustainable Business Council is a network of businesses and business associations that have committed themselves to the triple bottom line o

Vernon interviews Ellis Carr, President and CEO of Capital Impact. Vernon and Ellis discuss how Capital Impact effects systemic change - from social systems to government programs - so that all people have paths out of poverty. Ellis Carr has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services and mortgage industries. Mr. Carr served as Capital Impact's Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer from July, 2012 until his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer in May, 2016. Prior to joining Capital Impact, he held various positions in the investments, capital markets, strategy and corporate finance areas within Freddie Mac and in fixed income fund management both domestically and abroad at Deutsche Bank. Mr. Carr is a trustee of the NHP Foundation; the Treasurer and Board member of Martha's Table and Housing Partnership Network (HPN); Vice Chairman and Board member of the Opportunity Finance Network (OFN). In 2015, he was recognized as one of the "Top 40 under 40" business executives by the Was

Vernon interviews Rebecca Smith, General Manager of REI's Flagship store in Washington, DC. Vernon and Rebecca discuss how REI got started, its evolution, culture, business structure, and how it functions as a consumer cooperative. In October of 2016 REI, the national outdoor co-op, opened its fifth flagship store in Washington, D.C. The 51,000 square-will foot store, located in the NOMA neighborhood is just blocks from the U.S. Capitol. The store offers the outdoor community a spot to reconnect with one another and discover world-class outdoor gear curated specifically for the region. REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation's largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of 5.5 million active members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. REI has 143 stores in 35 states.

Vernon interviews community organizer, Silvia Inéz Salazar. Vernon and Ms. Salazar discuss the role she has played in organizing cooperatives in Washington, DC, and how cooperatives can be used to solve community problems. Silvia Inéz Salazar has been organizing housing and worker owned cooperatives in DC for the past ten years. She serves as a Trustee for the Consumer Health Foundation and Board Member and was recently appointed Board Chair for the Latino Economic Development Center. As a volunteer organizer and Leadership Council Member for Cooperation DC, she is organizing worker-owned childcare cooperative in the District of Columbia called Co-Familia. In 2005, Silvia, along with her fellow founding members, decided to reach out to their neighbors in an effort to start a tenant association to fix ongoing maintenance problems and resist displacement to make way for condominiums. The combination of organizing actions, lawsuits, media coverage, and community support finally caused the landlord to sell the bu

Vernon Oakes, host of Everything Co=op interviews Charles E. Snyder, President and CEO of National Cooperative Bank (NCB). Vernon and Mr. Snyder discuss the impact NCB has had in the cooperative community, and the importance of the cooperative principles. Charles E. Snyder is the president and chief executive officer of National Cooperative Bank and leads its Executive Council, a team of senior managers representing business development units and functional areas across the company. Mr. Snyder joined NCB in 1983 as corporate vice president and chief financial officer. In 1992, he was named president and chief executive officer. Mr. Snyder serves on numerous boards, including the Consumer Federation of America, National Cooperative Business Association, a membership association representing every type of cooperative in America. In 2011, Mr. Snyder was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame and in 2007 received the Jerry Voorhis Award, the National Association of Housing Cooperative's most prestigious honor

Vernon Oakes, host of Everything Co-op, interviews Hugh B. Price, Civil Rights Leader, Attorney, Author and Foundation Executive. Vernon and Hugh discuss his autobiography, and how the cooperative principles were interwoven throughout his family history. Hugh B. Price is a long-time civil rights leader, activist and public intellectual. As president of the National Urban League from 1994 to 2003, he launched the League's historic Campaign for African-American Achievement, spearheaded pressure on the federal government to combat police brutality and racial profiling, vigorously defended affirmative action, and helped repair frayed relations between the black and Jewish communities. He has been an editorial writer for the New York Times, senior vice president in charge of national production at WNET/Thirteen in New York City, and vice president of the Rockefeller Foundation. Recently Prince released his reflective autobiography, This African American Life (Blair, 2017). His numerous television appearances range

Vernon Oales interviews Jessica Johnson, Regional Director of Community Purchasing Alliance (CPA). Vernon and Jessica discuss the business practices of CPA, and how the organization has saved its members over #3 million dollars in the past three years. Vernon Oakes interviews Jessica Johnson, Regional Director of Community Purchasing Alliance (CPA). Vernon and Jessica talk about how CPA has leveraged the buying power of community institutions to help lower operating costs, while also making investments in sustainability, worker equity, and community organizing. As Regional Director of CPA, Jessica Johnson manages the group purchasing and strategic sourcing of CPA's 75 member community institutions in the Washington DC region. Jessica has 13 years of management, sales, and contracting experience working in the for-profit, non-profit and government sectors. Most recently Jessica led a team at Education Data Systems, Inc. where she assisted with the procurement of $2 million in annual contracts. She also managed

Vernon Interviews Campbell C. Johnson III, Chair of the Urban Housing Alliance, (UHA). Vernon and Campbell discuss how UHA provides assistance to help DC residents address issues related to gentrification, and the rising cost of owning property in Washington DC. Urban Housing Alliance (UHA) is a community-based, non-profit organization that implements a range of educational advocacy, services and programs to fight displacement of low and moderate income residents, improve their quality of life, and to foster economic development that uplifts this community and its constituents (families, youth, elderly, and special needs). The core belief, obligation and pledge of UHA is: "Economic development should uplift a community, it should not and must not uproot its residents".

John Torres, VP of Communication and Public Relations for the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International is interviewed on Everything Co-op. Vernon and John discuss the Co-op Festival, 2017 Co-op Impact Conference, and other initiatives being sponsored by NCBA/CLUSA. John Torres serves as the Vice President of Communication and Public Relations for the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA), an organization that 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, John has worked in multi-cultural envir

Vernon interviews Monique Rizer, Executive Director of Opportunity Nation. Vernon and Monique discuss Our Opportunity Nation, the 2017 Opportunity Index, and other research and reports being used to close the opportunity gap in America. Since September of 2015, Monique Rizer has been the Executive Director of Opportunity Nation. Under her leadership, the team has grown supporters by 35 percent and developed "Our Opportunity Nation," a national opportunity plan that was featured in the Washington Post, and garnered the endorsement of more than 130 organizations. Prior to joining Opportunity Nation, Monique served as the Chief of Staff for Be The Change, Inc., Opportunity Nation's parent organization. She also served as deputy director of military spouse programs for the Military Officers Association of America, where she founded Keeping a Career on the Move®, which earned the American Society for Association Executives (ASAE) 'Power of A' Silver Award. Monique is a national spokesperson on opportunity. She has

Gail Taylor, is the owner/operator of Three Part Harmony Farm. A long-time resident of the District, Taylor has worked as an organizer and social justice activist focusing on Latin America solidarity (internationally) and affordable housing issues (locally.) She has been farming organically since 2005. Taylor speaks regularly on food and farming issues and has been featured in The Washington Post in 2014 and 2015 for her role as a leader in the urban ag movement. In 2015, she was featured as one of Fifty+ under 50: Innovative leaders transforming metro DC’s food system. She is a member of the Seed Keeper’s Collective, Ecohermanas, and co-founder of Community Farming Alliance. Three Part Harmony Farm exists to grow food for people, but it also exists in part to challenge our assumptions on how urban farms should look. It intentionally seeks to create a viable and just local food economy while at the same time dismantling racism and the ever present, entrenched forms of oppression in that same food system. Thre

Vernon interviews Marcella Charles Casto, Assistant Principal and Career Technology Education Administrator at Mingo Central High, Vernon and Marcella the Simulated Workplace Program, other programs she administers at Mingo Central High School, and how cooperatives can be incorporated into the academic programs to further enhance them. The simulated workplace program is the brainchild of Kathy D'Antoni, assistant state superintendent of schools for the Division of Technical, Adult and Institutional Education, and it is going into its fifth year. Students must apply for a job, go through an interview, be subject to a random drug testing, and develop a portfolio of work projects and certifications. Ms. Charles Casto is dedicated to working with youth in this program. The program address common concerns that businesses have of today's youth. "Over the last three years, what we have heard from business and industry leaders is that kids don't understand customer service, they don't have a strong work ethic, and th

Vernon interviews Brad Mitchell, Managing Director, Battelle for Kids. Vernon and Brad discuss his innovative approached to advance education reform, with an emphasis on his focus on rural collaboratives. As a Managing Director, Brad leads Battelle for Kids' efforts to advance innovative education reform, especially around rural collaboratives that serve as practice partners in research and practice partnerships focused on advancing access, equity and quality for rural students. He previously led the Ohio Appalachian Collaborative, a partnership between Battelle for Kids and 27 school districts in southeast Ohio dedicated to developing a comprehensive approach to accelerating college and career readiness. Throughout his career, Brad has worked at the national and state levels in the role of educational policy analyst, serving on the staff of the 1982 National Commission on Excellence in Education (A Nation at Risk) and as Director of Community Partnerships for the Ohio Children and Family First Initiative.

Vernon interviews Kate Mereand, Program Manager for Tech & Innovation, DC Department of Small and Local Business Development. Vernon and Kate discuss the Stakeholders Co-op group, and other programs and initiatives of DC Department of Small and Local Business Development. Ms. Mereand provides one-on-one technical assistance to any DC-based business seeking to grow, with a special focus on diversity inclusion across all business industries and the tech sector. Her work includes providing support for the overall entrepreneurial ecosystem, to ensure it is both inclusive and innovative. She also conducts stakeholder groups and pilot programs to support specific populations in the District as they pursue entrepreneurship, including: youth, the disability community, cooperatives, and those involved with the justice system. To that end Ms. Mereand has been supporting a monthly, open stakeholder group on building the cooperative ecosystem in DC for the last six months, and will operate that programming through at lea

Vernon Interviews Ms. Noémi Giszpenc, Executive Director of Cooperative Development Institute. Vernon and Noémi discuss the role that cooperatives can play in the Arts,the role that African American Women have played in the cooperative movement, and CDI's work to help start-up cooperatives, and support existing cooperative businesses. Ms. Giszpenc, manages the day-to-day activities of the organization. She began her career as an economics researcher at the World Bank, worked as an editor at the Nonprofit Quarterly, a magazine for nonprofit managers, and became a principal at Ownership Associates, Inc., a consulting firm in Cambridge, MA specializing in developing an ownership culture at employee-owned firms. As part of earning a Master's in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University, she did a thesis on the creation of a cooperative economy in the Northeast, including the practical development of an interactive cooperative directory, which has now evolved into the Data Commons Coope