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 De...
Jan 01, 2018•48 min
As we continue our celebration of Women's History Month, and focus on the theme of Honoring Trailblazing Women in Labor and Business, we pay tribute to an advocate who is a true trailblazer Ms. Elizabeth (Liz) Bailey. Vernon and Ms. Bailey discuss the role women have played in the "herstory" of cooperative movement, and in the facets of the movement that she has personally been involved with. Liz Bailey is Managing Principal of The Bailey Group LLC, a Washington DC-based consulting firm focused ...
Jan 01, 2018•52 min
Vernon Oakes and Ms. Haynes discussed her life work and experiences as a leader in the cooperative movement, and how Faith Community United Credit Union changed lives and addressed so many community problems during her tenure. Rita Haynes dedicated her nearly 60-year career to serving the financial needs of disadvantaged communities in Cleveland, Ohio. Her innovations transformed the credit union industry with the development of products to combat predatory lending and harnessed financial resour...
Jan 01, 2018•49 min
Vernon and Dr. Hoyt discuss the influence Women have had within the cooperative movement; organizations and resources available to help cooperative startups, and how women have used cooperatives to solve community problems. Hoyt is an internationally known expert on cooperatives, who began her distinguished career in the 1960s as a member of the Berkley Consumer Food Co-op. Her academic interest in cooperatives took root in graduate school at University of California at Davis, where her Master's...
Jan 01, 2018•48 min
Vernon and Michael discuss his White Paper, "MRAGA" - Make Rural America Great Again: An Infrastructure Road-Map for Rural America's High-Road Institutional Stewards. Michael Peck strives to overcome inequalities of wealth/income, opportunity, and social mobility by applying the sixty years of Mondragon experience and principles to form, transform, and transition worker co-ops and union co-ops. Since late 1999, Michael Alden Peck has served as the North American delegate for Mondragon, the world...
Jan 01, 2018•50 min
Vernon and Doug discuss the programs, resources and events offered through NCBA/CLUSA. They also so discuss efforts to establish a food cooperative in Washington, DC's Wards 7 and 8, and resources that are available to assist groups with starting food cooperatives. They rounded out the show with a discussion about the work that is being done through the CLUSA International arm of the organization. Doug O'Brien serves as Executive Vice President for Programs at NCBA CLUSA, where he works with the...
Jan 01, 2018•49 min
Everything Co-ops Host, Vernon Oakes, interviews Rodney North, Cooperative Consultant, and member of the DC Cooperative Stakeholders Group. Vernon and Rodney discuss events and initiatives of the Stakeholders Group, their upcoming workshop, “How Co-ops Strengthen Neighborhoods,” and the DC Anchor Partnership. Rodney North has spent more than two decades in co-ops, helping co-ops, or advocating for the co-op model, and usually was doing all three at the same time. Today Rodney is consultant to co...
Jan 01, 2018•50 min
Richard Larochelle, retired Senior Vice President, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, and 2017 Cooperative Hall of Fame Inductee appears on Everything Co-op, Vernon and Richard discuss the food co-op he's helping to form in his community, and his life work and experiences as a leader in the cooperative movement. Rich Larochelle has spent his life championing the cooperative business model. During a 40-year electric cooperative career -including nearly a decade with the fed...
Jan 01, 2018•51 min
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. Gro...
Jan 01, 2018•52 min
Vernon Oakes, Host of Everything Co-op, Interviews Janis Hazel, ANC Commissioner and Director of Communications for Washington, D.C. Councilmember, Vincent Gray. Vernon and Janis discuss legislation introduced by Councilmember Gray, and how cooperatives can help to advance his agenda. Janis is serving a third term as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC 7D05) in Ward 7 of Washington, DC. She is the Director of Communications for Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent C. Gray and has served as Direct...
Jan 01, 2018•50 min
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 ...
Jan 01, 2018•49 min
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 supp...
Jan 01, 2018•51 min
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 le...
Jan 01, 2018•52 min
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 Institutio...
Jan 01, 2018•51 min
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...
Jan 01, 2018•50 min
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...
Jan 01, 2018•48 min
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 i...
Jan 01, 2018•26 min
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, ...
Jan 01, 2018•51 min
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 inve...
Jan 01, 2018•49 min
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...
Jan 01, 2018•51 min
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 j...
Jan 01, 2018•49 min
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 volun...
Jan 01, 2018•50 min
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...
Jan 01, 2018•53 min
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 ...
Jan 01, 2018•47 min
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 s...
Jan 01, 2018•50 min
Vernon discusses the relationship between Spirituality and Cooperatives
Jan 01, 2018•44 min
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 busin...
Jan 01, 2018•46 min
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...
Jan 01, 2018•51 min
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...
Jan 01, 2018•50 min
Vernon Oakes reviews the Democratic Debate and compares the principles and positions that were discussed with the seven core cooperative principles.
Jan 01, 2018•48 min
