Everything Co-op with Vernon Oakes

March 27, 2025 Everything Co-op continues its Women's History Month series centering on the theme “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations,” set by the National Women's History Alliance. This episode features Renee Hatcher, Professor and Director of the Community Enterprise & Solidarity Economy Clinic at UIC Law. Vernon and Renee discuss the vital role of solidarity economy and cooperatives at this moment in history. Renee Hatcher is a human rights and cooperative lawyer and solidarity economy organizer. She is currently a Visiting Associate Professor of Clinical Law at GW Law School in DC. She serves as the Director of the Community Enterprise & Solidarity Economy Clinic at UIC Law in Chicago, a pro bono legal clinic that provides free legal support to community-based businesses, non-profits, cooperatives, and other solidarity economy enterprises. Recently, Renee served as the Co-Director of Chicago Community Wealth Building Ecosystem at CUPPA's Center on Urban Economic Development (CUED). Renee has significant experience organizing and providing legal support to worker cooperatives and community-based initiatives to empower workers and community residents. Her work and research focus on legal and non-legal strategies to build power in Black, low-income neighborhoods and other communities of color rooted in solidarity economy organizing and theory. In 2022, the city of Chicago allocated $15 million dollars to support the cooperative ecosystem, including a substantial grant to UIC, as the “hub” organization, to conduct research and convene the Chicago Community Wealth Building Ecosystem. Renee co-directs the “hub” with her close colleague, Associate Professor Stacey Sutton. Most recently, Renee served on Mayor Johnson's Transition Committee on Economic Vitality and Equity. This appointment has been a part of Renee's long-standing efforts to advance cooperative development in Chicago to improve the lives of Black, brown, and poor communities.

March 20, 2025 Everything Co-op continues its Women's History Month series, that follows the theme “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations” set by the National Women's History Alliance. This episode features E. Kim Coontz, Executive Director for the California Center for Cooperative (CCCD). Vernon and Kim discuss how her work continues to educate and inspire future generations. E. Kim Coontz is the Executive Director of the California Center for Cooperative Development (CCCD), a nonprofit dedicated to fostering and supporting cooperatives. With over 30 years of experience, she began her cooperative work at UC Davis' Center for Cooperatives before co-founding CCCD when the program closed. Kim has helped launch cooperatives, led governance seminars, provided technical assistance, and conducted research to strengthen the cooperative movement. She has authored over a dozen publications including Bringing Families Together: A Guide to Parent Cooperatives, Steps to Starting a Worker Co-op and Steps to Starting a Marketing Co-op. Kim has also contributed to various journals. Her contributions have earned her awards from the National Association of Housing Cooperatives, Parent Cooperative Preschools International, and the California Council of Parent Participation Preschools. Previously, she was the Executive Director of Yolo Mutual Housing Association.

March 13. 2025 - Everything Co-op continues its Women's History Month series with the theme “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations,” set by the National Women's History Alliance. This episode features cooperative advocates Stacey Sutton Ph.D., Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, and Assata Richards, founding director of the Sankofa Research Institute. Stacey and Assata discuss the necessary components for building a solidarity economy and share their research findings related to social/economic justice Stacey Sutton Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago in the Department of Urban Planning and Policy. She co-directs the Solidarity Economy Research, Policy & Law Project, which serves as the hub for the City of Chicago's Community Wealth Building Ecosystem. This initiative aims to promote local, democratic, and shared ownership of community assets to create more sustainable and just economies. Her research focuses on solidarity economy, economic democracy, and racial equity. Stacey Sutton Ph.D. is also a Board member of the New Economy Coalition, a Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing, and a Senior Researcher with the Small Business Anti-Displacement Network. She is currently working on a book titled "Real Black Utopias," which explores Black-centered worker cooperatives and solidarity economy ecosystems in various US cities. Stacey Sutton Ph.D. holds a BA from Loyola University, an MBA from New York University, an MS from The New School for Social Research, and a joint Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Sociology from Rutgers University. Her extensive involvement in various organizations underscores her commitment to social justice and economic democracy. Assata is the founding director of the Sankofa Research Institute (SRI), a nonprofit with a mission to “create knowledge to build community” through community-based participatory research. In addition, as a public sociologist, Assata serves as the Board President of the newly formed Houston Community Land Trust, the Third Ward Cooperative Community Builders, and the Emancipation Economic Development Council. Most recently, she was elected as the founding board president of the Community Care Cooperative, Houston's first home care agency owned by caregivers and the nation's first community health workers' cooperative business. Lastly, she is a founding member of We Are The Ones, a cooperative working to build a “Black Solidarity Economy,” enabling community members to define what success is for them and hold accountable institutions that claim to act on their behalf and develop economic enterprises that fairly compensate workers and build community wealth.

March 6, 2025 - Everything Co-op launches its Women's History Month series. The 2025 theme, set by the National Women's History Alliance, is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations,” celebrating women leaders in education and mentorship. The inaugural episode of the series features cooperative advocates Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D., Professor at John Jay College, and Ahzjah-Netjer Simons, Co-Executive Director of the Georgia Cooperative Development Center. Dr. Gordon Nembhard Ahzjah-Netjer Simons discuss the insights gained from their interviews with Black women cooperators, and their future plans. 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 of Saskatchewan; and past board member of Association of Cooperative Educators. Ahzjah-Netjer Simons is a transformative leader committed to empowering cooperative businesses and communities through education, strategy, and innovation. She holds key roles such as Co-Executive Director of the Georgia Cooperative Development Center, P6 Ambassador for the NCBA, and President of Digico Global. With 25 years in media activism and 18 years as a cooperative leader, Simons has earned the CCMA Cooperative Service Award. She founded International Co-op Media and launched Co-op Nation to illuminate the cooperative movement and its impact. Additionally, she co-created Women In Cooperation, a pass the mic podcast, digital magazine, and community dedicated to uplifting and amplifying women in the cooperative space.

February 27, 2025 - This episode marks the conclusion of Everything Co-op's Black History Month series, focusing on the 2025 theme set by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH): "African Americans and Labor." This theme examines how different forms of labor—free and unfree, skilled and unskilled, vocational and voluntary—have shaped Black experiences throughout history. Vernon Oakes continues this discussion alongside three leaders from VOLTS (Village of Leaders Thriving in Solidarity): Camille Kerr, co-founder of Upside-Down Consulting, Edrinna Bryant, co-owner of ChiFresh Kitchen and Jumpstart Housing Cooperative, and Sharon Hopkins, co-owner of 6ix-cess Foods. VOLTS is a newly formed non-profit that builds on years of cooperative development work to create lasting economic justice for formerly incarcerated individuals, particularly Black women. By formalizing and expanding its model, VOLTS provides the structure and support needed to scale worker-owned businesses and cooperative housing initiatives. Through this ecosystem, it creates pathways for dignified employment, stable housing, and community wealth-building, ensuring that those most impacted by incarceration have ownership and decision-making power in the businesses and homes they create. Its ecosystem includes: ChiFresh Kitchen, a worker cooperative offering institutional meal services, Jumpstart Housing Cooperative, which provides affordable homeownership opportunities, and 6ix-cess Foods, an emerging worker-owned food manufacturing business. Through these initiatives, VOLTS demonstrates how cooperative ownership can drive long-term economic security, self-determination, and systemic change in Chicago.

February 13, 2025 - Everything Co-op continues its Black History Month series, exploring the 2025 theme designated by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH): "African Americans and Labor." This theme highlights the diverse ways labor—free and unfree, skilled and unskilled, vocational and voluntary—has shaped the collective experiences of Black people. Vernon will continue his exploration of this history, shedding light on its impact and significance. In this segment, Vernon discusses the history of African Americans and Labor, and transitions to how cooperatives can be used to help communities push through this period where labor is at the center of economic survival. Vernon Oakes is a dedicated advocate for cooperatives who was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in 2024. He is the Past President of the National Association of Housing Cooperatives and has served on numerous boards and committees advancing cooperative interests. His contributions also extend to the Limited Equity Cooperative Task Force, initiated by Anita Bonds, an At-Large Member of the Council of the District of Columbia. As an MBA graduate of Stanford University, Vernon has applied his business expertise to serve the community, championing the benefits of the cooperative business model.

February 6, 2025 Everything Co-op inaugurates its Black History Month series. The theme for the 2025 Black History Month, as designated by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), is "African Americans and Labor." This theme emphasizes the significant and varied ways in which different forms of labor—both free and unfree, skilled and unskilled, vocational and voluntary—intersect with the collective experiences of Black people. Vernon begins his of African Americans and Labor in a discussion with Julian Hill, an abolitionist and lawyer who specializes in the solidarity economy. Julian Hill is an assistant professor at Georgia State University College of Law. Hill is a teacher, lifelong learner, community organizer, artist, and attorney who knows that the world we deserve, though both possible and necessary, is not inevitable. Hill regularly advises worker cooperatives, collectives, nonprofits, and small businesses on a range of matters, including governance, contracts, regulatory compliance, and corporate law matters. Hill is also known to partner with community-based organizations to co-facilitate political education and co-develop policies and campaigns. They have facilitated workshops, both in English and Spanish, on worker cooperatives and the solidarity economy with Law 4 Black Lives, the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives, Democracy at Work Institute, the New York City Network of Worker Cooperatives, and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, among others. They have prepared and delivered testimony before both the New York State Assembly and the New York City Council on issues facing worker cooperatives and small businesses in New York City. Hill is licensed to practice law in Georgia, New York and Washington, D.C.

January 30, 2025 Patton McDowell, the founder of PMA Nonprofit Leadership, shares insights into the firm's services and core principles. PMA Nonprofit Leadership is a consulting firm dedicated to helping skilled individuals thrive in nonprofit leadership through three primary offerings: providing valuable content and resources, offering personalized coaching and training, and delivering organizational consulting in areas such as strategic planning and fundraising. Patton also serves as Director of the Institute for Philanthropic Leadership, where he facilitates its two signature programs: Leadership Gift School and the Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy Program. He is also the host of over 300 episodes of the podcast "Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership," and the author of a book by the same title. He leads the Mastermind Leadership Development Program, a signature coaching initiative designed to develop nonprofit leaders across the country. He earned a bachelor's degree in English Education as a Morehead Scholar at UNC Chapel Hill, an MBA from the McColl School of Business at Queens, and a Doctorate in Education (Organizational Change and Leadership) from the University of Southern California. Patton is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), and a Master Trainer for AFP Global. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Wildacres Leadership Initiative and is an Executive in Residence at the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell University.

January 23, 2025 amaha sellassie, the board president of Gem City Market and Vernon discuss the progression of of Gem City Market and the cooperative agenda of 2025, in the Year of the Co-op. amaha sellassie is a peace builder, social healer, freedom fighter, network weaver and lover of humanity. amaha is a practitioner scholar dedicated to building bridges of trust, healing historical wounds, and harnessing the unique gifts and talents of every human being as we press towards a just and equitable society. A dedicated community organizer, amaha champions the causes of marginalized groups, striving to amplify their voices in public policy. As a co-founder of the Gem City Market, amaha has been instrumental in a community-led initiative to address food apartheid by enhancing access to fresh produce in West Dayton. Additionally, amaha serves as the Director of the Center for Applied Social Issues, and is a Sociology professor at Sinclair Community College.

January 16, 2025 Malik Kenyatta Yakini, Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN). Vernon and Malik discuss the food sovereignty movement, and the Detroit Peoples Food Co-op's progress and challenges since its opening. Malik Kenyatta Yakini is an activist and educator who is committed to freedom and justice for African people in particular, and humanity in general. Yakini is a co-founder and the Executive Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, which operates a seven-acre farm in Detroit and spearheaded efforts to establish the Detroit Food Policy Council. He served as a member of the Michigan Food Policy Council from 2008 - 2010. From 2011 - 2013 he served on the steering committee of Uprooting Racism Planting Justice. He is a co-founder and on the leadership team of the National Black Food and Justice Alliance.

January 2, 2025 Ron Hantz, Executive Director of the Network Developing Conscious Communities (NDCC), offers insights into the growth required in the co-op movement within Black communities and outlines plans for NDCC for the forthcoming year. Ron Hantz has been instrumental in advocating a new community development paradigm based on “conscious community development” He is a former Adjunct Professor, in the Africana Studies Department, at the University Maryland Baltimore County, and founded the Network for Developing Conscious Communities (NDCC) in 2014. He now leads the organization's efforts on advocacy and building a sustainable ecosystem for Black governed community development organizations. Under his leadership, NDCC has emerged as a grass roots voice on promoting the use of principle-based practices to regenerate under-resourced Black communities. The Network for Developing Conscious Communities was founded 2014 as a 501 © (3) non-profit community development membership organization. Through implementing principles of conscious community development, the organization seeks to build economically cooperative and equitable communities through transparency, inclusiveness and collectivism. NDCC successfully works to improve financial sustainability, encourage business ownership and increase residential real estate ownership in Black neighborhoods.

December 26, 2024 Everything Co-op continues to highlight choices from its 2024 Holiday list. This episode features an interview with Adrian Roman, co-owner of Colmenar Cooperative Consulting (Colmenar). Adrian discusses how the Colmenar team leverages their experiences as immigrants and their skills in navigating diverse cultures, languages, systems, and life challenges to promote democratic governance and civic participation. Adrian is a cooperative organizer and believes that prioritizing the culture of the team and relationship to the community leads to resilient organizations that can adapt and care for those involved. Adrián feels that art is a way to shift culture and speak clearly about the state of our times. He is a co-owner of Colmenar Consulting Cooperative, a co-owner of Dorchester Art Project, a certified mediator, an authorized teacher of Full Presence Mindfulness and currently sits on the board of the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives and the Greater Boston Chamber of Cooperatives. He is from Miami, FL, of Cuban and Chilean descent and his culture and family history informs his approach.

December 19. 2024 The program continues to highlight choices from its 2024 Holiday list. This episode includes an interview with Alicia Simmons, Senior Sustainability Manager at Frontier Co-op. Vernon and Alicia discuss Frontiers Co-op Market, Organic Certified Ceylon Cinnamon, and its Aura Cacia Relaxation Essential Oils Kit and Celestial Diffuser, all selections in the Holiday List. They also discuss other products and services provided by Frontier Co-op, and the many ways Frontier support its employees, partners and community. Alicia Simmons is the Senior Sustainability Manager at Frontier Co-op in Norway, Iowa. In this role, she leads environmental stewardship efforts across the cooperative, including managing the Zero Waste program and initiatives related to packaging, energy, emissions, and natural resource usage. Since joining Frontier Co-op in 2017, Alicia has also directed the co-op's annual giving program, which exceeds $1 million, supporting community-building projects in sourcing regions, partnering with local nonprofits to reduce employment barriers, and managing two signature giving programs focused on women's empowerment and food security. Alicia oversees the co-op's global giving and community-based partnerships, including a three-year, $1 million project in rural India that established the region's first farmer-owned tea collective. Additionally, she leads the co-op's communications and public relations. Beyond her professional role, Alicia is a committed advocate for sustainability and social responsibility, holding leadership positions with organizations such as the Indian Creek Nature Center, Iowa Sustainable Business Forum, and Hawkeye Area Community Action Program. She holds a BA from the University of Iowa, an MBA with a Quality Emphasis, and a Master of Strategic Leadership from Mount Mercy University.

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 manufactured branded merchandise. Matthew Epperson has a diverse and impressive background in cooperative movements and employee ownership. In 2017 he founded the Georgia Co-op Development Center, the only statewide technical assistance provider for co-op startups and conversions in Georgia. Matthew spent almost 10 years in the US consumer-owned grocery retail co-op movement before transitioning to finance and platform research co-ops. Currently, he is the Employee Ownership Domain Expert at Zolidar, a startup focused on helping small to medium enterprises convert to employee-owned businesses.

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 Princeton (Near Eastern Studies).

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. This was funded by the Native American Agriculture Fund.

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 location at Takoma Junction since 1998. As a community-owned grocery store, it provides healthy, natural, organic, and locally sourced food to more than 11,000 member-owners and the general public. Everyone is welcome to shop there.

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 teaching and authoring at the University of Arkansas Law School and Drake University Law School. Raised on a diverse farm in Dubuque County, Iowa, O'Brien earned degrees from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, the University of Iowa Law School, and a Master's in Agricultural and Food Law from the University of Arkansas.

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 positive change. Author of Go Forward to Work! Dr. Kern provides guidance on finding fulfilling careers that promote happiness and success. Her commitment to social justice inspired her to co-found Being Well While Black (BWWB) with Valarie Eiland Davis in 2020, an initiative to support well-being and Black voter empowerment. Under the auspices of Being Well While Black, the Nonpartisan Black Voter Guide Project was developed. Diane also leads the DC team for BWWB's 2024 Nonpartisan Black Voter Guide and chairs the local Greater DC National Action Network Voter Empowerment Committee. Valarie Eiland Davis, JD, is the co-founder of Being Well While Black and the founder of Life and Legacy, a service and product provider that assists individuals and families in successfully managing life transitions. Additionally, Valerie serves as an education equity consultant and is the Convenor of "The Black Coalition For Excellence in Education," an advocacy group for education equity that evolved from the Montgomery County team of Being Well While Black. She dedicates her tireless advocacy for justice to the service of women, children, and Black communities globally.

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). His accolades include the Herb Wegner Award, recognition from the Opportunity Finance Network, and induction into the African-American Credit Union Hall of Fame. Cliff's legacy continues through his work as a consulting producer on the TV series “Opportunity Knocks$.”

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 Awards, Reuters Responsible Business Awards, and Inc. Magazine's Best in Business. Tony has led over 25 humanitarian missions to El Salvador and Haiti, supporting education, clean water, and healthcare projects. He also advocates for corporate social responsibility and supports small-scale organic growers through the Well Earth program. Tony holds a B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa and an M.S. in Manufacturing Management from Kettering University.

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 knit attendees closer to other labor movements. The United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives is the national grassroots membership organization for worker cooperatives. As a membership and advocacy organization, the Federation connects worker cooperative members to benefits, to each other and to the larger cooperative and economic justice movements. The Federation amplifies its members' voices to advocate for worker cooperatives at the local, state and national level, and provides consulting and technical assistance to cooperatives old and new. And through the education, training and organizing work of its partner organization, the Democracy at Work Institute, the Federation is committed to ensuring cooperative business ownership reaches those who need it the most. The Democracy at Work Institute expands the promise of cooperative business ownership to reach those communities most directly affected by social and economic inequality. It was created by the USFWC to ensure that worker cooperative development in economically and socially marginalized communities is adequately supported, effective, and strategically directed. It is the only national organization dedicated to building the field of worker cooperative development, through strategic research, creation of tools and standards, leadership development, direct technical assistance and advocacy for worker cooperatives as a community economic development strategy. The Institute brings both a birds-eye view of the national stage and an experiential on-the-ground understanding of cooperative business, making sure that our growing worker cooperative movement is both rooted in worker cooperatives themselves and reaches new communities of worker-owners.

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 involved in promoting the study of cooperatives since her dissertation which was a study of management in the Mondragon cooperatives. In 2023, she coedited and published with Michael Peck, Humanity@Work & Life (Cork: Oak Tree Press). In 2019, Professor Clamp published Shared Service Cooperatives, A Qualitative Analysis with co-authors Eklou Amendah and Carol Coren (Cork: Oak Tree Press). Professor Clamp has served as a consultant to various clients including the National Cooperative Bank (Washington DC), and US Department of Agriculture Rural Development. She completed an interdisciplinary bachelor's degree at Friends World College (now Global College of Long Island University) and her master's and doctoral degrees in sociology at Boston College. In her spare time, she volunteers on the boards of the Local Enterprise Assistance Fund, the ICA Group, and the Fund for Jobs Worth Owning.

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 flagship offering in 2021. CLIMBS is also at the forefront of advocacy work especially on Climate Action and strengthening of the movement and promoting cooperative education locally and globally. It emphasizes cooperative values and social responsibility, aiming to contribute to the economic and social development of its members and the communities they serve.

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 of Saskatchewan; and past board member of Association of Cooperative Educators.

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. After the awards ceremony on August 15, the Annual Meeting proceeded to the Federation's Rural Training and Research Center near Epes, Alabama on August 16 and 17. At the Epes Center a panel of USDA agency leaders and specialists will present information on the latest developments in USDA programs that support Black farmers, landowners, cooperatives, and rural communities; a series of workshops and demonstrations including Cooperative Development, Marketing, Heirs' Property, and Forestry will be presented; and a discussion of plans for improving farm policies, land retention, and conservation practice will be facilitated.

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 consulting services. Shevanthi comes to DAWI after successfully launching and implementing worker cooperative management certificate programs, as well as a city focused cooperative education and incubation program at the Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship. Shev is passionate about the intersection of sustainable business and economic development with particular emphasis on direct impacts for people of color. Shevanthi co-founded the O'Dell Education Center, a nonviolence direct action and leadership academy in Washington State, owned and operated by the Institute for Community Leadership. She currently serves on the board of Refugee Women's Alliance (ReWA) and served as Executive Board President at the Center for Women in Democracy, strengthening women's capacity and leadership in the public and private sectors. Shevanthi has an MBA in Sustainable Business from Pinchot University and BA in History and Anthropology from University of Washington. Theodora Rodine is the Executive Assistant and Project Coordinator for the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives. She works on coordinating technical support for co-ops, helps plan conferences and events, and supports the Executive Director. Theodora grew up in San José, California and has lived in South Philadelphia ever since graduating from Haverford College in 2019. She is a member of the Philadelphia Public Banking Coalition and the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance (PACA) Policy and Advocacy Committee, and she attends Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. Theodora is an extrovert who loves talking, theatre, and the color yellow. She would like to learn more about policy, decolonization, dogs, and local hiking trails. About the Worker Co-op 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. The conference is co-hosted by Democracy at Work Institute (DAWI) and the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives as the organizations celebrate their 10th and 20th anniversaries respectively. 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 knit us closer to other labor movements.

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 justice, and access to opportunity at the USDA. She currently serves as a Senior Advisor on USDA's implementation team for the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP), a historic $2.2 billion program providing financial assistance to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination prior to January 2021. Prior to her appointment, she served as the Director of Land Retention and Advocacy for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/ Land Assistance Fund where she led the development and management of outreach and technical assistance programs that support regional land retention and advocacy initiatives for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. She also directed the Regional Heirs Property and Mediation Center which provides USDA-certified mediation services in Georgia, Mississippi and Louisiana. Ms. Rainge holds a bachelor's degree in agricultural business from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, and a juris doctor from the University of Florida. She earned a Master of Laws degree in Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas.

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 Dean Merit Scholar and holds a Master of Science in Design and Urban Ecologies from Parsons School of Design. The Practice of Democracy (PoD) is prototyping an immersive online experience. PoD strongly believes the more we expose and educate one another to build shared-value understanding, the more we can collectively advance democratic rights and values. These stories located within a neighborhood can be represented both digitally and physically. Democracy is… is a public engagement campaign calling for our collective attention and action in understanding how democratic values are represented through the environments and systems we plan and design.

July 11, 2024 Vernon conducts an interview with Dr. Cynthia Pinchback-Hines, a Racial Justice Educator and Co-op Developer at Co-op Cincy. They delve into significant insights from Cynthia's work with cooperatives during the facilitation of "Power in Numbers: Black Co-op U," and discuss the experiences of the most recent graduating cohort. Dr. Cynthia Pinchback-Hines is a community activist and organizer, educator, organizational development consultant, diversity leader, personal development coach, and board member to several non-profits, including Co-op Cincy, where she serves as board member and Racial Justice Educator & Co-op Developer. She delights in managing and facilitating Power in Numbers: Black Co-op U, a 14-week bootcamp designed to help launch and support Black-led worker-owned cooperatives. Co-op Cincy is where she discovered that her life's journey had uniquely prepared her to serve as a catalyst for community building.

July 4, 2024 Vernon interviews Julian Hill, an abolitionist and lawyer specializing in the solidarity economy. Vernon and Julian explore key insights from Julian's experience working with cooperatives, collectives, nonprofits, and small businesses. Julian Hill is an assistant professor at Georgia State University College of Law. Hill is a teacher, lifelong learner, community organizer, artist, and attorney who knows that the world we deserve, though both possible and necessary, is not inevitable. Hill regularly advises worker cooperatives, collectives, nonprofits, and small businesses on a range of matters, including governance, contracts, regulatory compliance, and corporate law matters. Hill is also known to partner with community-based organizations to co-facilitate political education and co-develop policies and campaigns. They have facilitated workshops, both in English and Spanish, on worker cooperatives and the solidarity economy with Law 4 Black Lives, the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives, Democracy at Work Institute, the New York City Network of Worker Cooperatives, and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, among others. They have prepared and delivered testimony before both the New York State Assembly and the New York City Council on issues facing worker cooperatives and small businesses in New York City. Hill is licensed to practice law in Georgia, New York and Washington, D.C.

July 4, 2024 Vernon interviews amaha sellassie, the board president of Gem City Market. amaha discusses the development of Gem City Market and its contribution to addressing food insecurity and building community. amaha sellassie is a peace builder, social healer, freedom fighter, network weaver and lover of humanity. amaha is a practitioner scholar dedicated to building bridges of trust, healing historical wounds, and harnessing the unique gifts and talents of every human being as we press towards a just and equitable society. A dedicated community organizer, amaha champions the causes of marginalized groups, striving to amplify their voices in public policy. As a co-founder of the Gem City Market, amaha has been instrumental in a community-led initiative to address food apartheid by enhancing access to fresh produce in West Dayton. Additionally, amaha serves as the Director of the Center for Applied Social Issues and is a Sociology professor at Sinclair Community College.

June 20, 2024 Vernon Interviews Matthew Epperson, Employee Ownership Domain Expert for Zolidar. Zolidar is a startup app company that is building the “easy button” for small to medium enterprises to convert their business to employee-owned enterprises. In 2017 Matthew founded the Georgia Co-op Development Center, the only statewide technical assistance provider in Georgia to provide support for startup and conversion co-op projects. He loves biking, hiking, zazen meditation, discussing books and movies, and his fiancée, Julia. He is the 2012 Keep Athens Clarke County Beautiful Citizen of the Year, a black belt in a Japanese-Korean family of martial arts, a regular performer with his local improv comedy troupe Flying Squid Comedy, and while it's true that he can have strong stage anxiety, he makes it work.

June 13, 2024 On June 13, 2024, during the live Broadcast from the National Conference on Black Cooperative Agenda titled "Economic Wealth: Power of Black Cooperative Enterprises,” hosted by the Network for Developing Conscious Communities, Vernon Oakes interviews Mayor Melvin Carter, Christina Nicholson and Jessica James. The conference was a continuation of the legacy work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In a recent interview on Everything Co-op Ron Hantz, president of NDCC states, "We take no credit for the title of the conference. Actually it was initiated by the Poor Peoples Deveopment Foundation (PPDF) which came about in 1968 during Dr. King's efforts to bring attention to the poverty of Black and poor folks in the Country. It was an organization started by Cornielus "Cornbread" Givens and Bayard Rustin to bring about education about cooperatives in communities that were needing economic opportunities, as well as bringing food to those communities as well." Ironically, the mission of the foundation was to create cooperatives. In fact, the PPDF was instrumental in moving the National Consumer Cooperative Bank Act in 1978, which led to the creation the National Consumer Cooperative Bank, today known as the National Cooperative Bank (NCB). The act aimed to encourage the development of new and existing cooperatives. The Network for Developing Conscious Communities is honored to carry on its legacy, especially in addressing concerns related to poverty, affordability, and access to healthy food. Melvin Carter is the 46th mayor of the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota's Capital City. A fourth-generation Saint Paul resident, Mayor Carter leads with an unapologetic equity agenda. Since taking office in 2018, his accomplishments include raising the city's minimum wage; tripling free program in rec centers; eliminating late fines in public libraries; reestablishing an Affordable Housing Trust Fund; expanding immigrant & refugee support resources; and launching an Office of Financial Empowerment. One signature initiative is CollegeBound Saint Paul, Mayor Carter's plan to start every child born in the city with a $50 College Savings Account, which started January 1, 2020. Jessica James is Assistant VP of Community Reinvestment and Loan Advisor at Associated Bank; Jessica thrives on cultivating partnerships and addressing strategic financing needs. Additionally, she holds leadership positions in various organizations, including board roles at Network for Developing Conscious Communities (NDCC), NAREB TC, City of Lakes Community Land Trust and Rondo Community Land Trust, where she champions affordable homeownership and economic development initiatives. Christina Nicholson is a Cooperative Finance Developer for the Worker Owner Initiative, which is part of Nexus' Community Wealth Building Strategy. In this role she supports both start-ups and existing businesses and understands the role that Worker Ownership can play in successful owner retirement strategies as well as improved workplace cultures for teams. She has been working in cooperatives in Minnesota for 25 years in a wide range of roles, from front of house retail to construction to cooperative consulting. In all of her endeavors, she has been working to connect communities to each other through a common cause.

June 6, 2024 Vernon is host an interview with Mary Alex Blanton, Senior VP at National Cooperative Bank (NCB). During the interview Mary Alex discusses the 2024 Co-op Innovation Award. National Cooperative Bank in partnership with Capital Impact Partners, has sponsored the Co-op Innovation Award to empower organizations to increase economic opportunity for the communities they serve, and advance cooperative development in communities of color and or historically disinvested communities. Priority for the grant award will be given to food, worker, and housing co-ops, but all sectors are invited to apply. Mary Alex Blanton is Senior Vice President, Director of Strategic Marketing for National Cooperative Bank. In this role, she manages NCB's marketing, advertising, corporate communications, public relations, and brand for the bank. National Cooperative Bank's mission is to support and be an advocate for America's cooperatives and their members, especially in low-income communities, by providing innovative financial and related services. Interested parties may visit Capital Impact Partners website at https://bit.ly/3iR4CYk to access the application. You may also visit the Co-op Innovation Award FAQ Page for more information.

May 30, 2024 Vernon interviews Simon Vansintjan, a programmer and organizer in Washington, DC. During the interview Simon discusses his most recent venture to develop a music platform co-op called Mirlo, and how this platform is supporting musicians. Simon Vansintjan is a programmer and mutual aid, solidarity economy, and dual power organizer in Washington, DC. In his free time, he plays soccer, guitar and banjo, and doodles. He's done weekly radio on public radio and music journalism in a past life. Simon has worked as a software developer for UN organizations, Fortune 500 companies, user experience agencies, fast growing start-ups, not-for-profit organizations, open-source software, and open data platforms. Mirlo provides a user-friendly space to help musicians sell music, manage subscriptions, and share with their supporters.

May 23, 2024 Vernon interviews Jamila Medley, Collective Courage Moderator at the Partnership Action Fund. During the interview Jamila shares insights from their personal cooperative journey, and discusses the Collective Courage Fund. Jamila Medley leverages experience working within the economic and racial justice movements to support organizations committed to transformational change. With a background in organizational development, she brings facilitation expertise and thought partnership to highly participatory processes related to governance, strategic planning, and leadership development. Inspired by trust-based philanthropic principles, Jamila stewards The Partnership Fund's Collective Courage Fund, is board chair of the Independence Public Media Foundation, and a co-lead within Securing Roots. Her solidarity economy building efforts include being a collaborator in projects like Solidarity Resource, the Solidarity Economy Principles Project, Columinate's Co-op Cafe and she serves on the board of directors of the Food Co-op Initiative. From 2012-2021, Jamila served in governance roles and then as executive director of the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance (PACA). The Partnership Fund exists to support powerful organizations rooted in, and accountable to, multi-racial and multi-class bases within states. These organizations work towards independent political power and are building critical movement ecosystems for change.

May 9, 2024 Vernon interviews Taryn Tymus and Andrea Tucker, who hold the positions of President and Vice President at the Champlain Court Cooperative (CCC) in Washington, DC. During the discussion, Taryn and Andrea delve into the cooperative's role within their community and share insights from their own personal cooperative journey. Taryn Tymus, a 48-year-old retired hairstylist and art-based community activist, serves as the President of Champlain Court Cooperative. Her journey in community activism began over 15 years ago in Ward 7. Taryn is enthusiastic about sharing the knowledge she has gained from her Adams Morgan neighbors in the District of Columbia, all while striving to improve her leadership skills within the cooperative Andrea Tucker is a pivotal member of the Champlain Court Cooperative. Following a rewarding career in nonprofit management, Andi now serves as both a co-op owner and the Vice President of the CCC board. Her home, shared with her daughter Maulani, is a haven of warmth, creativity, and support. Andi's decision to retire early allowed her to homeschool Maulani, nurturing her interests in drama, voice acting, and visual arts. Committed to service, Andi looks forward to contributing to the expansion of CCC's portfolio, utilizing her skills and experience to enhance the community she cherishes.

4-22-2024 Ron Hantz, Executive Director of the Network for Developing Conscious Communities (NDCC), discusses the upcoming 4th Annual National Conference on Black Cooperative Agenda, "Economic Wealth: Power of Black Cooperative Enterprises,” which will be held June 13 -15, 2024, at 214 4th Street E, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55101. Ron has been instrumental in advocating for a new community development paradigm based on “conscious community development.” He is a former Adjunct Professor, in the Africana Studies Department, at the University Maryland Baltimore County, and founded the Network for Developing Conscious Communities in 2014. He now leads the organization's efforts on advocacy and building a sustainable ecosystem for Black governed community development organizations. Under his leadership, NDCC has emerged as a grass roots voice on promoting the use of principle-based practices to regenerate under-resourced Black communities. Ron's consulting practice includes assisting community development corporations, community associations and faith-based organizations with neighborhood planning, organizational development and applying for Internal Revenue Tax Exempt status. Ron believes that in order to develop sustainable communities, there must be a conscious effort to raise the consciousness and connectivity of local stakeholders. He sees his life purpose as elevating the Black consciousness in community development.

April 25, 2025 Vernon interviews Michelle Roth, Senior Director of Governmental Affairs for the League of Southeastern Credit Unions (LSCU). Vernon and Michelle discuss LSCU's Advocacy, and Alabama's most recent legislative session. In the role as Senior Director of Governmental Affairs Michelle Roth directs the League's lobbying and advocacy efforts, working with the Alabama Legislature, the Governor, and her Cabinet. Her background in advocacy, community, and member relations helps Michelle champion industry-driven state legislative and regulatory issues and develop and maintain favorable relationships with lawmakers, executive leaders, and credit unions across the state. Before joining LSCU, Michelle was Executive Director of the Alabama Cable and Broadband Association. During her seven-year tenure at ACBA, she was responsible for legislative affairs, public and community relations, and statewide advocacy efforts supporting Alabama's cable and broadband industry. She helped expand statewide internet access through this work and advocated for connecting low-income and rural Alabamians. A native of Lakeland, Florida, Michelle graduated from the University of Alabama. She has served on the Board and Executive Committee of several public policies and charitable, statewide, and community organizations. Additionally, Michelle holds the designation of Certified Association Executive, the highest professional credential in the association industry.

April 18, 2024 Vernon interviews Stacey Sutton Ph.D., Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago. Dr. Sutton and Vernon will discuss her research on Real Black Utopias, and the Chicago Community Wealth Building Ecosystem (CCWBE). Stacey Sutton is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago in the Department of Urban Planning and Policy. Dr. Sutton Co-Directs the Solidarity Economy Research, Policy & Law Project. Her research focuses on solidarity economy, prefigurative politics, economic democracy and worker-owned cooperatives, racial equity, and disparate effects of place-based city policies. For the next year, the Solidarity Economy Research, Policy & Law Project will serve as the ‘hub' for the City of Chicago's $15 million dollar Community Wealth Building Ecosystem (CCWBE). CCWBE aims to promote local, democratic, and shared ownership and control of community assets to transform economies to be more sustainable and just by supporting worker cooperatives, community land trusts, housing cooperatives, and community investment vehicles. Dr. Sutton serves on the Board of the New Economy Coalition, she is a Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing, and a Senior Researcher with the Small Business Anti-Displacement Network (SBAN). Dr. Sutton is working on a book project titled, Real Black Utopias, which explores the infrastructures, ideologies, and practices of Black-centered worker cooperatives and solidarity economy ecosystems in numerous US cities. Dr. Sutton received a BA from Loyola University in Baltimore, an MBA from New York University, an MS from the New School for Social Research in New York, and a joint Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Sociology from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ.

April 11, 2024 Micha Josephy, Executive Director, Carolyn Edsell-Vetter, Program Director, and Johan Matthews, Ecosystem Strategy Manager of the Cooperative Fund of the Northeast (CFNE) discuss CFNE's initiatives and programs. As Executive Director, Micha Josephy is responsible for executive leadership, program development, capitalization, and operations. He first joined CFNE in 2010 as a Program Manager, helping raise grant and loan capital, managing compliance reporting, and new program development. Micha first joined the co-op movement as an Oberlin Student Cooperative Association member and later coordinated the development of Boston Community Cooperative's first housing co-op. He has a background in nonprofit financial management and community organizing. He has also participated in the Opportunity Finance Network's leadership training program. Carolyn Edsell-Vetter is the Program Director at CFNE. She joined CFNE in March 2019. As the Cooperative Business Support Officer, she works with Spanish- and English-speaking applicants and borrowers to assess project feasibility and connect with culturally appropriate technical assistance resources. Carolyn came to CFNE after 19 years with A Yard & A Half Landscaping near Boston, MA, where she led their conversion to a worker-owned co-op and served as co-CEO from 2014-2019. Carolyn serves on the board of the Cooperative Development Institute and has been involved in co-ops since living in a cooperative house in college. The daughter of a Cuban immigrant, Carolyn is particularly interested in using cooperatives to create social and economic justice for immigrants, BIPOC, and others who have faced structural barriers to bringing businesses to scale. Johan Matthews is the Ecosystem Strategy Manager at CFNE. In this role, Johan facilitates the development of equitable co-op ecosystems in emerging communities across the northeast. He also provides culturally informed technical assistance to ensure that communities traditionally excluded from economic investment can engage in cooperative enterprise. Johan joins CFNE after over a decade of collaborating with local leaders and institutions to design and implement community-based economic engagement strategies. CFNE's Mission is to work for economic, social, and racial justice by advancing community based, cooperative, and democratically owned or managed enterprises with a preference to assisting cooperatives in low-income communities.

April 4, 2024 Vernon interviews Malik Kenyatta Yakini, Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN), and Lanay Gilbert-Williams, Board President of the Detroit People's Food Co-op. Vernon and his guests discuss the Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network and the Grand Opening of the Detroit Food Commons.  Malik Kenyatta Yakini is an activist and educator who is committed to freedom and justice for African people in particular, and humanity in general. Yakini is a co-founder and the Executive Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, which operates a seven-acre farm in Detroit and spearheaded efforts to establish the Detroit Food Policy Council. He served as a member of the Michigan Food Policy Council from 2008 - 2010. From 2011 - 2013 he served on the steering committee of Uprooting Racism Planting Justice. He is a co-founder and on the leadership team of the National Black Food and Justice Alliance. Lanay Gilbert-Williams is a native Detroiter who serves as the Board President of the Detroit People's Food Co-op. She founded the Detroit's Brown Moms Sisterhood Circle, a system of support for African-American mothers, especially those whose children are in the foster care system. She is the President of the Wildemere Park Neighborhood Association and is the Youth Program Coordinator for Know Allegiance Nation. As a proud Mom of 6, she is dedicated to assisting in the development of solutions that model nation and community-building for Black youth.

March 28, 2024 In honor of the 2024 Women's History Month theme of “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion,” Everything Co-op concludes its commemoration with an interview with Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D., Professor at John Jay College, and social justice advocate. Dr. Gordon Nembhard and Vernon recognize women cooperators who are working to improve Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. 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 of Saskatchewan; and past board member of Association of Cooperative Educators.

March 21, 2024 In honor of the 2024 Women's History Month theme of “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion,” Vernon interviews Renée Sattiewhite, President and CEO of the African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC). Vernon and Renee discuss the role AACUC plays in creating bridges between community-based organizations and consumer-focused initiatives designed to close the extensive racial wealth gap. In addition to serving as President/CEO of the AACUC, Renée Sattiewhite is also a certified diversity professional, credit union development educator, motivational speaker, executive coach, mentoring trainer, and recognized expert on marketing and branding. Renee has brought both her unique vitality and forward-looking vision in order to create one of the most dynamic organizations in the credit union movement. She has successfully propelled the organization forward to offer a credible voice that addresses today's dialogue on race, equity, and inclusion for all. In September 2022, Renée was inducted to America's Credit Union Museum's newest display “Credit Union Women Making History....Herstory,” an interactive exhibit highlighting incredible women's achievements that have made history in the credit union industry and showcasing women's stories never heard before. In 2020, after the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and with the growing visibility of the Black Lives Matter movement, this momentum galvanized the country against racial injustice. Renee became one of the most notable catalysts, encouraging the credit union industry to become more aware of the urgent need for change toward true racial equality and economic justice, and launched the Commitment to Change: Credit Unions Unite Against Racism initiative. As a direct result of Renee's leadership AACUC received the 2022 Anchor Award from the National Credit Union Foundation which is the equivalent to the Nobel Peace Prize of the credit union movement. The African-American Credit Union Coalition is a 501c3 non-profit organization created in 1999 to increase diversity within the credit union community through advocacy and professional development. This award-winning organization is shaping diversity, equity, and inclusion in the movement to eliminate the racial wealth gap, and is considered a leader in the credit union industry.

March 14, 2024 In honor of the 2024 Women's History Month theme of “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion,” Vernon interviews Attorney Renee C. Hatcher. Vernon and Renee discuss how she has used the law to address issues related to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Renee Hatcher is a solidarity economy lawyer. She is an Assistant Professor of Law and the Director of the Community Enterprise and Solidarity Economy Law Clinic at UIC Law, a legal clinic that provides free legal support to grassroot organizations, cooperatives, and other solidarity economy enterprises. Daughter of the late civil rights activist and first elected Black mayor of a U.S. city, Richard Gordon Hatcher, Renee is committed to advancing the Black Freedom Movement through her work with co-ops and communities. Renee is a member of the leadership team for the Black Abolitionist Solidarity Economy (BASE) Fellowship, and a member of Law for Black Lives Movement Lawyering Squad. Renee also serves as a board member for the New Economy Coalition and the Detroit Justice Center. Prof. Hatcher is the Co-Director of the newly minted Solidarity Economy Law & Policy Initiative at the UIC Center of Urban Economic Development.

March 7, 2024 In honor of Women's History Month's 2024 theme of "Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion," Everything Co-op in collaboration with Co-op Leaders pay Tribute to a dear friend, Elizabeth (Liz) Carolyn Allen Bailey, who recently made her transition January 25, 2024. Liz Bailey, a native of Chippewa Falls, WI, grew up in an extended large, active and musically inclined family, many of whom, like Liz, firmly believed in improving each of the communities in which one lives and works. Liz served as the Managing Principal of The Bailey Group LLC, a Washington DC-based consulting firm focused on economic and community development that includes member-owned cooperative business enterprises. She provided her clients the benefit of her career experience in strategic public policy that combined the private sector, the executive branches of state and federal governments, and extensive non-profit program management. For much of her professional career, Liz held leadership positions with the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International, including Interim CEO, VP for Public Policy & Cooperative Development, and almost eight years as Executive Director of the Cooperative Development Foundation, NCBA CLUSA's non-profit affiliate. Bailey held degrees from the University of Wisconsin and the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. After leaving the NCBA CLUSA, Liz remained active in the promoting of the cooperatives business model through her private consulting and as a member of Cooperation Works, and as a member of the board of a non-profit, Cooperatives Build a Better World, to raise public awareness of cooperatives. She consistently argued that those who support and build cooperatives spend too much time talking to each other rather than to those who would benefit from a better comprehension of the public value of cooperatives.