Everything Co-op with Vernon Oakes

Vernon and Joe discuss the origins of GreenStar; the structure of the business, and its road to success. They also discuss Greenleaf's conversion to solar energy and many, the prospective opening of their new store, and the importance of participating in the upcoming Presidential election. Joe Romano has been the Marketing Manager at GreenStar Natural Foods Market for over a decade. Before his ten...

Vernon and his guests discuss the evolution of housing cooperatives in Washington, D.C., the prospect of forming a federation of limited equity housing cooperatives, and the role cooperatives play in improving the quality of life for its participants. Ajowa Nzinga Ifateyo has been a co-editor of Grassroots Economic Organizing, (GEO) for more than 10 years. GEO, a 30-year-old publication, reports o...

artist: Vernon Oakes title: Vernon Interviews Steve A;ves, Producer/Director of Food For Change album: Everything Co-op. year: 2016 genre: Speech (id 101) track: 9222016 Vernon and Steve discuss the film, the production of the film and how the film is being used to educate people about food cooperatives, and the history of cooperatives in general. Alves is an award-winning documentary filmmaker wh...

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 v...

Vernon Oakes interviews Dennis Bolling, former President and CEO of Producers Livestock Association, and 2016 Cooperative Hall of Fame Inductee. Vernon and Dennis discuss his experience with the Producers Livestock Association and the importance of integrating training into the cooperative business plan to ensure that all members are knowledgeable of cooperative principles. Dennis Bolling was name...

Induction into the Cooperative Hall of Fame is the highest honor that the U.S. cooperative community bestows on the extraordinary men and women who have made genuinely heroic contributions in support of the cooperative form of enterprise. This year's inductees are: Dennis Bolling, outgoing president and CEO of United Producers, Inc., who will be interviewed on May 19; Dennis A. Johnson, former pre...

Vernon and Alan discuss the role he plays as an advocate, the recent Congressional Fly-in, and how the Cooperative Legislative Caucus, and Interagency Workgroup can be used to advance initiatives and concerns of the cooperative community within the legislature.

Vernon interviews Judy Sullivan, Government Relations Representative for the National Association of Housing Cooperatives. Vernon and Judy discuss the role she plays in advocating in the interest of housing cooperatives as it relates to Bill #HR3863, that addresses the need for disaster relief through FEMA for cooperatives, and ways that others can participate in efforts to gain equal rights for c...

Vernon interviews Ralph M. Paige, the former Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives Land Assistance Fund (Federation/LAF). Vernon and Ralph discussed his illustrious career, and the role cooperatives have played in the economic recovery of many communities in the United States of America. Mr. Paige has played a major role in creating cooperatives encompassing credit unions,...

Vernon interviews Michael Peck, Co-founder of 1worker1vote.org and Delegate for Mondragon Corporation. Vernon and Michael discuss the National Union Coop Symposium, 1worker1vote.org, and Mondragon Corporation, the largest worker cooperative in the world. Michael Peck strives to overcome inequalities of wealth/income, opportunity, and social mobility by applying the sixty years of Mondragon experie...

Vernon interviews John Zippert, Director of Program Operations for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund (FSC). Vernon and John discuss his role in carrying out the objectives of FSC, and options for creating a formalized education program for cooperatives. John Zippert is the Director of Program Operations for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund at...

Vernon interviews Cornelius Blanding Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives. Vernon and Cornelius wdiscuss FSC's upcoming Annual Meeting, and the role the Federation plays in assisting people to help themselves through cooperatives. Cornelius Blanding assumed the position of Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives earlier this year on March 1. He began...

Vernon interviews Andrew Garte, the Chief Executive Officer at Community CleanWater Management Group, Inc. (CCMG). Vernon and Andrew discuss how CCMG has used co-op principals to create wealth building opportunities for the worker owners of their company. Andrew Garte is the Chief Executive Officer at Community CleanWater Management Group, Inc. Mr. Garte has over 30-years of experience in sustaina...

Vernon interviews Andrew Reicher,and Alex Roesch, Project Associate for co-op outreach and research at UHAB (the Urban Homestead Assistance Board. The gentleman discussed their current research project, "Building Capacity to Serve and Grow the Cooperative Housing Community, and initiatives of the Urban Homestead Assistance Board).

Vernon interviews Cornelius Blanding Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives. Vernon and Cornelius wdiscuss FSC's upcoming Annual Meeting, and the role the Federation plays in assisting people to help themselves through cooperatives. Cornelius Blanding assumed the position of Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives earlier this year on March 1. He began...

Vernon interviews Esteban Kelly, educator, community organizer, and radical geographer. He's the current Board President of the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance (PACA). He works for the New Economy Coalition, and is also a founder and worker-owner of AORTA, (Anti-Oppression Resource and Training Alliance, a worker co-op of educators whose facilitation and consulting strengthens cooperatives...

Vernon discusses the relationship between Spirituality and Cooperatives

Vernon and Daniel discussed his involvement in the cooperative movement, the reform of the farm credit system, and the Cooperative Hall of Fame. Daniel T. Kelley is the owner and operator of Kelley Farms, a diversified corn and soybean operation in Normal, Illinois. He is an authentic leader and champion of cooperative development, who has spent more than three decades serving the cooperative sect...

Vernon and Judy discuss her involvement in the cooperative movement, trends in cooperative development, and how to effectively engage politicians in the cooperative movement. For over 40 years, Judy has been a champion for cooperative development, articulating a steady and unswerving vision about the power of cooperation, and persistently reminding cooperatives and cooperative institutions that th...

Vernon interviews Hall of Fame Hero Dr. Ann Hoyt. Vernon and Dr. Hoyt discuss her journey as a Cooperator, cooperatives in the Italian prison system, consumer cooperatives, economic justice, and economic Democracy.

Vernon and William discuss his involvement in the cooperative movement, the Cooperative Hall of Fame, and his vision for the next phase of the movement. William Nelson's involvement in cooperative education began in the 1970s while serving as community education director for the Minneapolis public school system, focusing on connecting urban and rural schools around food and hunger issues. In this...

Vernon and his guests discuss the evolution of housing cooperatives in Washington, D.C., the prospect of forming a federation of limited equity housing cooperatives, and the role cooperatives play in improving the quality of life for its participants. Ajowa Nzinga Ifateyo has been a co-editor of Grassroots Economic Organizing, (GEO) for more than 10 years. GEO, a 30-year-old publication, reports o...

Vernon and Ed discuss the democratization of wealth, how cooperatives are used to enhance communities and development, and democratic ownership. Ed Whitfield is co-founder and co-managing director of the Fund for Democratic Communities (F4DC). A long time social justice activist, Ed had been involved in labor, community organizing and peace work since the late 60's when he was a student activist a...

Vernon Discusses the Role of cooperatives in Black History. He also reflects upon comments made by past guest related to the same.

Vernon discusses the Community Purchasing Alliance and interviews Marile Rist, President of Christ Lutheran Church. The Community Purchasing Alliance (CPA) is a social-purpose cooperative that leverages the buying power of community institutions to help lower operating costs, while also making investments in sustainability, worker equity, and community organizing. As a cooperative, CPA is wholly o...