Everything Co-op with Vernon Oakes

Micha and Vernon discuss how the Cooperative Fund of New England (CFNE) uses its expertise to address racial inequities in financial institutions, by providing technical assistance, instituting standardized policies that account for racial biases; and partnering with other community organizations to deliver services. As Executive Director, Micha is responsible for executive leadership, program dev...

Vernon Interviews Nikishka Iyengar, founder and CEO of The Guild, a social enterprise, focused on building community wealth through real estate and entrepreneurship programs. Nakishka is also the owner of the Whole Systems Collective, an impact consulting and media firm with a focus on working towards a just and regenerative economy. Nikishka and Vernon discuss the democratization and governance o...

Vernon and Amanda discuss how the Center builds capacities of worker cooperatives and cooperative ecosystems across the state of West Virginia, and the region. Amanda is an Appalachian Cooperative educator and advocate who develops, organizes, and implements non-traditional modes of learning within the University context. She holds an MA in Geography and conducts action research focused on coopera...

Vernon interviews Ann Fedorchak, Managing Director at National Cooperative Bank (NCB), and Michael Partis, Executive Director at the Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative (BCDI), and his team. Vernon and his guests discuss the 2020 Co-op Innovation Award, and its foundation.

Anthony Cook, Professor at Georgetown University, discusses how he uses the clinical experiential education program at Georgetown Law, to bridge the gaps between wealth, income and power. He also talks about his journey to discovering the value of the cooperative business model, and realization of how a cooperative ecosystem can be used to address the needs of under-served communities. Professor A...

Sarah Hrisak, Lead Coffee Roaster and Production Supervisor at Equal Exchange, Inc., talks about the employee centered focus and cooperative business structure of Equal Exchange. Vernon and Sarah also discuss how Equal Exchange has supported its employees during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sarah supervises the roasting of about 5.5 million pounds of coffee a year to a range of roast profiles and strict...

Rob and Vernon discuss Marketing and Branding during COVID-19, and the role he feels it should play in the process of reshaping businesses in a post COVID-19 World. Rob is the head of Small World Communications, a web hosting and online marketing company focused on small businesses (smallworld.coop). He is a veteran of the Southern California tech scene with roots in several Idealab startups. Rob...

Vernon Oakes, host of Everything Co-op discusses the plight of the United States Postal Service (USPS). We are in serious jeopardy of losing USPS unless we speak up. As cooperatives and as individuals we are all dependent on the United States Postal Service (USPS). We believe it’s time for the cooperative community to add its collective voice to the public calls for action to save the USPS. We hav...

Rebecca Henderson, John and Natty McArthur Professor at Harvard University discuss her recently released book "Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire," and the role she feels cooperatives can play in a post COVID-19 world. Rebecca Henderson is one of 25 University Professors at Harvard University, a research fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research and a fellow of both the British Aca...

Dr. Martin Lowery, Executive VP Emeritus of NRECA discusses the role of cooperatives in addressing issues that have been raised by the two pandemics being experienced right now; COVID-19 and systemic institutionalized racism. He invokes the International Cooperative Alliance's "Declaration on Positive Peace Through Cooperatives." For more than three decades, Dr. Martin Lowery has been a forceful a...

National Cooperative Bank(NCB) President Charles E. Snyder & President and CEO of National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International Doug O'Brien, discuss the roles cooperatives can play in a post COVID-19 World. They also share how their organizations have helped the cooperative community through advocacy and service during the pandemic. Charles E. Snyder is the Chief Executive Officer...

Mo Manklang, Communications Director at the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives discusses the Federations response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, and feedback received from it members regarding how they are fairing. Mo also shares information regarding virtual offerings that are available to support cooperators including solidarity sessions, and worker cooperative information sessions. Mo Manklang i...

For more than 4o years Ben Burkett has made his mark on his community and the world as a farmer, advocate and cooperative organizer for southern Black farmers. After graduating from Alcorn State University, he carried on his family legacy, and became a fourth-generation farmer in Petal, Mississippi. Vernon and Ben discuss his experiences as both a farmer, and advocate for farmers in the Black Belt...

Christina Jennings, Executive Director at Shared Capital Cooperative, and Rachel Battles of Happy Earth Cleaning discuss how Shared Capital has helped it's cooperative members to navigate through the multilayered impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Christina has worked for 22 years in community development, finance and microfinance in the US and internationally. Since 2008, she has been Executive Dir...

David Hincapie, Economic Development Specialist at U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA); John Holdsclaw IV, Senior VP of Corporate Affairs at National Cooperative Bank (NCB); and Esteban Kelly, Executive Director, and Mo Manklang, Communications Director with the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives talk about COVID-19 response on Everything Co-op. Vernon and his guests will discuss loan pro...

Michael Alden Peck Discusses the Impact of COVID-19 and Next Steps for Recovery. From the paradigm shift that will inevitably occur in how we pay and view essential workers; to the revelations about the inequities that exist in our economy; to the consideration of the need to make the U S Postal Service a Worker Cooperative, and ultimately the resolution to abandon the trickle-down economic struct...

Carmen Huertas-Noble, founding director of the Community & Economic Development Clinic (CEDC) at CUNY School of Law, and C0-founder of 1worker1vote, discuss her career in the cooperative movement and the role cooperatives have and can play in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Professor Huertas-Noble earned her J.D. from Fordham University Law School, where she was a Stein Scholar in Public Intere...

Everett Dobrinski, Chairman of CoBank and a 2020 Cooperative Hall of Fame inductee discuss his career in cooperatives and future plans. As a third-generation grain and oilseed farmer, Everett recognized at an early age, the value of cooperatives in providing essential services that his family farm needed to compete in a global marketplace. Today, as he approaches his 50th anniversary of marriage t...

David Hincapie, Economic Development Specialist with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) discusses updates to the SBA and CARES Act Loan programs in response to COVID-19. Vernon and David discuss the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, Paycheck Protection Program, and SBA programs that address disenfranchised populations. The Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced new programs creat...

Monica E. Mitchell, Vice President of Community Development at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., discusses how her work has impacted communities throughout the Washington Metro Area, and her involvement in cooperative enterprises. Monica Mitchell has over 20 years' experience in banking and community development. In her role, Monica leads Corporate Philanthropy and Community Development work for the Marylan...

Sarah McKinley, Author and Manager of Community Development Programs for The Democracy Collaborative, discusses the value of establishing an ecosystem of interdependent cooperatives in major cities. Sarah also talks about case studies included in "Cites Building Community Wealth," a book she co-authored, and community wealth building strategies, such as; community development, finance institutions...

As we begin our celebration of Women's History Month, and focus on this year's theme of "Valiant Women of the Vote," we pay tribute to valiant women, who have impacted the cooperative movement. This week Vernon interviews Elizabeth (Liz) Allen Bailey. principal of The Bailey Group, Vernon and Liz recognize many valiant women who exemplify the values and principles of the modern day cooperative, in...

Heather Gray, Activist, Journalist and Media Specialist Discusses 2020 Black History Month Theme: "African Americans and the Vote." Heather recounts her involvement in historical moment of the Civil Rights Movements, and shares how those experienced helped to shaped the trajectory of her lifework to address the inequities of those who are less fortunate. Heather is the founder and editor of the "J...

Mike Mercer, former CEO of the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates discusses how benefits credit unions create for its members. He also explains how credit unions help people to afford their lives, and empowers them to be free, and become more enthusiastic about life. Mike Mercer recently retired as the CEO of the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates. In this capacity, h...

Reverend Graylen Scott Hagler, Co-chair of the Washington DC chapter of the Poor People's Campaign, and Senior Minister of Plymouth Congregational Church in Washington, DC discuss the "Poor Peoples Campaign," initially formed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and its relevancy to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History's 2020 Black History Month theme: African Americans an...