Everything Co-op With Vernon Oakes

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 cooperative housing. They also discuss other legislation and news that is relevant to cooperatives. Judy has over 25 years of comprehensive experience representing the National Association of Housing Cooperatives (NAHC) covering issues including Department of Housing and Urban Development home equity conversion mortgages or reverse mortgages, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Disaster Relief; Homeland Security flood insurance, Department of Veteran Affairs benefits, as well as tax issues. She is responsible for managing all congressional and federal regulatory issues of interest to NAHC, and represents NAHC with co

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, agricultural, housing and worker cooperatives and alternative agricultural development for minority farmers. He worked for the Federation for more than 45 years from 1969, and served as Executive Director for thirty years from 1985 to 2015. Initially, Mr. Paige worked as a field organizer developing cooperatives among family farmers and rural residents in Georgia and throughout the South. He led measures to secure new public and private resources to support cooperative development, and in the 1970s, he served as director of the Federation's Business Development Office. From 1977-1981, Mr. Paige served as director of

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 experience and principles to form, transform, and transition worker co-ops and union co-ops. Since late 1999, Michael Alden Peck has served as the North American delegate for Mondragon, the world's largest industrial worker cooperative. On March 26th, 2012, the United Steelworkers (USW), Mondragon, and the Ohio Employee Ownership Center (OEOC) announced the union-coop template, to create worker-owner hybrid projects and businesses with the goal of revamping U.S. manufacturing through worker empowerment and ownership. In January 2014, Michael helped to launch 1worker1vote.org, a non-profit dedicated to solving America's unhe

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 their Rural Training and Research Center in Epes, Alabama. He has over 45 years experience in community organizing, cooperative and credit union development, community based economic development and rural development in distressed communities. Prior to working for the Federation, he was a fieldworker for the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) in Louisiana. He has a BA degree in history from the City College of New York; and has participated in numerous training sessions and courses to enhance his skills in rural development. Zippert has worked with the Federation on the development of affordable housing for low incom

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 his career in development work as an economic development intern for the City of Miami Beach. Since then he has gained a broad experience base including rural, international and cooperative economic development. Blanding has worked with the Federation for the past 17 years in various program and leadership capacities to propel the organization and its membership forward. Immediately prior to his appointment he served as the Federation's deputy director. During his tenure with the Federation, Blanding spearheaded several of the program's special initiatives, including its international work in Africa, the Caribbean an

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 sustainability programs, pollution prevention,stormwater management, environmental management, site assessment and environmental consulting. Prior to joining CCMG Mr. Garte served as a Senior Environmental Scientist and Project Director at a number of large area environmental science and engineering firms. He holds a BS in Marine Biology from Southeastern Massachusetts University, is proficient in environmental regulations, including the Clean Water Act, and State and Local National Pollution Discharge Elimination Service requirements and Watershed Implementation Plans. He is experienced in water and land conservation planni

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 his career in development work as an economic development intern for the City of Miami Beach. Since then he has gained a broad experience base including rural, international and cooperative economic development. Blanding has worked with the Federation for the past 17 years in various program and leadership capacities to propel the organization and its membership forward. Immediately prior to his appointment he served as the Federation's deputy director. During his tenure with the Federation, Blanding spearheaded several of the program's special initiatives, including its international work in Africa, the Caribbean an

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 and social justice groups.

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 sector. Most recently, he retired as board chairman and president of the agriculture supply cooperative GROWMARK, Inc. Kelley's roots in the cooperative movement began in 1970 when, as a full-time farmer, he joined his local cooperative, Evergreen FS. He later served as president of the organization from 1985 to 2008. In the 1980s, Kelley shouldered efforts to reform the Farm Credit Banks, creating a foundation for success that the Farm Credit System, its member-owners and rural communities enjoy today. Over his career Kelley has served on many cooperative boards. He is currently on the board of Nationwide Mutual Insuran

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 they exist to empower people. Her incredible capacity as a strategist has resulted in cross-sectoral coalitions that have created critical infrastructure for the co-op community domestically and internationally. Ziewacz was instrumental in launching the nation's first statewide cooperative development center - now known as Cooperative Development Services. She also played a key role in establishing CooperationWorks!, a national cooperative development network, which is responsible for the creation of hundreds of co-ops, thousands of jobs, and serving hundreds of thousands of members. As the Executive Director of the Co

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 role, Nelson was first introduced to a new wave of food cooperatives in the Twin Cities. Nelson went on to spend 13 years at the University of Minnesota-Waseca, teaching courses on cooperatives, agriculture, entrepreneurship and leadership. Nelson is a founding member and director for the Ralph K. Morris Foundation. He has also brought stable leadership and financial support to the Association of Cooperative Educators. And through his long tenure as president of The Cooperative Foundation, Nelson helped expand support for cooperative development, extension, education and research.

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 on cooperative developments around the world, and provides advocacy for alternative economic solutions. Her work with GEO has inspired her to research and think about ways to empower individuals to make personal changes to better organize and participate in cooperative/group entrepreneurial enterprises. Ajowa has nine years of experience on cooperative boards, including: Ujamaa Collective, the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives, and the Eastern Conference on Workplace Development. In 2000, she and four other D.C. residents co-founded an affordable housing co-op for community organizers, the Ella Jo Baker Intention

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 at Cornell University. He was the chairman of the Greensboro Redevelopment Commission for 9 years and formerly board chairman of Greensboro's Triad Minority Development Corporation. He is currently helping to provide technical assistance to a group of people living in an urban food desert struggling to develop a community owned cooperative grocery store.

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 owned by its members, that serves the needs of its members first. Through aggregation and group procurement of services, CPA helps its members save money and get better service, while also holding vendors to higher standards in terms of environmental and worker practices.

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 and social justice groups.