Vernon Oakes facilitates a vital dialogue on democratic economic models through his long-running media project, Everything Co-op. Originally launched as a broadcast on WOL 1450 AM, the program has evolved into a comprehensive digital archive that features long-form interviews with industry leaders like Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard and representatives from the National Cooperative Business Association. Oakes utilizes his background as an MBA from Stanford University and his professional history in property management to educate audiences on collective wealth building, housing cooperatives, and food sovereignty. A recent win for the platform is the International Year of the Woman Farmer Series, where Oakes explores the intersection of gender equity and agricultural sustainability. His induction into the Cooperative Hall of Fame serves as a concrete testament to his advocacy for the Solidarity Economy. By providing a platform for practitioners from the Gem City Market and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Oakes bridges the gap between grassroots activism and academic research.