Brel Hutton-Okpalaeke
Director of Development Services/Executive Director
North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO)/NASCO Development Services
Brel (they/he/him) began their co-op journey in 2014 in Madison, Wisconsin as a member of Madison Community Cooperative, Madison Area Cooperative Housing Alliance, and the United People of Color Caucus. In their free time, Brel teaches at and serves on the board of the Madison Freewheel Bicycle Co. and is in the process of converting it to a worker-owned co-op. Brel sees cooperatives as one of the best ways to affect social change and actively fight gentrification and extractive economic practices. Brel strives to make sure that people of color in cooperatives are represented, supported, and respected by our co-ops. Brel believes in strategic, continual expansion of the co-op sector because we can change the world for the better with these things! Brel has served on all three NASCO Family Boards and is the staff liaison to the NASCO Development Services board.
Brings to Board
Financial and structural understanding of nonprofit management as well as real estate and business management.
Hopes for a Board Seat
A chance to collaborate with peers trying to make a better world.
Skills
- accounting, budgeting, business management, conflict mediation, construction, engineering, facilitation, grant writing, quickbooks, real estate,