Annie Hughes

In Her Own Words

• What do you do (in 5 words or fewer)?

  Mind the Oakland Coop.

• What's the best advice you ever got?

  Follow your bliss.

• How many times a day do you check your email?

  Being away from my email for more than 5 minutes makes me anxious. Sometimes I'll start the day by doing everything unrelated to email that I can, knowing that as soon as I sit down at my desk I'll slip under the email spell for the rest of the day.

• Who's your favorite Free Ranger to work with and why?

  I get an extra spring in my step after talking with Amy, because she inspires me; Ellen because her thoroughness comforts me; and Allie because she's the other pea in my pod and we talk smack to each other. 

• If you could have one magic item what would it be?

  Wings.

• What song gets stuck in your head most often?

  Strangers in the Night. I have NO idea why this happens.

• If you had a time machine, what historical moment would you rewrite?

  Messing with time is tricky business. But I suppose I wouldn't mind going back and messing with colonialism.

• What's the best flavor combination you can think of?

  Sausages and sauerkraut.

• Free Ranger Bio

  Heading up the Oakland coop and supporting key operational needs is no easy task — but you wouldn't know it by watching Annie at work. Whether she's finagling impossible schedules, keeping the Internet and servers humming along, or reconciling our accounts receivable, her cheerfulness and grace are key positive ingredients in the Free Range recipe. Annie also brings to her work a deep commitment to social justice. After completing her BA in Community Studies at UC Santa Cruz, she interned at La Peña Cultural Center in Berkeley, supporting the development team and organizing community events. From there her professional career ranged from organic farming and managing a design studio to youth counseling. Wherever she's been, one thing has been constant: you can rely on her to take care of just about anything — even scheduling en Español! When she's enjoying the world outside of Free Range, you might catch Annie whizzing down the street on her bicycle or reading and sipping coffee at a local café.