Please provide a brief update on your progress toward your proposed CWB goals in the last reporting period:
We facilitated the first in-person retreat for the Chicago Worker Cooperative Developer Cohort and shaped our worker ownership webinar series to build cooperative fluency in the broader business service ecosystem. All fellows rated their participation in the in-person retreat as highly or extremely valuable and found our tools, resources, recommendations, lessons, and frameworks useful in helping inform and refine their cooperative development work. I've attached the retreat agenda to highlight the topics we covered. They also rated our language accessibility as highly effective.
What constraints or limitations, if any, did you experience in the last reporting period?
None
What opportunities, if any, did you take advantage of in the last reporting period?
Our Chicago Worker Cooperative Developer retreat afforded opportunities to learn more about our fellows work and identify additional ways DAWI can provide assistance. We also asked the city's neighborhood business development centers to promote the worker ownership webinar series.
Did you establish new CWB relationships/partnerships in the last reporting period?
Yes
Please describe the relationships you established pertaining to your CWB work.
ChiFresh Kitchens- we invite Edrinna Bryant, worker owner, to speak to our fellows about their start up development experience and relationship with Upside Down Consulting.
Did you collaborate with other TA providers in the last reporting period?
Yes
Which TA provider(s) did you work with?
Upside Down Consulting
Please share on behalf of whom / which projects you collaborated with the TA providers above:
Chicago Worker Cooperative Developer Cohort retreat
Did you attend the Working Group meeting last month?
Yes
How would you rate the usefulness of the working group to your project last month? (on a scale of 1-5)
4
Optional Space
Community Area(s) (select all that apply)
| Community Area | Participants Served in this Community Area |
|---|---|
| Austin | 1 |
| Englewood | 2 |
| Logan Square | 2 |
| Lower West Side | 1 |
| Near West Side | 2 |
| South Chicago | 1 |
| South Deering | 1 |
| Uptown | 1 |
| West Garfield Park | 1 |
| Woodlawn | 1 |
Race / Ethnicity of Participants (select all that apply)
Other Race/Ethnicity (please specify)
2 Hispanic that preferred not to state race or chose Other, 1 American Indian or Alaskan Native
Gender identity of Participants (select all that apply)
Age Range of Participants (select all that apply)
How many sessions of one-on-one consulting to Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you conduct this reporting period? (e.g. one group or individual with one training provider)?
6
How many group workshops for Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you conduct this reporting period? (e.g. convenings, workshops, events, etc.)
1
How many hours of support to CWB Pre-Development Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you provide this reporting period?
24
How many hours of support to existing Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you provide this reporting period?
24
How many co-op businesses did you develop last reporting period? (It's okay if the answer is 0)
0
How many jobs were created overall last reporting period? (It's okay if the answer is 0)
0
Please list the Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers Organizations you worked with this reporting period.
Other organization (please specify):
Center for Changing Lives, Centro de Trabajadores Unidos, Chicago Community and Workers Rights, Chicago Community Wealth Building Ecosystem at UIC, ChiCommons LWCA, Co-Op Ed Center, Earthseed Native Landscaping & Edible Gardens LWCA, Kola Community Solutions, The K, Liberation Labs/Justice Cream
What type(s) of Technical Assistance did you provide to Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers this reporting period? Select all that apply.
Did you provide education to any Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers this reporting period?
No
What are the greatest needs that your WC clients/partners expressed in this reporting period?
The need to develop a worker cooperative advocacy network and agenda to continue organizing for additional resources to fully nurture the growing worker coop sector.
What are the greatest gaps in service or resources in Chicago's CWB ecosystem?
Cooperative fluent accountants and bookkeepers; cooperative fluent business service providers (e.g. business planning)
Please share any direct testimonials from Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers clients or storytelling about the impact of your work this period:
See attachment for webinar evaluation and see our video testimonials of our retreat on Chicago Worker Cooperative Developers
Please upload media (document with testimonials, photos, or video links) from WC workshops or events held.
https://ccwbe.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/March-Workshop-Evaluation-Summary.pdf
https://ccwbe.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sequane-Lawrence-audio-testimonial.mov
https://ccwbe.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Jenna-Pollack-DAWI-testimonial.mp4
https://ccwbe.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Deandra-Cadet-DAWI-testimonial-.mp4
https://ccwbe.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Participant-March-Agenda.docx.pdf
Did your organization provide any additional TA support this reporting period that was NOT covered in the previous tabs?
No
Please describe the type(s) of organizations you supported (i.e. nonprofits, business service orgs, etc.)
How many total organizations or entities did you support (that were not covered in the previous tabs)?
How many total hours of support did you provide to these organizations?
Please share any other relevant details about the support you provided these organizations:
