Please provide a brief update on your progress toward your proposed CWB goals in the last reporting period:
As of November 2024, our Early Warning trainees are continuing their online training. Participants worked asynchronously on the online learning platform and were assigned a collaborative group project focused on developing an artifact that explains the Early Warning process. As of November 30, 13 unique organizations are on track to complete the training. Our closing ceremony, which was tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, November 12, from 5-7pm has since been rescheduled to Wednesday, December 4 from 5:30-7:30pm. This decision was due to a change in venue, but it will also allow us more time to progress the copyediting of the manual. We are happy to report that we made significant progress in the month of November on formatting and editing the Early Warning Manual with the efforts and support of our Media and Communications specialist. We are on track to release a digital copy of the manual at the closing ceremony. We have invited a variety of stakeholders to the closing ceremony, including several members of the clergy, manufacturing company owners and elected officials like Senator Willie Preston and Senator Elgie Simms. Last month we reported that several of the participants expressed interest in brainstorming the sustainability and implementation of the Early Warning Network at a City-wide level. We have since successfully engaged the representatives of the Local Industrial Retention Initiative (LIRI) agencies on three occasions in the month of November. The discussions were positive and resulted in the development of a letter of support that will be signed by at least 8 of the 9 LIRI agencies. The group also agreed to continue meeting in 2025 to begin implementing the lessons learned during the training. Lastly, we reconvened the Advisory Committee on Tuesday, November 19, from 2-3:30pm to share project updates and began reflecting on the progress made over the past year.
What constraints or limitations, if any, did you experience in the last reporting period?
We have yet to receive confirmation of whether there will be a grant extension which is hindering us from planning additional training and planning the next steps in convening the network.
What opportunities, if any, did you take advantage of in the last reporting period?
N/A
Did you establish new CWB relationships/partnerships in the last reporting period?
No
Please describe the relationships you established pertaining to your CWB work.
Did you collaborate with other TA providers in the last reporting period?
Yes
Which TA provider(s) did you work with?
Revolution Institute
Please share on behalf of whom / which projects you collaborated with the TA providers above:
Sequane Lawrence of the Revolution Institute remains an active training participant and Advisory Committee member. Revolution Institute has also asked MR and Early Warning Network to assist them in finding a manufacturer to acquire and convert to a worker coop. We are continuing to converse about the details of such an arrangement.
Did you attend the Working Group meeting last month?
No
How would you rate the usefulness of the working group to your project last month? (on a scale of 1-5)
5 extremely useful
Optional Space
Community Area(s) (select all that apply)
| Community Area | Participants Served in this Community Area |
|---|---|
| N/A - no participants served | 0 |
Race / Ethnicity of Participants (select all that apply)
Other Race/Ethnicity (please specify)
N/A - no new participants served
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)?
0
How many group workshops for Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you conduct this reporting period? (e.g. convenings, workshops, events, etc.)
0
How many hours of support to CWB Pre-Development Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you provide this reporting period?
0
How many hours of support to existing Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you provide this reporting period?
3
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.
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?
Yes
How many hours of cohort education/training did you provide last month?
3
How many hours of popular education/outreach did you provide last month?
0
Number of curriculum material(s) created last month
1
How did you market your services and conduct outreach in the last reporting period? Select all that apply.
What are the greatest needs that your WC clients/partners expressed in this reporting period?
Continuous support is needed for 2025 and beyond, both monetary and space to convene and engage in collaborative discussions.
What are the greatest gaps in service or resources in Chicago's CWB ecosystem?
N/A
Please share any direct testimonials from Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers clients or storytelling about the impact of your work this period:
Please upload media (document with testimonials, photos, or video links) from WC workshops or events held.
Did your organization provide any additional TA support this reporting period that was NOT covered in the previous tabs?
No
