Please provide a brief update on your progress toward your proposed CWB goals in the last reporting period:
Cocina Compartida de Trabajadores Cooperativistas (CCTC) Our organization had 5 reunions with CCTC in the month of January. Cooperative members met to prepare for their annual meeting to elect new board members, and on January 10th they held elections and the new board with five members was chosen. The members met towards the end of January for an informational meeting and to continue working on the re-opening of the kitchen, and met with the architects and members of the board to see how work for the kitchen is coming along. Street Vendors Kitchen (SVK) CCWR had 4 reunions in January with the Street Vendors Kitchen cooperative, as well as 2 one-on-one meetings with cooperative members. The cooperative spoke about opening a new bank account, visited the banks and discussed the requirements for a business account, and they also talked about the process and agenda they will follow to prepare for the general assembly meeting. Cooperative members also toured the Nueva Era (New Era) cooperative members, alongside members from IDEAL Cooperativa and CCTC. The representative for the cooperative federation was also in attendance. Members were able to ask questions and become familiar with the functions of the cooperative. Proyecto Avance CCWR had 2 reunions in January with Proyecto Avance. In the first meeting, the cooperative members talked about how they will continue working with The Resurrection Project (TRP). The members also decided to continue monthly meetings because of their workload. They will continue to work to strengthen the cooperative work they started. The second reunion was Proyecto Avance’s general assembly and members discussed their annual report and elected new board members.. Cooperativa IDEAL CCWR had 1 reunion with the cooperative members from IDEAL. Cooperative members toured the Nueva Era (New Era) cooperative, alongside members from the SVK and CCTC cooperatives. Members were able to ask questions and become familiar with the functions of the cooperative. Street Vendors Association of Chicago (SVAC) CCWR had 3 reunions with SVAC to plan and prepare for their elections, they prepared the lost of members who would be able to vote, as well as communicated with the candidates for the board and their mesa directiva. They held the election for their board and mesa directiva at the end of January according to their bylaws.
What constraints or limitations, if any, did you experience in the last reporting period?
One limitation we faced in January is related to the opening of a bank account for a cooperative. Some members do not have a social security number, which is requested by some banks to be able to receive benefits like loans or business credit. We are continuing to work with the cooperative members to find other banks with requirements that are more flexible.
What opportunities, if any, did you take advantage of in the last reporting period?
One of the opportunities that was taken advantage of in January is the opportunity we had to review SVAC’s bylaws with its members. Their election was successful. The members of multiple cooperatives also had the opportunity to find out about current resources and trainings that the Federation of Cooperatives offers.
Did you establish new CWB relationships/partnerships in the last reporting period?
Yes
Please describe the relationships you established pertaining to your CWB work.
emerging cooperatives in the Little Village neighborhood
Did you collaborate with other TA providers in the last reporting period?
Yes
Which TA provider(s) did you work with?
The Resurrection Project
Please share on behalf of whom / which projects you collaborated with the TA providers above:
Proyecto Avance
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)
3
Optional Space
Community Area(s) (select all that apply)
Community Area | Participants Served in this Community Area |
---|---|
Lower West Side | 2 |
South Lawndale | 2 |
Rogers Park | 1 |
West Englewood | 1 |
Race / Ethnicity of Participants (select all that apply)
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)?
15
How many group workshops for Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you conduct this reporting period? (e.g. convenings, workshops, events, etc.)
15
How many hours of support to CWB Pre-Development Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you provide this reporting period?
120
How many hours of support to existing Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you provide this reporting period?
120
How many co-op businesses did you develop last reporting period? (It's okay if the answer is 0)
3
How many total owners / founders were there in these businesses?
12
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):
Coopertiva IDEAL, Proyecto Avance, Chicago Cane Cooperative, ARC Co-op / in care of black women
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?
8
How many hours of popular education/outreach did you provide last month?
8
Number of curriculum material(s) created last month
0
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?
Cooperative members have expressed the need for more permanent meeting spaces, and are currently researching where that could be.
What are the greatest gaps in service or resources in Chicago's CWB ecosystem?
As we stated in our last report, the financial systems that the banks have established do not respond to the needs of collective groups like cooperatives, they generally identify the person opening the account as the owner.
Please share any direct testimonials from Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers clients or storytelling about the impact of your work this period:
Here is the testimony of Elizabeth Jimenez, Vice-President of IDEAL Cooperative Mi nombre es Elizabeth Jimenez y pertenezco a la cooperativa SVK. Soy la Vice Presidenta en este momento y agradezco a Abraham Uriel nuestro asesor y a Martin Unzueta de Chicago Community and Workers’ Rights por todo su apoyo y guía en el proceso y desarrollo de esta cooperativa, tengo la confianza y la Fe de que lograremos el propósito. Gracias por todo su apoyo a Street Vendors Kitchen. My name is Elizabeth Jimenez and I am a part of the Street Vendors Kitchen (SVK) cooperative. I am the Vice President at this time, and I want to thank Abraham Uriel, our advisor, and Martin Unzueta from Chicago Community and Workers' Rights for all their support and guidance in the process and development of this cooperative. I have the confidence and faith that we will achieve the purpose. Thank you for all your support to the Street Vendors Kitchen.
Please upload media (document with testimonials, photos, or video links) from WC workshops or events held.
How many sessions of one-on-one consulting to Community Investment Vehicles (CIVs) did you conduct this reporting period? (e.g. one group or individual with one training provider)?
0
How many group workshops for Community Investment Vehicles (CIVs) did you conduct this reporting period? (e.g. convenings, workshops, events, etc.) 
0
How many hours of support to CWB Pre-Development Community Investment Vehicles did you provide this reporting period?
0
How many hours of support to existing Community Investment Vehicles did you provide this reporting period?
0
How many co-op businesses did you develop last reporting period? (It's okay if the answer is 0)
0
How many total owners / founders were there in these businesses?
0
How many jobs were created overall last reporting period? (It's okay if the answer is 0)
0
Please list the Community Investment Vehicles you worked with this reporting period.
Other organization (please specify):
n/a
What type(s) of Technical Assistance did you provide to Community Investment Vehicles this reporting period? Select all that apply.
Did you provide education to any Community Investment Vehicles this reporting period?
No
What are the greatest needs that your Community Investment Vehicle clients/partners expressed in this reporting period?
na
What are the greatest gaps in service or resources in Chicago's CWB ecosystem?
n/a
Please share any direct testimonials from Community Investment Vehicle clients or storytelling about the impact of your work this period:
n/a
Please upload media (document with testimonials, photos, or video links) from Community Investment Vehicle workshops or events held.
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: