Please provide a brief update on your progress toward your proposed CWB goals in the last reporting period:
In the month of December, Chicago Community and Workers’ Rights (CCWR) worked with the following worker cooperatives: Cocina Compartida de Trabajadores Cooperativistas (CCTC), Street Vendors Kitchen (SVK), Proyecto Avance, and Street Vendors Association of Chicago. Cocina Compartida de Trabajadores Cooperativistas (CCTC) Our organization had 2 reunions with CCTC in the month of December. Cooperative members continued talking about the remodeling and re-opening of the kitchen (possibly in January). The cooperative members also discussed their next annual meeting, which according to the bylaws must be held on January 10. CCTC bylaws were reviewed to be clear on the process and it was decided to call all cooperative members to attend the meeting and elect their new board of directors. Street Vendors Kitchen (SVK) CCWR had 5 reunions in December with the Street Vendors Kitchen cooperative, as well as two one-on-one meetings with cooperative members. Workers started the conversation about creating the bylaws and talked about the grant that they applied to. We also planned a reunion of the general assembly that will be at the end of January. In these reunions, the members have been talking about the need to open a bank account for the cooperative, and it was decided that the President and Vice President research and bring back information on two different banks. Proyecto Avance CCWR had 1 reunion in December with Proyecto Avance. For the time being, the cooperative members decided on one meeting a month. The cooperative members finished the discussion of the bylaws and they were accepted by the members. The president and vice-president of the SVK cooperative, and the vice-president of the IDEAL cooperative, were present at this meeting. During the meeting different points were discussed, such as the proposal of the logo of the cooperative and its registration. Also discussed was the renewal of the contracts with TRP, they will talk to them to see if they will continue as individual independent contractors or with the cooperative. They also discussed the next general assembly meeting, the membership fee, the signing of the by-laws and the election of the new board of directors. Finally, the problem solving committee was discussed and a committee was formed to look for community members to serve on the committee. Cooperativa IDEAL- Our organization did not have a reunion with the IDEAL cooperative this month because the members were sick.
What constraints or limitations, if any, did you experience in the last reporting period?
During the month of December, our organization did not meet with Cooperativa IDEAL because the members were sick, some members were recovering from COVID-19. Additionally, the last two weeks of December, many of the workers are on vacation. Furthermore, the Shared Kitchen Cooperative (CCTC) in still under construction and the street vendors have not been able to begin the process of getting their licenses.
What opportunities, if any, did you take advantage of in the last reporting period?
One of the opportunities that was taken advantage of this past reporting period is the chance to review CCTC bylaws by the members. Elections are coming up for the CCTC cooperative, so they've had to review the bylaws and are finding they need to start a conversation about updating their bylaws to better the cooperative processes to make decisions. Some of CCTC members are really engaged and have committed themselves to find the best practices for the cooperative.
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?
IWCA, 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 |
|---|---|
| Rogers Park | 2 |
| Lower West Side | 8 |
| North Lawndale | 3 |
| South Lawndale | 8 |
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.)
8
How many hours of support to CWB Pre-Development Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you provide this reporting period?
180
How many hours of support to existing Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you provide this reporting period?
65
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):
Proyecto Avance, Street Vendors Kitchen, Chicago Cane Cooperative
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?
Most of the members of the cooperatives that our organization is working with have expressed wanting capacity building workshops for its members, as well as the need for administrative assistance.
What are the greatest gaps in service or resources in Chicago's CWB ecosystem?
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. Also as we stated in our last reports, the lack of financial services and resources in Spanish is an ongoing gap in the CWB ecosystem.
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 Juanita Arroyo, President of IDEAL Cooperative Diciembre 18,2023 “Mi nombre es Juanita Arroyo, Presidenta de la cooperativa IDEAL. Estoy muy contenta y muy agradecida con la Organización Chicago Community and Workers Rights por todo el apoyo que nos han brindado en este proceso. Ya que para mí es algo nuevo lo de las cooperativas. No había escuchado antes sobre ello. Y con el conocimiento y la guía que nos han dado me es más claro el objetivo de nuestra cooperativa y con el apoyo del señor Martín Unzueta y el señor Abraham Uriel Ramírez, que con sus conocimientos nos han ido guiando y siempre están dispuestos a colaborar con el equipo y a impulsarnos en este crecimiento. Muchas gracias por su compromiso en la formación de la cooperativa IDEAL. Gracias. Juanita Arroyo” "My name is Juanita Arroyo, President of IDEAL Cooperative. I am very happy and very grateful to the Chicago Community and Workers Rights Organization for all the support they have given us in this process. This cooperative process was something new for me. I had not heard about it before. And with the knowledge and guidance CCWR has given us, the objective of our cooperative is clearer to me with the support of Mr. Martin Unzueta and Mr. Abraham Uriel Ramirez, who with their knowledge have been guiding us and are always willing to collaborate with the team and to encourage us in this growth. Thank you very much for your commitment in the formation of IDEAL Cooperative. Thank you. Juanita Arroyo".
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?
n/a
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
