Please provide a brief update on your progress toward your proposed CWB goals in the last reporting period:
Urban Growers Collective continued work with Grower Apprenticeship participants across workshops and hands-on work in their work areas on UGC's South Chicago Farm. This includes 20 work days including: - Review and sharing of farm skills - Harvest Workshops -Composting workshop with Will Allen, Founder of Growing Power -Virtual Cooperative workshop -Tomato Trellising workshop -Group Farm work: Skills and Harvesting -Summer Harvesting workshop - Cooperative workshop on Conflict Resolution Apprentices were focused on consistently showing up to the farms to complete farm maintenance and work through the hottest and most productive months of the growing season.
What constraints or limitations, if any, did you experience in the last reporting period?
Several days of heat advisories, poor air quality and other weather limited some program days and disrupted farm work. UGC adjusted schedules to accomodate, and increased watering to support crop production. Contracting and contractor delays in developing on-farm infrastructure for shed/portico area, delaying availability for them to be used to protect against severe weather.
What opportunities, if any, did you take advantage of in the last reporting period?
UGC is leveraging Food Security Equity Impact Funding from Feeding America to identify and acquire land for future Apprenticeship program participants to grow on at larger scales via the Conservation Fund's Working Farm Funds.
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?
Upside Down Consulting
Please share on behalf of whom / which projects you collaborated with the TA providers above:
Upside Down Consulting- Cooperative workshops (Virutal workshop and Conflict Resolution)
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)
2
Optional Space
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.)
20
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?
0
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?
No
What are the greatest needs that your WC clients/partners expressed in this reporting period?
N/A evaluations to be collected in Fall 2023
What are the greatest gaps in service or resources in Chicago's CWB ecosystem?
Patient Capital for long term sustainable support of projects
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.
