Please provide a brief update on your progress toward your proposed CWB goals in the last reporting period:
During the last reporting period, Chicago Community and Workers’ Rights (CCWR) has been progressing toward our goals and are on track to complete the proposed deliverables. Since March, CCWR has been working with two different groups of workers who were interested in creating a worker cooperative and are now currently in the process of that creation. The first worker cooperative consists of 22 members and they are a cooperative of services. With this group, CCWR has given them trainings on cooperatives, helped them form a committee and their board of directors, create their bylaws, and register their cooperative with the state. CCWR is working with the second group of workers interested in forming a cooperative kitchen. There are 15 members of this cooperative since August and CCWR has trained them on worker cooperatives, helped them form their board of directors, and are currently strategizing to create a business plan and their bylaws. Chicago Community and Workers’ Rights also continues working with the cooperative La Cocina Compartida de Trabajadores Cooperativistas (CCTC). The shared kitchen cooperative is currently being renovated, but half of the members, including our Executive Director, meet twice a month to discuss the work being done. Similarly, CCWR is working with 3 other groups of workers who have taken our general cooperative workshops. And some of them have expressed interest in forming a cooperative. Our organization has also created informational worker cooperative flyers and has distributed around 400 flyers to the community we serve. CCWR has given 6 bi-weekly general workshops on worker cooperatives in the past month, and has reached around 140 people with information about the cooperative model. Our organization is also in the process of helping 7 street vendors get the documents they need to start the process of getting their necessary permits.
What constraints or limitations, if any, did you experience in the last reporting period?
One of the constraints that CCWR has been experiencing is due to the reconstruction of CCTC Shared Kitchen Cooperative . The shared kitchen has been under construction for almost a year. The kitchen should have been ready this past March, but it is taking longer than expected. This means that street vendors have not been using the kitchen to prepare their food. Although there are still bi-weekly meetings for all members, only half of the members have been able to attend, and these meetings are in a different location than the shared kitchen.
What opportunities, if any, did you take advantage of in the last reporting period?
A number of workers have been coming to our organization because they were fired or have lost their jobs unjustly. As we work with them so they know and understand their rights, we also see it as an opportunity for us to talk to them about the worker cooperative model, and how cooperatives are another way to create jobs and work.
Did you establish new CWB relationships/partnerships in the last reporting period?
Yes
Please describe the relationships you established pertaining to your CWB work.
IWCA is exploring partnership opportunities with Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC United Chicago) CCWR partners with Universidad Popular for their office and meeting space.
Did you collaborate with other TA providers in the last reporting period?
Yes
Which TA provider(s) did you work with?
Upside Down Consulting, Centro De Trabajadores Unidos,
Please share on behalf of whom / which projects you collaborated with the TA providers above:
Proyecto Avance Maden
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
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)?
16
How many group workshops for Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you conduct this reporting period? (e.g. convenings, workshops, events, etc.)
140
How many hours of support to CWB Pre-Development Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you provide this reporting period?
1120
How many hours of support to existing Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you provide this reporting period?
280
How many co-op businesses did you develop last reporting period? (It's okay if the answer is 0)
2
How many total owners / founders were there in these businesses?
22
How many jobs were created overall last reporting period? (It's okay if the answer is 0)
22
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?
0
How many hours of popular education/outreach did you provide last month?
800
Number of curriculum material(s) created last month
3
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?
The greatest needs of the WC clients that our organization has identified are how to better manage the finances of the cooperative, more education and information surrounding general cooperative management (example: finances, relationships, etc.), as well as how to find funding for buying or renting a collaborative work space (example: a shared kitchen for the street vendors).
What are the greatest gaps in service or resources in Chicago's CWB ecosystem?
The greatest gaps in service and resources that our organization has noticed in Chicago’s CWB ecosystem is that it is still very difficult for street vendors to obtain the permits necessary to sell food because of the amount of documents required to get a permit and submitting documents to the city through online forms and email. Also the city of Chicago has limited resources in Spanish and the community we serve is not technologically advanced, faces language barriers, and due to this they require a lot of support in navigating the process. Additionally, there is a lack of education on worker cooperatives and cooperative structures in institutions like government offices and banks.
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 Consuelo Martinez, the president of the worker cooperative Proyecto Avance: To whom it may concern, October 16th, 2023 "Hello, My name is Consuelo Martinez and I am a part of the worker cooperative Proyecto Avance, which was established recently here in Chicago. We are a group of 24 mothers who are leaders and have worked with the organization TRP. I would like to thank Martin Unzueta and Abraham Ramirez from the organization Chicago Community and Workers’ Rights because they have guided us and helped us understand how to build and form a cooperative through workshops and meetings with the board of Proyecto Avance." Sincerely, Consuelo Martinez President of the Cooperative Proyecto Avance
Please upload media (document with testimonials, photos, or video links) from WC workshops or events held.
https://ccwbe.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSC00639-scaled.jpg
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.
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.
