CCWBE Report

Organization:
Lawndale Christian Development Corporation
Reporting Period:
Sep 2024
Submitted on:
October 2, 2024
Submitted By:
Brian Tyler

TA Providers: General Questions

CWB Goals

Please provide a brief update on your progress toward your proposed CWB goals in the last reporting period:

During the month of September, LCDC made significant progress in its ongoing efforts to support cooperative development in North Lawndale through its Lifting Lawndale initiative. One of the primary highlights for this reporting period has been the planning for a winter pop-up event for Lifting Lawndale’s chocolate-making subsidiary. This pop-up is scheduled to launch later this year and will serve as both a community engagement activity and a market opportunity for the subsidiary. In addition to the pop-up planning, Lifting Lawndale took important steps toward formalizing the chocolate subsidiary as a cooperative. Representatives from the team met with the University of Illinois at Chicago’s (UIC) Cooperative Legal Clinic to discuss incorporating the chocolate business under the cooperative structure. This meeting was productive and laid the groundwork for the legal steps necessary to bring this business closer to full incorporation. Furthermore, the LCDC Incubator is gearing up to launch Cohort 3 trainings in collaboration with Kola Nut and other community partners. These trainings will focus on cooperative leadership, governance, and business development, and are designed to equip the next group of potential cooperative member-owners with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. The collaboration with Kola Nut and other partners is essential in ensuring a robust and comprehensive training program for our participants. These developments mark continued progress toward our cooperative development goals, with a focus on building sustainable, community-owned businesses. We remain on track to meet the strategic objectives outlined for the cooperative incubator.

What constraints or limitations, if any, did you experience in the last reporting period?

During the month of September, one of the main constraints we experienced was related to the ongoing incorporation process for Lifting Lawndale’s chocolate-making subsidiary. While the meeting with UIC’s Cooperative Legal Clinic was productive, the legal steps required for formal incorporation are taking longer than anticipated. This has slightly delayed some of the operational aspects of the business, including marketing and outreach efforts for the upcoming winter pop-up. Additionally, as we plan for the winter pop-up, securing funding and finalizing logistical details, such as location and vendor partnerships, has been more time-consuming than expected. This has required additional coordination with stakeholders and community partners to ensure everything remains on track. Despite these limitations, we remain optimistic and continue to make progress in moving the initiative forward. We are actively working on resolving these issues and remain committed to achieving our goals within the expected timelines.

What opportunities, if any, did you take advantage of in the last reporting period?

In September, we capitalized on several key opportunities that helped advance the goals of the Lifting Lawndale initiative. One major opportunity was our partnership with the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Cooperative Legal Clinic. This collaboration allowed us to receive valuable legal guidance on the incorporation of Lifting Lawndale’s chocolate-making subsidiary as a cooperative, which is a crucial step in formalizing the business. This partnership has opened the door to further legal support and expertise, which will be instrumental as we continue to develop the cooperative. Additionally, we took advantage of the planning phase for the upcoming winter pop-up for the chocolate subsidiary. This event represents a unique opportunity to engage with the community, test the market for our products, and build brand awareness. The pop-up also provides a platform for showcasing the cooperative model in action, potentially attracting new partnerships and investments. These opportunities have positioned Lifting Lawndale for continued growth, allowing us to make tangible progress toward our long-term goals.

Chicago CWB Ecosystem

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?

No

Which TA provider(s) did you work with?

Please share on behalf of whom / which projects you collaborated with the TA providers above:

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

Demographic Data

Community Area(s) (select all that apply)

Community Area Participants Served in this Community Area
North Lawndale 8

 

Race / Ethnicity of Participants (select all that apply)

Black

 

Gender identity of Participants (select all that apply)

Male
Female

 

Age Range of Participants (select all that apply)

25 to 34
35 to 49

 

Worker Coop Work

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)?

3

 

How many group workshops for Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you conduct this reporting period? (e.g. convenings, workshops, events, etc.)

2

 

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?

11

 

How many co-op businesses did you develop last reporting period? (It's okay if the answer is 0)

1

 

How many total owners / founders were there in these businesses?

7

 

How many jobs were created overall last reporting period? (It's okay if the answer is 0)

1

 

Please list the Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers Organizations you worked with this reporting period.

LCDC Cooperative Incubator

 

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?

2

 

How many hours of popular education/outreach did you provide last month?

0

 

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.

Social Media Marketing (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn)
Word-of-mouth marketing

 

What are the greatest needs that your WC clients/partners expressed in this reporting period?

Access to low-interest rate funding sources.

 

What are the greatest gaps in service or resources in Chicago's CWB ecosystem?

Educating potential private funders about the benefits to supporting CWB participants and building out the network of collaborators outside of those that exist.

 

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.

https://ccwbe.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/LCDCCoOpFlyer-D4_02.pdf.pdf-5.pdf

 

Additional TA Support

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: