CCWBE Report

Organization:
Upsidedown Consulting
Reporting Period:
Sep 2024
Submitted on:
October 9, 2024
Submitted By:
Camille Kerr

TA Providers: General Questions

CWB Goals

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

6ix-cess Foods, LWCA: In September, 6ix-cess started and nearly completed its Business Model Canvas, identifying its core customer segments, value proposition, activities, and more. Members of 6ix-cess were also able to attend the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives’ bi-annual conference, which took place here in Chicago, attending sessions with both local and national worker co-ops on topics from conflict resolution to finance management to ecosystem development. They also had an important discussion about each member’s commitment to the co-op and expectations around participation. ChiFresh Kitchen, LWCA: ChiFresh identified multiple new leads and opportunities in September, including launching a new partnership with the Chatham Business Association in their work with ComEd. Our home-delivered medically tailored meal program has continued to grow. UDC’s new mentorship program with the ChiFresh team has allowed us to provide insight for the members into the skills and knowledge we leverage to de-risk projects and access needed resources and capital. VOLTS: At the USFWC conference, VOLTS rolled out our new identity as a collective of worker and housing cooperatives, and cooperative developers. We received feedback that our ecosystem approach - building connected institutions that meet members’ economic and social needs - is exciting and inspiring. We also identified a and went under contract to purchase office space in Greater Grand Crossing, using Seed Commons as our lender.

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

We are continuing to adapt our model to figure out how to support the full network of cooperatives, when each project is such a big lift; how much a new incubation project actually costs; and how to recruit aligned support.

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

The USFWC Conference was a huge opportunity to connect with both local and national worker cooperatives. We sent 10+ people from the VOLTS family (from 6ix-cess, ChiFresh, and UDC). Kim Britt was on the main stage, Nyah and Camille had a session, and all of us participated in the Thursday Chicago-specific networking event.

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?

Yes

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
Greater Grand Crossing 11
Grand Boulevard 3
Austin 4
Englewood 5

 

Race / Ethnicity of Participants (select all that apply)

Black

 

Gender identity of Participants (select all that apply)

Male
Female
Nonbinary

 

Age Range of Participants (select all that apply)

25 to 34
35 to 49
50 to 64

 

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)?

53

 

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

0

 

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?

343

 

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.

ChiFresh Kitchen

 

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?

Still need good management training options for our worker-owners that take a leadership role

 

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

Business support services that have deep business knowledge as well as strong cooperative / solidarity economy alignment

 

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/Volts-2.pdf

 

Limited Equity Housing Coops Work

How many sessions of one-on-one consulting to Limited Equity Housing Cooperatives (LEHCs) did you conduct this reporting period? (e.g. one group or individual with one training provider)?

8

 

How many group workshops for Limited Equity Housing Cooperatives did you conduct this reporting period? (e.g. convenings, workshops, events, etc.) 

0

 

How many hours of support to CWB Pre-Development Limited Equity Housing Cooperatives did you provide this reporting period?

15

 

How many hours of support to existing Limited Equity Housing Cooperatives did you provide this reporting period?

0

 

Please list the LEHCs you worked with this reporting period.

Jumpstart Housing Cooperative

 

What type(s) of Technical Assistance did you provide to LEHCs this reporting period? Select all that apply.

 

Number of AFFORDABLE housing units preserved or developed this period

0

 

Number of AFFORDABLE housing units added to the pipeline this period

0

 

Did you provide education to any LEHCs this reporting period?

No

 

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

We're looking for a new building!

 

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

Network of funders interested in cooperative housing

 

Please share any direct testimonials from LEHC clients or storytelling about the impact of your work this period:

 

Please upload media (document with testimonials, photos, or video links) from LEHC workshops or events held.

 

Additional TA Support

Did your organization provide any additional TA support this reporting period that was NOT covered in the previous tabs?

No