CCWBE Report

Organization:
Illinois Worker Cooperative Alliance - Seed Commons
Reporting Period:
Sep 2024
Submitted on:
October 28, 2024
Submitted By:
Jason Tompkins

TA Providers: General Questions

CWB Goals

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

In September, Chicago Community and Workers’ Rights (CCWR) supported the development of the following Worker Cooperatives: Cocina Compartida de Trabajadores Cooperativistas (CCTC), Street Vendors Kitchen (SVK), and the Bees Cooperative (Driving Cooperative). Our organization also worked with the Street Vendors Association of Chicago (SVAC). Cocina Compartida de Trabajadores Cooperativistas (CCTC) CCWR had 2 group reunions with CCTC and 1 one-on-one meeting in the month of September. During these meetings, members discussed the balance of a loan and about the kitchen inauguration on September 24,2024. Members also discussed the upcoming kitchen inspection from the Health Department that would be their last. They also met to organize the inauguration event. Street Vendors Kitchen (SVK) Our organization had 2 group reunions and 3 one-on-one reunions in September with the Street Vendors Kitchen cooperative. SVK also had their tamale tasting event this month. During the reunions, members organized and talked about the tamale event, and organized members for the national cooperative conference in Chicago. Bees Cooperative (Driving Cooperative) CCWR had 1 group reunion and 2 one-on-one meetings with the Bees Cooperative this month of September. CCWR gave a workshop on legal resources to members and talked about what they learned from the national cooperative conference in Chicago.

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

The Bees Cooperative has been struggling to obtain licenses and documentation from the secretary of state for drivers in the cooperative. They need these licenses to be able to establish the cooperative and be able to work. They need legal support to resolve this situation, as well as financial resources that can help pay those legal fees.

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

A big opportunity that CCWR took this month was attending and presenting at the National Worker Cooperative Conference in Chicago. CCWR and all cooperatives we are working with were able to make connections and gain access to resources for the growth of their cooperative.

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
Rogers Park 3
Pullman 3
South Lawndale 20
Lower West Side 10

 

Race / Ethnicity of Participants (select all that apply)

Black
Latinx
White

 

Gender identity of Participants (select all that apply)

Female
Male
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)?

5

 

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

5

 

How many hours of support to CWB Pre-Development Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you provide this reporting period?

120

 

How many hours of support to existing Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you provide this reporting period?

120

 

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.

Cocina Compartida de Trabajadores Cooperativistas (CCTC)
HAZ Cooperative Studios
Cooperation Racine
WisConnect Holding Cooperative LWCA
Chicago Cane Cooperative
Street Vendors Association of Chicago

 

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?

One of the greatest needs our organization has seen that these emerging cooperatives need is access to legal support and funding to be able to pay those legal fees.

 

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

As we stated before, the lack of accounting, financial and legal services for worker cooperatives is one of the greatest gaps in Chicago’s web 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:

 

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

 

Community Investment Vehicles Work

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

 

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?

0

 

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

0

 

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

0

 

Please upload media (document with testimonials, photos, or video links) from Community Investment Vehicle 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

 

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: