Please provide a brief update on your progress toward your proposed CWB goals in the last reporting period:
In March, we updated our cooperative development project plan for the new manufacturing cooperative with our advisory board. We also started the (very exciting!) process of choosing a business model for the new co-op with the founding members, and we held a training to build the members' values and group agreements. We finalized our training plan through June, including two trainings that will be hosted by our partner organizations, Grow Greater Englewood and Urban Growers Collective. With ChiFresh Kitchen, we continued mentoring and coaching one of the founding members to step into her new role, now that she has fully stepped off the production floor. We shifted our food compliance role into being general administration and compliance role; the new administrative director is streamlining multiple administrative processes for ChiFresh in partnership with their members. We continue to support ChiFresh's implementation of the Climate Infrastructure grant, and now ChiFresh has its first electric vehicle (and temporary charging station). We also supported a BIPOC-led, south side worker cooperative with its wind down process.
What constraints or limitations, if any, did you experience in the last reporting period?
We continue to grapple with the model when it comes to "professional" capacity and managerial skills; specifically, what role Upside Down Consulting should play on a long-term basis with ChiFresh and how that influences our approach to building the new cooperative(s). I have started reaching out to colleagues about their models to get insight.
What opportunities, if any, did you take advantage of in the last reporting period?
We are part of the local organizing team for US Federation of Worker Cooperatives, which is bringing its national conference to Chicago in September this year. We supported the development of the Good Food Fund, which launched in March. And we talked to De'Sean Weber, a public administration graduate student exploring how municipalities are developing the necessary capacity and capabilities to foster community wealth building at scale.
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?
Urban Growers Collective
Please share on behalf of whom / which projects you collaborated with the TA providers above:
Compost Cooperative
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
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)
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)?
62
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?
359
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?
Management training that is aligned with our values
What are the greatest gaps in service or resources in Chicago's CWB ecosystem?
aligned business development and operations capacity
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/2024/04/Training-Plan.pdf
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)?
5
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?
16
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.
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?
Affordable insurance costs, grant sources to replace our short-term debt
What are the greatest gaps in service or resources in Chicago's CWB ecosystem?
Culturally grounded training resources
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.
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:
