Please provide a brief update on your progress toward your proposed CWB goals in the last reporting period:
In February, 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 Cooperativa IDEAL. Our organization also worked with the Street Vendors Association of Chicago (SVAC) Cocina Compartida de Trabajadores Cooperativistas (CCTC) CCWR had 5 reunions with CCTC in the month of February. During these reunions, cooperative members discussed and established the roles and responsibilities of the elected administrative managers, established rules for the general assembly meetings, and began discussing their work plan for 2024. The members talked about finding a kitchen administrator and what their role would require. Street Vendors Kitchen (SVK) Our organization had 1 reunion in February with the Street Vendors Kitchen cooperative, as well as 2 one-on-one meetings with cooperative members. The cooperative members talked about how they will organize the next general assembly. Members also worked on the cooperative by-laws. Cooperative IDEAL CCWR had 2 reunions in February with Cooperativa IDEAL, as well as 3 one-on-one meetings with cooperative members. Cooperative IDEAL discussed reducing the members of the board of directors and proposed a general assembly where they could vote on the matter. Street Vendors Association of Chicago (SVAC) CCWR had 4 reunions with SVAC, where members discussed and established the roles and responsibilities of the elected administrative board, as well as existing grants SVAC has. They decided to hire an organizer to help the street vendors get their licenses. CCWR gave a workshop to cooperative members on how to apply for grants, budgeting, and reporting.
What constraints or limitations, if any, did you experience in the last reporting period?
Like we have previously stated, an ongoing limitation that our organization faces is the lack of Spanish educational materials surrounding cooperatives for workers. Most members in the cooperatives we support do not speak English so these resources would be helpful. CCWR has been helping them with technical support, as many do not have access to technology. They didn’t have the opportunity to access a formal education and do not know how to read or write.
What opportunities, if any, did you take advantage of in the last reporting period?
In general, we’ve seen that all of the cooperatives we support have a deeper understanding of their bylaws and statutes. This led to them organizing themselves better when it comes to meetings and taking decisions.
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)
3
Optional Space
Community Area(s) (select all that apply)
| Community Area | Participants Served in this Community Area |
|---|---|
| South Lawndale | 4 |
| Lower West Side | 8 |
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)?
120
How many group workshops for Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you conduct this reporting period? (e.g. convenings, workshops, events, etc.)
3
How many hours of support to CWB Pre-Development Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you provide this reporting period?
4
How many hours of support to existing Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you provide this reporting period?
12
How many co-op businesses did you develop last reporting period? (It's okay if the answer is 0)
3
How many total owners / founders were there in these businesses?
50
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?
Yes
How many hours of cohort education/training did you provide last month?
20
How many hours of popular education/outreach did you provide last month?
10
Number of curriculum material(s) created last month
1
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?
Cooperative members have expressed the need of receiving financial education surrounding their business, as well as having a deeper understanding of cooperative laws.
What are the greatest gaps in service or resources in Chicago's CWB ecosystem?
The Secretary of State does not have a system in place to recognize new managers of the cooperatives, and it has made it impossible for the cooperative members to change the new managers who were elected according to their bylaws. Our organization is working to help the cooperatives we are working with have legal documents in order to recognize elections of new managers and respect the majority vote of the co-op members.
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 Elizabeth Jimenez, Vice-President of IDEAL Cooperative Mi nombre es Elizabeth Jimenez y pertenezco a la cooperativa SVK. Soy la Vice Presidenta en este momento y agradezco a Abraham Uriel nuestro asesor y a Martin Unzueta de Chicago Community and Workers’ Rights por todo su apoyo y guía en el proceso y desarrollo de esta cooperativa, tengo la confianza y la Fe de que lograremos el propósito. Gracias por todo su apoyo a Street Vendors Kitchen. My name is Elizabeth Jimenez and I am a part of the Street Vendors Kitchen (SVK) cooperative. I am the Vice President at this time, and I want to thank Abraham Uriel, our advisor, and Martin Unzueta from Chicago Community and Workers' Rights for all their support and guidance in the process and development of this cooperative. I have the confidence and faith that we will achieve the purpose. Thank you for all your support to the Street Vendors Kitchen.
Please upload media (document with testimonials, photos, or video links) from WC workshops or events held.
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 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?
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.
Did your organization provide any additional TA support this reporting period that was NOT covered in the previous tabs?
No
