CCWBE Report

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Revolution Institute (RI) has made significant strides toward achieving Goal 1 by successfully hosting the initial community design charrette in Englewood. This event, conducted in collaboration with local organizations such as Teamwork Englewood and EG Woode, was well-attended and fostered critical discussions on workforce development and cooperative conversion. Despite the success, coordinating schedules and commitments of all partners led to initial delays. In response, RI is expanding its efforts. The next community engagement charrette is scheduled for June 22nd at Harper High School in Englewood, again in partnership with EG Woode and Teamwork Englewood. This session will focus on worker voice, the labor market, and advocacy for community members within the labor market. Currently, our advisory/planning committee consists of six members; we aim to expand this committee to include an additional six members. We are actively encouraging community members to participate and engage their neighbors in the process to recruit more attendees. By expanding the advisory/planning committee and increasing community outreach, RI aims to enhance participation and achieve larger cohorts, moving beyond Englewood to test the desirability, feasibility, and sustainability of the proposed worker-owner cooperative processes and products.

50%

Recent efforts include initiating the broker interview process, reviewing business lists, and developing deal flow strategies. Establishing reliable sources for deal flow is a critical step. By systematically engaging with brokers and refining our deal flow processes, RI can better identify and document viable opportunities for business acquisition and conversion. These efforts will ensure a steady pipeline of potential acquisition targets, facilitating the successful implementation of RI's conversion strategy.

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This month, RI has focused on solidifying our conversion strategy by holding strategic meetings with Project Equity to discuss various conversion methodologies. Regular engagements with Manufacturing Renaissance have facilitated deeper insights into effective cooperative structures. We have also met with prospective funders to secure financial backing for our conversion initiatives. Additionally, participation in DAWI's cooperative development training has enhanced our team's capabilities in structuring and managing cooperatives. Meetings with The Community Desk have been instrumental in exploring community-driven cooperative development strategies.

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Revolution Institute is currently experiencing constraints related to internal capacity as part of our Pre-Development Project. Recently, we hired an administrative assistant to support our core team, which has helped alleviate some of the workload. However, we have encountered more friction than anticipated in qualifying for reimbursement from the City. These challenges have required additional time and resources to navigate, impacting our overall project progress and efficiency.

Revolution Institute leveraged several key opportunities to advance its Pre-Development Project. This included strategic meetings with Project Equity to discuss conversion strategies and regular consultations with Manufacturing Renaissance. We also engaged with prospective funders and participated in DAWI coop development training. Meetings with Ja’Net Defell from The Community Desk, national robotics manufacturing association (Automate), IMAN, and MTEC further facilitated discussions on workforce development and cooperative models. Additional highlights include Mike Strode’s teachings on cooperative economics, Camille Kerr's insights on conversion, interviews with Jenna Pollack, involvement with Teamwork Englewood’s Job Readiness Task Force, and collaboration with Frank Cetera on the CWB matchmaking event.