Please provide a brief update on your progress toward your proposed CWB goals in the last reporting period:
This month concluded with our final two events focused on worker cooperatives—one led by us and the other our last collaboration. We had the opportunity of partnering with Centro de Trabajadores Unidos (CTU), a community-based worker advocacy center serving Chicago's Southeast Side. Together, we organized and hosted an engaging conversation at George Washington High School centered on worker cooperatives, youth entrepreneurship, and the positive impact these models can have on the southeast Chicago community. The event highlighted the potential for worker cooperatives to empower young people, create sustainable economic opportunities, and foster a sense of ownership and collaboration in the local workforce. This collaboration was an important step in building awareness and expanding support for cooperatives that prioritize community growth and collective success. With our final Digital Skills for Small Business Owners Cohort luncheon, we had the opportunity to engage with entrepreneurs about the benefits of worker cooperatives as a strategy for preserving local wealth and promoting democratic ownership. During the event, we explored how worker cooperatives can offer small businesses a sustainable, community-oriented alternative to traditional business models, while ensuring that workers have a direct stake in the success of the business. Additionally, we used this opportunity to introduce our Worker Cooperative Evaluation tool, which helped entrepreneurs better understand how the cooperative model aligns with their personal values and business practices.
What constraints or limitations, if any, did you experience in the last reporting period?
In this reporting period, while CCL staff successfully reached a significant number of individuals through outreach efforts, exceeding our canvassing goal by 66%, the number of individuals who expressed interest in coaching has been more limited. This can be attributed to a gap in available resources and a lack of understanding about the coaching process, which has made it more challenging to engage people in deeper, one-on-one support. These constraints highlight the need for us to refine our coaching outreach methods, ensuring that we effectively communicate the value of coaching and make it more accessible.
What opportunities, if any, did you take advantage of in the last reporting period?
Our collaboration with CTU ensures the completion for worker co-op focused events for the quarter and the year.
Did you establish new CWB relationships/partnerships in the last reporting period?
Yes
Please describe the relationships you established pertaining to your CWB work.
Our collaboration with Centro de Trabajadores Unidos (CTU) focused on engaging a different demographic group—parents and youth—providing us with an opportunity to expand our outreach and deepen our impact. Our colleagues at CTU, are also involved in cooperative development. Together, we worked to amplify our shared commitment to community empowerment and raising awareness about democratic ownership models as an effective tool for economic and social transformation.
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
Community Area(s) (select all that apply)
| Community Area | Participants Served in this Community Area |
|---|---|
| South Chicago | 2 |
| Greater Grand Crossing | 1 |
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)?
0
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?
0
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.
Other organization (please specify):
Centro de Trabajadores Unidos
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?
n/a
What are the greatest gaps in service or resources in Chicago's CWB ecosystem?
n/a
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/2024/12/CWB-Q4-South-Side-Outreach-11_4.docx
https://ccwbe.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CWB-Q4-Member-Story.docx
https://ccwbe.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CWB-Q4-BACP-Outreach.docx
https://ccwbe.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CWB-Outreach-Final-Digital-Skills-Luncheon-.docx
Did your organization provide any additional TA support this reporting period that was NOT covered in the previous tabs?
Yes
Please describe the type(s) of organizations you supported (i.e. nonprofits, business service orgs, etc.)
Aspiring entreprenuers
How many total organizations or entities did you support (that were not covered in the previous tabs)?
5
How many total hours of support did you provide to these organizations?
3
Please share any other relevant details about the support you provided these organizations:
We provided 1-1 technical assistance to aspiring entreprenuers that learned about worker cooperatives and engaged in our worker cooperative assessement tool to further help them evalutate the possibility of moving forward with a cooperative model for their business ideas.
