The mission of Chicago Community and Workers’ Rights (CCWR) is to organize educational activities and promote leadership in defense of workers’ rights.
http://ccwr.weebly.com (español)
Diversity Statement
Chicago Community and Workers’ Rights believes that all people should have access to dignified well-paid work regardless of their identity, immigration status, abilities, age or where they come from.
We work primarily with immigrant Latino workers because that is who started the organization and through our shared experiences with other Latino workers around language, racism, xenophobia and immigration experiences (both for citizens and non citizens), we are better able to understand and provide information for each other.
When we talk about Latino immigrant workers we do so with the understanding that this population is not homogeneous, and that people have a variety of experiences and knowledge that when brought together can create a wealth of resources and strength to create change collectively. We believe that this diversity should be reflected in all the decision-making bodies of the organization.
Though working primarily with Latino immigrant workers, CCWR collaborates with all workers in defence of their rights, and shares its knowledge collaborating on a variety of campaigns and programs with other organizations that work with a variety of populations, stemming from the belief that collective action directed by those most affected creates sustainable change and fosters solidarity across communities to create even more change and better working and living conditions for all families.
Chicago Community and Workers’ Rights believes that all people should have access to dignified well-paid work regardless of their identity, immigration status, abilities, age or where they come from.
We work primarily with immigrant Latino workers because that is who started the organization and through our shared experiences with other Latino workers around language, racism, xenophobia and immigration experiences (both for citizens and non citizens), we are better able to understand and provide information for each other.
When we talk about Latino immigrant workers we do so with the understanding that this population is not homogeneous, and that people have a variety of experiences and knowledge that when brought together can create a wealth of resources and strength to create change collectively. We believe that this diversity should be reflected in all the decision-making bodies of the organization.
Though working primarily with Latino immigrant workers, CCWR collaborates with all workers in defence of their rights, and shares its knowledge collaborating on a variety of campaigns and programs with other organizations that work with a variety of populations, stemming from the belief that collective action directed by those most affected creates sustainable change and fosters solidarity across communities to create even more change and better working and living conditions for all families.
CHICAGO COMMUNITY AND WORKERS RIGHTS HISTORY
Chicago Community and Workers’ Rights
(CCWR) was founded in June 2009 by a group of Latino immigrant workers who saw
a need for an organization dedicated to empowering all laborers to defend their
rights. The group met while participating with another organization and decided
to become an independent institution when the host organization’s focus shifted
towards working primarily with day laborers. CCWR is an organization led by
workers for workers, regardless of immigration status, dedicated to educating,
building leadership, gathering resources, and developing organizing tools and
collective strategies of resistance against labor rights abuses towards just
living and working conditions
CCWR provides workers with access to education about labor rights through workshops, trainings, and large gatherings where workers learn from each other, sharing resources and organizing experiences to defend their jobs. The Executive Director and Community Defenders –workers who went through the Community Defenders training– provide emergency support to workers that come looking for help and collaboration about an injustice in their workplace. CCWR helps these workers assess the situation and provides them with the tools they need to fight for their rights, supporting the strategies the workers decide to follow. CCWR’s work includes supporting the worker owned cleaning cooperative Eco Maintenance, the Association of Street Vendors (AVA), and three worker-led community organizations CCWR helped start, in order to create lasting structures of support and employment controlled by the workers themselves.
CCWR believes that the people most affected by certain issues should be fully involved in addressing these issues and supports all workers to the best of its abilities. Primarily working with Latino immigrant workers, the workers are invited to become Community Defenders and then join the organization’s decision-making bodies and everyday work, becoming the driving and directing force of CCWR.
CCWR provides workers with access to education about labor rights through workshops, trainings, and large gatherings where workers learn from each other, sharing resources and organizing experiences to defend their jobs. The Executive Director and Community Defenders –workers who went through the Community Defenders training– provide emergency support to workers that come looking for help and collaboration about an injustice in their workplace. CCWR helps these workers assess the situation and provides them with the tools they need to fight for their rights, supporting the strategies the workers decide to follow. CCWR’s work includes supporting the worker owned cleaning cooperative Eco Maintenance, the Association of Street Vendors (AVA), and three worker-led community organizations CCWR helped start, in order to create lasting structures of support and employment controlled by the workers themselves.
CCWR believes that the people most affected by certain issues should be fully involved in addressing these issues and supports all workers to the best of its abilities. Primarily working with Latino immigrant workers, the workers are invited to become Community Defenders and then join the organization’s decision-making bodies and everyday work, becoming the driving and directing force of CCWR.
Thanks to Chicago Community Trust, Woods Fund and Crossroads Fund for their support. Also to the individuals and organizations that believe in us and have made our work possible.
CHICAGO COMMUNITY AND WORKERS’ RIGHTS
3200 S. Kedzie, Chicago IL, 60623
Martin Unzueta 773-653-3664
Pablo Hernandez 773-440-7773
Alberto Anzo 773-412-2613
Virgilio Hernández 773-426-7042
Gildardo Mercado 773-640-6737
Alex Linares 773-879-8324
3200 S. Kedzie, Chicago IL, 60623
Martin Unzueta 773-653-3664
Pablo Hernandez 773-440-7773
Alberto Anzo 773-412-2613
Virgilio Hernández 773-426-7042
Gildardo Mercado 773-640-6737
Alex Linares 773-879-8324
