Across the country, worker-owned businesses are driven to meet the needs of their communities.

By Jaisal Noor, The Real News Network

(Editor's note: This story was originally published June 3, 2021, as part of a special report by The Real News Network. It is being republished by Elevate Dayton with permission.)

ChiFresh Kitchen, located in Chicago, is owned and operated by formerly incarcerated women of color. Launched just as the pandemic hit, its five worker-owners mobilized to provide healthy meals to communities hardest hit by COVID-19 and systemic racism. 

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This story has been supported by the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous and compelling reporting about responses to social problems. Check out complete coverage from The Real News’ Jaisal Noor of how worker cooperatives rose to meet the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.