Working Family Solidarity

Working Family Solidarity SOLIDARITY BETWEEN WORKING FAMILIES FACING FORCED RELOCATION (GENTRIFICATION)

Housing is a basic human rights issue, but it is also a workers rights issue.

Working Family Solidarity strives to educate and unify working families in Chicago and Illinois to create a culture of labor rights education and inter-racial solidarity among low-wage and contingent workers, including unemployed and under-employed worker BUILDING RACIAL ALLIANCES BETWEEN WORKING FAMILIES

WFS believes that it is critical to decrease racial tension between low-wage workers so that we see each other as natural allies, instead of competition for scarce resources. We hold Racial Unity dialogues as part of our outreach and trainings with workers and their families, to create a unity that can help all of our communities reach racial justice and economic stability beyond the workplace. When workers and their families are destabilized at work through the increasingly contingent nature of jobs, and also undergo daily instability at home due to uncertainty of their families’ housing situation, it is very difficult for working families to effectively unite and gain economic security. This is especially true for African American and Latinx working families in Chicago, and other big cities. SOLIDARITY BETWEEN RURAL AND URBAN WORKING FAMILIES

WFS believes that there is a divide between urban and rural workers and working families, based on a lack of understanding and mistrust. WFS promotes solidarity and increased understanding between urban and rural workers and working families, so that we can increase our support of each other's similar struggles to reach economic stability. JUSTICE BEYOND THE WORKPLACE

We believe that in today’s economy of mostly contingent work, outreach and education with workers must include their families as well, to build a broad-based movement which takes into account the worker as a family member, a community member, as well as a renter, home-owner, or a victim of gentrification. Founding Executive Director: Leone Jose Bicchieri
--The proud son of Mexican and Italian immigrants, Leone has worked for 30 years in labor organizing, community organizing, and organizing for racial unity/racial justice. He has worked in various parts of the country, in urban and rural areas, and in other countries. Founding Board Members:
Richard Wallace, Worker Center for Racial Justice
Benetta Standly, Civil Rights Expert
Axel Fuentes, Rural Community Workers Alliance

Check out The Guardian's article on Women for Green Spaces - Mujeres por Espacios Verdes and their Founder/Executive Dir...
10/09/2026

Check out The Guardian's article on Women for Green Spaces - Mujeres por Espacios Verdes and their Founder/Executive Director Claudia Galeno-Sanchez. Two quotes from the articles are here - and click on the link below to support this important work, via their fiscal sponsor's online donation page. (Working Family Solidarity)

“Before becoming a mom, I didn’t know much about the environment,” the 49-year-old said in Spanish. “Knowing that we are losing species and the planet is warming, I feel that while I’m alive, it’s my time to do something. Not only for my children but for future generations," said Galeno-Sánchez.

“The monarch butterfly migrates. We migrate. The only difference is that the monarch butterfly does not require a passport,” said Galeno-Sánchez.

Click on this link to donate, & note "for WfGS" (all contributions are tax-deductible & 100% of these donations go to WfGS):
https://www.workingfamilysolidarity.org/donate

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/oct/08/monarch-butterflies-chicago-garden

Claudia Galeno-Sánchez has turned her garden into a sanctuary for the insects by planting native milkweed and wildflowers

10/04/2026
10/02/2026

Join our partners at PERRO (Pilsen Environmental Rights Reform Organization) and local coalition members for a march to Governor Pritzker’s office this Saturday, October 3rd.

Community members are gathering in the Loop to call for expanded air quality testing and fence-line monitoring around the Sims Metal facility ahead of its upcoming Illinois EPA permit renewal.

📍 Where: Gov. Pritzker’s Loop Office
🗓️ When: Saturday, Oct 3rd
🔗 Learn more: https://chicagoreader.com/news/environment/sims-metal-shredder-permit-iepa/

📺 Food security is economic security.On Sunday September 20th, WFS Executive Director Leone José Bicchieri spoke with Un...
09/23/2026

📺 Food security is economic security.

On Sunday September 20th, WFS Executive Director Leone José Bicchieri spoke with Univision National News about what Chicago families are facing: SNAP cuts, rising food costs, and limited access to grocery stores.

As a proud member of the Save Our SNAP Coalition, WFS continues organizing for food security and economic stability.

📣 How is this impacting your family? Share your story: https://saveoursnap.advocacyai.com/action/shareyourstory-geidT

A step forward for Chicago renters! ✊🏾On Sept. 16, the Chicago City Council’s Housing Committee voted 12–9 to advance th...
09/17/2026

A step forward for Chicago renters! ✊🏾

On Sept. 16, the Chicago City Council’s Housing Committee voted 12–9 to advance the Protecting Renters Ordinance (PRO).

WFS has been organizing for renter protections for years, including the fight for Just Cause for Eviction. The revised PRO moved forward without the Just Cause provision but this is still an important step in the broader fight for renter protections.

"This Ordinance won't control rent, but it will give people more protection. Now, one thing that the opposition did succeed in doing was to get the "Just Cause" for eviction clause taken out." - Leone Jose Bicchieri, WFS Executive Director — quote from Telemundo’s 9/16 coverage

However, the "Just Cause" fight isn't over!

📰 Read/Watch the coverage:
• Chicago Sun-Times: https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/09/16/brandon-johnson-renters-protection-ordinance-aldermen-dueling-proposals-chicago-city-council-housing-committe
• Telemundo: https://www.telemundochicago.com/noticias/local/avanza-ordenanza-para-ampliar-protecciones-a-inquilinos-en-chicago/2657237/

One vote down. More work ahead. ✊🏾

✊🏾 WFS leaders Candida & Joana completed 3 Food Chain Workers’ Rights workshops with other food workers, leaders, and or...
09/08/2026

✊🏾 WFS leaders Candida & Joana completed 3 Food Chain Workers’ Rights workshops with other food workers, leaders, and organizers - covering workers’ rights, health & safety, advocacy, and building power across Chicago’s food chain.

⚖️ Need help with sealing or expungement? WFS is covering RAP Sheet costs for 50 people. RSVP with Kevin or Veronica by ...
09/03/2026

⚖️ Need help with sealing or expungement?
WFS is covering RAP Sheet costs for 50 people.

RSVP with Kevin or Veronica by Sept. 7th.

Must upload RAP sheets/ISP records by Sept. 25 to join the Oct. 10th Second Chance Summit and take the next step. ✊🏾

Need help sealing or expunging your record?WFS will cover RAP Sheet costs for 50 people to begin the process. RSVP with ...
08/26/2026

Need help sealing or expunging your record?
WFS will cover RAP Sheet costs for 50 people to begin the process. RSVP with Kevin or Veronica by Sept. 7th.

Getting your RAP sheet will help you register for the Oct. 10 Second Chance Summit.

🎬 MOVIE NIGHT + CONVERSATION🍿On August 19, WFS members and community residents came together for a movie, pizza, popcorn...
08/26/2026

🎬 MOVIE NIGHT + CONVERSATION🍿
On August 19, WFS members and community residents came together for a movie, pizza, popcorn & conversation. 🍕

But we didn’t just watch the movie - we talked about organizing, solidarity & what it means to show up for each other, even across our differences.

One resident summed it up perfectly:

💬 “Just like in the movie, even though the animals’ own home wasn’t on fire, they still came together and used their resources to help the humans.”

Different struggles. Shared responsibility. That’s solidarity.

Address

Chicago, IL
60608

Telephone

+17736550815

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