Building an Accountable & Just Hospitality Industry in Chicago

The CHAAD Project is led by hospitality workers for hospitality workers — we advocate, document abuse, and grow worker power.

Two workers display how to plate a dish at a Chicago training session.

What We Do

Document & Expose Abuses

We collect reports of workplace violations, making labor abuse visible and accountable.

Educate & Train Workers to Organize

We offer workshops on labor rights, de-escalation, self-defense, mental health, and more.

Build Collective Power

We support organizing efforts, mutual aid, and culture shifts toward more just workplaces.

Why Hospitality Worker Rights Matter

A hospitality industry built on exploitation is unsustainable — your support can help us imagine and build something better.

“Reaching out to CHAAD really helped us feel empowered to speak up and affirmed that we had resources and people in our corner. We wouldn’t have had nearly as many employees rallied if CHAAD hadn’t given us legal insight and such constant support in choosing the best organizing route for our team.”

Chicago Server, November 2024

Tables Crossing Borders - Mesas Que Cruzan Fronteras
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A collaborative media project produced by the CHAAD Project, based in Chicago, IL, and Restaurantera Feminista in CDMX.

The dominant narrative inside hospitality spaces worldwide is that of chefs and owners, the majority of whom are predominantly white and male. Restaurant and bar spaces are highly diverse, employing more women and women of color than any other industry. Yet, their experiences, ideas, and voices go largely unheard in the food landscape. 

Tables Crossing Borders is a collaborative media project produced by CHAAD, based in Chicago, IL, and Restaurantera Feminista in CDMX. We aim to center the work of hourly restaurant workers, primarily women, non-binary, trans, immigrant, caretakers, and people of the global majority.  

We are small grassroots organizations operating in our communities. Your support helps us continue producing zines and paying writers and illustrators for their work. All funds will be used to pay our writers, illustrators, and editors, and go towards printing hundreds of free zines for our community. 

Check out our store for free resources

Educational materials that are free for everyone. We are stronger together. We’ll teach you how.

 

In the Press

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