Community Word’s editorial office is in the Peoria Labor Temple. The building, at 400 NE Jefferson St., is one of the few remaining cooperative labor headquarters remaining in the country. Construction began in 1925 at a cost of $110,000 financed by labor. Today, like the labor movement itself, the building is fighting to survive.

“This building is symbolic of what we stand for: better wages and benefits. Working class issues,” said Sharon Williams, manager and editor of The Labor Paper, a semi-monthly newspaper that operates from offices on the building’s top floor.

“It’s critical this building stands as a legacy to what we believe in. I’ve been here 21 years, and I love this building.”

Williams has organized a major benefit for the building and is inviting the public to a fundraiser “Preservation & Conservation Dinner,” 6 p.m. July 11 at Itoo Hall, 4909 W. Farmington Road. Tickets are $100 per person.

When the building’s heating system went out this past winter, employees worked in jackets and coats, double socks and boots. A new boiler will cost about $70,000.

“When politicians come to town and want to connect with working people, they come here,” Williams said.

The building underwent a major renovation in 1975 at a cost of $270,000. Another renovation, this time under the guidance of Peoria architect Les Kenyon, cost $1 million. Cooperatively owned by a number of union locals, the building is in need of extensive work.

Community Word shares office space with The Labor Paper on the fourth floor of the building. While The Labor Paper is aligned with labor issues, Community Word is independently owned. Current copies of both The Labor Paper and Community Word are always available free of charge inside the back door of the Labor Temple.