*3.1. Role of UIC TA in the HWC*

All participants, including UIC TA providers, labor expert TA providers, and TA recipients reflected on the utility of UIC researchers as TA providers in the HWC. Three main themes emerged from the focus group and interview data: (1) the value of UIC's role as a convener of the HWC; (2) UIC TA providers' ability to facilitate learning by guiding TA recipients through the HWC activities and holding them accountable to the next steps; and (3) UIC researchers' ability to both fill a gap in the literature and aid in the development of actions to address a complex issue. Each of these themes is further described below.

#### 3.1.1. UIC's Role in Convening the HWC

In individual interviews, TA recipients and labor expert TA providers shared their perspectives of UIC's role as a convener of the HWC. Generally, interviewees noted that UIC was an appropriate connector and host for such a process, given the value that UIC as an institution places on community engagement. Interviewees described their own experiences interacting with faculty and staff at the university, and several highlighted explicit value statements put forth by university groups that reinforce UIC's commitment to community-engaged activities. One TA recipient mentioned the UIC School of Public Health, which houses the Center for Healthy Work, as being particularly committed to community engagement:
