By jmeddy on 6/28/2012 5:23 PM

As part of the FIIVE Project, the CIF Garden Club and Mather Lifeways worked together in June to plant eight flats of flowers at Evanston's Grey Park located on the corner of Main Street and Ridge Road. It was a very hot afternoon in the park, but that did not quell the enthusiasm of the gardeners! There were about 20 hard working volunteers who braved the heat and completed the project together.

Thanks to the generosity of the Home Depot stores in Evanston and Lincoln Park, many of the flowers were donated. The City of Evanston was part of the team effort as they delivered a large pile of mulch which will help the ground stay moist in this dry season. Gardeners brought trowels, shovels, wheelbarrows, garbage bags, and gardening gloves to complete the job.

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By jmeddy on 6/27/2012 4:16 PM

Jonathon loves Goldy, his golden retriever. Whenever his parents go out of town, it's Jonathon's responsibility to walk, feed and look after Goldy. Who would have thought that his love for Goldy would lead to Jonathon's own paper shredding business, but it did!

“When Center for Independent Futures (CIF) was contacted by the Anti Cruelty Society in search of volunteers to shred papers, I immediately thought of Jonathon because of his love for dogs,” says Rob Larson, Jonathon's life skills tutor. “It soon became apparent that Jonathon had found a new love. He loved shredding papers!” exclaims Rob. “We shredded papers for several days, and each day Jonathon was as excited about the work as the day we started!”

The dogs at the shelter were now an afterthought; Jonathon wanted to start his own shredding business. Jonathon shared his dream with his Full Life Future Planning™ (FLFP) Team, and within a month Jonathon was shredding papers in his parent's basement every Friday. Jonathon worked closely with his parents and the FLFP Team to develop a business plan, business cards, and practice conversation skills. He appropriately named his new venture “My Shredding Business."

“The Full Life Future Planning™ process has been so meaningful for Jonathon and our family,” says Bonnie Dohogne, Jonathon’s mom. “In addition to his business, Jonathon has expressed and lived out other dreams because of this process. He’s an avid Cubs Fan and dreamed of going to Wrigley Field on his own. Before our work with CIF, we didn’t think this was possible. The FLFP Team developed a process of mobility and cell phone training, and Jon took many trips to Wrigley Field with his Dad, Leo. Then, one opening day, Jonathon went by himself. The impossible became possible.”

“In addition, CIF staff have been so supportive of Jonathon,” states Bonnie. “One of Jonathon’s passions is with Ford Trucks – specifically the F150. While moving about town, he is always on the lookout for F150s, and is excited about each F150 citing. So, Barry Siegel, one of Jonathon’s tutors, arranged to go for a ‘test drive.’ A ride in an F150…he was absolutely thrilled!”

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By jmeddy on 6/27/2012 3:55 PM

Center for Independent Futures is excited to welcome 16 members of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder Community from across the country who will participate in the 8th New Futures Initiative training on June 26 – 28, 2012. CIF’s New Futures Initiative (NFI) is a workshop and step-by-step consultation process that helps family groups or agencies create affordable, community-based, supported living arrangements for individuals with disabilities in their own communities.

“We are proud that several of our NFI consultations have resulted in the opening of community living options,” states Jane Doyle, CIF’s Executive Director. “With the long-desired closing of large institutional living settings and the shrinking federal and state budgets for human services, our out-of-the-box model offers a creative new way to support more independent, community-based living for individuals with disabilities.” “We are especially grateful to the Coleman Foundation for providing funds that will support a portion of our work with the FASD Community,” added Doyle.

Pervious New Futures Initiative groups have benefited from the CIF training.  “It really helped to jump-start our efforts by learning from CIF’s experiences and expertise,” says Dawn Clark, a member of the board of directors of STARS Family Services which is associated with College Church located in Wheaton, IL. “Our Washington House community living option has now been open for one year, and we have frequently referred to the materials provided in the training along with occasional consultation with CIF to guide us along the path to launching this endeavor.”

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By jmeddy on 6/27/2012 3:24 PM

On Sunday, May 27th, the "CIF Dream Team" successfully completed its first ride in Chicago's annual MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive event. Our team joined in with thousands of other cyclists for the one day in the year when the length of Lake Shore Drive was open to cyclists and closed to auto traffic. What a great way to start the day and it was wonderful to be part of such an exciting event!

This was the first year that CIF participated in this event, and it proved to be an energizing, motivating, and fulfilling experience for all of our riders. Unlike the Chicago Marathon, Bike the Drive was not a race, but an experience, open to any and all interested bikers. The CIF community was eager to be a part of the action!

Throughout the spring, we put together a Dream Team of CIF participants, staff, community members, and friends. Each team member raised money for CIF by creating personalized fundraising web pages and talking to their friends and family about supporting the work that we do at Center for Independent Futures. We were all excited about being able to raise funds for an organization we believe in.

In addition to fundraising, our team also got serious about physical training in preparation for the event. Participants worked with their tutors to tune up their bikes, practice long-distance biking, explore new biking routes, and ensure they were ready with helmets, water bottles, and matching T-shirts. Alex Anon, a friend of CIF and local bike shop owner, led a portion of our team in a practice group ride. We all met in Calvary Cemetery in south Evanston to take advantage of the smooth roads without any car traffic. Alex taught the group about how to ride safely in a group and provided valuable tips about changing gears and maintaining our bikes. By the time May 27th rolled around, our team was ready!

Check out our photos in the web photo gallery!
 

 

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By jmeddy on 6/3/2012 8:24 AM

During the month of May, the CIF Volunteer Club gathered twice to complete two community service projects. The first activity took place at the CIF Community Room, where 9 CIF participants and 9 older adults gathered to create beautiful dried flower frames as a donation to Rainbow Hospice & Palliative Care. Before the activity, the group learned about the mission of Rainbow Hospice from a representative of the organization, and had a chance to ask questions. The group decorated 35 frames with dried spring flowers, which will be delivered to Hospice patients with in the late stages of dementia.

For the second activity, 3 CIF participants visited the Mather Pavilion on Foster Street in Evanston and worked with residents to create “plarn”, which is used to weave into sleeping mats for the homeless. The Volunteer Club looks forward to a park clean-up at Evanston’s Grey Park on June 18th.

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