By jmeddy on 8/22/2011 3:25 PM

With only 7 weeks until Center for Independent Futures (CIF) hosts Story Pirates, excitement is building at CIF and in the community for this one-of-a-kind children’s theater fundraising event!  At this time, Center for Independent Futures is pleased to announce the following Ship Captain and Navigator sponsors of the 2011 Story Pirates event:

Ship Captain 

Navigator
• The LaChapelle Family

Additional Story Pirate event sponsors are listed on our Sponsorship web page. These businesses and individuals generously support the work of CIF through their commitment to sponsorship. We are so grateful!

Learn sponsorship details or purchase tickets
 

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By jmeddy on 8/17/2011 1:38 PM

In 2010, Center for Independent Futures (CIF) and JJ’s List received a $20,000 from New Trier Township that enabled the organizations to combine their expertise in a collaborative project.  The Bridge Builder Project was implemented between May 2010 - June 2011 to promote disability-aware customer service among local businesses and to build employment readiness and independence skills among participants with disabilities.

Kicking off with a training at North Shore Community Bank in the fall of 2010, nine teams, each of which included persons with and without a disability, identified 62 local businesses for visits.  Over the next several months, 52 targeted businesses received a first visit, 26 received a follow-up visit or phone call, and 34 began building sustainable long-term relationships with JJ’s List and CIF.  All Bridge Builder Project participants kept detailed Progress Reports of their work and received stipends for each visit. Participants also tracked their progress online using the CIF Full Life Planning Tool.

For additional details and videos of Bridge Builder Project Team Members, read more.

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By jmeddy on 8/16/2011 9:57 PM

Another successful Life Tools Camp in Evanston had campers once again spending the night away from home, some for the very first time! The camper's all agreed that the camp experience was a positive step towards independence.

This year, Life Tools Camp attendees had the opportunity to learn about fire safety from a local fire inspector, take a yoga class, and pay bills at camp while they worked with their personal budgets throughout the week. The group went to JJ's List for an Internet safety class, participated in a Freedom Riders Presentation, and watched a skit about interviewing skills. Campers also planned, shopped for, cooked and ate some delicious meals during the week.

Read more and check out our photos!
 

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By jmeddy on 8/16/2011 10:58 AM

The Moran Center is very excited to announce a new program, Ask a
Lawyer Evanston.  The James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy’s Ask a Lawyer program offers brief legal services to low-income, Evanston residents, who cannot afford legal advice, a chance to discuss their legal issues with volunteer attorneys. The Ask a Lawyer program provides opportunities for community members to discuss with volunteer attorneys certain legal matters, including educational law, consumer law, criminal law, family law, guardianship, housing law, immigration/asylum, and traffic issues.

For program details, read more!

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By jmeddy on 8/15/2011 3:17 PM

On July 16, 2011, the CIF History Club and the Rob Campbell Fun Club Fund sponsored a great trip to downtown Chicago for an architectural boat tour and lunch at Buca di Beppo.

During the winter, when the CIF History Club brainstormed a list of fun and educational activities, one idea was to go on an architectural boat tour. With the generous support of the Rob Campbell Fun Club Fund, 75% of the ticket expense was underwritten making the trip more affordable. At that point, the History Club members began the planning process, brainstorming and prioritizing all of the steps to make the trip successful.

Members of the CIF community gathered at the Purple line station in Evanston and headed downtown for an architectural tour with Chicago Line Cruises, the only ADA accessible tour company in Chicago. There was plenty of conversation about taking the EL, and discussion about the best station to get off at to be on time for the 11 a.m. tour. Unfortunately, Grand Station is not ADA accessible, and because two participants use wheel chairs, the plan was to exit at Chicago Station and finish the journey on Bus 66. This was all researched and planned out carefully, and it worked without a hitch thanks to using the RTA Trip Planner!

Check out our photos!
 

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By jmeddy on 8/15/2011 10:15 AM

The Arts of Life is pleased to present a Group Exhibition on Friday, September 9, 2011, from 7 - 9 p.m. at the North Shore Studio, 1963 Johns Drive, Glenview, IL 60025 (847.486.0808).  Refreshments will be served.

Several Center for Independent Futures participants will participate in the exhibition.  Featured Artists include:

Chris Viau
Billy Borgerd
Nicole Huesman
Mark Rempala
Pouya Bagherian
Andrew Sloan
Billy Horrell
Elise Hylton
Pam Robe
Marianne Wehr
Quinn Zenner
Carol Hendershot
Laura Bell
Paul Kilner
Larissa Maya
Josh Stern
Danny Frownfelter
Catie Brashears
Andy Albrecht
Jenny Kominsky
Matt Cochran
Laura McManus
Gaby Carroll
     
     Flying Lizard of Borneo - Laura McManus 2011
 

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