Events & Activities

HeARTwords is a creative writing workshop facilitated by Joe Jackson and Paul Fields. HeARTwords is a safe space to express your emotions, thoughts, stories, etc. in a variety of formats. Be the ART. A playground for the mind, a sanctuary for the heart.

Center for Independent Futures community members and their family members are welcome to come every week or “drop in” as their schedules allow. The class is intended to include students with a wide range of abilities. Please note: We are happy to be partnering with Evanston Athletic Club to promote this yoga class. Center for Independent Futures staff may not be present at the classes.

Please note: We will not have class on December 24th or December 31st due to the holidays.

Please Note:  We are happy to be collaborating with Evanston Public Library to offer our Book Club. Library staff are now facilitating the Book Club. Center for Independent Futures staff may not be present at the Book Club gatherings. Volunteers will read aloud to the group. The group will discuss what has been read each week. If you are interested in learning more about this event, please call Jeff at (224) 545-3925.

Explore your creative side in this art class led by our skilled instructor Hadar Dohn.

We will meet at the office and walk based on the weather. If the weather is mild, we will walk for about an hour. If the weather is cold, we will walk to a coffee shop.

Please note: Due to low temperatures, walking club will not meet on January 29.

Come hang out at Hub 930! We have internet access, games, TV, and comfortable chairs. This great space is located in the back of the building at 930 Chicago Ave. Joe Jackson will host this opportunity for the Center for Independent Futures community.

Please note: Hub 930 will not be open on January 16, January 30, February 20, or March 20.

The locations for our gatherings in February and March will be announced when we have more information. Please bring at least $20 to pay for your meal and beverages.

Join us in watching and discussing Japanese animated productions called Anime. Facilitator and Anime enthusiast Sheila Serota supports the group in choosing which series will be viewed.

Center for Independent Futures community members and their family members are welcome to come every week or “drop in” as their schedules allow. The class is intended to include students with a wide range of abilities. Please note: We are happy to be partnering with Evanston Athletic Club to promote this yoga class. Center for Independent Futures staff may not be present at the classes.

Please note: We will not have class on December 24th or December 31st due to the holidays.

Please Note:  We are happy to be collaborating with Evanston Public Library to offer our Book Club. Library staff are now facilitating the Book Club. Center for Independent Futures staff may not be present at the Book Club gatherings. Volunteers will read aloud to the group. The group will discuss what has been read each week. If you are interested in learning more about this event, please call Jeff at (224) 545-3925.

We will meet at the office and walk based on the weather. If the weather is mild, we will walk for about an hour. If the weather is cold, we will walk to a coffee shop.

Please note: Due to low temperatures, walking club will not meet on January 29.

Come hang out at Hub 930! We have internet access, games, TV, and comfortable chairs. This great space is located in the back of the building at 930 Chicago Ave. Joe Jackson will host this opportunity for the Center for Independent Futures community.

Please note: Hub 930 will not be open on January 16, January 30, February 20, or March 20.

We will meet in the lobby of the Evanston Public Library at 5:00. The address of the library is 1703 Orrington Avenue. From there, we will walk to Northwestern University. The walking route is approximately four blocks long. At the university, we will team up with the Alpha Phi Omega Student Group to package lunches for community organizations. The lunches will be distributed to folks in the community who have less than they need.

January 11: Start 2019 by creating a vision board collage with your hopes, dreams, and goals for the year! Please bring a snack to share with the group.

February 8: We will be making our very own Valentines to share with loved ones. Please bring any special craft supplies you may want to use and a snack to share with the group.

March 8: Join us for a game night! Please bring your favorite game and a snack to share with the group.

Please enter through the gate on the side of the building.

Gather with other Center for Independent Futures participants to watch a new movie each month! Facilitator Jeff Morthorst supports activities members to vote on the next month’s film. We are open to viewing a wide range of genres.

Join us to bowl two games at Classic Bowl in Morton Grove. Attendees must bring $4.50 in cash for shoes and/or lane fees. Please call Jeff at (224) 545-3925 if you need support getting to and from the bowling alley.

Center for Independent Futures community members and their family members are welcome to come every week or “drop in” as their schedules allow. The class is intended to include students with a wide range of abilities. Please note: We are happy to be partnering with Evanston Athletic Club to promote this yoga class. Center for Independent Futures staff may not be present at the classes.

Please note: We will not have class on December 24th or December 31st due to the holidays.

Please Note:  We are happy to be collaborating with Evanston Public Library to offer our Book Club. Library staff are now facilitating the Book Club. Center for Independent Futures staff may not be present at the Book Club gatherings. Volunteers will read aloud to the group. The group will discuss what has been read each week. If you are interested in learning more about this event, please call Jeff at (224) 545-3925.

Explore your creative side in this art class led by our skilled instructor Hadar Dohn.

We will meet at the office and walk based on the weather. If the weather is mild, we will walk for about an hour. If the weather is cold, we will walk to a coffee shop.

Please note: Due to low temperatures, walking club will not meet on January 29.

Come hang out at Hub 930! We have internet access, games, TV, and comfortable chairs. This great space is located in the back of the building at 930 Chicago Ave. Joe Jackson will host this opportunity for the Center for Independent Futures community.

Please note: Hub 930 will not be open on January 16, January 30, February 20, or March 20.

The Center for Independent Futures Advocacy Club’s mission is to speak up and speak out for ourselves and others, learn new skills, and raise awareness about issues affecting the disability community. Join us!

Everyone will order from a printed menu of food items, socialize, and eat together. Participants are encouraged to learn socially valuable skills including choosing food items, advocating around specific dietary restrictions, interaction with waiters, ordering, waiting for their meal to arrive, dealing with mistakes, paying a bill, and tipping. Please bring $10 in cash to each event to pay for your meal. For our event in March, the group will go to a restaurant to practice our skills. For this evening at a restaurant, everyone is asked to bring $15-$20 to pay for their meal.

HeARTwords is a creative writing workshop facilitated by Joe Jackson and Paul Fields. HeARTwords is a safe space to express your emotions, thoughts, stories, etc. in a variety of formats. Be the ART. A playground for the mind, a sanctuary for the heart.

Center for Independent Futures community members and their family members are welcome to come every week or “drop in” as their schedules allow. The class is intended to include students with a wide range of abilities. Please note: We are happy to be partnering with Evanston Athletic Club to promote this yoga class. Center for Independent Futures staff may not be present at the classes.

Please note: We will not have class on December 24th or December 31st due to the holidays.

Please Note:  We are happy to be collaborating with Evanston Public Library to offer our Book Club. Library staff are now facilitating the Book Club. Center for Independent Futures staff may not be present at the Book Club gatherings. Volunteers will read aloud to the group. The group will discuss what has been read each week. If you are interested in learning more about this event, please call Jeff at (224) 545-3925.

We will meet at the office and walk based on the weather. If the weather is mild, we will walk for about an hour. If the weather is cold, we will walk to a coffee shop.

Please note: Due to low temperatures, walking club will not meet on January 29.

Gather with facilitator Joe Jackson to work on projects to benefit individuals in our community and around the world. Joe will communicate the details of each activity to those who have registered for Volunteer Club.

Chill and chat with Center for Independent Futures community and staff members.

Center for Independent Futures community members and their family members are welcome to come every week or “drop in” as their schedules allow. The class is intended to include students with a wide range of abilities. Please note: We are happy to be partnering with Evanston Athletic Club to promote this yoga class. Center for Independent Futures staff may not be present at the classes.

Please note: We will not have class on December 24th or December 31st due to the holidays.

Please Note:  We are happy to be collaborating with Evanston Public Library to offer our Book Club. Library staff are now facilitating the Book Club. Center for Independent Futures staff may not be present at the Book Club gatherings. Volunteers will read aloud to the group. The group will discuss what has been read each week. If you are interested in learning more about this event, please call Jeff at (224) 545-3925.

Explore your creative side in this art class led by our skilled instructor Hadar Dohn.

We will meet at the office and walk based on the weather. If the weather is mild, we will walk for about an hour. If the weather is cold, we will walk to a coffee shop.

Please note: Due to low temperatures, walking club will not meet on January 29.

Please share your skills with us! Everyone who would like to is welcome to perform for the rest of us. Singing and instrument playing, comedy, drama, poetry, and talking about a topic of interest are some of the ways that people may perform. We will use any time we have left over to watch some of the most famous skits from the television show Saturday Night Live! For more information, please call Jeff Morthorst at (224) 545-3925.

Come hang out at Hub 930! We have internet access, games, TV, and comfortable chairs. This great space is located in the back of the building at 930 Chicago Ave. Joe Jackson will host this opportunity for the Center for Independent Futures community.

Please note: Hub 930 will not be open on January 16, January 30, February 20, or March 20.

The locations for our gatherings in February and March will be announced when we have more information. Please bring at least $20 to pay for your meal and beverages.

Join us in watching and discussing Japanese animated productions called Anime. Facilitator and Anime enthusiast Sheila Serota supports the group in choosing which series will be viewed.

HeARTwords is a creative writing workshop facilitated by Joe Jackson and Paul Fields. HeARTwords is a safe space to express your emotions, thoughts, stories, etc. in a variety of formats. Be the ART. A playground for the mind, a sanctuary for the heart.

We will meet at the office and walk based on the weather. If the weather is mild, we will walk for about an hour. If the weather is cold, we will walk to a coffee shop.

Please note: Due to low temperatures, walking club will not meet on January 29.

A Town Hall discussion covering the most challenging issues facing families with loved ones with disabilities

• Transitioning through life
• Preparing your family for the future
• Communicating your planning to those who
  will be involved
• Building community relationships

Space is Limited. Register Early!

Dr. Meghan Burke, University of Illinois
Sibling of a brother with Down Syndrome
Masters and Doctoral degrees in Special Education
Board-Certified Behavior Analyst
Nationally recognized expert in future planning and care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Ann Sickon, Center for Independent Futures
Parent and sibling of individuals with disabilities
Professional experience in nursing, healthcare businesses, and health law
Executive Director at Center for Independent Futures
Nationally recognized expert in person-centered planning and housing solutions

Mike Walther, Oak Wealth Advisors
Sibling of a brother on the Autism spectrum
Founder and President of Oak Wealth Advisors
MBA and CPA, CFA, and CFP® designations
Nationally recognized expert in special needs financial planning

Please join us at our 13th annual SPARK benefit! Hosted at the Hilton Orrington in downtown Evanston, SPARK provides a beautiful setting for cocktails, a silent auction, dinner, and dancing.

The evening is ignited by the SPARK of the Center for Independent Futures community. Guests don’t just hear about our impact but also witness it in action, from the lively dinner conversation to the packed dance floor at the end of the night. At this event, participants celebrate their own independence and the connections of their community alongside friends, family members, and other supporters. All proceeds from this event, our largest fundraiser of the year, directly contribute to programming, services, and sustainability to support individuals with disabilities and their families to access the skills and opportunities of a full life.

Check-in begins at 6:30 | Valet parking: $10

Introducing the Golden Ticket Raffle

Purchase one of 150 Golden Tickets for the chance to win your first choice prize from our premier live auction items. Winner need not be present to win. Your prize choice must be noted in your order notes at time of purchase. 

Stay tuned for more exciting details, including live auction prizes!

Don’t miss all the fun. Stay tuned to purchase tickets soon!

For more information, please email Niki Moe or call (847) 328-2044. To sponsor SPARK, please ask for information regarding sponsorship levels. Purchase early bird tickets online starting March 1st. Ticket prices will rise on April 1st.

Please RSVP by April 19th

Please note: To purchase a table or tickets for participants, please call the office at (847) 328-2044. 

Center for Independent Futures is a Section 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations may qualify as a charitable deduction for federal income tax purposes. Contact Niki Moe for more information.