Looking for ways to connect with the Access Living community? We’d like to share about several events we have coming up!
Knowledge is Power Series Begins February 12: Join Access Living and the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities for the new Knowledge is Power Series. This event is VIRTUAL. Are you a disability advocate in Illinois? What can you do to make a difference for people with disabilities? Join us to learn what issues matter at the federal level, and how to advocate with Congress and the White House.
To register for February 12, visit https://shorturl.at/kSn6Z. For more information, contact Jerome Palliser at (312) 640-2113 or jpalliser@accessliving.org. A bilingual flier is at this link. Future sessions will be on February 12, March 5, March 26, April 16, May 7, May 28, June 18. All sessions will be from 1-2:30 pm Central.
Need Valentine’s Day plans? Our newest economic justice community organizing group, People Over Profit (POP), will host a two-day event called “Love Without Limits: A Valentines Celebration of Disabled Empowerment.”
What’s on February 13th? On Thursday, February 13th from 1pm-5:30pm Central time, POP will convene a panel of disability activists and organizers to discuss how SSI benefits are impacted by marriage. Following our panel conversation, we will have a screening of “Patrice: The Movie,” a documentary that showcases the fight for disabled people to get married. After the film we will have a talkback with the film’s stars Patrice Jetter & Garry Wickham. Please register here for February 13 or by emailing Larry Dean at ldean@accessliving.org. The event is at Access Living, 115 W. Chicago Avenue, Chicago IL 60654.
What’s on February 14th? POP will host an in-person Valentine’s Disability Prom from 4pm-7:00 pm Central for the community. The prom will be at Access Living at 115 W. Chicago Avenue, Chicago IL 60654. Come dress up! Come solo or bring a guest (or multiple guests!). We’re going to enjoy music, food, karaoke and more! This event is free. Please register here for February 14 or by emailing Larry Dean at ldean@accessliving.org.Click here to access our flier for the Valentine’s events.
Community Dinner is Back! Our first Community Dinner in January was a great success, with over 80 people coming together to share food and space. Going forward, our Community Dinners will be the last Thursday of every month. That means in February, Community Dinner will be on February 27, once again from 5:30 to 7:30. The location is Access Living, 115 W. Chicago Avenue, Chicago IL 60654. Check out this link for the English flier and check out this link for the Spanish flier. Dinner RSVPs REQUIRED at this link, so we can plan ahead! Bring a friend or your family!
Disability Fashionista: Wearable Art Group
Calling your inner fashionista! Let’s embrace your bodies and minds with art and creativity! In this 8-week group, we will make wearable art about disability and/or illness. This program is brought to you by the Arts and Culture Project at Access Living and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. The location is at Access Living, 115 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60654.
WHEN? Wednesdays, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Session 1: February 19th, February 26th, March 5th, March 12th, March 19th, March 26, April 2nd, April 9th
Session 2: April 16th, April 23rd, April 30th, May 7th, May 14th, May 21st, May 28th, June 4th
Art materials, instructions, PACE vouchers and refreshments will be provided. RSVP at https://bit.ly/DFWAG. Space is limited, so we will confirm your registration via email or text. If you have any additional questions, please reach out to Sandie Yi at syi@accessliving.org.
Please share this event info with fellow disability advocates, especially in the Chicago area. Thank you!