April 2024
1. POLICY & ADVOCACY »
2. EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES »
3. THE MORE YOU KNOW »
4. SPECIAL FEATURE »
Policy & Advocacy
A Busy Month in Springfield
It’s been a busy month in Springfield, where our team testified in subject matter hearings from the Human Service Equitable Pay Act and Human Service Professional Loan Repayment Program.
We also supported our partners at Forefront in providing testimony on the creation of a Nonprofit Lobbying Fee Waiver, and will be providing testimony at a Subject Matter Hearing in the House Human Service Appropriations Committee on May 2nd in support of increased funding for community-based human services.
Thank you to our colleagues at the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, EasterSeals Joliet, Forefront, ICOY, and ICASA for your partnership and testimony, Representatives Lillian Jimenez and Lindsey LaPointe for your support and advocacy, and to the more than 400 of you who slipped in support of this legislation!
Events & Opportunities
Intersectionality and Equity in Aging – Virtual Training May 9
Join Illinois Partners for “Intersectionality & Equity in Aging,” a conversation about the importance of considering how aging is impacted by the historical marginalization of individuals and communities.
While aging is universal, the experience of aging is deeply impacted by systemic oppression and marginalization of people based on race, gender, disability, and many other identities. The inequitable access to resources resulting from these disparities must be acknowledged and addressed in order to develop equitable solutions.
This is the second in a series of virtual training sessions on Reframing Aging. Technical assistance is available after each training session to answer questions, address challenges, or assist participants with new communication materials.
The virtual training will be held on Thursday, May 9, 1-3 pm. Register here
Town Hall Summit for HIV Long-Term Survivors – May 17 & 18
Join The Reunion Project and the National Working Positive Coalition for a two-day town hall for long-term HIV survivors.
Day One, Friday, May 17, will be an employment forum for long-term HIV survivors interested in discussions, information, services, and resources to consider options for employment or self-employment.
Day Two, Saturday, May 18, is an opportunity for HIV long-term survivors to connect with others, learn how to live and age well with HIV, and how to address some of the unique challenges of long-term survivors such as isolation, depression, and stigma.
For details and registration information visit the Reunion Project
Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium – May 2
The National Council on Aging is hosting the 7th annual Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium, an online event.
NCOA anticipates offering free continuing education credit for several professions. The daylong online event will be held Thursday, May 2, 9 am to 4 pm Ct.
Registration is free and includes a full day of sessions on how to best meet the mental health needs of older adults.
View the full agenda and registration information
ACCESS Living Open House – May 2
Our coalition partner ACCESS Living is hosting an Open House. This event is a wonderful opportunity to see what an organization run by people with disabilities, for people with disabilities, looks like.
After months of closure due to flooding, the Access Living building is reopening! The refreshed, redesigned, LEED-certified, and universally designed space is ready to welcome visitors.
The Open House is Thursday, May 2, 2-6 pm at 115 W. Chicago Ave. in Chicago
View details about the event and RSVP
The More You Know
Adela Carlin joins Forefront Board of Directors
We are excited to share that our team member Adela Carlin, Senior Director of Training and Community Partnerships, has joined the Board of Directors for our coalition partner Forefront.
Congratulations to Adela and fellow new board members LaToya Egwuekwe-Smith, Chief Communications Officer for Metropolitan Peace Initiatives and Vickie Lakes-Battle, Executive Director-Chicago Region for IFF.
Women’s Economic Power Agenda for Illinois
Last November, Illinois Partners joined advocates and workers for the Women’s Economic Power Agenda (WEPA) Summit to shape a shared agenda and roadmap to advance women’s economic power in Illinois.
Together we focused on driving collective impact around the shared goal of a more equitable and inclusive economic landscape for women, their families, and their communities in Illinois – policies, programs, practices, and actions that lead to more money in women’s wallets TODAY, not generations from now.
The resulting report, Women’s Economic Power Agenda for Illinois, not only provides a glimpse of the summit, but most importantly, crystallizes the key takeaways and recommendations shaped by the over 50 participating organizations, and dozens of workers themselves.
Many thanks to Women Employed, convening partners and most of all the workers who shared their insights and policy recommendations.
The WEPA report is available in English and Spanish at womenemployed.org/WEPA
Special Feature
Lauren Wright Receives Moxie Award
Our Executive Director, Lauren Wright, is a 2024 recipient of Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault‘s Moxie Award, for her advocacy and leadership in the human service sector.
We are so grateful to be partnered with ICASA in many areas of our work at IL Partners, particularly for Carrie Ward, CEO of ICASA, and her leadership and partnership in the Health and Human Service Coalition of Illinois.
We will continue to work collaboratively to ensure that human service providers have access to the support and resources they need to meet the needs of their communities.
Thank you so much ICASA for this honor!
