Monthly Archives: June 2026

Progress Center for Independent Living invites you to the Summer 2026

Legislative Training Class

Learn how to make a difference in the legislative process and gain knowledge of government policies. Learn how to share your opinions

and make your vote count.

This free, six-week Legislative Training Class covers many topics, including:

• Self-advocacy
• The legislative process
• How a bill becomes a law
• Methods of communicating with your legislators

Who: This training is free and open to anyone interested in advocacy on disability issues and who will commit to attending all sessions.

When: Tuesdays, July 7 through August 11 from 10:00am to 12:00 noon

Where: Attend in person at Progress Center’s Forest Park or Blue Island offices or over Zoom

7521 Madison St, Forest Park, IL 60130

12940 S. Western Ave., Blue Island, IL 60406

The class is run by Progress Center’s Community Organizers.

To register for this training or if you have any questions, contact Demetra at dkaras@progresscil.org or 708-209-1500.

Some of the dates and times of our Advocacy Groups have changed…

Advocacy Groups

Progress Center runs three Advocacy Groups in every month on Transportation, Healthcare, and the Latonya Reeves Freedom Act. These are topics our consumers, members, and the community want to talk about.

Come for discussions, share ideas, and learn how to advocate for services and equality for the disability community. Meetings will be offered hybrid once a month, in person and on Zoom.

Transportation Advocacy Group

Community Organizer Manuel Gonzalez

Time: 1:00 pm on the Third Wednesday of every month

Place: Progress Center Blue Island office and Zoom

Contact Community Organizer Manuel Gonzalez at 708-209-1500 ext. 201 or mgonzalez@progresscil.org for more information and the Zoom link.

Healthcare Advocacy Group

Community Organizer Clark Craig

Time:  12:30 pm on the Second Thursday of every month

Place: Progress Center Main Office in Forest Park and Zoom

Contact Community Organizer Clark Craig at 708-209-1500 ext. 114 or ccraig@progresscil.org for more information and the Zoom link.

Latonya Reeves Freedom Act Working Group

Community Organizer Jonathan Barton

Time: 2:00 pm on the second Thursday of every month

Place: Progress Center Main Office in Forest Park and Zoom

Contact Community Organizer Jonathan Barton at 708-209-1500 ext.122 or jbarton@progresscil.org for more information and the Zoom link.

For more on Progress Center, visit our website at www.progresscil.org,

www.facebook.com/www.progresscil.org, and x.com/ProgressCIL.

Progress Center is hosting a Shop-In at Russell’s Barbeque in Elmwood Park on Thursday, June 4. The address is 1621 North Thatcher Avenue, Elmwood Park, Illinois 60707.

Shop-Ins are opportunities to show businesses the buying power and solidarity of the disability community, as well as to check out accessibility of the location.

We will meet at Russell’s at 12:30 for lunch. Lunch shop-ins usually last about an hour and a half, but please stay as little or long as you like.