Progress Center

Shop-In
2025-12-17 12:30 - 14:30 (America/Chicago)
Progress Center is having a Shop-In this month. Shop-Ins are opportunities to show businesses the buying power and solidarity of the disability community. This is also our Member holiday gathering. We are meeting at Tacos 76. The address is 838 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302. We will meet at the restaurant at 12:30pm. There is no tradition Membership and Outreach meeting this month, so the drop-off and pick-up location is the same. (There is no official end time; it’s up to you how long you’d like to stay.)
Please call 708-209-1500 ext. 118 or email dkaras@progresscil.org for more information

FOOTBALL GAME PARTY And COMMUNITY CANVASSING EVENT
2026-01-04 12:00 - 16:00 | 7521 Madison Street Forest Park, IL 60130, 7521 Madison Street Forest Park, IL 60130, Forest Park, IL, 60130, United States
DISABILITY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND CHICAGO FOOTBALL FANS ARE A WINNING TEAM ! ! !

WE are PROGRESS CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING.
WE provide services + supports for people with disabilities to live as independently as possible and achieve self-determined goals.
Go to our website TODAY to learn more about our services, supports, meetings, AND OUR FOOTBALL GAME PARTY / COMMUNITY CANVASSING EVENT ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 4th 2O26 FROM 12:00 NOON TO 4:00PM, at 7521 Madison Street in Forest Park.
GO INDEPENDENT LIVING!! GO CHICAGO!!
GO DISABILITY RIGHTS!! GO WE THE PEOPLE!!
For more email me at jbarton@progresscil.org
or (7O8) 435 – 4667.

H A P P Y H O L I D A Y S ! ! !

Latonya Reeves Freedom Act Advocacy Group
2026-01-08 14:00 - 15:00
The LATONYA REEVES FREEDOM ACT working group will be held every second Thursday of the month from 2:00PM to 3:00PM.
The first LATONYA REEVES FREEDOM ACT working group meeting will be held at PCIL in Forest Park (7521 Madison Street) on Thursday, January 8th 2O26.
We plan to share with the public Latonya’s life story, the need for the REEVES FREEDOM ACT to be reintroduced and passed into U.S. law NOW, and how we can help advocate for it and demand that the United States Congress discuss why the bill is not only a great bill, but it is SURVIVAL NECESSARY for people with disabilities.
Contact Community Organizer Jonathan Barton at 708-209-1500 ext.122 or jbarton@progresscil.org for more information and the Zoom link.

FOOTBALL GAME PARTY And COMMUNITY CANVASSING EVENT
2026-01-10 16:00 - 22:00
DISABILITY COMMUNITY MEMBERS
A N D
CHICAGO FOOTBALL FANS
ARE A WINNING TEAM ! ! !

WE are PROGRESS CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING.
WE provide services + supports for people with disabilities to live independently in the community and achieve self- determined goals.
Learn more about our services, supports, meetings, events, trainings AND OUR FOOTBALL GAME PARTY / COMMUNITY CANVASSING EVENT ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 1Oth 2O26 from 4pm to 1Opm, at 7521 Madison Street in Forest Park.
As a team, we can develop a “NEVER GIVE UP !” spirit and a special fearlessness to defeat our arch rivals: paternalism, totalitarianism, and ableism. We achieve the biggest victories WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER AS ONE ! ! !
GO INDEPENDENT LIVING ! ! ! GO CHICAGO ! ! !
GO DISABILITY RIGHTS ! ! ! GO WE THE PEOPLE ! ! !

For more information email jbarton@progresscil.org or call ( 708 ) 435 – 4667

Transportation Advocacy Group
2026-01-14 10:00 - 11:00
Transportation Advocacy Group
The first meeting will be on January 14th.
Community Organizer Manuel Gonzalez
Time: 10:00 am on the Second Wednesday of every Month
Place: Progress Center Blue Island office and Zoom
Contact Manuel Gonzalez at 708-209-1500 ext. 201 or mgonzalez@progresscil.org for more information and the Zoom link.

FOOTBALL GAME PARTY And COMMUNITY CANVASSING EVENT
2026-01-18 14:30 - 21:00
D I S A B I L I T Y C O M M U N I T Y M E M B E R S
A N D
C H I C A G O F O O T B A L L F A N S
A R E A W I N N I N G T E A M ! ! !
WE are PROGRESS CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING.
WE provide services + supports for people with disabilities to live independently in the community and achieve our self-determined goals.
Learn more about our services, supports, meetings, trainings, and events AND
OUR FOOTBALL GAME PARTY / COMMUNITY CANVASSING EVENT on SUNDAY, JANUARY 18TH 2O26 from 2:30pm to 9: 00pm, at 7521 Madison Street and Des Plaines Avenue in Forest Park (right next to the CTA #318 BUS STOP on Madison Street and Des Plaines Ave., and just 2 blocks away from the FOREST PARK CTA BLUE LINE TRAIN STATION).
As a team, WE can develop a “NEVER GIVE UP!” spirit and a special fearlessness to defeat our arch rivals: paternalism, totalitarianism, and ableism.
WE achieve the biggest victories WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER AS ONE !!!

G O I N D E P E N D E N T L I V I N G ! ! ! G O C H I C A G O ! ! !
G O D I S A B I L I T Y R I G H T S ! ! ! G O W E T H E P E O P L E ! ! !

To make a reservation, email jbarton@progresscil.org TODAY, or call (708) 435 – 4667. Reservations are required for this event.

Membership and Outreach Meeting
2026-01-21 14:30 - 16:00, 2026-02-18 14:30 - 16:00, 2026-03-18 14:30 - 16:00 | 7521 Madison Street Forest Park, IL 60130, 7521 Madison Street Forest Park, IL 60130, Forest Park, IL, 60130, United States
Join Progress Center for our monthly M&O Committee meeting at our Forest Park office or over Zoom.
Call or email Demetra for more information at 705-209-1500 ext. 118 or dkaras@progresscil.org.

Healthcare Advocacy Group
2026-01-27 13:00 - 14:00
Healthcare Advocacy Group
The first meeting will be on January 27th.
Community Organizer Clark Craig
Time: 1:00 pm on the Fourth Tuesday of every Month
Place: Progress Center Main Office in Forest Park and Zoom
Contact Clark Craig at 708-209-1500 ext. 114 or ccraig@progresscil.org for more information and the Zoom link.

Voter Education Workshop
2026-02-02 18:00 - 19:00 | 7521 Madison Street Forest Park, IL 60130, 7521 Madison Street Forest Park, IL 60130, Forest Park, IL, 60130, United States
Progress Center invites you ….
It’s midterm election year. Join this one-hour voter education workshop to lean about the voting process – how to register to vote, where to vote, how to find out what’s on your ballot, how to learn about candidates running for office, and more.
Monday, February 2nd
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Progress Center Forest Park office and Zoom (hybrid)
For more information, directions to our office or the Zoom link, call Progress Center’s Community Organizer Clark Craig at 708-209-1500 or email info@progresscil.org.

Transportation Advocacy Group
2026-02-11 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-03-11 10:00 - 11:00 | Progress Center’s Blue Island office
Transportation Advocacy Group
Time: 10:00 am on the Second Wednesday of every month
Place: Progress Center Blue Island office and Zoom
Contact Manuel Gonzalez at 708-209-1500 ext. 201 or mgonzalez@progresscil.org for more information and the Zoom link.

Larry Biondi Fellowship (LBF) Monthly Planning Meeting
2026-02-12 11:00 - 12:00 | 7521 Madison Street Forest Park, IL 60130, 7521 Madison Street Forest Park, IL 60130, Forest Park, IL, 60130, United States
This meeting will take place on Thursday, February 12, from 11:00am to 12:00pm in person in our Forest Park office and over Zoom. Email info@progresscil.org for more information or the Zoom link.

Voter Education Workshop
2026-02-12 13:00 - 14:00 | 7521 Madison Street Forest Park, IL 60130, 7521 Madison Street Forest Park, IL 60130, Forest Park, IL, 60130, United States
Progress Center invites you ….
It’s midterm election year. Join this one-hour voter education workshop to lean about the voting process – how to register to vote, where to vote, how to find out what’s on your ballot, how to learn about candidates running for office, and more.
Thursday, February 12
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Progress Center Forest Park office and Zoom (hybrid)
For more information, directions to our office or the Zoom link, call Progress Center’s Community Organizer Clark Craig at 708-209-1500 or email info@progresscil.org.

Latonya Reeves Freedom Act Working group
2026-02-12 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-12 14:00 - 15:00 | 7521 Madison Street Forest Park, IL 60130, 7521 Madison Street Forest Park, IL 60130, Forest Park, IL, 60130, United States
Latonya Reeves Freedom Act Working Group
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.

Healthcare Advocacy Group
2026-02-24 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-03-24 13:00 - 14:00 | 7521 Madison Street Forest Park, IL 60130, 7521 Madison Street Forest Park, IL 60130, Forest Park, IL, 60130, United States
Healthcare Advocacy Group
Time: 1:00 pm on the Fourth Tuesday of every month
Place: Progress Center Main Office in Forest Park and Zoom
Contact Clark Craig at 708-209-1500 ext. 114 or ccraig@progresscil.org for more information and the Zoom link.

Voter Education Workshop
2026-03-03 11:00 - 12:00 | Progress Center’s Blue Island office
Voter Education Workshop
Tuesday, March 3
11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Progress Center Blue Island
12940 S. Western Ave.
Blue Island, IL 60406
(3rd floor of the Moraine Valley Community College building)

Progress Center invites you ….
It’s midterm election year. Join this one-hour voter education workshop to lean about the voting process – how to register to vote, where to vote, how to find out what’s on your ballot, how to learn about candidates running for office, and more.
For more information and directions to our office, call Progress Center’s Community Organizer Manuel Gonzalez at 708-209-1500 ext. 201 or email mgonzalez@progresscil.org.

St. Patrick's Day Parade
2026-03-07 11:00 - 17:00 | Forest Park, IL
Forest Park’s St. Patrick’s Parade
Progress Center Invites You to Join Us!

Walk or Roll with Progress Center
Saturday, March 7

Before the parade, we will be doing outreach. Hot drinks and snacks will be provided at Progress Center at 7521 Madison Street.
We will be going to the parade starting point at 12:30. Meet at our office at 7521 Madison Street between 11:30 and 12:30 to be in the parade. The parade is scheduled from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
After the parade, we will be gathering for snacks and independent living themed movies at Progress Center at 7521 Madison Street.

Call 708-209-1500 ext. 118 or email dkaras@progresscil.org for more information and to let us know you’ll be joining.

Blue Island Disability Committee meeting
2026-03-10 13:00 - 14:00 | Progress Center’s Blue Island office
Call Progress Center’s Community Organizer Manuel Gonzalez at 708-209-1500 ext. 201 or email mgonzalez@progresscil.org with questions or for more information.

Shop-In
2026-03-18 12:00 - 14:00
Right before our March Membership & Outreach meeting, Progress Center will have a Shop-In. The Shop-In will take place at Old School Tavern at 201 Des Plaines Ave, Forest Park, IL 60130.
Shop-Ins are opportunities to show businesses the buying power and solidarity of the disability community, as well as check out accessibility of the location.
We will meet at Progress Center at 12:00 noon, and we will walk and roll to the restaurant, which is two blocks, approximately a quarter of a mile from Progress Center. Anyone who prefers to go directly to the restaurant can meet the group at 12:30 for lunch. We will leave around 2:00 pm to be at Progress Center for our hybrid M&O meeting at 2:30 to 4pm.
Call or email Demetra for more information at 705-209-1500 ext. 118 or dkaras@progresscil.org.

Progress Center Annual Meeting
2026-06-20 11:00 - 15:00 | Cicero Community Center, Cicero, IL
Save the Date
