Holidays for the Homeless

Holiday Meals at CCIL
CCIL will be hosting meals and entertainment to those less fortunate on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Guests are invited to enjoy a holiday meal of turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, fresh steamed vegetables, biscuits, cranberry sauce, milk and fresh fruit. Entertainment will be provided.

Meal Details:
Thanksgiving Day - Thursday, November 27, 2008
Christmas Day - Thursday, December 25, 2008
CCIL Cafeteria
2750 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL (California/Roosevelt)
9:30 a.m. – Noon
The public is welcome to attend

CCIL is always in need of volunteers, but especially during the holiday season. Volunteers are essential to the development and growth of the organization. Individuals and groups are welcome. Below are some volunteer opportunities to consider:

• Adult Education


• Foodservice


• Community Food Pantry


• Youth Mentor/Tutor


• Greater Chicago Food Depository


• Help at a Special Event


• Birthday Party Give Backs


• Coordinate an Educational/Special Outing


• Holiday Volunteering


• Organize a Drive or Fundraising Event


• Host a Third-Party Fundraiser for CCIL

Contact Chris Wiens at cwiens@ccilworks.org for holiday and other volunteer opportunity information.

Mission Not Impossible…

Chris Wiens, CCIL Employee and Loyola Graduate, Runs for Mission Year

The 1st Annual Lawndale 5K Walk/Run hosted by Mission Year and Christian Health Center was a huge hit this past weekend. Spectators lined the North Lawndale streets and Douglas Park paths to cheer on the many runners who raised money and awareness for Mission Year, a year long urban ministry program focused on Christian service and leadership.

Chris Wiens, CCIL Volunteer Coordinator and recent Loyola graduate, was one of many runners who went above and beyond. He finished in the top 100 with a time of 23:48 – meeting and beating his own personal goal. Wiens raised more than $250 in pledge support, all of which will be donated to Mission Year.

“Everything about the day was great! The weather, the crowd, the entertainment – it was all so invigorating. Mission Year is such a worthwhile cause and I’m honored I was able to contribute, especially since CCIL has been blessed with amazing Mission Year volunteers for the past three years,” said Chris Wiens.

Leroy Barber, Mission Year President, also ran in the race. A youth drum line and Shawn Casselberry, Chicago City Director for Mission Year, provided entertainment and energized a crowd of more than 500 people.

In the fall of 2008 through the summer of 2009, Kristin Lundquist and Stephen Baker will be the third pair of volunteers from Mission Year to work in CCIL’s Community Food Pantry.

Mission Year is a year long program where Christian young people live in an urban neighborhood volunteering, worshiping, and loving their neighbors. By partnering with a local church, volunteering at a service site, and spending time with neighbors, Mission Year Team Members effectively impact their communities while catching a deeper vision for what the Kingdom of God is like. Visit www.missionyear.org for more information.

Lights, Camera, Action

CCIL’s Fall 2008 Premier Season on CAN TV

CCIL will appear on Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV) every Thursday at 4:00 p.m. beginning October 2, 2008 through December 18, 2008. Tune in to Chicago’s local cable station on channel 21 and see a variety of guests hosted by CCIL each week. Visit http://www.ccilworks.org/ for CCIL's CAN TV Fall 2008 schedule postings and updates.

Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV)
Channel 21
322 S. Green Street
Chicago, IL 60607
312-738-1400
cantv.org

Making a Racket at McFetridge…

YPB Host Tennis Tournament – Proceeds Benefit CCIL Homeless Families

CCIL’s Young Professionals Board (YPB), a group of dynamic professionals who share a passion for helping others, made a racket at the McFetridge Sports Center Saturday, September 13th and Sunday, September 14th by hosting a men’s and women’s tennis tournament in a gallant effort to raise awareness and funds for CCIL, a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring families affected by poverty and homelessness. More than 30 people participated in the event which brought in at least $1,500.

“I’m very grateful to everyone who participated in this event and to the McFetridge Sports Center for providing such a wonderful venue! As CCIL approaches its Centennial in 2009, events like this are key in helping educate people about our mission. I want to especially thank YPB member Aaron Green for his drive and making this event possible,” said CCIL Executive Director Judy McIntyre, who was integral in launching the YPB in February 2006.

1st place trophies were awarded in the following categories:
*Women’s Open Singles – Deepa Popuri
*Women’s Open Doubles – Bridgit Maile and Hilerie Sher
*Men’s Open Singles – Dan Menchik
*Men’s Open Doubles – Robert Kallen and Larry Mann
*Mixed Open Doubles – Deepa Popuri and Cesar Uribe

The YPB is empowered to increase awareness, encourage involvement and financial support, advance program initiatives and amplify the success of CCIL. Contact ypbinfo@ccilworks.org to learn more about becoming a member of the YPB

A Better Place - Geoffrey McKnight

CCIL Landscape Trainee Geoffrey McKnight will be featured on the CHA show "A Better Place" throughout the month of September. "A Better Place" is affiliated with the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) and can be viewed on Chicago municipal channels 23 and 49. Air times are scheduled for 8:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Suburban viewers have access to view this program as well. Check your local cable programming schedules for details.

About CCIL's Landscape Training Program...

CCIL, in conjunction with the City of Chicago and ARAMARK, created a Landscape Services program more than 16 years ago. Based in the Center for Workforce Development, this program generated earned revenue in excess of $4,000,000 in 2008. These funds are essential to the agency’s financial stability, and more importantly, ensures that more than 1,000 formerly homeless men and women are employed and have gained work skills and are able to find employment in landscaping and related industries.

All participants attend a series of rigorous classes designed to result in job ready applicants. Job interviews are conducted by the operations team, and throughout their participation in this job training program, participants are assigned an on site job coach and are offered case management services. Financial literacy classes are mandatory and the landscape program has a match component for participants who manage to save part of their salary throughout the growing season. Through this on-the-job training program participants are placed in a paid work environment and are trained to do landscaping and grounds maintenance. For two consecutive seasons of eight months each, trainees are provided with technical skills and experience in grounds care, equipment use and safety standards. Trainees beautify Chicago by planting more than 160,000 tulip bulbs in medians and boulevards during the spring season every year, and maintain Chicago’s boulevards, planter boxes and medians throughout the central business district.

CCIL’s landscaping services have become an integral part of the beautification of the city, providing maintenance services to a large portion of the downtown-area medians, sidewalk planters, malls and plazas, and numerous green spaces throughout Chicago. High profile service areas include:Michigan Avenue, Wacker Drive, LaSalle Street, State Street, Dearborn Street , Congress Expressway and City Hall’s Rooftop Garden. Landscaping clients include the Chicago Department of Transportation, Chicago Park District, Chicago Housing Authority, Chicago Department of General Services, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Gateway Green, Interstate Realty, Mayslake Village and commercial customers throughout metropolitan Chicago. CCIL aggressively seeks new business and bids competitively in all possible areas, with a goal of exceeding last year’s revenues.

CCIL assists in Mayor Daley’s beautification efforts for the landscape of Chicago while the job trainees are improving the landscape of their lives. “Changing landscapes, changing lives is tremendously rewarding work,” says Eric Hage, landscape general manager.

Outside the Walls

The public is welcome to join CCIL's Center for Workforce Development department in participating at the upcoming North Lawndale "Outside the Walls" picnic. Details are below.

What: Celebration of Freedom and Recovery
When: Saturday, September 6, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Where: Douglas Park, Chicago, IL
Who: All are welcome
Why: Educate and reconcile communities

This community initiative is geared to celebrate the lives and new found freedom of people who have paid their debt to society and to promote the reconnection of families once broken due to incarceration. The event will engage everyone involved in a spiritual atmosphere emphasizing the importance of faith-based consciousness in productive re-entry and in sustaining the effort to remain free, clean, sober and serene. The ultimate goal is to eradicate recidivism, restore self-esteem, reintroduce the individual back into society, reassemble families and reconcile communities.

Preparations are underway to welcome more than 800 people to the event. Guests can enjoy the following...

• Prepared food donated by Chicago area restaurants;
• Musical entertainment by various Gospel artists - invited guests include The Church Boys, The Douglas Singers, Pastor DeAndre Patterson and Destiny Worship Center, Hope House Men's Choir, Pastor Reggie Royale and JUDAH, Pastor Steve Nelson and The Christian Love Church Choir and The Serenity Drum Corps;
• Invited speakers include the Honorable Congressman Danny K. Davis, Mack McGhee of Transforming Lives International, Cook County Commissioner Robert Steele, Tio Hardiman and Tim White of Cease Fire;
• Men and women from the recovery community will share their stories;
• Entertainment and special activities will be available for children, including a Christian mime artist;
• Awards will be given in recognition of appreciation to contributors and field professionals;
• Free gift bags will be given to the first 500 guests

September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. This is a great opportunity to make a positive impact in the North Lawndale community.

"When I came out, I felt like a little baby. I had to learn everything all over again. How to act. How to make the right choices. How to live. I needed help. Thank you for being there." Quote from a Sheridan Correctional Center Parolee/2005

Contact Reverend Tommie Johnson at 773-454-1545 or Bblest2@yahoo.com for more event information.

Love/Love - CCIL Tennis Tournament

CCIL's Young Professionals Board (YPB) will be hosting a men's and women's tennis tournament. All proceeds go directly to benefit homeless families at CCIL.

Tournament Details:

• Friday, September 12 - Sunday, September 14, 2008
• Time TBA
• McFetridge Sports Center - 3843 N. California, Chicago, IL

Visit http://www.aarong007.8m.net/ or call 312-806-0087 for detailed information.

Awards will be given for 1st and 2nd place. $50 entrance fee. All entries must be received by September 5, 2008.

A special thank you to Aaron Green for organizing this event and to the McFetridge Sports Center for their support in making this event possible.