Citywide Health & Job Fair at CCIL

Rush University Medical Center will be hosting its annual "Spring Into Health and Fitness Fair" at CCIL this Saturday, May 16, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. CCIL is located at 2750 W. Roosevelt Road in Chicago. Some of the FREE services include: health screenings, school physicals, immunizations, dental, vision and health counseling. The event will also include a job fair for those interested in positions at Rush University Medical Center. Free snacks and beverages will be available while supplies last.

Rush University's student-run organization RU Caring, Rush University Medical Center, CCIL, Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation and the Chicago Department of Public Health are sponsoring this event to provide better access to healthcare for underserved communities across the city of Chicago. An estimated one million people in the Chicago metropolitan area are living without health insurance. The "Spring Into Health and Fitness Fair" will provide much needed care to this growing demographic.

Contact Sharon Gates at 312-942-3670 for more information.

About RU Caring...

RU Caring is a student-run, volunteer organization that provides healthcare to underserved communities through health fairs and educational programs. It is the only student organization at Rush University to utilize the interdisciplinary team model.

About Rush University Medical Center...

Rush University Medical Center is an academic medical center that encompasses the more than 600 staffed-bed hospital (including Rush Children's Hospital), the Johnston R. Bowman Health Center and Rush University. Rush University, with more than 1,270 students, is home to one of the first medical schools in the Midwest, and one of the nation's top-ranked nursing colleges. Rush University also offers graduate programs in allied health and the basic sciences. Rush is noted for bringing together clinical care and research to address major health problems, including arthritis and orthopedic disorders, cancer, heart disease, mental illness, neurological disorders and diseases associated with aging.

CCIL Celebrates Earth Day & Arbor Day

On Saturday, April 25, 2009, Mayor Daley joined CCIL’s Landscape Services team, Gateway Green and 140 volunteers from Bank of America in planting more than 100 trees in celebration of Earth Day (April 22, 2009) and Arbor Day (April 24, 2009). A majority of trees were planted in a vacant lot donated by the City located along the I55 expressway near the Chinatown. Gateway Green, in conjunction with the City of Chicago and state of Illinois, works to beautify the expressways.

About CCIL’s Landscape Services…
CCIL’s Landscape Services is an award-winning social enterprise that’s been replicated throughout the country. CCIL, the City of Chicago and ARAMARK created a Landscape Services program more than 16 years ago. 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. CCIL Landscape Services have become an integral part of the beautification of the city, providing maintenance services to a large portion of downtown-area medians, sidewalk planters, malls and plazas, and numerous green spaces throughout Chicago. This program assists more than 1,000 formerly homeless men and women to gain skills and employment in landscaping and related industries.

Contact Eric Hage at 773-435-8393 for a FREE estimate on your landscaping needs.

Save the Date - Citywide Health Fair at CCIL

Rush University Medical Center will host their annual "Spring Into Health and Fitness Fair" at CCIL on Saturday, May 16, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Services will include FREE health screenings, school physicals, immunizations, dental, vision and mental health counseling. There will also be a job fair component to the event this year. Free snacks and beverages while supplies last.

Rush University's student-run organization RU Caring, Rush University Medical Center, CCIL, Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation and the Chicago Department of Public Health are sponsoring the event to provide better access to healthcare for underserved communities in Chicago.

Contact Sharon Gates at 312-942-3670 for event information.

Easter Meal at CCIL - Sunday, April 12, 2009

CCIL, located at 2750 W. Roosevelt Road in Chicago, will be hosting its annual Easter meal on Sunday, April, 12, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. until noon in the cafeteria. All are welcome to attend and enjoy a delicious meal along with fun and fellowship with residents of the community and CCIL.

Easter Egg Hunt at CCIL

Easter came early at CCIL as Students Against Hunger and Homelessness, a DePaul volunteer group, helped entertain and dazzle the children. Despite a breezy, cold, no one was hindered from scouring the courtyard in search of the MANY hidden Easter eggs. After hunting for eggs of all shapes and sizes, everyone gathered in the cafeteria for a fun night of dying Easter eggs, coloring and eating lots of candy! A special thank you to everyone who helped make this Easter activity so meaningful for CCIL's children.

Rush Day of Service at CCIL

The Rush Med-Ped’s Department presented a “CCIL Day of Service” on Monday, March 30., 2009. Twenty-two doctors in residency volunteered their time at a health fair for CCIL residents that included height and weight checks, blood pressure readings, blood sugar checks, and vision and hearing tests.

Also included in the “Day of Service” were salon services including makeup and nail care, hair styling and massages. Activities for CCIL’s children took place in the cafeteria where the kids learned that eating healthy can taste great! They were able to make their own smoothie and decorate lunch bags for school.

A Nintendo Wii was brought onsite to display new techniques in personal fitness. CCIL residents had fun bowling, hitting homeruns and playing tennis.

The Med-Peds spent the afternoon learning about community service and the ways CCIL handles healthcare. Greg Cox, CCIL Intake Coordinator, talked to students about the experience of a CCIL resident and the unique healthcare concerns these individuals may have.

The Rush Med-Ped department is unique in that the doctors are trained for both adult internal medicine as well as pediatric care.

CCIL's Spring 2009 Season on CAN TV

Lights, Camera, Action - CCIL will appear on Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV) every Thursday at 4:30 p.m. beginning April 2 through June 25, 2009.

Tune in to channel 21 of Chicago’s local cable station Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. and listen as Carl Lee, Landscape Services, visits with host Jenny Brandhorst about CCIL’s
award-winning landscape training program that’s been replicated throughout the country. Mr. Lee had a perfect attendance record during the training program and was awarded Groundskeeper of the Year in 2008.

Hotline 21 is a live, interactive, call-in show. Viewers are encouraged to call 312-738-1060 with questions or comments.

This is a great opportunity to learn more about CCIL’s mission, programs, partnerships and the people served.

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