C.I.T.Y. News

Oh, we know it’s unbelievably cold, but here at C.I.T.Y. of Support, we are embracing the warmth that comes with February—the month that celebrates relationships, generosity, and love.

In this newsletter, you will read about our many upcoming events and learn of ways that YOU can support our C.I.T.Y. with actions big and small. This organization depends on your participation, as we are run entirely by dedicated volunteers. Participation can mean attending our events, signing up for a committee/volunteer opportunity, helping to spread the word about our organization, and even simply “liking/commenting/sharing” posts from our Facebook Group, as it helps to increase our overall visibility.

We look forward to your involvement, and THANK YOU!

As always, all of our events are listed on our Google Calendar and

on the C.I.T.Y. of Events tab on our website.

**This event is made possible in part by the generous sponsorship of In2Great! Pediatric Therapy Clinic and Autism Home Support Services. Thank you!

There are also a few more opportunities for local businesses, clinics, and offices to participate in this interactive event. If you/someone you know would like to be included in this resource-sharing/community-building event, please contact us at: hello@cityofsupport.org. Opportunities are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.**

SATURDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 9TH from 9:00-11:00

This is the perfect excuse to get out of the house this winter for some engaging (indoor) fun! Register for specific entry times (to avoid over-crowding), and join us in the festive We Rock The Spectrum sensory gym where families will follow the valentine's hearts to each of our 15+ creative obstacle course stations. At each station, the children will participate in different interactive games (including zip lines, rock walls, swings, and sensory play), while their parents receive information and learn about neighborhood resources from the different local clinics, offices, and businesses sponsoring each station.

This family-friendly Valentine's Event may be best described as an “obstacle course/resource fair.” After making their way through the stations, families are welcome to complete a project at our craft table, enjoy some snacks from our sweet table, and participate in our raffle filled with child-friendly prizes!

Come share the love with us this Valentine's Day! Registration is required for this event.

Use our eventbrite link to reserve your spot today!

Did you know that this phrase is a part of our mission statement?

"To create a dynamic community, both online and in person, that supports all families navigating the needs of their child in therapy." To that end, we are providing ways to participate in our Valentine's event, even if you aren't able to join us in person (although we truly hope you can!) We are offering D.I.Y. Valentine's Day Card Kits and an Online Raffle through our website, and 100% of these sales go directly back to our C.I.T.Y. of Support.

• Our Pinterest-worthy and developmentally-stimulating homemade cards are the perfect way for your children to show their love to their favorite teachers, therapists, family, and friends.

• And $2 is all it costs to participate in our raffle filled with incredible prizes such as donations from the Field Museum, Chicago Dogs Baseball, Chuck E. Cheese, and many more local, family-friendly businesses.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH from 5:00-7:00PM

C.I.T.Y. of Support is committed to fostering the sharing of knowledge from a variety of perspectives. Our Roundtable Series provides professionals and parents an opportunity to share their experiences in an informative, but casual/friendly environment (snacks provided too). Questions, discussions, and one-on-one conversations will be encouraged towards the end of this adults-only event.

Based on feedback from our members, our first of four topics in our 2019 series is called "The Ins and Outs of IEPs (Individualized Education Plans)." Come to hear what our knowledgeable panel of parents, school staff, educational advocates, and the medical community can share from their own personal experiences, and find support resources within our community. This event is applicable for both parents and professionals, and Early Intervention continuing education credits are currently pending approval.

Registration is required through our eventbrite link, although this event is FREE for parents. We hope to record and upload our conversation to YouTube as well, so that even if you are unable to make it to the meeting in-person, you can still participate virtually.

NORTHWEST SUBURBS: ARLINGTON HEIGHTS MEMORIAL LIBRARY

As always, we are meeting on the 2nd Tuesday of the month for our "Developmental Playgroup" (previously-known as the Early Intervention Playgroup). And, due to the great turnout this past month, we are going to continue to offer a more adult-focused group with "Caregivers, Coffee, and Play" on the 4th Sunday of the month. Come join us and meet other families in the neighborhood.

SOUTH SUBURBS: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD AT 9:30AM

Facilitated by Jennifer Blaszyck, a parent and C.I.T.Y. member, on the last Saturday of every month at the Little Something Extra Bakery and Cafe in Oak Lawn.

**OTHER REGIONS**

We are continuing to research other neighborhood options in the North, West, and City locations that will help to accommodate more families. Thank you for your patience!

FRIDAY NIGHT, APRIL 12TH FROM 7:30-10:30

The Arlington Heights Junior Women's Club has chosen OUR organization to be the beneficiary of their annual spring fundraiser (which is known for raising a significant amount of funds!). We are humbled by their generous gesture, and we would love to have members of C.I.T.Y. of Support at the event to show our appreciation, so mark your calendars!

Their invitation says: "Join us in the Exclusive Cellar Room at Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant for an evening of great wines and giving! Enjoy a variety of unlimited selected wines and appetizers while helping raise money for C.I.T.Y. of Support! Tickets can be purchased at www.ahjwc.org or at the door."

We are looking for handwritten letters from parents who wish to share their experiences of having a child who receives/received therapy services. Looking back, what were your initial reactions? What did you expect? What has your journey been like? What advice can you share? We do not expect you to share your personal identifying information, as we have complete respect for your privacy. We do hope, however, that this heartfelt, handwritten letter will be a source of encouragement, hope, and motivation for the new parents in our community. To contribute your story, please either scan and email letters to: hello@cityofsupport.org or mail them to our office address at:

800 E. Northwest Highway, Suite #109 in Mount Prospect, IL 60056.

Your letter will accompany information about C.I.T.Y. of Support, a small keychain to keep important business cards handy, a new book to share with their child, and helpful new parent coupons. For more information regarding our 3 initiatives for 2019, please refer to our website under the tab "C.I.T.Y. of Outreach."

So...how will you show your love this February? Let's work together and continue to build our community of strong, compassionate, knowledgeable, and appreciative members.

Our mission is to create a dynamic community, both online and in person, that supports all families navigating the needs of their child in therapy.

Email: hello@cityofsupport.org
Website: www.cityofsupport.org
Location: 800 E. Northwest Highway, Suite #109 in Mount Prospect, IL 60056
Phone: (224) 409-7150
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cityofsupport/
Twitter: @cityofsupport