PATH’s Community Resource Seminars –2014. We want to answer your questions about our local system of social services -- register today for our ½ day (4 hour) training! The cost is $35/individual, plus $20 (optional and special seminar rate) for the McLean County PATH Directory or $25 for our McLean/DeWitt/Livingston County Directory. Both go hand-in-hand with the seminar content. We have two half-day seminars scheduled in the upcoming months.

THIS WEEK – ALMOST FULL Thursday, April 24th / Thursday July 10th

Seminars run from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm. To register, contact Amanda at 834-0580 or download the registration brochure from our web site you can find the form under Community Resources.

Can’t hear on the phone? Illinois has a FREE amplified phone program.LIFE Center for Independent Living is a selection center for the ITAC Amplified Telephone Program, a program that is required and governed by Illinois law. There are three simple qualifications you must meet to be eligible for this program:

1. You must be a resident of the state of Illinois

2. Have a hearing loss

3. Have a landline analog telephone line in your home

To receive an application or for more information, contact Denise Iwaniw at LIFE Center by phone: 309/663-5433 or by email: . You may also visit LIFE Center at 2201 Eastland Drive, Suite 1, Bloomington to start the process of testing and selecting a FREE amplified phone.

Is your agency looking for volunteers? Are you a volunteer looking for ways to give back? Join Volunteer Connection! Provided by United Way of McLean County, this free online service helps connect people to the needs in our community – non-profits, churches, service & civic organizations and government agencies are all welcome to post their volunteer opportunities, in-kind needs, advocacy opportunities, and even job openings! Users are then able to respond to needs through the site, and receive emails that update them about new postings. Check it out today at .

Questions about Volunteer Connection? Need a training for your agency? Call Noel Lucero at (309) 828-7383.

Love and Logic for Parents - Saturday April 26, 2014, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

Love and Logic is a discipline model for raising responsible and respectful children while increasing the joy in your house. You will learn techniques to; eliminate power struggles with your children, follow through on consequences in a way that gives children a chance to learn from their own mistakes instead of focusing on the parent’s anger, teach your children the lifelong skill of problem solving, and a method for turning parent’s words into gold! In a society filled with new challenges every day, Love and Logic is a way to increase every family member’s belief in their own abilities and a chance to bring more fun into our homes.

Cost:$10 per person or $15 per couple. You may pay at the door. No credit or debit cards. Scholarships are available for families in need. Request a scholarship when you call.

Reservations: Please call or email Julie at 309-451-7218 or for your reservation.

Training Site: The Baby Fold Training Center, 612 Oglesby Ave., Normal (Oglesby Ave. is off of Beech St. in Normal)

CDV40 Hour Training - The Countering Domestic Violence program presents Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professionals, Inc. approved 40-hour Domestic Violence training.

The training isWednesday,July 21-Friday, July 24 from 4pm-8pm, Saturday, July 26 from 8am-4pm and Monday, July 28 – Friday, July 31from 4pm–8pm.

Certificateof Attendance - Please be prepared to attend every day for the entire time scheduled. There are no exceptions. A Certificate of Attendance will be distributed at the END of training to each participant.

Fee - Total cost of training is $150 for adults. Discounts for MCCA volunteers, our partners or 4 or more registered from the same agency.

Registrationdeadline is Monday, July 11, 2014.

Registration deadline of April 25th is fast approaching for LIFE CIL’s Youth Legislative Internship Project! Youth with disabilities, age 14 -22, will learn about self-empowerment, advocacy, the Disability Rights Movement, Independent Living Philosophy, and a bit about the legislative process. The program involves four (2 hour) Saturday classes at LIFE Center for Independent Living in Bloomington, and a one day trip to Springfield to visit the Capitol. Classes will be held Saturdays: May 3, 10, 17, & 31 from 10am to noon. (There will also be the option to meet occasionally during the summer.) Cost: FREE: All transportation, meals, and accommodations provided. Anyone interested in this opportunity may contact Rickielee Benecke at LIFE Center for Independent Living: 309-663-5433 or email:

***Family Informational & Orientation Meeting to be held April 26TH at 10am

Positive Youth Development Training- is an intentional approach that engages youth within their communities, schools, organizations, peer groups, and families in inclusive and life affirming ways. In this interactive training you will learn ways to incorporate PYD across programs and frameworks.

This training will be held on Wednesday, April 30, 2014 from 1:30pm-5:00pm at Chestnut Health Center. The address is 1003 Martin Luther King Dr. Bloomington, IL 61701. CEUs credits will be available for social work and counseling licenses. To register and for more information please visit,

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact either Lisa Toban, Training Program Intern at or Tiana Cody, Training Program Manager at .

LIFE CIL to host Accessible Healthcare Workshops.

Thursday, May 1, 2014 at 1:30pm & 5:30pm

LIFE Center for Independent Living, 2201 Eastland Dr., Ste. 1, Bloomington, IL 61704

If you have experienced problems in hospitals, doctors’ offices, dental clinics and eye care clinics such as:

  • Examined while in your wheelchair
  • Exam rooms too small to move around in
  • Exam tables or exam chairs are too high and can’t be lowered, or you are told to bring someone to lift you to access medical equipment
  • Long waits or refusal of service because of your disability
  • Important information not given to you in an accessibleformat
  • No qualified sign language interpreter at appointments
  • No service animals allowed

Attend the FREE workshop and learn about your legal rights, how to enforce your legal rights, healthcare professionals' legal obligations, and how to become your own patient advocate.

Limited seating, contact Rickielee Benecke, Disability Rights Advocate, to reserve your spot at 309-663-5433 or email Reasonable accommodations provided upon request by April 21st.

2014 WalkIn-BikeOut Community Bike Giveaway Event

Get ready for the warm weather with a bike of your own for exercise, transportation and fun in the outdoors.

  • The 4th Annual WalkIn-BikeOut (WIBO) bike giveaway will be held April 26th beginning at 8:30am until all bikes are gone (usually by 11:00 am).
  • This event will again be held on the 1st floor of the Lincoln Parking Garage(corner FrontEast St) in downtown Bloomington; the garage is located next to the Law and Justice Center.
  • We will have about 125 bikes again this year in sizes to fit toddlers to adults in male and female frames, new and vintage styles.
  • These are gently used bikes that have been tuned up, adjusted and cleaned by our volunteer bike technicians. On the giveaway day the bike techs will be present to fit and adjust the bikes to fit the new rider.
  • Connect Transit will have a city bus and staff there to instruct bike riders how to travel conveniently with their bikes on the community bus system.
  • The Bloomington Police Explorers unit will be present at the event to register your new bike.
  • Questions to Rick Heiser: or 309-830-6368.

Pratt Music Foundation Scholarships:

Do you know a student who would benefit from privatemusic lessons but who is restricted by finances?

The Pratt Music Foundation’s mission is to providetalented youth an opportunity to enhance their musical ability through privatelessons. Musiclessons are expensive and simply not an option for some childrenand families: this is where the Pratt Music Foundation comes in.TheFoundation grants full music lesson scholarshipsto the Illinois Wesleyan University Music Preparatory Program.

Instruction is available in piano or strings (violin,viola, cello, bass).

Music scholarships are awarded to area students ingrades K through 12 each spring, and are based on financial need, motivation,and talent.

Applications are due by June 1. Eachscholarship covers one school year of instruction, starting in thefall (2014-2015) and includes summerlessons (2015). Free musicbooks are supplied from the Music Shoppe.Downloadableapplications are available: Go to

For questions or to request an application, call309-827-5534, or e-mail .

Mid Central Community Action & Heartland Community College present the Spring 2014 Career and Education Workshop Series. The series is an assortment of workshops designed for participants in the Next Step Program and anyone else who is interested in improving these skills.The workshop series is free and open to all residents of the Bloomington-Normal area! Please come ready to learn ways to become more successful in managing your job skills and improving your communication skills. Participants who complete 7 sessions will be able to get college credit at HCC. Even if you are not currently enrolled at HCC, the credit can be stored and then applied if/when you do enroll.

A light supper will be provided for participants. Child Care will be provided if needed. (Please let us know if you will need Child Care.)

Workshops will be held at: Mid Central Community Action, 1301 W. Washington, Bloomington, IL. The following Workshops will be from 5:30-7:00pm:

  • Tuesday, April 22nd - Developing Effective Communications
  • Tuesday, April 29th - Planning Personal Finance
  • Tuesday, May 6th - Mastering Self-Management
  • Tuesday, May 13th - Understanding the Job Search Process

To participate, please RSVP to Cathy King, MCCA, at (309) 834-9224 or .

Healthy Kids Day® 2014 - School’s out next month! Summer is the time for kids to get up, get out and grow. But for some kids, exposure to activities that stimulate the mind and body ends with the school year. In fact, research shows that kids are prone to gain more weight and fall behind in studies. In addition, less than 20 percent of our nation’s children get 60 minutes of physical activity, read books for fun and eat at least eight fruits and vegetables every day. At the Y, we want to help your family maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout the summer; active play is best, and there are so many ways to stay active together! April 26ththe Bloomington-Normal YMCA will celebrate Healthy Kids Day®, our national initiative to improve the health and well-being of kids. Join us for this free, fun-filled community event to get more families moving, learning and living healthier. Our goal is to help you keep your kids’ minds and bodies active during the summer months - starting now! We hope to

inspire kids to carry a spirit of excitement and exploration throughout their summer and give

them the tools to keep growing and achieving all year long. This free event will feature:

• An extraordinary performance from the Gamma Phi Circus• Face painting

• Young Rembrandts Art Program• Mom and tot dance class

• Bounce house• LEGO building

• Healthy snacks and giveaways

So mark the date on your calendar and bring the whole family for a day filled with healthy,

educational fun! For more information about Healthy Kids Day or other Y programs, visit

Enrollment at new Milestones building

Milestones Early Learning Center & Preschool (currently at Stillwell & Market) is building a new facility at 1207 Six Points Rd near Morris and Veteran’s. It will open this summer but enrollment is open now! The current center will close when the new one opens.

There is capacity for 126 children at the new building. Milestones serves children from six weeks through preschool and has a before & afterschool program as well as a summer camp for children 6-12 years old. Space is filling up fast! Please help us to get the word out to families.

Milestones welcomes all families. We accept state subsidy and offer a sliding scale based on family size and income (limited availability). Milestones is licensed by DCFS and has achieved a Star Level 3 QRS rating. The agency is open Monday through Friday from 6am – 5:30pm and operates full-day programs all year long.

For more information, please contact Erica at r 309-829-4202. Website is

Happenings at the YWCA –

job fair - YWCA is holding a job and internship fair on Friday, April 25 from 4-6 p.m. and Saturday, April 26 from 9-11 a.m. On-site interviews for most open positions will be offered, as well as free child care for those attending. Various employment opportunities, both part and full-time positions, are available. Please click here to view open positions.

YOUNG WONDERS SUMMER CAMP - YWCA Summer Camp is where your child’s summer adventure begins! Summer Camp will be offered Monday, June 9 - Friday, August 15 (tentative end date) from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Hershey Road location and 6:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. at all the satellite locations. A nutritious breakfast, lunch and snack are provided for each child daily. Register before May 5 to be entered into a drawing for a summer fun basket. For a detailed curriculum, questions, or for a registration form please visit call (309) 662-0461, or visit us in-person at 1201 N. Hershey Road, Bloomington.

TAKE BACK THE NIGHT | Thursday, April 24 – 6-8:30 p.m. - Join YWCA McLean County Stepping Stones to Take Back the Night and raise awareness for sexual violence and to support survivors in their healing process. Hear from featured speakers who will share their stories of trauma and how they prevailed. Participate in a rally and a one-and-a half mile march through downtown Bloomington, speaking out against violence, followed by a candlelight vigil. Regroup at the library for a chance to debrief and gather resource materials from participating agencies.

Bloomington Public Library Community Room, 205 E. Olive Street, Bloomington, IL 61701

You don’t have to be a survivor, or even know a survivor to attend. People of all ages, races, religions, backgrounds, and genders are welcome to attend this free event and join us as we work toward a violence-free world. For more information, please visit or contact Valerie at (309) 662-0461, ext. 287 or .

CHILDHOOD EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE WEEK IS APRIL 21-25 - April 21-25, 2014 is Childhood Exposure to Violence Prevention (CEV) week. To help celebrate the week and raise awareness, children throughout McLean County drew artwork that depicted the theme “I Feel Safe When...” Exposing when and how they feel protected and what ‘safe’ means to them. Selected artwork best encompassing the theme is being displayed during CEV week at Children’s Discovery Museum, Mt. Pisgah church, Head Start, Children’s Home +Aid, YWCA McLean County, MarcFirst, and McLean County Health Department.

Money Mentors Program seeking Money Mentees - The University of Illinois Extension Money Mentors program is seeking anyone who is looking for financial coaching. Money Mentors are trained individuals that are paired with mentees that are seeking free financial education and coaching to individuals and couples. Are you thinking about buying instead of renting a home and want to know the right steps to get there? Ask a mentor! Needing to plan for college? Ask a mentor!

Your financial health is as important as your physical health! Have a Money Mentor help you either stay or get financially fit!

If you are interested in learning more about the Money Mentor program, please contact Amanda DeRew at or 309-663-8306.

Connect Transit to Host Public Listening Session. On Wednesday, April 23, 2014, Connect Transit will host the second of two Listening Sessions from 4:30pm – 7:00pm in the Town of Normal Council Chambers at Uptown Station, 11 Uptown Circle in Normal. Topics of discussion will include bus service frequency, expansion of service area and hours, new technology opportunities and passenger transfer points. The sessions are designed to provide a convenient forum for community members to ask questions, voice opinions or concerns and learn more about Connect Transit. All members of the community are encouraged to attend. For information on Connect Transit bus services, call 309.828.9833 or visit online at

Connect Transit Celebrates Earth Day with FREE RIDES. On Tuesday, April 22, 2014 to celebrate Earth Day, Connect Transit will be hosting a free ride day all day. Rides on Connect Transit Fixed Routes (usually $1) and Connect Mobility (usually $2) will be at no charge to riders. By riding the bus, we can make a difference on Earth Day and every day. Green Facts about Public Transportation:

  • 450 million gallons of fuel and 865 million hours in travel time are saved by Americans living in areas served by public transportation.
  • Without public transportation, congestion costs would have been an additional $21 billion.
  • A household can save more the $9,700 by taking public transportation and living with one less car.

For information on Connect Transit bus services, call 309.828.9833 or visit online at

Employment Opportunities:

YouthBuild McLean County is seeking a dynamic, organized and goal focused individual to fill the position of Transitions Coordinator. The ideal candidate will have a successful track record of working with at risk youth, be familiar with college and work readiness strategies and have a proven track record of developing and meeting high stakes goals. The Transitions Coordinator will coordinate employability and college readiness activities including; college tours, classroom visits, postsecondary enrollment, college/jobs readiness workshops, job shadows, internships and other activities for students and alumni. The Transitions Coordinator will be responsible for providing ongoing support to placed youth and alumni, managing college and jobs data and successfully maintaining relationships with employers and postsecondary institutions. Additionally, the Transitions Coordinator will assist youth with removing barriers that may arise that inhibit their success. The position may require some evening and weekend hours. Bachelor’s degree and clean driving record required. For consideration please send cover letter and resume to Suzanne Fitzgerald, Executive Director at .