Apply for Building Our Power Together/Construyendo Poder Juntos

Application Packet: Building Our Power Together

Table of Contents:

1. Program Training Schedule
2. Important Things to Know
3. Online Application Form

If you would like to complete the application in an alternate format, such as by phone, please contact Michelle Garcia.

Spanish/español

Building Our Power Together: Training Schedule

All training times are local Chicago time/Central Time. Please note that these trainings are consecutive. All Training Sessions are mandatory for all class members. At each session, we will build upon what we have learned before. Each session will be different. Social Sessions are optional, though we encourage you to attend.

Click on each arrow to view exact dates and times of all training sessions.

Building Our Power Together: Important Things to Know

What is Access Living? Access Living is a disability rights and services organization based in Chicago. Since 1980, Access Living has been a leader in fighting for social change for people with disabilities. While our direct services are mainly for people who live in the City of Chicago, our advocacy is at the local, state and national levels. We are a Center for Independent Living, and the majority of our staff and board are people with disabilities. Our organizing team is currently made up of all people with disabilities.

Who are our community organizing groups and what do they do? We have four main disability community organizing groups. Each group has a dedicated Access Living staff organizer to support it.

• Cambiando Vidas (CV) focuses on immigration and Latinx issues. 
• The Disability Rights Action Coalition for Housing (DRACH) focuses on housing issues.
• The Task Force for Attendant Services (TFAS) focuses on healthcare and community supports.

Our four groups together are a coalition known as Power to the People, which meets once a month. Sometimes, our groups work together on additional issues that affect all of us, such as transportation or education.

What are the training dates? Aug. 26-Sept. 30 We will train for two hours on Mondays and Wednesdays (attendance required) We will meet on Friday the 2nd week of training ONLY due to the Labor Day holiday. On Monday Sept 30th, we will have a 90-minute graduation.

What will training cover? For the Monday and Wednesday meetings, we will cover material including disability identity building, team building, and basic community organizing skills. These meetings will rely heavily on role play and interactive group work. During the selection process interviews, we will want to learn what your access support needs will be, so we can tailor our sessions for the participants, balancing access needs as well as possible.

How many applicants will be accepted? This training is open to a maximum of 20 people. The reason it is limited to 15 is because we want to ensure we have the staff capacity to support our participants well. If there is great interest, we may hold another training in the future.

Is there a cost? This training will be free.

Is there an age limit? People with disabilities of any age can apply.

Should applicants live in Chicago? We do not have a location requirement, but applicants should be interested in participating in Access Living’s community organizing groups after graduation. Please reach out to us to discuss any questions you might have about this.
If you have additional questions about the training, please contact Michelle Garcia, Manager of Organizing and Community Development at (312) 640-2194 or mgarcia@accessliving.org. 

Building Our Power Together: Application

Applications should be sent in by August 19, at mgarcia@accessliving.org If you need to complete it by phone, please call Michelle Garcia at (312) 640-2194.

This form is closed for submissions.