Aspire Chicago

As #NationalDisabilityEmploymentAwarenessMonth comes to a close, we would like to share Zach’s story. It reminds us of the progress made and the challenges that still exist for people with disabilities trying to gain employment. Since graduating college in 2021, Zach has been determined to find a job but has faced many barriers along the way. With Aspire’s community employment team by his side, he’s been applying for jobs that interest him and has remained hopeful that an employer will value his talents over his disability. While Aspire is proud to help people with disabilities like Zach achieve meaningful employment, we know there is more work ahead and his journey highlights this. Thank you for joining us this month in advocating for an inclusive future for everyone. Serena Alaily, MBA #PoweredByPossible #NDEAM #NationalDisabilityEmploymentAwarenessMonth #InclusiveHiring

Jackie has loved movies since she was a little girl, and through Aspire's Career Training program, she turned that passion into a career. For the past year and a half, she’s been thriving in her role at Classic Cinemas, especially enjoying her time at the box office, where she loves chatting with customers and ensuring they have a great experience! Jackie plans to stay as long as possible and dreams of becoming a supervisor one day. 🎬🍿   We’re incredibly proud of Jackie and can’t wait to see her continue to achieve her goals! 🌟 Serena Alaily, MBA   #PoweredByPossible #NationalDisabilityEmploymentAwarenessMonth #NDEAM #InclusiveHiring #DisabilityInclusion

This October, Salesforce locations across the country are brewing Aspire CoffeeWorks in honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month! ☕😄 Thank you Salesforce for celebrating inclusion and supporting our mission of empowering adults with disabilities through meaningful employment. Together, we’re brewing change, one cup at a time! 💙 #PoweredByPossible #NDEAM #NationalDisabilityEmploymentAwarenessMonth #Inclusion Serena Alaily, MBA

Meet Chris! 😊 Chris’ laugh can light up the room, and he loves to make others smile. He spends his days at our Academy in Waukegan and returns home to his best friends and housemates in the evenings. Through Aspire’s Life Enrichment programs, Chris has found a new passion for giving back to his community. He looks forward to volunteering at Meals on Wheels America and Bernie's Book Bank. When Chris isn’t spending time with his housemates, you can find him at a fish fry or dancing at a summer concert with his Dad. 🕺🐟 #WeAreAspire #PoweredByPossible Serena Alaily, MBA

Inclusive hiring practices aren’t just good for company culture, they’re good for business too! 💼 During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we celebrate the many partners in our Community Employment program who champion inclusion in the workplace. Together, we’re breaking down barriers and creating long-term employment success for people with disabilities. 💙 Every successful placement challenges stigmas and helps to build a more inclusive, thriving society. Let’s keep up the amazing work! #PoweredByPossible #InclusionMatters #NDEAM #InclusiveHiring Source: Accenture Serena Alaily, MBA

Yesterday, Aspire was honored to host Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia for a tour and discussion at one of our Community Homes in La Grange. ✨ This visit provided an incredible opportunity for Aspire and the people we support to engage with Congressman Garcia, who is an active supporter and advocate of our vision to build an inclusive future for all. Aspire’s initiatives continue to gain recognition across the disability community, architecture circles, and broader social sectors. Together with our local leaders, we’re driving progress toward a brighter, more inclusive future for everyone. 💙 #PoweredbyPossible Serena Alaily, MBA

Meet Scott! 😄 While attending Aspire’s Life Enrichment in-person academies, Scott can practice managing responsibilities. He is the first person to offer a helping hand by watering plants, sweeping the classroom, and helping distribute the daily PACE tickets – he finds true joy in making everyone’s day a little easier. Before landing his dream job, Scott faced numerous setbacks and struggled to build the skills and confidence to find a job. He is working hard with Aspire's employment team to continue learning the skills required for him to work at Mod Pizza. He has already mastered several responsibilities and is gaining new skills every day! 🍕 #WeAreAspire #PoweredbyPossible #NationalDisabilityEmploymentAwarenessMonth #NDEAM Serena Alaily, MBA

At Aspire, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to contribute their talents, skills, and passion to the workforce. 💼 By breaking down barriers and advocating for disability inclusion, we’re building a future where everyone has access to meaningful employment. Stay tuned throughout the month as we continue to raise awareness and highlight different stories throughout our community! #PoweredbyPossible #NationalDisabilityEmploymentAwarenessMonth #NDEAM #EmploymentForAll #InclusiveHiring Serena Alaily, MBA

On Friday, Aspire was honored to host Senate President Don Harmon for a tour and discussion at our Weinberg Career and Life Enrichment Academy in Hillside. 🌟 The visit provided an invaluable opportunity to engage with Senator Harmon who actively supports and advocates for our vision to build an inclusive future for all. Aspire’s initiatives continue to gain recognition across the disability community, architecture circles, and broader social sectors. By sharing insights and experiences, Aspire aims to inspire similar projects nationwide, driving a collective effort towards a more inclusive society. 💙 Together with our local leaders, we’re driving progress toward a brighter, more inclusive future for everyone. #PoweredbyPossible Serena Alaily, MBA

What an unforgettable summer we’ve had at Aspire! ☀️ From exciting trips to the Lincoln Park Zoo and the beautiful WNDR Museum, to amazing volunteer events that brought us all together, it’s been nonstop fun. We’ve danced our hearts out at competitions, planted beautiful gardens, and made so many new friends along the way! 🌿💃 None of this would have been possible without the energy, joy, and support of our incredible community. Here’s to all the memories we made and even more adventures to come! 🎉 #PoweredbyPossible #SummerFun #AspireAdventures Serena Alaily, MBA