The Wingspan Project

Dear Wingspan Friends,
We have some sad news about The Wingspan Project and our path forward.

In July, Jeff let our Board of Directors know that he would be stepping down as Executive Director on 12/31/23 as part of his plan to slowly inch his way into retirement over the next few years. At that time, they decided we would pursue funding to hire an Executive Director along with additional funding for several much needed new staff/roles. The other possibility they decided to pursue was joining with a larger not-for-profit organization and becoming a program of that organization.

Despite herculean efforts we were not successful with either of those options. There was one last organization that looked promising for partnership, but sadly we found out recently that they would not be able to take us on. Wingspan's Board of Directors made the very difficult decision to end our services on 12/31/23.

Coincidentally, we will also be marking our five year anniversary in December. While we won't be continuing in 2024, we are celebrating our successes these past years, which would not have been possible without support like yours. Thank you for all you have done on Wingspan's behalf and in furthering our mission of helping people who help people!

Our staff and our Board of Directors wish you all the best this holiday season and beyond!

With Gratitude,
The Wingspan Project

The Wingspan Project We help people who help people

There's still time to apply for the Valuing Difference Award! If you're a graduate student or community activist go to our website for details on how to apply.

Submissions will be collected through August 31st until 11:59pm CST

https://www.thewingspanproject.org/valuing-difference.html

We've extended the submission deadline for the Valuing Difference Award through August 31st.

Any graduate students or community activists should submit their resume/CV, letter of reference, and essay to Toni at [email protected]

Go to our website for the full details: https://www.thewingspanproject.org/valuing-difference.html

We would like to spotlight one of our board members, Bree Yoo-Sun McLuen, MSW. She offers an invaluable perspective to The Wingspan Project through her lived and professional experiences. We so enjoy having her as one of our board members. Thank you Bree!

To learn more about Bree and The Wingspan Project please visit our website

www.thewingspanproject.org

Happy Juneteenth! While this is a day of celebration, hope, and freedom we would also like to take the time to acknowledge that the remnants of chattel slavery are still alive and well in our society.

As mental health practitioners and social workers, at The Wingspan Project, we understand that because of the impacts it has on our clients and our work. Often times as social workers we are just helping our clients navigate unjust and inequitable systems which are a part of the issues that caused them to come into our care in the first place.

While we encourage everyone to take the time to feel joy and be hopeful today please also take the time to interrogate some of the ways that our society still uses systems to control and oppress people. Furthermore, the ways in which our collective history and generational trauma perpetuate a plantation ethos and ideology.

The ways that we organize our government, businesses, and even our families echo that of the plantation. Usually with a white cisgender man in power. Today should be a celebration of endurance, joy, hope, and a rebellious spirit but also a period of reflection.

Especially for us non-melinated folx, make sure you take some time to learn and reflect on what Juneteenth symbolizes. What did it mean to those who were last to know that slavery had been abolished for almost two years? That it had been concealed from them in an effort for their oppressors to maintain power and control over them? In what ways are you attempting to maintain power and control over others? Why?

Happy Juneteenth, Y'all
-Toni

Phase one of the Valuing Difference Award is live!

For the past 4 years we have teamed up with Live Oak to award graduate students and community activists a monetary award to support their endeavors in mental health education, support, and access.

Please join us by sharing this post and going to our website to learn more!

www.thewingspanproject.org

We're gearing up for our annual Valuing Difference Award!

For the past 4 years we have teamed up with Live Oak to award graduate students and community activists a monetary award to support their endeavors in mental health education, support, and access.

Please join us by sharing this post and going to our website to learn more!

www.thewingspanproject.org

Kahlil Gibran died on this day in 1931. April is Arab American Heritage Month, an initiative begun by the Arab America Foundation that was inspired by Gibran's organization Al Rabitah, or The Connection. Please take a moment to read this beautiful piece.

The Astronomer by Kahlil Gibran | Poetry Foundation In the shadow of the temple my friend and I saw a blind man

We are in search of interns for the upcoming year!

Our interns are typically students who also have full-time jobs and we are extremely flexible with hours and tasks. Historically, our interns have worked up to 8 hours/week on Wingspan related activities but we will consider interns who are interested in supporting our work with more or less hours/week. While there are some staple tasks and responsibilities, there are many opportunities to tailor your experience to match your individual interests and academic studies.

The Wingspan Project is still a newer organization so interns will have the opportunity to contribute to our growth and progress. If you or someone you know is seeking an internship please reach out. Or if you can connect us to an academic program or college/university, we would love to work with them.

Thank you for your consideration!

No matter who you are, Dr. King has had a profound impact on all our lives. In the past few years we have seen a resurgence in civil rights activism. Whether directly related to race, gender, sexual orientation, disability justice, or reproductive rights we ALL have a right to BE.

On this day of celebration, remembrance, and reflection let's embrace our differences and challenge ourselves to take an interest in the struggles of others; especially to those we've been resistant to in the past.

May we disrupt bigotry, exclusionary practices, and injustices in all areas of our being. And do it with love, love, love!

Add some civil rights related hashtags in the comments!
🌈

Happy New Year! 2023 is looking like a time of growth, expansion, and hopefully stability for The Wingspan Project. Thank you all who have supported us and continue to do so. We are looking forward to this upcoming year and happy to share it with all of you. Stay tuned!

Some closing thoughts on our program staff and how much we appreciate them. Thank you to all our staff for all that you do. The Wingspan Project wouldn't exist without you.

Please help us continue our work by donating or sharing this post. There have 10 days left in the year and we are $1,430 away from our goal ($20,000). We could really use your help to reach it. Thank you to all our supporters our there we hope you are having a happy and healthy holiday season.

The year is coming to a close and we would like to celebrate some of the work we've done this year. Thank you to our VALOR team for their hard work and dedication! Please see the slides below for more info.

Also, we are still fundraising for the upcoming 2023 year! We have collected $18,270 in donations which is $1,730 away from our initial goal! Please contribute if you are able and share share share! We want to keep doing this work which requires some much needed investment into our infrastructure. The Wingspan Project would like to be able reach smaller organizations who may not be able to afford our services, but are in need of them.

Thank you to all our supporters, our Board, our staff, and our community.

edit: second slide updated to reflect ~1000 coaching sessions were provided throughout the year 2022

Thank you to everyone who's supported us the past 4 years. We couldn't have made it this far without you!

2023 is shaping up to be a busy year and we need help establishing some much needed infrastructure.

We are still fundraising for the upcoming year and only about $2k away from our initial goal. We could really use your help to push us over the edge.

Please share with your networks and if you're able, consider donating to The Wingspan Project.

www.thewingspanproject.org/contribute

We are only $5,000 away from our initial fundraising goal! Please donate and share to help us reach our goal for the upcoming year.

www.thewingspanproject.org/contribute.html

If you'd like to support us in continuing our work you can donate at: https://www.thewingspanproject.org/contribute.html

If you'd like to support us in continuing our work you can donate at: https://www.thewingspanproject.org/contribute.html

Rudy Lozano was a labor activist and community organizer. He was born in Harlingen, Texas July 17, 1951, and moved to Chicago in the early 1950’s. He grew up in Pilsen and attended Harrison High School. Lozano organized a walkout to protest the rundown facilities and lack of Latinx representation.

After college he joined an activist group Centro de Acción Social Autónoma, Hermanedad General de Trabajadores (Center for Autonomous Social Action, General Brotherhood of Workers, or CASA). CASA worked to unionize noncitizen workers and help connect them to resources and assist in educating them about their rights. Lozano was the Midwest director of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union.

Rudy Lozano’s political career was focused in the 22nd Ward where he registered Latinx voters and tried to build unity between Latinx and Black communities. He campaigned for alderman in 1982 but lost in 1983. Although he lost his campaign, Lozano joined the campaign for Harold Washington who became Chicago’s first African American mayor.

Rudy Lozano was murdered on June 8, 1983, by Gregory Escobar in his home. He is remembered by his friends, family, and community. In Pilsen you can visit the Rudy Lozano branch of the Chicago Public Library.

Sources: chicagohistory.org, digitalchicagohistory.org, wikipedia.com

Happy Hispanic Heritage month!

Join us this month to celebrate some Hispanic activists over the next four Fridays.

In the mean time, who are some of your favorite influential people?

A reminder to keep going and deepen our empathy and compassion for each other. Especially when it's more difficult to see the humanity in the person sitting across from you.

This does not excuse harm that many perpetuate, but it is a call to action to remain steadfast and hold them in our hearts still.

Happy International Dog Day everyone! Drop some pictures of your fur babies in the comments!

comic credit: Red and Howling https://redandhowling.com/

Thank you UCAN for partnering with us and thank you Adrienne Johnson for sharing your experience.

To learn more about VALOR go to our website at www.thewingspanproject.org or if you are interested in partnering with us please reach out to Jeff Levy at [email protected]

We are looking to expand our board!

Dr. Nacole Milbrook joined The Wingspan Project as a board member in the beginning of 2022.

She brings a wealth of experience and unique perspective to the board with expertise in Clinical Psychology, Teen Parenting, Community Behavioral Health, Professional Development, Non-Profit Leadership, Leadership Development, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Clinical Training.

​Dr. Milbrook has more than 20 years of clinical experience with adults, families, and youth in various settings. Dr. Milbrook currently serves as Chief Program Officer at Youth Guidance, a youth serving organization that believes no matter what challenges a young person faces, they are more likely to succeed when they have many caring adults in their lives. Youth Guidance’s highly trained staff works directly with schools, parents and families to meet kids where they are—physically within schools, socially and emotionally—and help them break cycles of violence, overcome life and academic obstacles, make positive choices, and remain on the right path towards life success. In addition to that, provides consulting services and teaches adjunct at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in the Forensic Psychology program. She serves on the boards of Illinois Collaboration on Youth (ICOY) and The Boulevard of Chicago.

Thank you for being with us during this time of growth, exploration, and evolution of the board Dr. Milbrook. We look forward to our continued partnership.

Today is International Day of the World's Indigenous People. Please take some time to learn about who's land you are on and the continuing struggles and oppression that Indigenous people are experiencing today. Follow the links below to learn more.

https://landback.org/

https://native-land.ca/