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Thank you to all of our wonderful Sponsors from this year's Health & Wellness Fair, without whom we would not have been able to accomplish one of our main focuses this year of bringing education and access to the underserved and uninsured. We had attendees to our event from 60 local zip codes taking advantage of the complimentary health screenings and tests from our 90 healthcare vendors.
We'd like to offer a special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, RUSH Oak Park Hospital, who brought nearly 60 of their staff and students and their expertise to the community. They offered many screenings including A1C, DEXA, comprehensive cardiac, blood pressure, glucose and audiology, staying until long after the event was finished to make sure they were able to get to everyone.
And to our Diamond Sponsors:
The University of Illinois Cancer Center, who arrived in full force, not only with their amazing staff, which included some of top national cancer researchers and oncologists in the country, but also a HUGE blowup colon! They offered information and guidance with their Cancer Center Survivorship Program, as well as breast cancer and cancer genetic risk assessment.
B-Health arrived ready to offer physiotherapy assessments, massages, and more to attendees and vendors with their team of Doctors of Physical Therapy, Chiropractor, Massage Therapist and Nutritional Counselor.
A special thank you and acknowledgment from this year's Health and Wellness Fair Chair Sam Yousif to the local and state political leaders who made the effort to attend this year's event on a Sunday to personally engage our regional Healthcare providers and community in person to hear first hand their needs for resources and services.
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Plan Your Week!
What is coming up this week?
We know you are busy. To help make it easier and help you to join us at as many things as you would like, we have gathered our events for this week.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Thursday May 4, 10:00 - 10:30am - Ribbon Cutting at Ice Ice Baby
Come celebrate with us! This time we'll be at Ice Ice Baby in River Forest celebrating this new business, taking pictures of the ribbon cutting, and enjoying a great networking opportunity. They are a newly-opened cafe for everyone of any age to come and chill, relax, and taste ice cream, sweets, bakery treats, smoothies, shakes, coffee & hot chocolate. Come meet the Ice Ice Baby team and discover all the tastiness this shop offers!
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Thursday May 4, 1:00 - 2:00pm - Nonprofit Affinity Group: Engaging the Board in Setting Priorities
Come join the Chamber's nonprofit affinity group for our monthly gathering at the Animal Care League. This month is all about board engagement! Our featured resource person for this meeting will be Shailushi Ritchie, founder and CEO of Sevah Consulting. Sevah Consulting is dedicated to serving nonprofits in transition and helping them thrive during periods of major change. Please come be part of the dialogue!
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Friday May 5, 12:00 - 12:30pm - Takeout Stakeout at Chicago Waffles
Come join your fellow Chamber members for our next Takeout Stakeout, this time at Chicago Waffles - Oak Park! In this event, we convene at a designated restaurant to pick up our takeout lunch choices, and get to meet new folks and see our peers from other businesses and organizations. Join us for a brief and chill networking opportunity and a delicious lunch!
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Plan Your Month!
Like to plan ahead?
Here are some events we have coming up over the next month so you can register now and receive a reminder right before the event.
Join us for these wonderful networking opportunities and
continue to grow your business!
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Tuesday May 9, 5:00 - 7:00pm - Business After Hours at The Sheridan
Our May Business After Hours (BAH) will be hosted by The Sheridan at River Forest, the beautiful senior living community. The Sheridan offers assisted living and memory care options in an award-winning new building. Come enjoy a lovely evening of networking, food, raffles, and more in the fresh air under the overhang on the west side of the building!
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Thursday May 11, 5:30 - 7:00pm - Design, Construction, Real Estate Group invites the Health & Wellness Group
Join us this month at one of our newer Chamber member locations, Yonan Carpet One Floor & Home. Our topic for the evening is safe housing for seniors - an aspect of universal design. We'll have presenters and discussion about how to design and build for the needs and abilities of older adults, while enjoying refreshments courtesy of our hosts, and making connections within and across industries.
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Friday May 12, 1:00 - 2:00pm - Women in Business Care for Down There Drive to benefit Beyond Hunger
Join us for our May gathering where we will be meeting at Beyond Hunger in Oak Park. Bring a donation of menstrual products, diapers, adult incontinence pads, wipes, or toilet paper. Grab a coffee and something yummy to eat - courtesy of Beyond Hunger.
Can't make it to this event, check out the website for all of the drop-off locations around Oak Park & River Forest!
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Tuesday May 16, 11:30am - 1:00pm - Pride Marketing 101 Lunch & Learn
Join us at Salerno's to learn all the basics on how your business can support the LGBTQ community during June, Pride Month. During this event, we will tap into the expertise of the folks from D.M.Burton and leverage all their tips & tricks to make your business loud and proud! These will be tangible how-to's and information that you can use to guide your June marketing.
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Wednesday May 17, 1:00 - 5:00pm - Stop & Shop at Purple Sun Arts
Join us for this month's Stop & Shop event at Purple Sun Arts. Purple Sun Arts LLC is an immersive arts experience located in the Heart of the Oak Park Arts District designed for those who seek purpose and meaning. Their space offers purchasable art, wall decorations, jewelry, collectable glassware and crystals.
Come check out their space and get 15% off your purchase the entire day, just mention that you are a Chamber Member!
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Wednesday May 17, 5:30 - 7:00pm - Health & Wellness Affinity Group Meetup
Join us at One Lake Brewing to get to know other local Health & Wellness businesses and grow your network of trusted referrals.
We will also be celebrating all the hard work of the Health & Wellness Fair Planning Committee! Come and raise a glass to thank them for all of their hard work.
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Thursday May 18, 8:00 - 9:30am - New Member Breakfast at Brookdale Oak Park
Join us at Brookdale Oak Park for our quarterly New Member Breakfast to introduce yourself and tell us about your business. This is an ideal opportunity to meet fellow new members, Chamber staff and Board leadership. You will also learn about your benefits, hear how you can get involved and get answers to your questions.
This event is typically sold out. Make sure to register now and save your space!
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Friday May 19, 11:30am - 1:00pm - Sit Down Lunch and Wine Tasting at Spilt Milk
Join us for this month's sit-down luncheon (with wine tasting!) and networking at Spilt Milk! Spilt Milk has long been known for their delicious bakery creations, and now offers a savory menu as well! And after long being carryout only, Meg and Molly have now reopened their cafe for sit-down dining - and we'll get to enjoy a buffet-style lunch under their backyard tent!
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Monday May 22, 5:30 - 7:00pm - BIPOC Affinity Group Asian American History Month at Civinte Candle Bar
Join us this month at Civinte Candle Bar where we will be celebrating Asian American History Month with Susie Goldschmidt of Byline Bank. Susie and her mother have an amazing story of resiliency, come hear it for yourself!
We look forward to you joining us as we stay connected with Latinx, Asian-American, Black and Indigenous peers from the OPRF business and nonprofit community!
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2023 Economic Luncheon
Rise of the Robots
The Launch of ChatGPT brought Artificial Intelligence technology to the masses however, the AI race has been happening for many years. Join the Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce as they explore how Artificial Intelligence is changing the business landscape for organizations of all sizes.
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Visit the website to Sponsor, attend, or simply learn more! Less than 50 tickets left. Make sure to reserve your spot today! | |
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Advocacy Committee Update
What is the Chamber doing for you?
Every month, the Executive Director, Liz Holt, along with the Advocacy Committee, Sam Yousif, Rob Guenthner, Carly Grant and other members of the Chamber Board of Directors are working tirelessly to make sure that your voice is heard. Check out some of their accomplishments below!
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Feature your products in the NEW RUSH Oak Park Gift Shop
Calling all local retailers! RUSH Oak Park is interested in featuring local businesses in their newly renovated gift shop! Fill out their Expression of Interest (EOI) form and tell them why you should be chosen. Priority will be given to businesses who are members in good standing of their local Chamber of Commerce.
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Cashless Business Survey
The Village of Oak Park seeks feedback from the business community to better understand the conditions around operating in a cashless environment. Many communities have already begun conversation around this topic as it raises interest on the impacts cashless has within the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion. Therefore this survey is one of many engagement opportunities to gather community voice.
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The State of Illinois, working in partnership with the NCRC Community Development Fund (NCRC CDF), will open applications for the B2B Restaurants, B2B Hotels, and B2B Creative Arts grant programs.
Eligible existing small businesses who experienced business interruption or adverse conditions due to COVID-19 may apply. Award amounts will vary and are subject to review and adjustment pending application volume, reported losses, and take into account previous grant awards received.
Deadline: May 10
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Are you a business, nonprofit organization, or sole proprietor in the creative sector that suffered losses because of the COVID-19 pandemic? Thanks to advocacy efforts by @Arts Alliance Illinois, the @Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will distribute $50 million in grant money to those eligible.
Applications for Illinois Creative Recovery (B2B Arts) Grants must be submitted to the DCEO for consideration by May 10 at www.Illinois.gov/B2B. Additional resources from @Arts Alliance Illinois, including access to a help desk and webinars, are available at artsalliance.org/creativerecovery/.
Deadline: May 10
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This eBlast was sent out by the OPRF Chamber of Commerce on behalf of a member in good standing as a member benefit. For information about the event described please contact the host. For information about joining the Chamber, click our website below.
STAY CONNECTED TO THE OPRF CHAMBER
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