October 2024

Cooking Up Connections: Healthy Supper Club and a Community Partnership

Healthy Supper Club participants gather around the table to build friendships, explore new recipes, and enjoy good food together.

What are the key ingredients to building a strong community relationship? 

At TotalLink to Community, they include collaboration, shared values, and a dash of creativity. These ingredients came together beautifully in our partnership with St. Norbert and Our Lady of the Brook Parish, where we’ve been cooking up something special with the Healthy Supper Club -a program that’s about much more than just meals. This collaboration is the perfect recipe for fostering connection and community spirit.

The Healthy Supper Club collaboration began thanks to an introduction from Ann Furby, TotalLink’s Development Coordinator and a longtime St. Norbert parishioner. Recognizing the potential for a meaningful collaboration, Ann reached out to her parish. From that, she made an introduction, and a partnership was born.

While Healthy Supper Club offers participants the opportunity to enhance their culinary skills, the program is about much more than cooking. It’s a place where the participants can explore their creativity, gain independence, and learn about nutrition—all while enjoying the camaraderie that comes with preparing and sharing a meal.

Chef of the Day in action! At Healthy Supper Club,

participants take turns leading and sharing favorite recipes with friends.

Teamwork in the kitchen! Healthy Supper Club participants collaborate to prepare a delicious meal together.

Inclusion in the Workplace: It's Good Business!

Our moderator and panelists (left to right): Moderator, Courtney Olson, Senior Vice President, First Bank Chicago; Jimmy Barbaglia, Production Manager, Snap Diagnostics; Kate Hall, Executive Director, Northbrook Public Library; David Sweeney, Mate, Trader Joe's; Emily Lusardi, JLC Director, BJBE; and James Pincenti, Director of Operations, Zebra Technologies

Sam proudly showcases his unique golf ball artwork at his pop-up shop during the Inclusion in the Workplace breakfast.

Brian proudly shares his latest products with customers, showcasing the unique items he's crafted for HardbackYoYo.

Celebrating the conclusion of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, TotalLink recently hosted a networking breakfast, "Inclusion in the Workplace: It's Good Business." The morning opened with networking opportunities for attendees to connect and exchange ideas on the benefits and practices of inclusive hiring. A highlight of the event was a discussion moderated by Courtney Olson from First Bank Chicago. She led a panel of five TotalLink Employment Partners from diverse industries. The panelists shared their experiences and strategies for fostering a supportive workplace for individuals of all abilities. The panel provided real-world examples of inclusive business practices, diversity, and inclusion.

The event also showcased pop-up shops from HardbackYoYo, I Just Am, and Sam's Golf Ball Source. Each brought their creative energy and products, demonstrating how entrepreneurial success and community impact can go hand in hand. In addition, beverages were provided by YIKES!, a beverage distribution company owned and operated by Matthew, a TotalLink micro-enterprise success story.

Sponsored by a grant from the Rotary Club of Northbrook, the event reinforced the impact of inclusive hiring practices and the benefits of inclusion in the workplace and the community as a whole.

Special thank you to our sponsors:

Our Revelry Casino Night was a fantastic success! With over 200 guests joining us for an exciting evening, we raised over $285,000 to support TotalLink's programs. Thank you to everyone who attended, donated, and volunteered—you are helping to create a more inclusive community.

Thank you to our sponsors for your support!

Thank You to the Zebra Technologies Ragnar Relay Team for Running in Support of TotalLink!

A team of Zebra Technology co-workers joined forces to raise money for TotalLink as they ran the Ragnar 124-Mile Trail Relay Race at the trails of Nine Mile Forest in Wausau, Wisconsin. The team ran through the night for 27 hours straight, with each team member running 15.5 miles. So far, they have raised over $2,600 for TotalLink.

Artist of the Month

Village of Northbrook Subsidized Taxicab Program

The Village of Northbrook's Subsidized Taxicab Program offers residents of incorporated Northbrook who are 55 years or older or disabled an affordable transportation option. The program utilizes an electronic swipe card (ESC) to offset the metered fare. At the beginning of each month, 16 ride subsidies are automatically loaded to the participant's ESC. Each subsidy has a value of $5. Learn more at northbrook.il.us/taxi.

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