Perspectives & Press

On Tuesday, July 22, CEL CEO Herb Washington and member Jay M. kicked off the morning with an appearance on Good Day Chicago! They joined anchor Natalie Bomke to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and share how CEL helps people with developmental disabilities lead more independent, empowered lives. As […]

The move strengthens both organizations’ efforts to build a more inclusive society, starting in classrooms and lasting a lifetime. We are proud to announce that The Nora Project, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching empathy and inclusion through education, will be integrated into CEL on July 1. This thoughtful and mission-aligned integration reflects a shared commitment […]

🎵 “Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name.” 🎵 At CEL, the feeling of being welcomed and truly known is part of everyday life, just like in the classic TV show Cheers. But unlike Cheers, that sense of belonging doesn’t usually happen at a local bar for our members. Until now. For the […]

Remarkable $200,000 Grant Helps Remove Barriers for CEL Members with Developmental Disabilities CEL (Center for Enriched Living) is thrilled to share the incredible news that we’ve been awarded a generous $200,000 grant from The Smith Tieken Foundation. This support comes at a crucial time and will significantly enhance our ability to continue empowering our members […]

CEL Donates to Vernon Township Food Pantry We’re so grateful to be part of a community that always shows up for one another, especially when we can support other important organizations. Over the last month, you all rallied together to collect essential items like canned veggies, diapers, pasta, and more for our friends at the Vernon […]

On Tuesday, April 15, our CEO Herb Washington and CEL Member Jay S. made an appearance on the “Midday Fix” segment of WGN News to talk about our Chefs’ Night fundraiser and Car Raffle coming up on May 5! “I love CEL and I love Chefs’ Night,” Jay said. “I had so much fun being […]

Perspective from Herb Washington, CEO of CEL Every March, Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM) is a time to reflect on inclusion, celebrate progress, and challenge society to do better. But what does “awareness” really mean? Are we simply acknowledging the existence of people with developmental disabilities, or are we working toward a world where inclusion […]

When Taylor Harris first walked into CEL, it was for a backup internship opportunity after her plan to intern in a school fell through. Her goal was to complete the requirement on her way to becoming a family and relationship therapist. What she didn’t anticipate was how her time with CEL members would change the […]

We’re proud to share that CEL has been selected as one of the 2024 grant award recipients by the Hellenic Foundation! CEL Board Secretary Mary Greanias is actively involved with the Hellenic Foundation, and saw an opportunity where the two organizations intersect. CEL programs are accessible to people from all backgrounds, and this grant allows […]