The Chicago Bridge’s August event, “The Transgender Senior: Views on Aging and the Elder Care System” was hosted by the National Association of Social Workers Illinois Chapter. The speaker, Pamela McCann, presented research that touched on three core issues for transgendered seniors. She engaged the audience in discussion and provided many useful resources for further reading.

Chicago Bridge members enjoyed food, sun and good company at first annual Chicago Bridge Support and Social Team BBQ! The Chicago Bridge held their first BBQ on Saturday August 7th. On this beautifully sunny day, the Bridge welcomed some new members and all enjoyed delicious food. The event was truly enjoyable and we hope to make this an annual event.

Unfortunately, the Blogging 101 Event has been canceled.
For more information on blogging, or to reach the blog team, email: blogteam@thechicagobridge.org.
What: Brainstorming Session with Q & A + Dinner with the Blog Team
Where: Adler School of Professional Psychology
65 E. Wacker, 17th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601

CTA Access: Closest “eL” stops:  State and Lake, or Randolph and [...]

Fun in the Sun
On August 7 (rain date August 14) join us for Sun, Fun, and Food at 1:30 at the lovely Montrose Beach (4400 N. Lakeshore Drive). This is a great event to bring friends, loved ones, and children to relax and socialize with other Bridge members.
We also need your help to make the [...]

The Chicago Bridge hosted its first Older Adult Panel Discussion. The discussion surrounded the theme, “Empowered Aging, Stories of Strength”. The panelists showed the group what aging gracefully means. Each panelist acknowledged that they are accepting of aging and that they have learned to go with the flow of life, not to fight it. There was laughter and jokes told, and tears over loved ones lost.

The Chicago Bridge May monthly event took place at the Hallmark Retirement Community. Cheryl Kuba, of LivHome, presented on ageism found in language. The event drew a small crowd which was optimal for the discussion and activities Cheryl planned. Attendees left with a new-found respect for the power of language.

“It’s all about who you know”
Networking with others in the field is a great way to find your way among seasoned professionals. I’m sure you have heard the saying, “It’s all about who you know”. I wrote about this in an earlier Chicago Bridge blog post, From Student to Professional a Reflection by a New [...]

The Chicago Bridge Social and Support Group hosts spring-time Happy Hour. The Social and Support Group aims to offer socializing opportunities, without the typical Chicago Bridge focus on networking. A BBQ/picnic is in planning stages for Chicago Bridge members sometime this summer.

The Chicago Bridge recently launched a mentorship program. The Mentorship Program is a six-month pilot that includes 15 mentor-mentee pairs. The mentees are aging professionals with five to seven years experience in the field and are matched with more experienced professional mentors. The pilot Mentorship Program aims to assist emerging professionals break into Chicago’s tight-knit field of aging.

Family mediation involving older adults is not uncommon. Long-standing family conflicts are often provoked by the plethora of sensitive issues that surround aging parents. At Chicago Bridge’s March event Dr. Marcia Spira, Associate Professor at Loyola and Director of Loyola University Chicago’s Institute for Intergenerational Study and Practice, presented on family mediation for aging families by using case studies and role plays with the attendees to help illustrate the mediation methods she described.