Trellus

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, it is important to remember that for many, the challenges of anxiety and instability do not end on May 30.

At Trellus, we view mental health as a year-round commitment. Awareness is the first step, but action is what creates lasting change. We spend every day of the year addressing the root causes of distress—providing job training, English language classes, and housing navigation to ensure our neighbors have the stability they need to thrive.

To sustain this work beyond the month of May, consider setting up a monthly donation. Recurring support ensures that these vital resources remain available to our community throughout the entire year. https://mytrellus.org/donate/

Trellus’ Workforce Development department hosted their first training workshop named Introducing Yourself 101 and it was a huge success!

A big thank you to Megan Cornwall from the Workforce team for putting together such an engaging, informative, and interactive presentation with activities that made everyone feel included and comfortable participating.

Thank you as well to everyone who helped spread the word and support this new team-led initiative. We’re excited to continue building these workshops and expanding future training opportunities based on the wonderful ideas and feedback shared so far.

On May 12, Shannon Distel, Trellus Adult Education’s Computer Skills Instructor, presented on Digital Inclusion at TCS Digital Empowers: Collaborating for Connected Futures, hosted at the University of Chicago.

The conference brought together community, industry, nonprofit, and civic leaders to share real-world strategies for advancing digital inclusion, expanding opportunity, and strengthening workforce readiness for the future.

During her presentation, Shannon spoke about the importance of culturally relevant digital literacy instruction and creating equitable pathways for participation in an increasingly digital world.

Trellus is proud to have Shannon sharing her expertise and helping adult learners build the skills and confidence needed to succeed in today’s digital landscape.

New federal changes are coming to Medicaid in 2027. To make sure you stay covered, the State of Illinois needs to be able to reach you with important updates.

The most important thing you can do right now is update your address.

✅ How to update:

• Visit abe.illinois.gov and click "Manage My Case."
• Call 877-805-5312 (Option 2).
• Keep an eye out for official mail from the State of Illinois and open it immediately.

To learn more: https://hfs.illinois.gov/addressupdatemessagingtoolkit.html

Last week, Trellus hosted a Lunch & Learn focused on Nurturing Work-Life Harmony, led by Cat Savino, Director of the Behavioral Health Department.

The session brought staff together for meaningful conversations around wellness, balance, and mental health for Mental Health Awareness month. The event also provided an opportunity to connect with colleagues and engage with Trellus’ Wellness Initiative.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in person and virtually, participated in the discussion, and contributed to making the event a success. We are grateful for the continued commitment to fostering wellness and community across Trellus!

Trellus was honored to join our partners for the International Women’s Day celebration on Thursday, April 16.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to connect with and support a diverse community of women, and to celebrate their strength, resilience, and contributions. It was a meaningful evening filled with connection, empowerment, and community.

We were also proud to be alongside an incredible network of organizations that tabled and shared valuable resources, including Chinese Mutual Aid Association (CMAA) , Amal International, Endeavor Health, ApnaGhar, Heartland Alliance , Coalition for Immigrant Mental Health (CIMH), Hamdard Health Alliance, ERIE Health, Tapestry 360 Health, MIRA: Middle Eastern Immigrant and Refugee Alliance (Chicago), Rohingya Culture Center, The Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago, World Relief, along with cosmetology service providers and inspiring women-owned businesses.

This event was hosted by the Chicago Resource Network (CRN), and we’re proud that Trellus is part of this collective effort to expand access, awareness, and support across our communities.
Thank you to our partners for including us in such a special event!

As part of Trellus’ wellness initiative, we celebrated Active Lifestyle Month this April. To encourage movement and prioritize wellness, weekly Wellness Walks were arranged to Mather Park and West Ridge park.

Staff enjoyed the beautiful weather, wildlife, chatting with co-workers, and doing other outdoor activities.

Thank you to everyone who took part and helped make this initiative a success—here’s to continuing these healthy habits beyond April!