CDEL's October Newsletter |
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CDEL Celebrates Pro Bono Month! |
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CDEL was busy in the community engaging in the spirit of pro bono for Pro Bono Month in October! In 2025 alone, volunteer attorneys from over 15 firms have volunteered their time and expertise at workshops and community clinics all across Cook County. We would not be able to do the work we do without their support. Please join us in celebrating our pro bono partners and the spirit of pro bono! Read on to see a few highlights of CDEL's Pro Bono Month events! |
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Just before Pro Bono Month kicked off, CDEL held a POA Workshop at Oak Park Township with volunteer attorneys from McDonald's. While working with a volunteer, CDEL client Ruth had this to say: "The attorney I worked with was excellent, absolutely over the top- especially when I found out that she had volunteered her services even though she is a very busy mother of five children”. Ruth left with her documents completed! |
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CDEL kicked off Pro Bono Week last week with a guardianship workshop with Venable LLP. Ten volunteers joined CDEL at Southside Occupational Academy to assist fifteen families with their guardianship cases.
We invite you to learn more about CDEL and our guardianship program at CDEL’s website: https://www.cdelaw.org/cdel-guardianship |
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Last Thursday during Pro Bono Week, CDEL tabled at the Chicago Bar Foundation and Chicago Bar Association's annual Pro Bono & Community Service Fair at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. This event is a great way for CDEL and other organizations like ours to connect with law students and volunteers about pro bono opportunities. |
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CDEL staff attorneys Andrew Potter and Sarah Peng were also out in the community at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law's Career Night where they spoke to law students who were interested in pro bono opportunities and disability advocacy.
CDEL is always proud to celebrate pro bono and pro bono month. If you or your firm is interested in getting involved in CDEL and our mission, we encourage you to volunteer! |
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CDEL Comments on Ongoing SNAP Benefits Situation |
CDEL is aware that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that, unless the government shut down ended by November 1, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be issued in November. This is a developing situation that may change at any moment. Although Illinois is one of many states suing the administration to keep SNAP benefits flowing, it's unclear whether even a temporary restraining order will prevent an interruption in benefits at this point. Governor Pritzker has signed an executive order to send $20 million to food banks, but this is a very small amount compared to the $350 million Illinois Department of Human Services administers each month in SNAP.
These changes to SNAP benefits will impact thousands of households in Chicago and across the state including many of the clients and communities CDEL serves. For additional resources, please go to CDEL's website: https://www.cdelaw.org/snap-benefits-comments |
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CDEL Walks to End Alzheimer's! |
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Earlier in October, CDEL had a team of 17 for the Walk to End Alzheimer's at Lincoln Park! This walk benefits the amazing work of the Alzheimer's Association, a great CDEL partner. They work to support individuals and their loved ones through the journey of Alzheimer's as well as their advocacy and research working towards an end to the disease. It was a fun morning with members of CDEL staff, family members, and friends! |
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Please Welcome Two New Staff Members to CDEL! |
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Please welcome Julie Brennan (she/her) to CDEL! Julie joins us as CDEL’s Legal Director. She brings over twenty years of experience to this role.
“I am honored to join CDEL at such a pivotal moment in its history including as it implements its new strategic plan. CDEL’s commitment to serving seniors and people with disabilities resonates deeply with my own values. I look forward to working with our talented team, board, and partners to build upon CDEL’s strong foundation and to ensure that every client we serve has access to the legal support they need to thrive.” |
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Please welcome David Mondragon (he/him) to CDEL! David joins us as CDEL's Bilingual Paralegal where he helps to support Spanish and English speaking clients as well as CDEL’s Guardianship program. David recently graduated from Villanova University in May 2025. "If you can fix a problem, then fix it. If you can't, then face it." - a call to action and resilience for those confronting systemic harm." |
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CDEL Presents to Land of Lincoln Legal Aid About the Power of Planning Program |
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CDEL is thrilled to be working with our partners at Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, a legal service organization serving 65 counties in central and southern Illinois. CDEL was in East St. Louis to train Land of Lincoln Legal Aid's staff on sharing CDEL’s new Power of Planning program. Land of Lincoln staff will be sharing this vital advance planning program with communities throughout the southern and central part of the state. |
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The online version of CDEL’s Power of Planning is launching soon on Illinois Legal Aid Online, engaging individuals in the importance of advance legal planning and making their own Powers of Attorney. Power of Planning is made possible by funding from the Illinois Department of Public Health. |
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Run With CDEL in the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon! |
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CDEL is proud to be a charity partner in the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon for the fifth year in a row! Applications to run with CDEL in 2026 are now available. To run with CDEL, all participants are required to raise a minimum of $2,200.00 by 10/31/2026. For more details and information about applications, please reach out with an email inquiry to CDEL Development Associate, Alyssa York, ayork@cdelaw.org
We can't wait to have you on the CDEL Team! |
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Thank you to all of our pro bono and community partners who have volunteered with us! Because of you, we are able to reach and serve more of our clients in the communities they live.
Thank you to our Pro Bono Partners who have volunteered with us in October: Accenture
Honeywell
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Pro Bono Network
State Farm
Venable LLP |
Thank you to our community partners listed below, for allowing us to continue to conveniently and accessibly serve our clients in the communities in which they live. |
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Bloom Township Senior Services
BUILD, Inc.
Center on Addison
Chicago Methodist Senior Services Cook County Clerk's Office
Dolton Park District
EZRA Multi-Service Center
Greater Auburn Development Corporation
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Richard J. Daley Center
Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center
St. Edmund's Tower
Solutions for Care
Southside Occupational Academy
University of Chicago Law School
Urbanite Apartments |
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Copyright © 2025 Center for Disability & Elder Law, All rights reserved. |
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