Trellus

Today is World Refugee Day. Across the globe, millions of resilient individuals are redefining their futures after being forced to leave everything behind.

At Trellus, we recognize that welcoming refugees isn't just a humanitarian duty—it’s an investment in a richer, more vibrant community. Their strength inspires our mission every day.

Join us in honoring their journeys and advocating for worlds that offer safety, dignity, and opportunity for all. 🌍✨🔗 https://mytrellus.org/the-resilience-fund

Last week, Trellus Adult Education team member Victoria Butler presented to educators across Illinois through the Illinois Adult Education Professional Development Network.

Her session explored how an instructor's voice can support accessibility and student engagement through volume, pitch, and pace. Participants reflected on their own speaking styles and discussed how vocal delivery can affect learning and comprehension.

"Our voice is the main tool teachers use to communicate information, so it's worth making it as effective as possible to support student comprehension," Victoria shared.

Victoria teaches online English classes for immigrants and refugees and coordinates Trellus's Paraprofessional ICAPS program. She recently completed a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Master Cohort, further strengthening her work in creating accessible learning environments.

We're proud to see Victoria sharing her knowledge with educators across the state and helping improve learning experiences for adult students.

Earlier last month, Trellus Co-CEOs Eric Lindstrom and Rebecca Creighton traveled to Springfield to advocate for the immigrant and refugee communities Trellus serves every day. Through conversations with State Representatives and legislators, they shared the realities nonprofits and community organizations are facing as they continue to do more with less while meeting growing community needs.

Advocating for Trellus means advocating for the families, children, and individuals who rely on access to education, support services, and opportunity. Being present in Springfield matters — not only to ensure lawmakers understand the challenges facing community-based organizations, but also to elevate the voices and experiences of immigrant and refugee communities during a time of heightened uncertainty and increasing barriers.

The day was filled with meaningful conversations, policy discussions, and relationship-building — along with an unexpected stop at the Women’s Legislative Talent Show, proving there’s always room for a little joy in advocacy work. By the end of the day, Eric and Rebecca had logged 17,600 steps — roughly 8 miles— on behalf of Trellus clients, staff, and communities.

We are proud to share that Trellus is entering our 6th of partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH)! As a funded partner of the newly launched Healthy Chicago Mental Health Collective (HC-MHC), we have been awarded crucial funding to expand vital behavioral health services across Chicago.

With this support, Trellus is bringing expanded, strategic mental health services and school-based support directly to the Albany Park, Rogers Park, and West Ridge neighborhoods.

Why This Matters

The HC-MHC is a citywide network of CDPH Mental Health Centers and community providers working together to strengthen Chicago's mental health safety net. This funding enables us to deeply serve more individuals and families in need, ensuring our communities get the care they deserve.

"It's okay to need a little support. It's okay to say 'I'm not okay.' It's okay to ask for help.

Together with CDPH, we deliver care that honors culture, language, and lived experience—offering compassionate, quality care regardless of immigration status, insurance coverage, or ability to pay.

Chicago Department of Public Health

We’re excited to share that throughout the month of May, local Rogers Park coffee shop Cozy Cafe , featured artwork created by participants from Museum of Us! ☕🎨

This partnership is a wonderful example of community collaboration in action — creating opportunities for our students and artists to share their creativity with a wider audience while building meaningful local connections. We’re so grateful to community partners like Cozy Cafe for supporting and uplifting emerging voices through art.

If you’re in the area, stop by to support local art, local business, and the incredible talent within our community!

Tuesday–Saturday: 9 AM – 4 PM
Sunday: 9 AM – 3 PM
Closed Mondays

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