Metropolitan Center for Independent Living Receives Grant
from the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundations for New Facilities Study
Funds will support study of facilities solutions to facilitate MCIL growth plans
SAINT PAUL, Minn. (Aug. 5, 2019) — Established in 1981, the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) sets the highest standard of service for people with disabilities in the metro area. One of 405 Centers for Independent Living nationwide and one of eight such centers in Minnesota, MCIL has more than 70 staff members and 200 Personal Care Assistants (PCAs). The organization is committed to supporting members of the disability community in fulfilling their desire to lead productive, self-determined lives. By “Removing barriers, promoting choices.” And it has outgrown its 10,000-square-foot St. Paul facility. A recent $25,000 grant from the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundations will help remedy the challenging situation and position MCIL to better serve the community well into the future.
“As a multifaceted nonprofit organization, we are dedicated to assisting people with disabilities through an extensive array of programs and services,” said MCIL Executive Director Jesse Bethke Gomez, MMA. “MCIL, as a Center for Independent Living, serves the entire seven county Metropolitan area. To continue to assist our clients, consumers and participants as a growing agency, we are greatly concerned that the agency develop a thoughtful facilities plan and a capital campaign plan to secure a right-sized facility that will fully serve the needs our clients, staff and community for years to come.” Bethke Gomez continued, “The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundations is Minnesota’s largest community foundation. Their commitment to equity, justice, and bringing together donors, nonprofits and community members to address some of the biggest problems facing Minnesota is exemplary. We are humbled by their generous support, affirmation of our work and aid in positioning MCIL for a long, sustainable future.”
In 2018, the MCIL Board of Directors and Executive Director organized a Facilities Visioning Committee to develop a Facilities Visioning Plan. The grant from the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundations provides significant financial resources for a study to be done by Cresa, Real Estate and Project Management Services, which specializes in nonprofit facilities planning. Done in concert with the Facilities Visioning Plan, the study’s outcome will include recommendations for facilities solutions and the best strategic options for MCIL to move forward.
“MCIL’s work is central to building a strong, vibrant and equitable community,” said Sharon DeMark, program officer for the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundations. “We are pleased to provide this grant and support the organization’s exploration of a path for thoughtful, sustainable growth in service to the disability community and well beyond.”
About MCIL: The Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) is a Twin Cities metro-based, nonprofit 501.c.3 consumer-directed organization founded in 1981. MCIL is dedicated to the full promotion of the Independent Living (IL) philosophy by supporting individuals with disabilities in their personal efforts to pursue self-directed lives. Being “consumer-directed” means that the majority of decision-making employees and members of our board of directors are individuals with disabilities. MCIL is committed to promoting this IL philosophy through innovative projects and direct services that meet the needs of MCIL consumers. MCIL is also one of eight Centers for Independent Living in Minnesota and is a member agency of the Minnesota Association of Centers for Independent Living. Visit mcil—mn.org
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