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MCIL hosts “Celebrating Constitution and Citizenship Day, Independent Living and the Right to Vote” September 17 at Capitol Rotunda

Public gathering will honor our nation’s founding principles and the importance of citizen engagement

ST. PAUL, MINN – (September 3, 2026) – In 1952, the United States Congress formally designated September 17 as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, commemorating the signing of the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. As we honor our nation’s 250th Anniversary, the day calls for a marked celebration of the Constitution’s foundational values, laws, and aspirations that govern our land, while reiterating voting rights and the critical role of engaged citizenship. On September 17, the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) will host a free, public afternoon event at the St. Paul Capitol Rotunda. Titled “Celebrating Constitution and Citizenship Day, Independent Living and the Right to Vote,” the event will highlight the power of civic engagement and the rights of individuals with disabilities, notably the right to vote. The gathering will also serve as the kick-off for a voter education initiative MCIL is implementing, funded through a generous grant from the Minnesota Council on Foundations’ The Minnesota Civic Resilience Fund.

Speakers for the event include Master of Ceremonies, Dr. Rachel Wobschall, Chief Development Officer, The Arc Minnesota & MCIL Board Member, Theo W. Braddy, Executive Director, National Council on Independent Living, Professor Lisa Schiltz, University of St. Thomas Law School, Secretary of State Steve Simon, State of Minnesota, and Voter Forum speakers, Dan Stewart, ADA Advocacy Response Director, MCIL, Gene Martinez, Legislative Advocacy Coordinator, The Arc Minnesota/REV UP MN, Chad Wilson, Esq., Minnesota Disability Law Center, Melanie Hazelip, Voter Outreach Director, Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office, Matt Langland, Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office. Welcoming Remarks, Jesse Bethke Gomez, Executive Director, MCIL.

Immutable laws, such as the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, serve as the basis for our Constitution and underscore the importance of government's role in organizing for the security, benefit, and protection of its people. “Celebrating Constitution and Citizenship Day, Independent Living and the Right to Vote,” will honor our nation’s commitment to and the power of “We the People,” as foundational to who we are as a democracy and constitutional society.

Event Details: Free and Open to the Public. ASL and CART services will be provided.
Date/Location: September 17, 2026  | St. Paul Capitol Rotunda, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155 
Time:  2:00 – 3:00 p.m.– Constitution and Citizenship Day Presentations | 3:00 – 3:45 p.m. Voter Education Forum
For a full list of presenters, event updates, and live streaming access, please visit the event page on the MCIL website.

“Constitution and Citizenship Day is the perfect occasion to also celebrate independent living and the right to vote and to underscore the foundational values that guide our nation and to elevate the importance of an engaged, informed citizenry,” said Jesse Bethke Gomez, MMA, MCIL Executive Director. “Members of the disability community are significant contributors to the rich fabric of our country, our history, and a critical voice in our voting populace.” Bethke Gomez continued, “Now more than ever, ensuring equitable voting access and advancing independent living for members of the disability community across our state and our country are central to the nature of who we are as a constitutional society.

The seven life-sustaining dimensions: 1. Affordable, nutritious food; 2. Human services benefits and long-term services and supports; 3. Education, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Individualized Education Programs (IEP) and soft skills learning; 4. Community connectedness, civic participation and transportation; 5. Affordable, integrated accessible housing; 6. Employment benefits, reasonable accommodations civil rights, ADA, and 7. Affordable healthcare covering behavioral and public health - guide MCIL’ s mission. We see a direct throughline from the Constitution’s promise of the immutable laws of humanity, namely a society that advances freedom, safety, fairness, human dignity, and the work of caring for one another, along with the seven life-sustaining dimensions needed for all to thrive. We look forward to reflecting on these values, the rights of the disability community, and the power everyone’s vote must help shape our society.”

“The Constitution begins with three powerful words: ‘We the People.’ But throughout our history, people with disabilities have not always been treated as though we are part of ‘We the People,” said Theo W. Braddy, Executive Director, National Council on Independent Living. “Independent Living is about changing that. It is about having the freedom to make choices about our own lives, to live in our communities, and to have a voice in the decisions that affect us. That includes the right to vote. We are not asking for extra rights. We are demanding equal access to the rights and freedoms that belong to all of us. Because ‘We the People’ must include people with disabilities.”

“We are excited to launch our voter education initiative at the “Celebrating Constitution and Citizenship Day, Independent Living and the Right to Vote” event,” said MCIL ADA Advocacy Response Director Dan Stewart.  “We are immensely grateful to the Minnesota Council on Foundations’ Minnesota Civic Resilience Fund. The Minnesota Civic Resilience Fund was established to mobilize philanthropic resources in support of democratic participation, civic engagement, and community voice across Minnesota. This grant will fund our efforts to conduct voter education with disability communities throughout Minnesota. From schools to libraries, 4-H groups to community cable stations, we look forward to sharing resources with members of the disability community, advocates, allies, and others, while reinforcing the power of an engaged populace and ensuring people have access to exercise their right to vote and be heard.”

MSN Names Jesse Bethke Gomez Among Top 10 Leading Men in 2026

Thank you to MSN for the honor of including MCIL Executive Director Jesse Bethke Gomez among their Top 10 Leading Men in 2026. This honor recognizes the work of MCIL in solving the direct care workforce shortage crisis. Jesse had this to say about MCIL's work:

"We are guided by the immutable laws of humanity, which are self-evident, universal, and serve as the basis of a constitutional society in that call to advancing freedom, safety, fairness, human dignity, and the work of caring for one another in pursuit of solving the direct care crisis, transforming the healthcare system and society"

Read Top 10 Leading Men in 2026 on the MSN website.

Jesse Bethke Gomez poses in front of the Capitol, looking off into the distance.

The Civics of Health Care: 7 Life Sustaining Dimensions

As Executive Director of Metropolitan Center for Independent Living I am honored to have written this cover article for Minnesota Physician Journal. Now more than ever, advancing independent living as a Center for Independent Living, and for our state and for our country is central to the nature of who we are as a constitutional society. This article elevates the basis of our society which we call the natural laws, that which is self-evident and immutable which are then embodied in our national and state constitutions, There is a direct through-line for stabilizing every family, child and individual with disabilities with the 7 life sustaining dimensions, building vibrant communities which leads to a sustainable economy – as a constitutional society.

Thusly, this is the work of MCIL and also of our generation in advancing the oldest democracy in the world in addressing the constitutional threshold of human suffering due to the crisis lived by many within the disability communities, such as solving the severe humanitarian direct care crisis for families, children and individuals who rely upon direct care services for daily living.

We welcome you to join us in this work.

Sincerely,

Jesse Bethke Gomez, MMA
MCIL Executive Director

The Civics of Health Care: 7 Life Sustaining Dimensions

MSN Names Jesse Bethke Gomez Among Top 10 Trailblazing Entrepreneurs

Thank you to MSN for the honor of including MCIL Executive Director Jesse Bethke Gomez among their Top 10 Trailblazing Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2026. This honor recognizes the work of MCIL in transforming the homecare sector of our healthcare system. Jesse had this to say:

"We are working on scalable solutions to the severe humanitarian direct care crisis for families, children and individuals with disabilities, and older adults who rely upon direct care services for daily living. I believe in the adage: 'Nothing about us without us.' This recognition goes to our leaders, individuals, and communities with disabilities who are guiding this work at MCIL. We can and must solve this crisis by working together and doing so we advance the ability of people to care for one another."

Read Top 10 Trailblazing Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2026 on the MSN website.

Image courtesy of Pressiqa

Rethinking Care with Constitutional Responsibility and Purpose

MCIL is grateful to The Elite Success Magazine for their latest article, which highlights the direct care crisis and our ongoing efforts to solve it.

"The direct care crisis is one of the most serious humanitarian challenges facing civil society today ... These static policies block stability. They erode personal dignity. They create fear around earning, saving, or accepting help from family. Over time, these pressures compound and trap people in cycles of dependency."

MCIL Executive Director Jesse Bethke Gomez "believes lasting change begins when care is treated as a shared responsibility, not a hidden cost, for everyone involved."

Read the full article, "Rethinking Care with Constitutional Responsibility and Purpose," on The Elite Success website.

Cover of The Elite Success magazine featuring Jesse Bethke Gomez.

Community input on Long COVID needed

As the medical community learns more about Long COVID every day, the impacts on the lives of people with disabilities are becoming increasingly clear. To better understand these impacts, the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL), a leader in education and outreach on the topic, is launching a new survey and seeking community participation.

The experiences of people with disabilities—including those currently living with Long COVID—are invaluable to this work. MCIL, in partnership with Access Press and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), encourages all community members to share their perspectives.

Learn more on the Access Press website.

Take the MCIL Long COVID Community Survey.

MCIL PCA College Service Corps Program Receives $24,000 Quality of Life Grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation

Grant helps advance innovative program, bringing meaningful change for those impacted by PCA workforce crisis

ST. PAUL, MINN – (January 21, 2026) – The Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) is proud to announce that it has been awarded $24,000 as part of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation National Paralysis Resource Center (NPRC) 2025 Direct Effect 1st Cycle Quality of Life grants. Sixty-one grants totaling $1,240,870 were awarded. The Quality of Life Grants Program supports nonprofit organizations that empower individuals living with paralysis. Since the Quality of Life Grants Program's inception, more than 4,100 grants totaling $50 million have been awarded. Funding for this program was made possible through a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living (ACL grant #90PRRC0006 -04).

The Reeve Foundation's National Paralysis Resource Center offers several grants under the Quality of Life program, awarding grants in various categories with different amounts.

“Each award granted is a reflection of the Foundation’s commitment to advance accessibility, connectivity, and independence for individuals and families impacted by paralysis,” said Dan McNeal, Director of the Quality of Life Grants Program, Reeve Foundation. The remarkable strides and unwavering dedication these organizations make to further their mission are commendable. These grants illustrate a world of inclusion and accessibility, elevating quality of life for those living with paralysis.”

Funds from this generous grant will support the PCA College Service Corps. This pilot program, facilitated by the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL), is a first in the United States of America and is a pioneering approach to address our nation's critical need for Personal Care Assistants (PCAs), which has resulted in dire consequences for the disability community. Stretched impossibly thin, the gap between providers and those relying on care to live independently and safely is not an abstract statistic but a reality with daily, and potentially deadly, consequences. The PCA College Service Corps offers an approach that, at its core, alleviates personal suffering, enhances independence, affirms dignity and respect, advances moral and civic awareness, and stabilizes communities, while building the foundation for a critical workforce and a pathway offering personal and professional rewards.

How it works: The PCA College Service Corps offers college students flexible work hours, an elevated wage, valuable experience toward occupational goals, and the chance to make meaningful connections while serving their community. The program is open to students 18 years of age or older who are currently enrolled in a postsecondary education program in Minnesota. Students commit to 10-, 20-, or 30-week options, spending an average of 10 hours per week working as a PCA. Students are matched with Participants in the Minnesota PCA program who are assessed as needing 10 or more hours of PCA services per day, direct their own care, and are accepted into the PCA College Service Corps. When a match is made, the student meets with the Participant's PCA provider, and if approved, is hired directly by their agency. Training, guidance, and mentoring are provided. In addition to their competitive hourly wage, students can earn between $1,500 and $4,500 as a (taxable) incentive bonus award. The program is funded in part by the State of Minnesota and the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Fund of the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation. Although the program is based in Minnesota, it is designed to be replicated nationwide.

"We are honored to receive this recognition from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation," stated Jesse Bethke Gomez, MMA, MCIL Executive Director. "MCIL is committed to removing barriers and helping people with disabilities live their most independent lives. Our work is fully aligned with Minnesota's constitution, which states that 'Government is instituted for the security, benefit and protection of the people, in whom all political power is inherent, together with the right to alter, modify or reform government whenever required by the public good.' This view and the constitutional rights of people, advances independent living as both an individual right, and a community outcome, and are driven to empower people to be whole, housed, and heard. We believe that freedom, safety, and fairness are not optional in systems that affect people's daily lives." Bethke Gomez added, "The Quality of Life grant is a validation of the PCA College Service Corps' potential to advance vibrant communities which in turn is necessary to expand a sustainable economy. This program brings a mindful, human-centered approach to a national crisis, holding great promise in improving the lives of people living with disabilities while building a dedicated workforce of direct care providers. We are grateful to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation for their support of this endeavor."

Personal reflections:
Michelle Vrieze, PCA College Service Corps Administrator, shared: "The PCA College Service Corps has become a new avenue, even a go-to, for people who need PCA assistance. Those with disabilities have faced some dark times with staffing in the wake of the pandemic. I am both humbled and elated to see that this program has become the light that gets in for participants and college students alike. Their bond becomes this beautiful balance: students receive experience, mentoring, and funds for education, and participants receive a partner in care, an advocate, and an ally in achieving independent living. Success comes in building ongoing, meaningful connections that allow everyone to thrive."

PCA College Service Corps Participant Rachel offered: "As a lifelong wheelchair user, PCAs are integral to my life, and critical in supporting my daily living activities. I've traveled and worked across the U.S., earned a master's degree, purchased a home, and work full-time, all thanks to their ever-present support. For the past decade, I have directly overseen my care and personally hired my PCAs. Before the PCA CSC came along, finding support services was incredibly stressful. The PCA CSC has alleviated all that anxiety by providing a network of talented, dedicated PCAs. I'm incredibly grateful for all this program has brought to my life. It's been a bonus to get to know these students, hear about their academic pursuits, and even serve as a mentor in their journeys."

PCA College Service Corps Student James reflected: "I was uncertain about pursuing medical studies, and my school advisor suggested I check out the PCA CSC program. It was a life-changing decision. For the past two summers, I have worked with a PCA CSC Participant, "T." My confidence has grown, and I've gained a greater understanding of people and my ability to meet them where they are. "T" and I have formed a deep bond, sharing life advice and our experiences together. Working as a PCA has solidified my desire to work in the medical field and pursue a meaningful career where I can impact and improve people's lives."

About the Reeve Foundation: The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research and improving the quality of life for individuals and families impacted by paralysis. By uniting the brightest minds in the field, we are working tirelessly to accelerate scientific discoveries across the field of spinal cord research by investing in labs across the globe. Additionally, through a cooperati ve agreement with the Administration for Community Living, the Reeve Foundation's National Paralysis Resource Center (NPRC) promotes the health, well-being, and independence of people living with paralysis, providing comprehensive information, resources, and referral services, assisting over 139,000 individuals and families since its launch in 2002. The Reeve Foundation is committed to elevating our community's voices and needs to achieve greater representation and independence. We meet all 20 of the Better Business Bureau's standards for charity accountability and hold the BBB's Charity Seal. For more information, please visit our website at ChristopherReeve.org or call 800-225-0292.

About MCIL: Jesse Bethke Gomez, MMA, is an award-winning Chief Executive Officer with expertise in executive, strategic, and healthcare leadership. Jesse has served on over 42 Commissions, Boards and Leadership Teams throughout his career. He is among the "100 Most Influential Healthcare Leaders in Minnesota" (MN Physicians 2024, 2020). The Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) is a Twin Cities-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1981 with the mission: "To Advance the Independent Living of People with Disabilities by Removing Barriers and Promoting Choices." The agency is dedicated to the full realization of the Independent Living (IL) philosophy by assisting individuals with disabilities in their pursuit of independent living. MCIL is one of eight Centers for Independent Living in Minnesota and a member of the Minnesota Association of Centers for Independent Living. Visit MCIL-MN.org

Jesse Bethke Gomez: Leading the Charge for Disability Rights and Independent Living

“In my work I truly see the organizing principle for society as both the inalienable rights of the individual in pursuit of life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness and also human dignity defined as it is self-evident that human dignity is equally endowed in all humanity, that means every person throughout the world, and throughout all time.

So why does this most ennobled value matter—of advancing the ability of people to care for one another? The answer is within the nature of humanity. As my mother Irene Gomez-Bethke, who was the Commissioner of Human Rights for the State of Minnesota, would often say: We are one race—the Human Race.” -Jesse Bethke Gomez

Thank you to The Enterprise World for their October 2025 cover story! Read Jesse Bethke Gomez: Leading the Charge for Disability Rights and Independent Living on The Enterprise World website.

Jesse Bethke Gomez: Reimagining the Architecture of Independent Living

"The response he advances is moral and civic. It places the “top line” back where it belongs and treats dignity as a system requirement. From there, values like freedom, safety, and fairness become more than words. They act like scaffolding for communities that want to grow vibrant and stay economically sustainable."

We are grateful to Elite Business Chronicles for featuring MCIL Executive Director Jesse Bethke Gomez in a recent article!

Read Jesse Bethke Gomez: Reimagining the Architecture of Independent Living on the Elite Business Chronicles website.