C.I.T.Y. of Support

Come Check out a Fire Engine!
2025-10-04 15:30 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | Infinity & Beyond Pediatric Therapy, 755 Ela Road, Suite A, Lake Zurich, IL, 60047, United States
Infinity & Beyond Pediatric Therapy in Lake Zurich we will be hosting a FREE COMMUNITY EVENT on Saturday 10/04/25 for Fire Safety Awareness Month.

The Lake Zurich Fire Department will be bringing an engine and fire fighters to answer questions and give out information!

This will be a sensory-friendly event. Additionally, we will have a therapy dog on site for families to meet if interested.

"Let's Meet" Parent Retreat
2025-09-27 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago)
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
Parents! This in-person retreat was designed just for you! Mark it on your calendar, and line up the babysitters now, so you can treat yourself to this day of connecting and learning!
This is a day that will benefit you AND your child–we hope you’ll join us!
Thanks to the generosity of our community partners, this program is once again offered AT NO COST to parents!
This year we are focusing on “Building Strong Relationships” including those with your spouses, family, friends, and community. Your medical team, your school team, your Early Intervention team. And, importantly, your relationship with yourself. You won’t want to miss the speakers we are lining up…all experts in their fields and many who can relate as a professional and as a parent. Join us for this informative, empowering, and fun afternoon! Sign up here!

12:00 PRE-RETREAT (optional): Volunteer to assemble “Welcome to our C.I.T.Y.” NICU giftbags as an ice-breaker.
Sign up here.
1:00-2:00: Speakers TBD
2:00-2:30: Mingle/Snack/Create/Discuss
2:30-3:30: Speakers TBD
3:30-4:00: Mingle/Snack/Create/Discuss
5:00 POST-RETREAT (optional–at your own cost): Continue socializing with new/old C.I.T.Y. caregivers at Fox & Hound in Schaumburg–just minutes from Harper with a large menu and plenty of activities (pool, darts, ping-pong, etc).
Sign up here.
NEW this year: Use this link to sign up for our “Parent Retreat–PLUS!” activities including a pre-event volunteering and post-event socializing. Extend your weekend with these optional activities that were designed to help break the ice and create even more CITY connections…we just ask that you use the sign-up form, so we know how many people to expect.

C.I.T.Y. Dads Hang Out
2025-09-10 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago)
Grab a beer with other dads in our community on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. This casual hangout, with no agenda/structure, is designed to bring dads together in a stress-free environment to make connections with other parents in similar situations.

Join the dads at 7:00pm at The Landmark Inn Bar & Grille (1352 Shermer Rd. in Northbrook, 60062).

Email: hello@cityofsupport.org with any questions or to sign up for email alerts. No RSVP required.

Developmental Playgroup at Elmhurst Library
2025-09-09 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-12 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-08 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-06-10 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-04-08 16:00 - 17:00 UTC | Elmhurst Library, 125 S Prospect Ave, Elmhurst, Illinois, 60126, United States
An inclusive drop-in playgroup for children who receive or are considering therapy services, ages 0-5. Children play while families meet and find support. Siblings welcome.

Facilitated by Amy Mishima (Local Leader of C.I.T.Y. of Support) and Ellen Karalis (Executive Director of Comprehensive Behavior Development).

Drop-in. No Library Card Required.

https://elmhurstpubliclibrary.libcal.com/event/14200988

Developmental Playgroup at the Arlington Heights Library
2025-09-09 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-08-12 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-07-08 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-06-10 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-05-13 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N. Dunton Ave, Arlington Heights, Illinois, 60004, United States
An inclusive drop-in playgroup for children who receive or are considering therapy services, ages 0-5. Children play while families meet and find support. Siblings welcome. Facilitated by Julie Kander, CITY of Support.

To request accommodations, please contact us at 847-392-0100 or youthprograms@ahml.info prior to the event.

Drop-in. No Library Card Required

https://www.ahml.info

5K for All: From Babies to Grandparents
2025-09-07 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Fox River Marina, 28500 W. Roberts Rd., Port Barrington, IL, 60010, United States
Walk, crawl, run, or roll! It’s a 5K event for the whole family (even if you’re not a runner!)
Is it your first race?
Are you a serious competitor?
Do you need to walk with a helper?
Or just a tiny tot learning to crawl?​
​Choose your distance:
5 yards
50 yards
1K
5K

Storytime and Fun!
2025-06-25 10:30 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | GENEROC.I.T.Y. TOY SHOP, 1423 E. Palatine Rd., Arlington Heights, IL, 60004, United States
Join Emily Mroczek, Youth Librarian from the Arlington Heights Library, as she brings her stories to the GENERO-C.I.T.Y. Toy Shop!
Drop-in! No registration required.

Developmental Playgroup at the Skokie Library
2025-06-20 13:30 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) | Skokie Public Library, 5215 N. Oakton St., Skokie, IL, 60077
This drop-in inclusive playgroup is for children who receive or are considering therapy services, age birth-5. Children play while families meet and find support.

Siblings are welcome. Facilitated by staff from All Bright Therapies. Presented in partnership with C.I.T.Y of Support.

Storytime and Fun!
2025-06-18 10:30 - 11:00, 2025-06-11 10:30 - 11:00, 2025-06-04 10:30 - 11:00, 2025-04-23 10:30 - 11:00, 2025-04-16 10:30 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | GENEROC.I.T.Y. TOY SHOP, 1423 E. Palatine Rd., Arlington Heights, IL, 60004, United States
Join Ms. Joan (Joan Kurtz), experienced preschool teacher and C.I.T.Y. of Support Volunteer Extraordinaire! She will be bringing some stories, songs, and rhymes to the GENERO-C.I.T.Y. Toy Shop weekly on Wednesdays at 10:30.
Drop-in! No registration required.

Graduation Celebration 2025!
2025-06-14 09:00 - 12:30 (America/Chicago) | Ivy Hill Elementary School, 2211 N. Burke Drive, Arlington Heights, IL, 60004, United States
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! CLICK HERE!
Every child is graduating from something…

Meeting a therapy goal!
Adapting to e-learning!
Trying a new food!
Making a new friend!
Becoming potty-trained!
Moving to a new grade in school!

We cannot wait to celebrate this year’s graduates with well-deserved congratulations for all their hard work! At this event, graduates will be showered with special attention that includes:

Public acknowledgement of his/her accomplishment
Distribution of personalized medals
An accommodating cheer squad
Professional graduation photo
Celebratory treats
Interactive, low-structured Family Festival

​​​​Resources for parents & games/prizes for kids
High & low energy celebration options

Optional commemorative graduation photo frame (NEW!)

Reservations for a “Procession Time” are required to keep us organized. This is not a “sit-and-watch” event–it is highly-engaging, active family fun! Our graduation is designed to be a FREE & INTERACTIVE occasion, where families from all around Chicagoland can celebrate together (siblings too–as always!) Sign up your graduate(s), and join in the celebration! “Every child is graduating from something,” so let’s take the time to feature their accomplishments from this past year!
Click Here for Sponsorship Opportunities
Among those who will be attending, we are excited to host these special “Graduation Classes” this year:

In2Great! Pediatric Therapy (yellow)
Marissa Bennett Consulting (green)
Roots Autism Solutions & Therapeutic Academy (turquoise)
Caravel Autism Health (royal blue)

C.I.T.Y. Dads Hangout
2025-06-11 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago)
Grab a beer with other dads in our community on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. This casual hangout, with no agenda/structure, is designed to bring dads together in a stress-free environment to make connections with other parents in similar situations.

Join the dads this month on 6/11/25 at 7:00pm at Gators Wing Shack in Palatine.

Email: hello@cityofsupport.org with any questions or to sign up for email alerts. No RSVP required.

Miracle on Miner
2025-05-17 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Miner School, 1101 E. Miner Street, Arlington Heights, IL, 60004
An Inclusive Block Party with a Purpose

Inviting you, the community, to celebrate inclusivity at the first-annual Miracle on Miner block party on Saturday, 5/17! Miner School (located at the corner of Miner and Dryden) is an incredibly unique educational center supporting children with various special needs.

The goal of the block party is to educate the community on all of the wonderful things happening with these students, learn more about NSSEO (the non-profit organization that manages both Miner and Kirk School) as well as raise funds for special projects at the school. There will be hosts of activities, games, raffles, auctions, and more, all to support an incredibly worthy cause…C.I.T.Y. of Support will be there!

ALL families, friends, and children are welcome!

Local Business Showcase
2025-05-14 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | LUMI Studio & Shoppe, 104 W. Northwest Highway, Mount Prospect, IL, 60056
Support, learn, and have fun as we shine a spotlight on local women-owned businesses!
Hosted by the Women’s Entrepreneur Collective of Arlington Heights.
RSVP Here for a great night out!

Child Screening and Family Resource Fair
2025-05-07 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Skokie Public Library, 5215 N. Oakton St., Skokie, IL, 60077
Come and learn about local collaborations and programs for children birth to age five. FREE–drop in!
Located in the Radmacher Room of the Skokie Public Library.
Schedule a birth-three developmental screening here.

All Abilities Fair
2025-05-03 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Christ Lutheran Church, 41 S Rohlwing Rd., Palatine, IL, 60067
Join us as we participate in the first FREE “All Abilities Vendor Fair!” The goal for this fair is to promote businesses and organizations that are owned or operated by/for our special needs community. The event is being offered so the community knows what services are available to them, and also for individuals with different abilities to showcase and sell their products.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1DTiVxksmR/

ECA Early Childhood Fun Fair
2025-05-03 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Oakton College, 7701 N. Lincoln Ave., Skokie, IL
Discover local community programs and resources for your early learner!
Door #21 at Oakton College: 7701 N. Lincoln Ave in Skokie

Spring Soiree: Bi-Annual Professional Networking Event
2025-04-10 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Westwood Tavern, 1385 N Meacham Rd, Schaumburg, Illinois, 60173, United States
You and a colleague are invited to join us for our Spring 2025 C.I.T.Y. Sponsor Soiree!
These bi-annual events are the perfect way to meet other C.I.T.Y. Supporters, share information about your business, and learn about other resources in the community. Networking not only leads to stronger professional relationships, but also builds trust among your clients, as you provide more knowledgeable suggestions and referrals for care.
Other reasons to join us:

Be the first to sign up to participate in our “Graduation Celebration”
Celebrate our 2025 C.I.T.Y. Award Winners
Learn the latest news about the GENERO-C.I.T.Y. Toy Shop (and how you can get involved)
Share your resources and connect with other professionals in the C.I.T.Y. community
Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Dress is casual, after-work attire.

Like last year, we will have a table to display printed resources, so please bring plenty of business cards and/or 1 flyer/brochure for sharing. In order to guarantee that you are included as a resource in our attendee booklet, we ask that you kindly register by THURSDAY, APRIL 3rd.
As can be the case with free events (and maybe you know from personal experience), we understand that attendance can be unpredictable. We want this event to be a success, so we ask you to please be mindful of your RSVP and plan to attend if you reply “yes.” Early responses are extremely appreciated.
We hope to see you on the 10th! Please email us with any questions: hello@cityofsupport.org.

Developmental Playgroup at the Arlington Heights Library
2025-04-08 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N. Dunton Ave, Arlington Heights, Illinois, 60004, United States
An inclusive drop-in playgroup for children who receive or are considering therapy services, ages 0-5. Children play while families meet and find support. Siblings welcome. Facilitated by Julie Kander, CITY of Support.

To request accommodations, please contact us at 847-392-0100 or youthprograms@ahml.info prior to the event.

Drop-in. No Library Card Required

https://www.ahml.ino
