CHILL Nonprofit Partners
CHILL is a mission-based business. We are a bunch of bleeding-hearts that love to be helpful and pleasing. No wonder we try to say “yes” whenever we have the opportunity to work with like-minded people. Especially those in the nonprofit world. This isn’t always easy. We are a small business and have limited resources (i.e. humans and $), but we do our best to make this world a better place by collaborating with the pros. Helping people live less stressed and more mindful lives so they may be fortified to help others.
Nonprofit workers, who focus their precious time and energy helping others, often are overworked and under-resourced. According to a recent survey conducted by Opportunity Knocks, 30 percent of nonprofit employees are burnt out and an additional 20 percent are close to burning out. Non-profit organizations (like many other companies) are faced with challenges around staffing shortages, retention, and recruitment.
Today we are dedicating this post to some of the exceptional organizations we’ve had the honor to work with. Such as….
Start Early is a Chicago-based non-profit organization focused on advancing quality early learning for families with children to help close the opportunity gap in underserved communities across Illinois.
“The resources provided by CHILL over the past two years help our teams better manage stress. This year we are focused on self-care, mindfulness and gentle movement. These are skills that better equip us for our work bringing quality care to children and families.” - Renee, Start Early
Our partnerships with organizations like Start Early are customized to address the unique needs of their staff members and leaders. And offering these benefits demonstrate to employees that the organization truly values their overall well-being.
“Working with CHILL has been easy. Their team helps with communication, content creation and delivery, and they are eager for our feedback and suggestions. We are grateful to have a partner like CHILL that is dedicated to supporting our employees' wellbeing.” - Renee, Start Early
Creatives and artists are another group that have long been linked to mental health struggles. Many famous artists including Vincent Van Gogh, Edgar Degas, Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keeffe all suffered from depression. While evidence is still inconclusive for a link between creativity and depression, artists are statistically more likely to have bipolar disorder.
Students’ mental health is also in crisis. More than 60% of college students met the criteria for a mental health problem, according to a Healthy Minds Study. Moderate or severe psychological stress was reported by more than three quarters of respondents in this national survey. If both students and creatives experience higher levels of mental health symptoms, art students from School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) are increasingly susceptible.
SAIC is one of the most historically significant accredited independent schools of art and design in the US. Their students, faculty, and staff are engaged and innovative creators of art, design, scholarship, and writing.
“As a Mental Health Promotion Specialist in the Wellness Center, my role has been to work alongside CHILL in tailoring this program to the SAIC calendar... through my participation in each week's session, I built a connection with the staff at CHILL that led to my completion of CHILL's 100-Hour Teacher Training Course, further developing my own personal meditation practice and strengthening the mindfulness tools I use in my role as Art Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor.
“Those who attended frequently expressed their gratitude for this programming, saying ‘I really needed this today!’ at the end of a session or sharing how meditation has transformed their approach to sleeping, eating, or creative practices.” - Teresa, SAIC
Recognizing the critical need to support their students’ wellbeing, SAIC partnered with CHILL to host in-person,and now virtual, mindfulness and movement sessions.
"Students who shared previous experience with meditation expressed gratitude at the opportunity to have a designated time and place within the school to practice, and students new to the practice often talked about how it quickly became a necessary part of their wellness routine." - Teresa, SAIC
Students aren’t the only ones experiencing mental health challenges. 90% of respondents in a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey believe the United States is in the midst of a mental health crisis. The CDC reports 2 in 5 adults are currently experiencing a mental illness. That’s why the CHILL team is incredibly proud to partner with NAMI Chicago.
Since 1979, NAMI has fought for families and individuals impacted by mental health conditions. They promote community wellness, break down barriers to mental health care, and provide support and expertise for families, professionals and individuals in Chicago and beyond.
“In the past number of years, we’ve experienced unprecedented stress and trauma in all the spaces we’ve shown up. Every helper in our community is wearing the scars of these times. Increasingly one of our essential tools has been to recognize that there is still peace, love, and calm available to us. CHILL has been an incredible partner in this work. Self-care and personal wellness are essential in keeping us all going.
“As we move into the second quarter of 2023, NAMI Chicago continues to show up in communities bringing healing and peace. We’ll be in schools working with young people reconnecting to their school communities. We’ll be in first responder spaces to back up those who have shown up for others. And we’ll be answering the call when someone reaches out in need of direction and kindness. We’ll gladly bring CHILL along to support us and to show others how essential a practice it is.” - Ben, NAMI Chicago
In 2023 and beyond, the CHILL team is committed to working with non-profit organizations. We believe that everyone should prioritize their mental wellbeing. In addition to the impactful organizations we highlighted above, we worked with many other organizations in 2022. And we wanted to give a special shout-out to several of the organizations that are making a positive impact in the lives of others including:
After School Matters, Chicago Run, Environmental Defense Fund, Girls Inc., Girls in the Game, Illinois Restaurant Association, Ingenuity - Chicago, Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation, Meals on Wheels America, PAWS Chicago, Playworks Illinois, Project OneTen, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana, Shriver Center on Poverty Law, and The Nora Project.
Reach out to us at info@chillanywhere.com if you’d like to learn more about how CHILL can support the mental wellbeing of your organization.
