Stories

As Director of Envision Unlimited’s Cultural Faith-Based Empowerment program, Angela Russell finds daily motivation in meeting people where they are and creating spaces so they can learn, connect, laugh and reflect on their experiences.

Angela brings more than 25 years of experience in mental health and community services to her role, and she has already been recognized for her outreach efforts to bring mental health and wellness education to Black and Brown communities.

Envision Unlimited is deeply concerned by the Department of Justice legal opinion that reinterprets disability civil rights protections within the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act. The opinion threatens community living rights by weakening enforcement of Section 504 and the landmark integration mandate established through the Olmstead decision.

Envision Unlimited is proud to be a trusted resource for nearly 2 million Illinois residents navigating mental health challenges. May marked Mental Health Awareness Month, and we celebrated with a graduation ceremony for individuals who completed our Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) program. 

Going above and beyond often describes Envision Unlimited employees, and Catherine Woods and Raul Barrera are dedicated team members who embody this phrase.

Reflecting on the amazing work throughout our organization, we’re spotlighting Courtney Atkinson, Assistant Director of Clinical Services.

We’re extending our deepest gratitude to our changemaker and compassion champion, Dorothy O’Malley, who is retiring from our Board of Directors after 40 years of service. For decades, Dorothy has supported Envision Unlimited’s growth and expansion of programs.

What happens when temperatures begin to rise and flowers start to bloom? Envision Unlimited members take full advantage of the great outdoors! They recently spent a couple of unforgettable weekends at Big Marsh Park – pitching tents, hiking, singing campfire songs and roasting hot dogs, potatoes and s’mores. Members are also enjoying our Adaptive Cycling program by pedaling down The 606 Trail and Big Marsh Park every week. They even took a recent spin around the nation’s second oldest velodrome in Northbrook as part of our Summer of Cycling series!

It’s National Bike Month and one local organization is empowering people with disabilities to get out in the community. Envision Unlimited offers an innovative adaptive cycling program for those looking for new experiences. David and William join us with more.

We’re thrilled to share that our talented, self-taught artist, Marvin, currently has a solo art exhibit at Intuit Art Museum! Hailing from Chicago’s South Side, he brings the city to life through large-scale, detailed drawings of cityscapes and portraits of residents.

Whitley Hofer, Director of Springfield Mental Health and Clinical Services, oversees clinical and operations management at the new Community Mental Health Center and ensures that services are delivered with care and make a lasting impact on clients.

One of the most impactful roles at Envision Unlimited is a Direct Support Professional (DSP). Our incredible DSPs help our members with a variety of daily tasks, from cooking to planning excursions in the community.

At Envision Unlimited, we recently celebrated our employees at our annual 2025 Employee of the Year Awards banquet.

Securing a job can be a profound moment for individuals with disabilities and mental health challenges. And through our job placement services, our staff is there to support them every step of the way.

Springfield, IL – According to the 2021 Sangamon County Community Health Needs Assessment, the county ranks among the worst 25% within Illinois for mental health hospitalizations. From stigma to a lack of diverse care providers, barriers to accessing treatment exist for the entire community, particularly marginalized groups.

To celebrate Disability Employment Awareness Month, we’re highlighting Envision Unlimited members who are thriving in the workplace. One of them is Robert at our Nashville Center, who landed his dream job with the Chicago Cubs this summer and handled janitorial work a few days per week.

Congratulations to Envision Unlimited member Phil who just celebrated his 59th birthday at the Henry Home, our state-of-the-art, ADA-accessible home in the Ashburn neighborhood.

We’d like to extend a warm welcome to Rev. Dr. Dawnn M. Pirani Brumfield, the Director of our Cultural Faith-Based Empowerment Program.

Late American painter Georgia O’Keeffe once said, “To create one’s own world takes courage.” We’re proud of our members who were courageous enough to participate in our second annual art show in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month.

Our members and staff consistently go above and beyond, and we were proud to watch some of them receive well-deserved recognition at disability advocacy organization The Arc of Illinois’ 75th annual convention.

We’d like to extend a warm welcome to Mike Jersey, our vice president of community living and transition services. He brings nearly 20 years of experience to his new role, in which he’s tasked with developing, implementing and managing programs that will support people transitioning from SODCs to 24-hour community living arrangements.