About Us

In 2003, the Chicago Community Trust (CCT) approached Council for Jewish Elderly (CJE) to lead in the formation and planning of the Chicago Life Opportunities Initiative (CLOI). After a year of gathering the stakeholders' commitment and ideas and then developing a plan, the 12-month pilot phase of CLOI began in January 2005. CLOI participants aim to respond to a demographic shift in aging and redefine retirement as a time of community involvement, volunteerism, and growth by working with community partners in a coalition.

CLOI is built upon the work of a previous grant from CCT to facilitate realistic personal assessments of the important planning areas for post-retirement years. A research team developed "Mapping Your Future Your Way!" (MYFYW) as a holistic tool for consumers and professionals to enhance older adults' well being. Designed to facilitate individualized planning in the areas of financial health, housing, and physical and emotional health. MYFYW is a tool designed to engage adults in the process of thinking about later life transitions and is considered one of several CLOI entry points.  Click here to access the online version of MYFYW.

Pilot Communities

Chatham - Mather LifeWays

Edgewater - Council for Jewish Elderly and Mather LifeWays

Pilsen - Instituto Del Progreso Latino

South Chicago - Metropolitan Family Services

As a part of CLOI, the pilot projects will engage older adults in order to provide opportunities for greater fulfillment and purpose. Using the Asset Based Community Development assessment, this project seeks to mobilize persons age 50+ to use their talents and expertise to address opportunities in the community by linking partners and resources.

Community businesses, organizations, institutions, and individuals have critical skills, gifts and interests that make theirs a stronger community, and by gathering information on the communities assets, CLOI looks forward to connecting participants to current programs, augmenting existing programs, and/or helping the project participants develop new programs that will enhance their quality of life and promote their communities as a great place to live.

Facilitated by Council for Jewish Elderly (CJE), CLOI provides opportunities for life planning, civic engagement, second careers, lifelong learning, spiritual development, wellness, and access to resources for the 50+ community.

Pilot Agencies

Council for Jewish Elderly - CJE has been serving older adults and their families in Chicago and the suburban communities for more than 30 years. CJE offers several housing options for including assisted living, retirement living, government-subsidized apartments, and a geriatric health center. In the community, CJE provides adult day services, consumer assistance, health services, home delivered meals, private care management, transportation, and much more. CJE is supported by the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation.

Instituto Del Progreso Latino – The mission of Instituto Del Progreso Latino is to contribute to the fullest development of Latino immigrants and their families through education, training and employment that fosters full participation in the changing United States society while preserving cultural identity and dignity.

Mather LifeWays - Mather LifeWays' Community Initiatives is dedicated to encouraging a sense of community and belonging, affirming the strengths and gifts of each person and supporting the growth potential of individuals throughout their lifespan. Mather LifeWays works within selected communities to help neighborhoods become better places for seniors to live, work, learn, contribute, and play. To do this, we hope to bring innovative services and community-based programs that will promote lifelong vitality and successful aging. 

Metropolitan Family Services - The mission of Metropolitan Family Services is to provide and mobilize the services needed to strengthen families and communities.  For over 140 years, Metropolitan Family Services has been at the heart of Chicago’s city and suburban communities—encouraging family strengths and investing in a comprehensive range of programs, which balance caring, professional services with practical measurable outcomes.