Metropolitan Center for Independent Living

05/01/2026

MCIL had a surprise visitor yesterday! After the ribbon cutting for the new Aldi across the street, we were honored to host Mayor Kaohly Her at our building to tell her more about our mission to advance the independent living of people with disabilities by removing barriers and promoting choices.

Our staff was thrilled to meet you, and our Executive Director, Jesse Bethke Gomez, welcomes you to MCIL!

04/30/2026

MCIL had a great time yesterday at the 2026 Disability Advocacy Day at the Capitol! Thanks to The Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities along with numerous other disability organizations for making this happen. It was inspiring to see so many people gathered to advocate for disability rights.

04/24/2026

It's World Immunization Week!

Vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives since 1974 — not by accident, but because ordinary people made the decision to protect themselves, their children and one another.

That’s 6 lives every minute, every day, for more than 5 decades. Vaccines work!

Your decision makes a difference. Get vaccinated.

04/21/2026

Have you requested one of MCIL’s PPE Care Packages yet? We’ve received a limited supply of COVID/flu test kits, masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer that we are offering free of charge thanks to funding from the Minnesota Department of Health.

Call us at 651-646-8342 or email info@mcil-mn.org if you would like to have a PPE Care Package mailed to you. You can also fill out our online request form at the link below:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/Wj5kKAsijU

These are available on a first come, first served basis and are very limited, so we hope to hear from you soon!

04/20/2026

COVID-19 cases are very low right now, but the virus is still spreading. The 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine still helps to prevent severe illness and death. Anyone 6 months and older is eligible if they haven’t received the updated vaccine. The American Academy of Family Physicians also recommends that adults ages 65 and older get a second 2025-2026 COVID-19 shot six months after their first dose. Talk to your health care provider to learn more.

04/16/2026

Southwestern Center for Independent Living and Minnesota Independent Living Network have put together a survey to gather information about the access to dental experiences of persons with disabilities. This data will help with their advocacy, policy development, and accessibility improvements. Click the link below to learn more and participate:

Purpose: To gather information about the access to dental experiences of persons with disabilities. This data will help with advocacy, policy development, and accessibility improvements. There are three required questions that help us better understand needs across the state. All other questions are...

04/14/2026

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:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/smallbusiness/top-10-trailblazing-entrepreneurs-to-watch-in-2026/ar-AA209yZh

04/01/2026

Happy Spring, everyone! We hope you'll join us for one of MCIL's free self advocacy classes, available in person or online. Here is our April schedule:

April 8: Driver's Ed Class
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

April 13: Housing Class
11:00 am - 12:00 pm

April 15: Assertiveness Class
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

April 22: Driver's Ed Class
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

April 27: Housing Class
11:00 am - 12:00 pm

April 29: Case Management Class
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Click here to check out the full spring schedule and register:
https://bit.ly/458DBaj

Enhance your independent living skills, sign up today!

03/30/2026

MCD is looking for Minnesota artists who identify as living with a disability, to help shape two new Fine Art, poster projects. This is a chance to bring disability experience, perspective, and creativity into public-facing artwork tied to the Disability Forward and Treat People Like People initiatives.

Artists who want to take part can learn more about the project, compensation and timeline through the call for artists and upcoming information session.

https://www.disability.state.mn.us/2026/03/25/call-for-artists-creating-poster-art-for-the-treat-people-like-people-campaign-disability-forward-initiative/

03/24/2026

MCIL staff had a great time at Disability Services Day at the Capitol! Thanks to ARRM for hosting this event, it was great to see so many people out advocating for disability rights.