EPIC: Empowering Participation Independence Community

GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago offers a program for adults called EPIC. The participants work on strengthening their abilities in each of the four categories listed in the title. In April, the EPIC program met at Two Hearted Queen coffee shop and worked on their resume. Who doesn’t enjoy a sweet treat and delicious coffee while they work? The adults with Down syndrome participated independently at this community location by ordering their own food and drink before the real work got started.

Elizabeth Felt Empowered

A new participant for the playhouse joined the EPIC program on this outing and was shy to meet new friends and volunteers. Elizabeth started off having a difficult time coming up with strengths to add to her resume. She even went as far as to cross off the word “Strengths” and write in “Weaknesses”. She found it much easier to list the things she was bad at instead of focusing on what was good. Christina, a program leader, stopped her immediately and helped Elizabeth change her direction of thinking. By the end of the program Elizabeth had a long list of strengths, and even felt confident enough to ask her parents to move to a different table so she could be more independent.

Empowerment Through Improv

EPIC will meet again on Sunday May 26 at GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago. The program lasts from 3:00pm – 5:00pm. To RSVP and get more information check out our calendar.We are excited to welcome The Second City Improv group to our playhouse for this session. Hopefully through the practice of improvising, the participants will gain a sense of empowerment. They will learn how to express what they’re thinking and how they’re feeling in a way they they will be heard and understood. Saying or doing something to cause someone else to respond can be very empowering. Of course, since The Second City will be leading the group the participants are sure to have lots of fun and laughs along the way! EPIC is for adults with Down syndrome ages 18 and older. We hope to see you at the playhouse on May 26th for this great program!

Thank You

Thank you to Two Hearted Coffee and The Second City Improv for making our participants feel like valued members of their community. We really appreciate your time and talents.