{"id":141312,"date":"2021-12-27T15:43:35","date_gmt":"2021-12-27T21:43:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/?p=141312"},"modified":"2021-12-27T15:43:35","modified_gmt":"2021-12-27T21:43:35","slug":"gigi-university-completes-an-extraordinary-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/uncategorized\/gigi-university-completes-an-extraordinary-year","title":{"rendered":"GiGi University completes an extraordinary year!"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"color: #ed1c24\">Meet the GiGi Prep Graduates!\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<p>We have had many new families enrolled in our <a href=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/gigi-u\">GiGi University Program<\/a>. Families like Nick<a href=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2021\/12\/Screenshot-2021-12-07-135155.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-141315 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2021\/12\/Screenshot-2021-12-07-135155-219x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"167\" height=\"229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2021\/12\/Screenshot-2021-12-07-135155-219x300.jpg 219w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2021\/12\/Screenshot-2021-12-07-135155.jpg 571w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 167px) 100vw, 167px\" \/><\/a> Sables who is a GiGi Prep student. Nick completed GiGi Prep December 15th in a in person ceremony at GiGi&#8217;s Playhouse Hoffman Estates with his classmates. He will then begin GiGi University in January. Nick moved from Springfield this year and has really blossomed in our purposeful programs. Nick has participated in the Fall session of GiGiFIT, he has improved his strength and balance in the program.<\/p>\n<p>He brings his cooking skills to <a href=\"https:\/\/forms.office.com\/Pages\/ResponsePage.aspx?id=vsB5taQtREiyEau6-gHQtirTXdsGv1dGoux9fF0kM7hUNFpFRlQ2VkZGMUpXQUE0S1A5TUc2MFZVRC4u\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GiGi&#8217;s Kitchen Adult<\/a> every Tuesday and Thursday. GiGi\u2019s Kitchen is designed to emphasize the importance of health and wellness through nutrition education, kitchen safety, food preparation, social activities, and a shared meal\/snack. Participant learn about and progress through skills including measurements, food handling, knife skills, ingredient identification, palette expansion, and nutrition. Participants are introduced to various cooking techniques and that increases their self-esteem and self-confidence with their peers!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>GiGi\u2019s has been such a Godsend in so many ways to Nick. After Covid, and being stuck at home for months, GiGi\u2019s has been so wonderful for Nick socially as well as educationally. Nick is really enjoying cooking with his peers as well as learning more about fitness.-\u00a0 Dona Sables<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>GiGi Prep student David Arias wants to be the face of GiGi&#8217;s Playhouse! David has a smile on his face every Wednesday and Friday when he walks in the playhouse. He enjoys working out with other participants in the <a href=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/gigifit\">GiGiFIT<\/a> portion of the program, cooking healthy meals, building communication skills, money management, and customer service skills. David proudly gave a speech about the GiGi Prep program at this years <a href=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/gigis-playhouse-national-conference\/\">GiGi&#8217;s Playhouse National Leadership Conference<\/a> to new staff! David completed GiGi Prep this year with friend and participant Nick Sables. David is looking forward to attending GiGi University and working in <a href=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hugsandmugs\/\">Hugs and Mugs.<\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>David looks forward to every Wednesday and Friday because he goes to GiGi&#8217;s. If he has follow up work to do at home he plans when he can do the work every day. He just loves GiGi&#8217;s, and is proud to be a part of the program at GiGi&#8217;s. -Suzanne Arias\u00a0 \u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2021\/12\/David-GiGiFIT.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-141313 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2021\/12\/David-GiGiFIT-300x267.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"218\" height=\"194\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2021\/12\/David-GiGiFIT-300x267.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2021\/12\/David-GiGiFIT.jpg 612w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 218px) 100vw, 218px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The GiGi\u2019s Career Development Programs are progressive learning programs. They are designed to motivate adults with Down syndrome to achieve their highest potential in the world through innovative, educational, goal-development and small group skills instruction, health and wellness, career skills, empowerment, community engagement and exceptional work opportunities. GiGi\u2019s Playhouse offers a three-tiered career development program that prepares adults with Down syndrome to gain meaningful employment\/volunteerism in their respective communities. Social focus is to help communities gain a stronger understanding that promotes an environment of inclusion and acceptance for individuals with Down syndrome. To remove potential barriers for our families, participation in these programs is at NO COST to our participants. GiGi\u2019s Career Development Programs have various positive impacts on adults with Down syndrome and on the community at large. Every interaction and friendly conversation reminds the community that stereotypes and discrimination toward people with Down syndrome must change. In doing so, more employers will seriously consider hiring ready and willing candidates with Down syndrome allowing communities, companies and people to grow stronger together. Recommended for adults with Down syndrome age 18 and up.<span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2021\/12\/David-and-Nick-.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-141379 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2021\/12\/David-and-Nick--300x238.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2021\/12\/David-and-Nick--300x238.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/files\/2021\/12\/David-and-Nick-.jpg 726w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"color: #7ac143\">We are currently accepting applications for our GiGi University Program! Apply <a style=\"color: #7ac143\" href=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/gigi-u\">HERE t<\/a>oday.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"color: #488c00\"><span style=\"color: #488ccb\">Learn more about GiGi&#8217;s Playhouse FREE Purposeful <span style=\"font-size: 18.72px\">Programs<\/span>\u00a0by clicking <\/span><a style=\"font-weight: bold;color: #488c00\" href=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/\"><span style=\"color: #488ccb\">HERE.<\/span> <\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Meet the GiGi Prep Graduates!\u00a0 We have had many new families enrolled in our GiGi University Program. Families like Nick Sables who is a GiGi Prep student. Nick completed GiGi Prep December 15th in a in person ceremony at GiGi&#8217;s Playhouse Hoffman Estates with his classmates. He will then begin GiGi University in January. Nick&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":296,"featured_media":141263,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,6,9,1526],"tags":[111,1540,1541,62],"class_list":["post-141312","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-adults-with-down-syndrome","category-education","category-free-programs","tag-freeprograms","tag-gigi-university","tag-gigifit","tag-hoffman-estates"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141312","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/296"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=141312"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141312\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/141263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=141312"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=141312"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/hoffmanestates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=141312"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}