Metropolitan Center for Independent Living

09/17/2026

MCIL is setup for Disability Pride! Stop by our table & grab some swag bags and flyers!

09/17/2026

We're proud to be a sponsor for the 4th annual Disability Pride Festival today at the capitol from 10-2. Afterwards, head inside to the capitol rotunda for Celebrating Constitution and Citizenship Day, Independent Living and the Right to Vote from 2-3:45: https://mcil-mn.org/celebrating-constitution-and-citizenship-day-independent-living-and-the-right-to-vote/

Come celebrate disability pride, culture, and community at Minnesota’s Fourth Annual Disability Pride Festival. The festival will be held Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 10 am to 2 pm at the Minnesota State Capitol.

Hosted by Advocating Change Together (ACT), the free event was rescheduled from July to protect community health during extreme heat and hazardous air quality.

This year’s theme, “Rooted In Pride. Growing Our Future.” reflects ACT’s commitment to “honoring our history while investing in the next generation of self‑advocate leaders.” The new date also aligns with Disability Voting Rights Week (DVRW), September 14 through 18, 2026. DVRW is a nonpartisan, nationwide week of action highlighting voter registration, education, and accessible participation.

Event Details
What: Fourth Annual Disability Pride Festival
When: Thursday, September 17, 2026, 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul

What to Expect
Enjoy a welcoming day with music, community vendors, resource tables, and ways to connect with disability‑led organizations. The festival centers joy, visibility, and belonging, celebrating disability identity and the contributions of people with disabilities across Minnesota.

MCD will be on site with Treat People Like People campaign items, new poster art by Minnesota artists with disabilities, other materials, and giveaways.

Why It Matters
Did you know: About 12% of Minnesotans report having a disability, and more than 1 in 4 U.S. adults live with a disability. Events like this honor disability culture, challenge stereotypes, and build connection. Most importantly, they remind us that disability is a natural and valuable part of human diversity.

Disability Pride Month is observed each July to mark the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law on July 26, 1990. It’s a time to reflect on progress, recognize ongoing barriers, and celebrate the leadership of people with disabilities.

More Information
Visit ACT’s Disability Pride Festival event page for more information.
https://www.selfadvocacy.org/disability-pride-festival

09/15/2026

Only two more days until "Celebrating Constitution and Citizenship Day, Independent Living and the Right to Vote!" This free event will be held in the Capitol Rotunda this Thursday, September 17 from 2:00-3:45 pm. The event will feature Constitution, Citizenship, & Independent Living Presentations followed by a Voting Rights Education Forum.

Join MCIL, members of the disability community, the community at large, policymakers, and more at the Capitol Rotunda as we mark National Constitution and Citizenship Day, honoring our nation’s founding principles and laws, independent living protections, and celebrate the right to equitable access to voting.

Learn more about the event on our website at the link below, including a full list of presenters:

https://mcil-mn.org/celebrating-constitution-and-citizenship-day-independent-living-and-the-right-to-vote/

09/03/2026

MCIL is excited to announce "Celebrating Constitution and Citizenship Day, Independent Living and the Right to Vote," a free event in the Capitol Rotunda on September 17 from 2:00-3:45 pm. The event will feature Constitution, Citizenship, & Independent Living Presentations followed by a Voting Rights Education Forum.

Join MCIL, members of the disability community, the community at large, policymakers, and more at the Capitol Rotunda as we mark National Constitution and Citizenship Day, honoring our nation’s founding principles and laws, independent living protections, and celebrate the right to equitable access to voting.

Learn more about the event on our website at the link below, including a full list of presenters:

https://mcil-mn.org/celebrating-constitution-and-citizenship-day-independent-living-and-the-right-to-vote/

09/01/2026

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

September 9: Goal Setting & Realistic Planning Class
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

September 16: Driver's Ed Class
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

September 23: Breaking Down Self Advocacy Class
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

September 28: Housing Class
11:00 am - 12:00 pm

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

Enhance your independent living skills, sign up today!

08/31/2026

It's been a fun start to the State Fair with our friends at Minnesota Council on Disability! We've enjoyed visiting and telling everyone about all the services we provide. We will be back in the Education Building with MCD on September 2nd and 4th!

08/27/2026

We're excited for another year at the State Fair! We'll be guests in the Minnesota Council on Disability booth tonight from 5:00-9:00 pm in the Education Building, we hope you'll stop by and visit!

08/17/2026

Voices for Vaccines has a page with an overview of COVID, Long COVID, and how the vaccines work. Learn more at the link below:

COVID is caused by a type of coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. Learn more about the COVID-19 and vaccine updates.

08/06/2026

"We are guided by the immutable laws of humanity, which are self-evident, universal, and serve as the basis of a constitutional society in that call to advancing freedom, safety, fairness, human dignity, and the work of caring for one another in pursuit of solving the direct care crisis, transforming the healthcare system and society"

Thank you to MSN for the honor of including MCIL Executive Director Jesse Bethke Gomez among their Top 10 Leading Men in 2026. This honor recognizes the work of MCIL in solving the direct care workforce shortage crisis.

Read Top 10 Leading Men in 2026 on the MSN website:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/top-10-leading-men-in-2026/ar-AA29pqFc

07/15/2026

Important Update: The Disability Pride Festival has been postponed due to an extreme heat warning on Thursday. Thank you for continuing to care for one another. We will be celebrating disability pride together soon.

With gratitude,

ACT