I’TS TIME TO get social! The Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association invites you to a «Happy Hour» where we can connect, discuss, and enjoy socializing with our fellow alumni, students and scholars. Bring your beverage of choice and come join us for an evening of conversation and insightful tips to cope with the COVID-19 situation.
DATE Thursday April 23, 2020
TIME 6:30-8:00pm
CONNECTION Zoom Meeting ID and password have been emailed. Check your emails! If you didn’t get it, email fulbrightchicago@gmail.com
The event will be held via Zoom Conference and we will be discussing the questions posed to the chapter from the recent survey you had all responded to. Please check your emails for the Zoom meeting ID and password. We thank all of you for the great feedback and for connecting with us through the survey. There will be a number of board members attending, and we will open the floor to the discussion of these important topics and continue into the evening with the social hour.
And not to cut the gathering short, the Zoom line will remain open for those who would like to continue socializing and enjoying their beverages throughout the evening.
If you have not had a chance to look over the COVID-19 Resources on the Chicago Chapter website, there is invaluable information for everyone on a broad range of topics from official information on the pandemic to food, education, and mental health, to name a few. I encourage you to take a look. COVID-19 Resources and Guidelines.
In the meantime, we would like to respond to some urgent questions posed in the survey:
INSURANCE Responses regarding health insurance/co-payment showed to be your primary concern in the survey.
As a Fulbright scholar you are protected by a specific insurance company ASPE (Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges). The ASPE has a deductible of $25 for each claim. Seven Corners, Inc is the program administrator of ASPE. The Chapter would like you to consider to:
Call your program advising manager in the Institute of International Education (IIE) Midwestern Regional Center-Chicago, if it is your sponsor in this country. If so, your program adviser is taking phone calls from any student who needs advise on insurance issues; or
Call Seven Corners, Inc (1-800-461-0430). This toll free number is exclusively for grantees in the United States.
Below are two links that will help you navigate the questions and or concerns related to your health insurance in the united States.
https://fulbrightonline.org/covid-19#foreign-students
https://us.fulbrightonline.org/current-fulbrighters/health-benefits-summary
FOOD RESOURCES The recent Food Resources posting in the Chicago Chapter Website has information indicating the options available in the city, as to where to go and which organizations are distributing free food. There are also university food pantries that are an option if you live near a university campus. Here is the link below. Check out this LINK. I highly suggest going through the COVID-19 Resources section on the website for invaluable information and resources.
There are also several grocery delivery apps that could be helpful. One is Instacart, which allows you to select the grocery items you would like and then have them delivered to you. Users can add their zip code and you’ll find the local stores delivering to your neighborhood.
Additionally, there are a lot of restaurants in Chicago offering delivery services. Check out this LINK with a write up about specific restaurants by neighborhood. As you may know, many restaurants are still offering take out and contact-less pick up and delivery.
We look forward to seeing you all there! Be safe and be well!
IN THIS UNPRECEDENTED time, educational institutions and government agencies at all levels are providing different types of assistance and resources to help students and their families to navigate the “stay at home” order without jeopardizing their formal education development. Below you will find a list of formal and non-formal resources for you to consider.
IN TIMES OF NEED, there is always somewhere to turn. With a record number of people filing for unemployment and rent due, many people are struggling to pay their bills and buy groceries. Here are some ways to stock up if your kitchen is bare and you’re not sure what to do.
Whether you shop at Aldi, Jewel, Mariano’s or Trader Joe’s, they have established shopping hours for senior citizens and other vulnerable populations. To find out about each individual store special schedule, click 
By Suzanne McBride—THE HUNGER WE HAVE for news and information at this chaotic and confusing time demonstrates the important role the media plays in helping us navigate our ever-changing world. Now more than ever it’s imperative that each of us look for reliable information that has been confirmed by credible and authoritative sources we trust.
By Dr. Tatiana Orlova—THE RECENT STAY-AT-HOME order has brought many changes into our lives. It is very important to be able to do what we enjoy during stressful situations, however, social distancing could make many activities very difficult or even impossible. We should view these new challenges as great opportunities to expand our interests and creativity.
By Teuta Peja—DURING THE COVID-19 pandemic, we are continuously told to self-isolate and stay at home because home is the safest place to be while the virus rages outside. But for victims and survivors of domestic/family violence this may not be the case. Some abusers may take advantage of the coronavirus outbreak to exert further control over the victim. Self- isolation with abusers and social- distancing may increase isolation and family violence of more vulnerable groups.
By Dr. Marilyn Susman— RIGHT NOW, IN ADDITION to the major losses of life, jobs and income in society, each of us is experiencing individual losses such as the end of Fulbright grants, separation from family and friends, missed graduations, and other lost opportunities. We have also lost the predictability that we take for granted such going to work or class, having our favorite foods available in the grocery store or going to a local restaurant to meet friends.
THERE ARE SMALL, anecdotal studies that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine—anti-malaria drugs— relieve the acute respiratory symptoms of covid-19 and clear the virus from infected patients. The Food and Drug Administration has given emergency approval to a Trump administration plan to distribute millions of doses of anti-malarial drugs to hospitals across the country, saying it is worth the risk of trying unproven treatments to slow the progression of the disease.
FULBRIGHT CHICAGO 