The mission of the Council for the Head Injured Community [CHIC] is to champion and publicize the advocacy, rights, and needs of people who have survived a brain injury. Membership is based on members of the Association who identify themselves as a person with a brain injury when applying for or renewing their membership. We encourage any person, whether they are a member of the Association or not, to become involved in CHIC. Furthermore, we encourage family members and significant others to be involved with CHIC as CHIC serves to better the lives of all persons with brain injury.
In addition to developing and implementing its signature event, Mike-at-the-Mike, CHIC is also known for its sense of empowerment, social bonding, educational value, and ability to assist people with brain injuries in maximizing their quality of life.
Join the Council for the Head Injured Community (CHIC)
CHIC meets approximately every fourth to sixth Saturday between the months of September and June at JFK Hartwyck @ Oak Tree in Edison, NJ. Meetings begin at 10:00 a.m. If you are interested in attending an upcoming CHIC meeting or are interested in learning more about CHIC, contact Tom Grady, Director of Advocacy & Public Affairs for the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey at 732-745-0200 or tgrady@bianj.org New members are welcomed at any time! Come join us!! .
Meet Our Chair, Edwin Rivas
Edwin Rivas was a heating and air conditioning technician and volunteer firefighter prior to an automobile crash in April of 2003, from which he sustained a traumatic brain injury. Since April 2003, Edwin has become an active member of the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey. As Chair of the Council for the Head Injured Community, he is a member of the Association’s Board.
Edwin has served as a counselor for TREK, the Association’s annual week-long summer camp, and is actively involved in support groups, volunteer work and advocacy for the brain injured community. He works for JFK Johnson Rehabilitation’s Center for Head Injuries in Edison, where he is instrumental in motivating and inspiring individuals with brain injury. Edwin’s colleagues see his genuine compassion and tireless commitment to building the self-confidence and improving the quality of life for people with brain injury. He is not only well-respected, he is admired.
Since 2006, Edwin received an award from the Mayor of Woodbridge Township in recognition of his community volunteer efforts. Most recently, he received the Mimi Goldman Positive Achievement Award from the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey.
Edwin’s personal aspiration is to serve as an exemplary model of success for the brain injury community. He believes the journey to recovery from brain injury is a marathon, rather than a sprint, which begins with taking one first step, then another step, and then another. Realizing that brain injury is a very challenging journey, Edwin encourages people with brain injuries to persevere and not let setbacks be disappointing. Edwin invites each member of the brain injured community, their families, and their friends to support and encourage one another as each individual takes their first step and progresses on the journey to recovery.
Edwin lives in Colonia, New Jersey. He has been married to his wife, Julia, for 24 years. They have two sons, Michael and Thomas.
Mike-at-the-Mike
CHIC hosts “Mike-at-the-Mike” each year at the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey’s Annual Seminar. Members all take part in planning our signature event, and CHIC co-founder and long-time member, Mike Greenwald, leads our panel discussion each year. He fields audience questions about a topic of interest to the brain injury community. The event is educational and informative for anyone who is impacted by brain injury.
Legislative Affairs
Members of CHIC are active in the halls of our state and national capitol to ensure that the voices of the brain injury community are heard. The council advocates for policies that will prevent brain injury and provide services for people with brain injury and their families.
Upcoming Events
- January 24 - Meeting at JFK Hartwyck at Oak Tree in Edison, 10 a.m.
- February 28 - Meeting at JFK Hartwyck at Oak Tree in Edison, 10 a.m.
- March 21 - Meeting at JFK Hartwyck at Oak Tree in Edison, 10 a.m.
Contact Tom Grady, Director of Advocacy & Public Affairs with any questions you may have at 732-745-0200 or at tgrady@bianj.org
Pictures
View pictures of our "Dress to Impress" social event held at the Colonia Fire Department on November 15, 2008.
View pictures of our Social Event 2007.
View pictures of our Brain Injury Awareness Month Event 2007.
What Members Say About CHIC
“Being involved with CHIC has empowered me to function better in the world I have not only been able to only help myself, I have been able to help others. I have been involved with the Association’s advocacy program as well as the Mentor program. None of this would have been possible without the support of CHIC. Thank you.” – Joe Caminiti
“I was able to go to Washington, D.C. to promote the need for full-funding of the TBI Act. I cannot begin to say how good I feel about having the opportunity to make a positive difference for brain injured individuals on such a large scale. I would not have been able to do so without the help of CHIC.” – Jesse Clark
“Over the past four years my involvement with CHIC has provided me with many benefits. I have learned how to advocate for myself and others through CHIC organized events in Trenton with the state legislature. These activities have also given me the self-esteem that comes from knowing that I am making a difference for myself and for others, rather than simply letting other people do things for me. CHIC has also provided me with a community of people who are dealing with the same issues I face on a daily basis. The monthly meetings and other activities planned by CHIC provide me with a place to go and enjoyable people to do things with. I also take great pride in the work CHIC does to educate the community about brain injury.” - Cheryl Weber
“If CHIC had not helped bring people of brain injuries and politicians together, items like the TBI Fund may still be some one’s dream! The opportunity to help others today and maybe you tomorrow exist now!” – Tim Burns
“I am a 45 year-old man who has been living with the effects of brain injury since age 22. With the help of the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey and CHIC, I have overcome many obstacles. I am now employed by the Gloucester County Department of Human Services as a Field Representative Narcotics Division. I have spoken to over 36,000 youths on the topic of making good choices and was able to create a video.” – Frank Smith
Special Notes
The Brain Injury Association of New Jersey produces a quarterly newsletter. As such, we are interested in including feature stories about people impacted by brain injury. If you are interested in being considered as a subject for a feature story, please contact our Communications Associate, Bill Kolbenschlag at 732-745-0200 or via email at bkolbenschlag@bianj.org