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Watch Motivations

Watch Motivations
A unique and exciting daily activity for students.

Check out our social enterprise, Cleanslate!

Cleanslate is our social enterprise, founded on the principles of "fast and friendly" service, community and vitality.

Our Social Enterprise, Cleanslate
Check out our social enterprise, Cleanslate!

"When I was at Cara, I felt loved. There was nothing impossible; there was nothing that couldn’t be achieved. I brought that here, to my job at Northwestern Memorial Hospital."

"When I was at Cara, I felt loved. Everyone really cared. There was
nothing impossible; there was nothing
that couldn’t be achieved. I brought
that here, to my job at Northwestern Memorial Hospital."
Click to learn more about Alex’s incredible career.

Learn about Alex's incredible career

Let's transform lives!

The Cara Program prepares and inspires motivated individuals to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty, transform their lives, strengthen our communities, and forge paths to real and lasting success.

This is how we do it

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  • #cara student Dmitri J. secured a position with The Habitat Company! 245 of 270!!
  • #cara student James M. secured a position with Terrace Paper Company! 244 of 270!!
  • "Every struggle has a silver lining. What is the silver lining to a current struggle you are dealing with?" #motivations
  • Agreed! MT @juliacsmith: Morning motivations = a powerful way to start the day! Got to cheer for someone who rang the "I got a job" bell."
  • #cara students Gregory & Clifford secured apprenticeships @cta!! 242 and 243 of 270!
  • "Share a specific time or event when you learned from a past mistake. What did you learn and how have you applied this lesson?" #motivations
  • #cara student Dante M. secured a position at Greencore USA as a Sanitation Worker! 241 of 270!!
  • #cara students Lasandra P., Sonya S., Ladonna D., & Gale G. secured apprenticeships @CTA! 237-240 of 270!!
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Our Partner Programs

Clean Slate Quad Communities Center for Working Families 180 Properties Logo

The Impact

Job Placements

graduates placed into quality jobs since 1991

learn more

Our Supporters and Employers

  • Engineered Glass Products
  • Armitage Baptist Church
  • Calumet Area Industrial Commission
  • Ravenswood Community Council
  • Skilken
  • Six Corners Association
  • River North Businesses
  • Various Private Groupon Customers
  • 180° Property Services
  • John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County
  • Illinois Medical District Guest House
  • Little Village Chamber of Commerce
  • Illinois Medical District
  • The Habitat Company
  • Union League Club
  • Scrub Inc.
  • Oce Business Services, Inc.
  • Charter One Bank
  • Standard Bank
  • Palmer House Hilton
  • Hilton Chicago O'Hare
  • Loretto Hospital
  • Gate Gourmet
  • Vacant Property Security
  • Sodexo @ Northwestern
  • Resurrection Healthcare
  • Greyhound
  • Hyatt Regency Chicago
  • Hyatt Regency O'Hare
  • Hyatt Regency McCormick
  • Standard Parking
  • JP Morgan Chase
  • Securitas
  • Northwestern Memorial Hospital
  • Pierce and Associates
  • Manpower
  • Mercy Housing Lakefront
  • Pitney Bowes
  • Terrace Paper Company
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
  • Cambridge Commercial Cleaning
  • Center For Working Families
  • Chicago Bulls
  • Chicago Transit Authority
  • Cleanslate
  • Digby's Security
  • Dyson, Inc.
  • ABM Janitorial Services
  • ACORN Housing
  • Allied Barton Security Services
  • ARAMARK
  • Bank of America
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