Earnest W. is a family man and a gentle man who unfortunately had, over the years, spent over two decades lost in an addiction.  During that time, his wife divorced him, his kids no longer wanted him around, he lost his job, he lost his friends, and he lost himself.  Living on the streets behind McCormick Place, Earnest finally found Pacific Garden Mission – a recovery home who worked with him on building his sobriety and ultimately referred him to The Cara Program.

Through intensive training with Cara, he learned a variety of skills that landed him employment at the Tribune Company as a janitor.  He is still gainfully employed there now ten years later, has accrued multiple promotions (is now responsible for running large-scale newspaper distribution machinery), has reunited with his wife and his family, and now owns a home in North Kenwood.  Not only has he re-found himself, but he has also re-found his family – his wife, his four kids, his four grandkids, and one great grandbaby too.  To boot, over the past decade, he has referred his sister, his cousin, and several sponsees to The Cara Program so they too may find real and lasting success.  For us, Earnest embodies true life transformation and the power of The Cara Program’s mission at work.

Some of you have recently received a letter from our dear friend, Cathy.  We are so proud of Cathy for her leadership as a Cara staff member, a mom and a former Cara student. 

"Five and a half years ago, I was at my lowest point in my life: a victim of drug addiction, homelessness and unemployment.  I found myself wanting a better life not only for myself, but for my family.  I had dreams of becoming a good mother and role model for my three children.  But my children's lives were shattered.  To read more about Cathy's journey, please click here.

Glenn loves his job at MPC Products Corporation. A mathematically-inclined navy veteran with a resume full of technology-related certifications, Glenn is proud of his work manufacturing parts for jet engines. At the end of a full day, he is satisfied to know that his efforts will help contribute to the safety and reliability of air travel.

Despite his certifications and skills, Glenn was out of work and living in a homeless shelter in late 2006. He went through some difficult times in the decade after having being honorably discharged form the navy, and was looking for a new chance to be successful.

Glenn dedicated himself to the transformational teachings of The Cara Program while on his journey to personal and professional success. His coaches reminded him regularly that, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% what you make of it.” Through this training, Glenn regained his faith in himself and embraced his future.

Glenn attributes his job placement and success to the community support and career training he received at The Cara Program. He says, “[The training at The Cara Program] is a powerful tool to see how others see you. You can only do so much on your own at the library. It helps so much to have other people in your corner.”

Glenn has a new lease on life and is working hard to continue his success. He stays enthusiastic about his work and looks forward to a day when he can be completely self-sufficient.

Aware that other individuals with his technical aptitude may be admitted to The Cara Program, Glenn also remains in contact with staff by regularly sending in job leads for other students who have similar qualifications or interests. It is The Cara Program’s philosophy that personal transformation requires a healthy network of family and friends to support each individual. Though graduated, Glenn does not forget the connections he has to the rest of the Cara family. He continues to be motivated to do all he can to give back to his community.

Eric Weinheimer, President of The Cara Program was thrilled to get to his desk early one morning to find an email message from a woman who went though The Cara Program in 2003.

A single mother affected by poverty, Shanika came to The Cara Program in search of opportunity. She spent the first several weeks focusing on foundational skills that would facilitate her job readiness. She quickly aligned with key principles that stay with her to this day – including her email tagline, “proper preparation prevents poor performance”. Throughout her time at The Cara Program, Shanika built her confidence, made presentations without fear, strengthened her data entry skills and eventually secured a quality job with career potential at the prestigious company of JPMorgan Chase.

More than four years later, Shanika continues to thrive at JPMorgan Chase, and has quickly advanced in her company – now serving as Remittance Supervisor. As Supervisor, she is charged with the responsibility of hiring for her team and has had the opportunity to interview new Cara students looking to secure long-term employment within her company. In her email to Mr. Weinheimer, Shanika said:

“I am very impressed with the professionalism and wealth of company knowledge Cara candidates have. I shouldn't be surprised. I remember the intense training I had. It has helped me climb the corporate ladder here. I owe of all it to The Cara Program.”

Shanika was so impressed that she hired two former Cara students, who she now supervises. Shanika’s success illustrates the impact of The Cara Program. By providing intensive life and job skills training, as well as quality job placement and support services to Shanika and her classmates, The Cara Program did more than to give her the opportunity to begin to lift her family up out of poverty. Indeed, The Cara Program and JPMorgan Chase gave her the opportunity to begin an exciting, professional career path in which she could shine, and through which the relationship between both organizations was strengthened.

Shanika impressed the management at JPMorgan Chase when she applied the skills that she developed at The Cara Program to her work. She set precedence for other Cara students that would follow her. She modeled behavior for all to follow – not only as a service-oriented professional but also as a mother – financially empowered to better provide for her family.

The power of The Cara Program comes through in those moments when men and women reclaim their self-sufficiency – instilling in their children the power of commitment, and creating the foundation to stop the transfer of poverty from one generation to the next.