Panelists James, William, David and Matthew discussed their experiences with St. Leonard’s programs and how the organization assisted them in their personal and professional growth. Throughout these touching testimonials, the lack of adequate housing for formerly incarcerated individuals seemed a dominate issue, as all four gentlemen had encountered this obstacle upon their release. Bob Dougherty, St. Leonard’s Executive Director, stressed that, “we need more developers committed to providing housing to individuals returning from prison.”

Since 1954, St. Leonard’s Ministries has provided a setting on Chicago’s Near West Side in which men and women recently released from prison can achieve productive and wholesome lives. Residents are provided with an array of services designed to assist them as they make the transition to successful, independent living. St. Leonard’s is comprised of three residential facilities, providing interim housing and supportive services: St. Leonard’s House, which houses recently released men; St. Andrew’s Court, which houses program graduates; and Grace House, which provides housing for women.

Panelists took attendees on a tour of the St. Andrew’s Court residential facility and the Michael Barlow Center. The Barlow Center, named in honor of former St. Leonard’s resident and staff member Michael Barlow, provides education, training, and job placement services for program participants. Participants receive training in culinary arts, computer skills and building construction. YLS members and panelists gathered together over lunch (generously provided by St. Leonard’s) and sought solutions that would assist individuals in their transition. Mr. Dougherty discussed the organization’s partnership with the Adler School of Psychology, whereby doctoral students provide individual and group psychological counseling to residents. Other solutions centered on assistance that could be provided by the financial industry. Microloans from banks could support necessities such as a security deposits, food and public transportation. This small form of assistance has the potential to bring forth a far greater return in the life of the formerly incarcerated.

The YLS Issue Awareness Committee thanks all that were able to attend. Your insight on this important topic ensured its success, and we look forward to your presence at future events. This issue doesn’t end here. St. Leonard’s continuously seeks volunteers like you, who are willing to assist program participants in the development of their professional development skills. Check out the St. Leonard’s website to see where you can contribute, learn and continue to LIVE UNITED.

See photos

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This post was written by kmartin

That summer, I joined the Issue Awareness Committee so I could help organize events for YLS members that would increase awareness of pressing social issues. The volunteer fair and food desert workshop were my first events with the committee last year, and as Vice Chair for the committee this year, I hope we can raise the bar even higher with events that bring awareness to even more members.

Living in a large city like Chicago, there are many social issues to address and many ways to give back — whether you donate food or money to a local charity, give your time to a volunteer agency or advocate for legislative change. United Way serves as an educational resource for young professionals who want to learn more and connects them with like-minded people to take action.

I LIVE UNITED by serving as an eye-opener to people who want to learn more and inspiring them to action.

Mattie Wilson
Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance
Vice Chair Issue Awareness Committee

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This post was written by kmartin

Please take a moment to read about an amazing man, who’s not only a great philanthropic example in our community, but also a kick-butt defensive end!

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20100828/ISSUE03/308289994/return-on-goals

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This post was written by Christine Heim

Hi! I'm the media and community relations specialist at United Way. Hope you enjoy my blog posts!

On Thursday, September 9th from 5:00pm – 7:00pm, Northwest Suburban United Way and Clayground Art Studio (a division of River Trails Park District) invite you to Art of Wine, an exclusive gallery showing and wine tasting featuring artist Anthony Soskich and his students. Light hors d’oeuvres will also be served and there will be the opportunity to purchase original artwork at the event located at 550 East  Business Center Drive in Mount Prospect .

“We’re very excited to host such a unique and intimate event,” says Marcia McMahon, Chief Professional Officer at Northwest Suburban United Way. “We’re very excited to invite our donors, campaign and community leaders and anyone interested in learning more about United Way and River Trails Park District into our “home” so they can discover the wonderful work we’re doing right here in our community.”

Tickets for Art of Wine are limited and are $25 a couple and $15 a single. For more information and to reserve your ticket(s) today, contact Melissa Kast at 847.768.1074 or at melissa.kast@uw-mc.org. Please RSVP by Friday, September 3rd. Proceeds from Art of Wine benefit Northwest Suburban United Way and River Trails Parks & Recreation Foundation.

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This post was written by Melissa Kast

Hello! I am the Development Manager - Special Events for Northwest Suburban United Way! I hope you enjoy my blog posts! Please leave comments so I can hear everything you have to say as well!

On behalf of YLS, we’re so excited to share this Comcast Newsmakers interview with our former YLS Executive Chair, Katie Patterson! Talking about ways that we Give, Advocate and Volunteer as a part of the group, Katie’s interview helped viewers understand what we’re all about and the impact young professionals can make on our community. Great job, Katie, and thanks for being such a great representative of our group!

Did you like the clip? Do you want to know more about YLS? Visit our website at LiveUnitedChicago.org/YLS to sign up for our monthly newsletter and learn more about how YLS LIVES UNITED.

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This post was written by kmartin

“I was addicted to alcohol and drugs. I had a conviction on my record. I was living with my mom. I was homeless.

“For 12 years of my life, I lived a very unproductive, irresponsible and destructive life. This had to change. I used to ask myself, ‘would I die out on the street? Would my child be ripped of any opportunity to know me and I know him? How could I continue to be so selfish?’ That’s when I decided to go to Sister House Recovery Home.”

Just a few years ago, Natalia had many obstacles to overcome, with few resources to help her through. But when Sister House Recovery Home referred her to The Cara Program, she quickly found her niche. The Cara Program, funded in part by United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, is a job training and placement provider for individuals affected by homelessness and poverty. A vehicle for true life transformation, The Cara Program brings hope, opportunity and most of all, community, to people in need.

“My mom raised me to set goals, but The Cara Program helped me build the foundation and routine in my life that allowed me to accomplish them,” Natalia said. “Right now, nothing would make me go back to abusing drugs and alcohol. There’s nothing worth losing the love and respect of my son and family.”

Equally important to the programs that help so many homeless and underserved members of our community are the dedicated and caring companies that help turn their goals into accomplishments.

Goldman Sachs is one of those companies. Through their Public Service Fellowship Program, Goldman Sachs grants their top performers a unique opportunity to serve the public and develop leadership skills in an entirely new environment. Public Service Fellows are selected and given paid leave for an entire year to help organizations reach strategic objectives and create a lasting impact.

It was through the Fellowship Program that Mark Carroll, a former employee of Goldman Sachs and a current principal at Cognitive Capital in Chicago, was able to join The Cara Program’s team for a year to help launch Cleanslate, their first social enterprise, which not only stands on its own, but also creates jobs within the community.

Cleanslate provides litter abatement, landscaping, snow removal and property preservation services on an on-going, contract basis for different communities throughout the City of Chicago, and is the same organization that launched Natalia’s career.

“The daily demands that Cleanslate interns face are far greater than what I have to deal with,” Mark said of his experience with the organization. “Personally, my year with the Cara staff and students was an eye opening experience – I was able to return to Goldman Sachs and apply what I had learned at Cara in many ways.”

It didn’t take long for Mark to truly understand the importance of a supportive corporate environment to complete a project like Cleanslate, either. For companies that already run programs like the Public Service Fellowship or that would like to start one, Mark believes, “You get what you put in. The length of time spent at the organization and the company’s commitment to giving back need to be a top priority to make a real impact on the community.”

Natalia was promoted four times during her two years working for Cleanslate and works as the transitional jobs manager, today. In her role, she is responsible for connecting The Cara Program’s mission to the rest of the Cleanslate employees and business processes, and says she cannot thank The Cara Program enough for allowing her the opportunity to succeed.

“I never thought I’d be a parent,” Natalia said. “Because of Cara, because of Sister House Recovery Home, because of my family, because of everyone who believed in me, now I’m being a loving mom and a productive member of society.”

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This post was written by Christine Heim

Hi! I'm the media and community relations specialist at United Way. Hope you enjoy my blog posts!

During Northwestern’s first home football game tailgate on Saturday, Sept. 11, from 8 – 11:30 a.m., United Way and Northwestern will host a huge School Supply Drive benefiting Chicago HOPES, a non-profit organization that helps homeless Chicago students receive school supplies. Northwestern students, alumni, staff and all other football game attendees are encouraged to bring school supplies in exchange for discounted food items and cool prizes. Participants can also stick around for fun pre-game activities and the chance to win even more great prizes!

Receiving new school or office supplies is always exciting. And so is giving them. Northwestern’s football stadium holds 49,256 people, so if each person brought one school item, almost 50,000 children in need would have a better start to their year – think about that impact!

Only 54% of Chicago students graduate from high school. But by ensuring children enter school ready to learn and preparing middle schoolers to enter high school ready to succeed, United Way is helping to repair our broken system. Learn more about United Way’s Education efforts.

If you’re interested in participating in United Way’s School Supply Drive in some way, or if you just want some more information, contact Christine Heim, media and community relations specialist, at Christine.Heim@uw-mc.org.

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This post was written by Christine Heim

Hi! I'm the media and community relations specialist at United Way. Hope you enjoy my blog posts!

In Chicago, UPS donated $2.27 million and remained the #1 employee campaign for the 11th consecutive year during the 2009 fundraising season alone!

With the help of UPS, United Way is able to solve difficult, but important, problems like low high school graduation rates, unemployment and poverty, and lack of access to adequate health care. These problems are not unsolvable – they just take everyone working together to address them.

Companies like UPS make the United Way mission possible. So, thanks a billion, UPS, we are so grateful!

Thank your local UPS by signing the online Thank You card today.

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This post was written by Christine Heim

Hi! I'm the media and community relations specialist at United Way. Hope you enjoy my blog posts!

Forbes just published its list of the World’s Most Valuable Brands – and United Way is the only non-profit to make the Top 50! Ranking 26th between Verizon and Nintendo with a brand value of $14.3 billion!

United Way is listed on page two, with a vast description of how far our organization has come in the past 100 years and our undying commitment to the communities we serve.

It’s amazing to see how United Way has evolved into a worldwide recognized ‘brand’ sandwiched in between such big players as McDonalds and Samsung, when our efforts really lie in how we can create lasting change in the local community. It seems obvious, that a thank you is in order for all of our corporate citizens, non-profit partners, volunteers, and the generous individuals who, have essentially, gotten ‘the word out’ about the work of United Way. Their commitment and dedication to our vision is really what helped up evolve into a brand, make a lasting impact and accomplish more than single person, group or organization. So, Thank You.

We hope you’ll take a moment to read the article and continue to be a part of our journey.

The World’s Most Valuable Brands
Forbes, 2010

1. Apple
2. Microsoft
3. Coca Cola
4. IBM
5. Google
6. McDonald’s
7. General Electric
8. Marlboro
9. Intel
10. Nokia
11. Toyota
12. Cisco
13. Vodafone
14. Hewlett Packard
15. AT &T
16. BMW
17. Oracle
18. Louis Vuitton
19. Mercedes
20. Disney
21. Gillette
22. Honda
23. Walmart
24. Pepsi
25. Verizon
26. United Way
27. Nintendo
28. Budweiser
29. Nescafe
30. SAP
31. Nike
32. American Express
33. Samsung
34. L’Oreal
35. HSBC
36. Blackberry
37. IKEA
38. Frito-Lay
39. Canon
40. Wells Fargo
41. Kellogg’s
42. J P Morgan Chase
43. UPS
44. Bank of America
45. Goldman Sachs
46. Dell
47. H & M
48. ESPN
49. eBay
50. Gucci

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This post was written by Christine Heim

Hi! I'm the media and community relations specialist at United Way. Hope you enjoy my blog posts!

The next class will begin their service-learning on November 1, and will be studying Digital Media and Social Media Marketing, Healthcare Information Technology, Windows Systems Operation Management, Project Management, Network Management, Technical Sales, Telecommunications, and Web Design and Development. If you are with a non-profit agency that has technology projects in one of these areas and would like to partner with United Way and the City of Chicago to host CCT participants at your site, please contact Carrie Newton at Carrie.Newton@uw-mc.org. 

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This post was written by cnewton

Carrie is the Director of United Way's Skill-Based Volunteer Program. She is responsible for coordinating United Way's participation in Chicago Career Tech, a City of Chicago initiative to provide technology skills to unemployed professionals through a 6-month training program. During their training program, Chicago Career Tech participants spend time studying in a classroom; learning about technology jobs at local for-profit corporations; and engaging in service-learning projects at community non-profit organizations. Carrie's job revolves around placing each participant in a relevant non-profit organization.