Overview

For many people steeped in homelessness and poverty, the worst day is every day; and so, before we do the heavy lifting of getting back to work, we may first need to find a way to get back to hope. For 30 years, Cara Collective has been in the business of creating hope, jobs, and opportunity so that the world can see what they see: the limitless talent pool in our communities most affected by poverty. Their unique approach to workforce development - shifting perspectives of jobseekers on what's possible for the future and shifting perspectives of employers on what talent truly looks like - has resulted in placing more than 7,300 people into gainful employment, creating a ripple effect in families and communities in the process. Today, Cara Collective - through their various programs and businesses - is fueling a courageous national movement to eradicate relational and financial poverty. In this book, Maria Kim offers a deep dive into the programming, practices, and philosophies that shape Cara's mission - while also sharing the stories that celebrate successes and analyze failures the organization has seen in its three decades. Voice and Vocation is a guide for workforce practitioners, community leaders, employers, activists, and social innovators to build a more inclusive economy by unlocking the power and purpose in our most overlooked talent. As they say at Cara, let's get to work!

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9781737117902

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Reviews

Voice & Vocation sheds a penetrating light on how necessary and possible it is for our country to have a far more inclusive and equitable economy by connecting talented people who have experienced the hardest of times to work and opportunity. The book is essential reading for practitioners, offering experience-based guidance. --Carla Javits, REDF This book invites us to join the Cara movement to build up each human spirit to reach its potential heights. Maria Kim has served in leading this inclusive movement of many who want to be part of shouting out 'That's my friend!' and make our collective hope fully come to life for everyone. --Philip Hong, PhD, Loyola University Voice & Vocation is a must-read for anyone working in or funding the workforce development field, and really for anyone interested in building a replicable, high-performing impact organization. It is at once memoir, how-to guide, catalogue of best practices, and bastion of management insights, and will make you laugh, cry, and think. --Christina Hachikian, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business

Author Information

After 13 years in insurance, Maria Kim joined Cara Collective - a Chicago-based social enterprise engaging job seekers, employers, and community partners to break the cycle of poverty through the power and purpose of employment. Cara has helped people secure over 12,000 jobs, with permanent placements at retention rates over 20 points higher than national norms, and with 80% of employed participants transitioning into permanent housing in which their families can thrive. Maria serves on the advisory boards of the First Women's Bank and the University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab. She is a 2008 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow, a 2012 American Marshall Memorial Fellow, a 2018 Vital Voices Global Ambassador Mentee, a former co-chair within Chicago Mayor Lightfoot's 2019 transition team, and a 2020-2021 Presidential Leadership Scholar. Maria holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. At the time this book went to press, Maria was - like the participants Cara Collective has the honor to serve - in her own transition, about to step into a new role as President of REDF - a venture philanthropy in the mission of advancing the field of employment social enterprise. She attributes much of her career growth as a leader to the Cara Collective community, where she knows deep in her heart she found her own voice and vocation.

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