HR0760

LRB096 15787 KXB 31027 r





  
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HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to congratulate the Cara Program 
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for receiving the 2009 Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence 
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Award for community groups who have exemplary programs in 
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communities faced with poverty; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, The Cara Program was founded in 1991 by Chicagoan, 
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entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Thomas M. Owens; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, The Cara Program is a premier model for 
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alleviating poverty in the nation; working with hundreds of top 
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companies, community organizations, volunteers, and funders, 
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The Cara Program has placed 2,500 motivated Chicagoans affected 
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by homelessness and poverty into permanent, quality employment 
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with wages well-above Illinois minimum wage and benefits since 
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1991; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Through The Cara Program's intensive training and 
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support services, thousands of Chicagoans and their families 
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have been empowered to break out of the cycle of poverty and 
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onto the path of self-sufficiency; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Cleanslate, The Cara Program's social enterprise, 
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also helps to revitalize Chicago's communities by providing 
 


 






HR0760
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LRB096 15787 KXB 31027 r




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neighborhood beautification services while providing 
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transitional employment (internships) to Cara students with 
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significant obstacles to employment; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, The Cara Program will receive the 2009 Bank of 
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America Neighborhood Excellence Award on November 18, 2009; 
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therefore, be it
  
 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate the Cara Program on receiving the 2009 Bank of 
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America Neighborhood Excellence Award and thank them for their 
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efforts in alleviating unemployment and poverty; and be it 
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further
  
 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Thomas Owens as a symbol of our respect and 
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esteem.