Thursday, March 8, 2018Maria Kim, President and CEO of Cara
North Shore Breakfast
How a Princeton Grad Became “Unhireable” and the Unexpected Way He’s Getting Back on Track
Join us for a discussion with Maria Kim, CEO of Cara – a Chicago-based organization helping people affected by homelessness and poverty get and keep good jobs. She’ll review the Chicago poverty landscape, the misfortunes and missteps that lead individuals to poverty, and the innovative methods employed to help people – even the most unlikely suspects like a current participant who is a Princeton grad – not just get and keep good jobs, but get and keep great hope, esteem and opportunity as a result. She’ll also share their work with social enterprises (for-profit businesses that employ their candidates), and the role the market plays in this larger work.
Maria Kim
After 13 years in the insurance industry (with her last position leading the technology division for a $400m insurance firm), in 2005 Maria Kim joined Cara – a social purpose organization activating people and communities through the power of employment. In business for 25 years, Cara helps men and women affected by poverty to get and keep good jobs, and more importantly rebuild hope, self-esteem and opportunity for themselves and their families in the process. They produce hundreds of jobs each year, at retention rates over 20 points higher than national norms, and with over 80% of employed participants moving onto permanent housing in which their families can thrive.
Their results don’t just end with employment. They also maintain market-competitive businesses that create gateway jobs for those they serve, and produce a profound social return on investment, where for every dollar invested in this work, $5.74 is re-invested in society over a five year time horizon. The work is important not only because of its clear goal of bringing individuals in need back to the dignity and the productivity of employment, but because of its clear mission to transform people’s lives. Families become stronger, relationships are healed, and communities become more vibrant because nothing gives you a positive outlook on life like a job.
Outside of Cara, Maria serves on the Cook County Commission on Social Innovation and the boards of Epic Academy and Rebuilding Exchange. She was a fellow for Leadership Greater Chicago’s Class of 2008, served on the board for the Leadership Fellows Association in 2009 and 2010, was a 2012 American Marshall Memorial Fellow and a 2013 TEDxMidwest Emerging Leader.
Maria holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Click here for more information about Maria Kim and Cara
EVENT DETAILS:
DATE: Thursday, March 8, 2018
Pre-Pay REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Wednesday, March 7 at noon.
TIME: 7:00-8:30 am
LOCATION: Max & Benny’s (Brookside Shopping Center), 461 Waukegan Road, Northbrook, IL 60062
COST: Please prepay
Pre-paid $20.00
Walk-in tickets at the door: $30.00
NORTH SHORE BREAKFAST FUTURE DATES:
We meet the second Thursday morning of every month. If you would like to present or have a suggestion for a presenter, please contact [email protected].
