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Mary Carter, Director of Children’s Services Born on a Mississippi Delta plantation, Mary and her 10 brothers and sisters moved up and down the east coast with their migrant worker father, going where work could be found. "I saw families living in terrible situations-a whole family living in a bus or a truck. I said to myself, "When I get the opportunity, I am going to change the quality of life for these people. I am going to give them relief." Moved by her early life, Mary worked hard in the battle to end homelessness in Chicago through her leadership at a homeless shelter, an emergency fund, and a food pantry. "After 10 years, I saw that it was not possible," she said. Today, she is making a difference for hundreds of needy families in Chicago through their children. "Some of these people don't know English. They don't have the resources." Parents come to the center frightened, without an understanding of how to help their children get necessary resources. Many of them and are too shy to ask for help. "We empower the parents. We help them become advocates for their children so that they won't be marginalized when they go into the public schools." Mary says that the most powerful part of her work is the ability to change futures. "If we don't intervene now, that child is going to be labeled and pushed onto the sidelines. But if we can help now, we can get them the preparation they need to succeed in the school system." |
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