30 Years of Chicago Cares

Today is a very meaningful day. Today is the 30th anniversary of the founding of Chicago Cares – the organization where I am honored to serve as CEO. 30 years of mobilizing volunteers to build a stronger, more unified Chicago. There have been hundreds of thousands of volunteers, countless projects and partners, and so many wonderful memories from the past three decades of Chicago Cares 

The results of our volunteers’ 30 years of service can be seen in every zip code across the city – from the thriving neighborhood garden in Englewood to the parent mentors supplied with books in Hermosa to the freshly painted signs outside an elementary school in North Lawndale. As Chicagoans who care, we can and should recognize the efforts we make together to meet our communities’ needs and support one another. 

But Chicago Cares’ impact on our city has always run much deeper than that. Our long-term, trusting relationships with volunteers, nonprofits, and companies give us an opportunity and a privilege to redefine what it means to be a volunteer and to contribute to a more vibrant and equitable city. We take that responsibility to Chicago seriously, and every day since two friends Leslie Bluhm and Mary Prchal founded Chicago Cares 30 years ago, our incredible team and volunteers have taken that mission and charge to heart. 

As I reflect on what this anniversary means to me, I think about all the ways that volunteering has shaped who I am and how I want to show up in my community. Here are three of my most meaningful memories of volunteering to mark this day:

1.    A few years ago, I was at a Chicago Cares project with great volunteers from Motorola Solutions, a long-time partner. We were gardening at a school on the South Side, working side-by-side with high school students from the neighborhood. It was a warm, sunny day, and everyone was excited by what we had accomplished together. At the end of the day, one of the Motorola volunteers came up to me and professed that “this was the best volunteer experience of my life. All day, I’ve been gardening next to and getting to know a young woman. Turns out, she is no different than my own daughter – she likes the same things, has the same dreams. The only difference is their zip code.” 

I was so moved by this volunteer’s reflection. That day, we were all living into the value that service can and should be a mutual exchange between neighbors, rather than a transactional act of charity. That volunteer reminded me how centering our volunteerism in mutuality and volunteering side-by-side with community members helps us build connection, understanding, and empathy. These are the building blocks of change, and I think often of that sunny day and that volunteer who was so moved.

2.    In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic changed how all of us support our communities and volunteer. Some folks stepped up to organize mutual aid networks, many Chicago Cares volunteers went online, and I answered the call for Lakeview Pantry volunteers at Wrigley Field. During the first weeks of the pandemic, Lakeview Pantry saw a 400% increase in demand for food. So, they quickly expanded to establish an emergency food distribution site at Wrigley Field, in collaboration with the Chicago Cubs. Over the course of several months, volunteers and staff packed and distributed more than 110,000 boxes of nutritious food. 

What was my volunteer role, you may ask? For those who know me, you may not be surprised to hear that I was given the role of traffic guard! Every Saturday morning, I stood on Addison between Clark and Sheridan with my whistle and vest, directing the constant flow of volunteer and recipient traffic. This volunteer opportunity gave me a much-needed sense of community and purpose during one of the scariest and most uncertain periods of my life. It is not an exaggeration to say that this volunteer opportunity got me through the pandemic, and I am grateful for the chance to be part of something so impactful. We don’t talk enough about how service can be a form of self-care, but it certainly has been for me.  

3.    And finally, last summer, after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, my personal definition of service expanded once again. My dear friend, Pastor Chris Harris, was organizing a community protest in Bronzeville. He asked me to show up and I answered his call.  

Reflecting back on that moment, I was proud that I showed up – for my friend, for my community, for the movement. In my 44 years, it was the first protest I attended. But I learned that day, and every day since, that it is never too late to show up. It is never too late to expand your definition of service to include activism and civic engagement. Maya Angelou said it best: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

These reflections have reminded me how powerful a volunteer experience can be – powerful for us as individuals and our communities. The very best kind of volunteering opens up our world, invites us in, and then shakes us up. I’m lucky to have experienced these life-changing moments and I look forward to many more transformations through volunteering.  

I would love to hear your favorite volunteer memories in the comments as we recognize Chicago Cares’ 30th anniversary today. And if you’re a partner of ours, I’d love to hear a meaningful memory of your time with Chicago Cares from the past 30 years.