Believing in the Power of the Human Spirit

2009 Annual Report
to
Empower
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
people of all ages and abilities with meaningful opportunities
Clonita was asked to be a speaker at the press conference.
The state budget crisis of 2009 was a confusing and stressful time for all community-based service
providers. CARC was no exception. With rumors circulating and words like “Doomsday” flowing daily
in the news, no one knew what the eventual budget outcome would be. A collective, escalating
heaviness was felt by staff as well as the people we support. In July, CARC hosted a press conference
with the governor. Clonita agreed to be a spokesperson on behalf of her peers.
Kristin MacRAE
and Clonita Butler
In a packed room filled with film crews and the constant flashes from the photographer’s cameras,
Clonita stepped to the podium. In her hand she held the words she so carefully prepared. Maybe
it was an acute sense of nervousness or maybe it was the culmination of the collective pressure
which had been building for weeks, but suddenly she stopped. For a few seconds, she bowed her
head. For a few moments it appeared that she would not be able to continue. Then Clonita took
a deep breath, stood up straight, and became the voice for her peers and the agency. She looked
respectfully at the governor and in a clear, strong voice said: This is where I work. This is where my
friends work. Please don’t let them take my job.
In a summer filled with great uncertainty regarding state funding, CARC
hosted a press conference with Gov. Pat Quinn. Staff from his office asked
that two of CARC’s program participants convey in their own words what
the potentially devastating budget cuts would mean to them. Clonita
bravely agreed to speak on behalf of the agency and her peers.
She looked respectfully at
the governor and in a clear,
strong voice said: “This is
where I work. This is where
my friends work. Please
don’t let them take my job.”
CARC helps to empower people of all ages and abilities.
CARC programs have existed since 1964 to help children and adults with developmental
disabilities experience the basic—yet priceless opportunity to live, work and contribute to the
communities in which they reside. It is why every day, at any time, there is a CARC program site
open in Chicago. For 45 years, we have been a structure of support for individuals, families and
communities. There have been countless personal and programmatic successes...but today, the
challenges have never been greater. Indeed, our work of greatest consequence is still before us.
The pressure—along with the fear that services would be cut
had been building on a daily basis for weeks. For a moment,
Clonita needed to pause. After CARC CEO and President, Kristin
MacRAE, comforted her for a few short moments, Clonita
regained her composure and became the voice of the 1,500
people who CARC supports…and in all actuality, the voice for
persons with developmental disabilities throughout the state.
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CARC Annual Report 2009
2009 CARC Annual Report 11