Spring '05

This seems like an especially appropriate time for us to be talking about, and celebrating, our ideals of community. Many of you reading this recently shared that indescribably wonderful community feeling with us at the 24th annual Outstanding Worker Awards Luncheon gala for workers 50 and over. Several veterans of the OWAL said they experienced a wonderful, heart-warming spirit of shared accomplishment that made this one of the most memorable events ever. For many of us, it was an important and empowering reminder of what is truly possible, even under the most difficult of circumstances.

Critical to both the past and future successes of our clients are our productive and developing relations with area employers. We very recently celebrated the launch of our long-anticipated Employer Advisory Board. The Board consists of senior business leaders committed to working collaboratively to address various employment-related issues. Our first breakfast round table met April 8 and will be meeting quarterly to tackle a series of relevant topics.

The National Able Network staff and Board of Directors are also feeling particularly warm and happy about welcoming Gene Mackevich of Smith Barney/Citigroup to the Board, and Debra Walker Johnson to our executive team, as VP of Development and Marketing. For both staff and Board members, we look for community leaders who not only hold and demonstrate our shared values, but who possess an energy-driven sense of purpose that inspires those around them. Both Gene and Debra bring those traits and more to the agency, and I am confident they will teach us, as well as grow with us, in ways that make Able a stronger community partner.

And finally, one especially exciting project for us this summer is the July 1 opening of our first permanent SCSEP office in Los Angeles, California. LA is a community with many opportunities and challenges in common with Chicago, and the team is working hard on plans that will extend our service reach to help people there get back to work and life. My special thanks to Rick Kurtz, Ed Henrikson, and all of the SCSEP team for quietly making the big things happen, yet again.