Anthony Goes from Despair to Purpose
“For 30 years, I was a commodity broker and trader with Merck. I knew my way around the Chicago Mercantile Exchange better than a cab driver on Lower Wacker. But in 2020, my life fell apart.
“My wife had a mental health crisis and tried to jump off our balcony. I was able to stop her—but not without injury. That left me with a sciatic nerve issue that caused pain from my head to my heel. The only part of the day I looked forward to was when I was asleep because that was the only time I wasn’t in pain.
“I lost everything—my marriage of 30 years, my career, even my housing. I was evicted through no fault of my own, and my bipolar disorder spiraled into a manic episode I couldn’t pull out of. By January 2023, I was sleeping on the streets in the middle of a Chicago winter.
“I was totally out of sorts and sick – mentally, physically, emotionally, everything. I had no future, no past. Nobody wanted to know me.
“Eventually, I got a bed at All American Nursing Home. It wasn’t ideal—no locks on the doors, no nutritious food, no peace—but it was off the street. That’s where I first heard about Cara Collective.
“On my second or third day, Mr. Jesse led us in the mirror exercise. I was carrying so much pain, physically and emotionally, and it all came to the surface. Jesse looked at me and said, ‘You’ve got to get healthy. If you can get healthy, you’re going to be fine.’
“At the time, I was overwhelmed. I had so much shame. I kept thinking about all the opportunities I’d squandered. But Cara helped me reframe those so-called “mistakes.” Now I don’t see them as mistakes—I see them as lessons. And lessons don’t stop you. Lessons help you grow.
“Cara helped me begin again. Not just by addressing my health, but by treating me like someone who still had value. They gave me tools, training, support—and most importantly, they gave me my hope back.
“Thanks to Cara, I started to get healthy again.
“With the help of Cara, I landed a job at Mount Sinai as a Patient Experience Liaison. I was excited but also sad to leave my Cara cohort—we’d been through something powerful together and I didn’t want to say goodbye. But I was ready.
“I love my job. I love that we serve people society often forgets—because that’s what Cara did for me, and now I get to pay it forward in my job every day.
“Many of our patients speak Spanish or are hard of hearing, so I taught myself Spanish and American Sign Language. Every weekday, I study for two hours. One day, a woman handed me a note written in beautiful calligraphy. It said: ‘Thank you. You have made my day today.’ She signed it L.G. Lewis, April 2. I still carry it with me; it makes me emotional every time I read it.
“I’ve learned that a small act of kindness—speaking to someone in their language, offering a smile—can transform their entire day.
“In May, I reached one year on the job and came back to Cara for my Great Wall ceremony. A year ago, I couldn’t imagine even showing up to a place on time, let alone holding a job for a full year. That felt impossible. Now, it’s my reality. But my story isn’t just about the year I’ve put behind me, it’s about the path I have ahead of me.
“I’m working toward an administrative role at Mount Sinai, and I’m just 16 credits away from finishing my hospitality degree. I have a real shot at a six-figure salary doing what I love. I’m not there yet—but I’m on the path.
“Cara didn’t do the work for me. I had to take each step myself. But they made sure I could take that first step. From bus passes to interview clothes to encouragement, they made sure I could show up. And when you’re just trying to survive, being able to show up is everything.
“Other places gave me a bed. Cara gave me a future.
“During my Great Wall ceremony I thought about that first mirror exercise I did in my first days at Cara. When Jesse asked me what I saw, I saw a broken man—unhealthy, hopeless, living in deep, deep despair.
“This morning, I looked in the mirror in my work uniform and saw someone different: a respectful, humble, grateful man. I saw a man with purpose. I live in a beautiful apartment, ten minutes from a job I love. I show up on time. I contribute. I’m proud of who I’ve become.
“Cara didn’t just help me get back on my feet. They helped me build a new life.
“I used to think I couldn’t work, now I look forward to going to work every day. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work, because I didn’t have the ability to do it before I came to Cara. That’s what employment does for people; that’s what Cara did for me.”
Your support this Cara Day of Giving means another job seeker like Anthony gets the chance to transform their life. Click here to make a gift today.
