Cara Chicago Employee Directory
Non-profit OrganizationsIllinois, United States201-500 Employees
Cara Collective is a mid-sized nonprofit focused on workforce development. It operates through four entities—Cara, Cleanslate, Cara Connects, and Cara Plus—to connect job seekers with employers and partner organizations across the United States, aiming to reduce relational and financial poverty through employment. Since its founding in 1991, the organization reports helping more than 8,100 people secure more than 13,400 jobs, illustrating a long-running effort to create pathways to lasting economic mobility. The organization is based in Chicago, Illinois. Working in the nonprofit sector, Cara Collective functions as a national workforce development network that partners with job seekers, employers, and other organizations to expand access to employment. In May 2026, Karin Norington-Reaves was appointed president and CEO, with recruitment support from a leadership advisory firm, signaling ongoing leadership evolution. The enterprise maintains its base in Chicago while pursuing its mission across the country.