ML - Michigan Avenue

2014 - Issue 2 - Spring

Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!

Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/260419

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 69 of 147

AD PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANJALI PINTO Lisa Morrison Butler: I'd been doing marketing and consulting for eight years when a friend rec- ommended I look at City Year. During my third interview, I sat down with 10 members of the corps. A young man in a red jacket said, "You look pretty good on paper." I chuckled, thinking that he had no idea what he was talking about considering how young he was. Then he said, "Why should we trust you with this thing we love so much?" Of all of the interview questions I've ever wrestled with, it was one of the most profound. I remember telling my husband that if they offered me the job I was going to take it. In April I am celebrating my 10th anni- versary with City Year Chicago, and it's the best work I've ever done. CK: A corps member in Chicago recently told me that he was tutoring a little girl who had never earned anything better than a D or a C on her math quizzes, so she was convinced that a C was the best she could do. Along with working with her academically, the corps member also worked to get her to believe in herself. Eventually she earned a B, and he continued to encourage her until he got her thinking that she could do better than a B. She then got an A– on a quiz, and by the time he fin- ished working with her, she had an A– average. There is no way that would happen without a corps member spending the time to break down this girl's perception of her boundaries and limitations. LMB: I got an e-mail from a young lady named Janelle who served last year at Roberto Clemente [Community Academy High School]. I had met with her team after one of their kids had been killed, and Janelle was distraught. I was in doubt about whether we were connecting. She sent me an e-mail this year that said: "I'm sure you don't remember me, but I was a corps member last year on Clemente's team. Early in my corps year I remember you mentioning that City Year is at its core a leadership development organization. Not only am I more proactive and solution-oriented than many of my peers, but I also find myself bored in my current position because I am used to having such a jam- packed work schedule. Although I didn't fully appreciate it at the time, I am grateful to City Year for making me the professional I am today. Thank you for believing in us and our success beyond City Year." The secret of City Year is that the corps members come to change the world, and the world changes them along the way. cityyear.org MA INSIGHT What: City Year Chicago's Ripples of Hope Gala When: Wednesday, April 9, at 5:30 PM Where: Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, 221 N. Columbus Dr., 312-565-5258 Cost: $500 Info: Call 312-553- 2000, or visit pjhchicago.com/ cityyear. continued from page 66 Casey Keller and Lisa Morrison Butler observe volunteers in action. SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY 66-69_MA_SP_SOG_Spring_14.indd 68 2/12/14 8:51 AM

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of ML - Michigan Avenue - 2014 - Issue 2 - Spring