Ada S. McKinley Receives $2.6 Million Contract from Illinois Tollway Authority for IPASS Fulfillment Services

Image courtesy of Illinois Tollway.

Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc. has been awarded a three-year, $2.6 million dollar contract with the Illinois Tollway Authority to provide IPASS fulfillment services beginning January 23, 2012 at Walter C. McCrone Industries, the headquarters of McKinley’s Employment and Community Support Services (ECSS) division.

Ada S. McKinley will be responsible for annually processing, testing, and replacing an estimated 150,000 IPASS transponders for Illinois drivers whose current IPASS transponders are set to expire. As part of its comprehensive suite of customer services, McKinley will be accepting transponder swap-outs orders via phone, mail and a dedicated website, along with handling all transportation of transponder pick-up and delivery to customers. 

"At a time when a countless number of persons with disabilities are unemployed, this new opportunity will allow many to work and earn a livable wage," said George Jones, Executive Director of Ada S. McKinley. "This is an ideal partnership between state government and community-based organizations, like Ada S. McKinley. Through this initiative, the Illinois Tollway will receive quality work while at the same time advance the state's social mission of improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities."

Walter C. McCrone Industries serves as the headquarters of McKinley’s Employment and Community Support Services (ECSS) division, which provides job training and residential services to developmentally disabled adults and the chronically unemployed. ECSS maintains three vocational training facilities across the city of Chicago and workplace partnerships with a number of government offices and other organizations.

2010 McKinley Annual Report: Renewing the Community, One Individual at a Time

Every day, we see engaged individuals affecting change. We at Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc. have always acted on the notion that people committed to making a difference can do anything. For more than nine decades, we have been committed to providing basic human services in the communities we serve. Our mission to support the most vulnerable individuals in the Chicago area is grounded in empowering these individuals.

Together our work enables profound growth in individuals, families and neighborhoods throughout the Chicago area. Be sure to read our 2010 Annual Report to learn about some the inspirational people who impact our communities each day, including:

• The janitorial workers of the Dirksen Federal Building, who take great pride in their work and view their team as family
• Two sisters on the South side, who are striving to provide life-saving support for an adolescent, at-risk niece battling mental health challenges
• The residents of the new Timothy I. Monahan House, who are thriving in their new home for individuals with developmental disabilities
• Eighth-grade student Nia Gipson, who is poised to attend one of Chicago’s best high schools and already planning her college future
• The clients of Aztlan Community Industries, who have found a community that cares right outside their doors
• Elia Qasim, a former foster care client, who has completed his undergraduate studies in social work and now plans to work to better the lives of others
• Coryati Campbell and her son, Jeremiah, who have both gained new opportunities through McKinley’s Head Start Program

These are just a few examples of many ways in which our clients, staff and the greater community engender change. You'll find all these stories in the 2010 Annual Report. And, for future reference, the report is archived both on the Ada S. McKinley website or the Media Archives section of the blog.

New Director of Child Development Programs on Board

Mark Barrett joined Ada S. McKinley Community Services in November as its director of child development, where he oversees the agency's Head Start and early education programs. Ada S. McKinley maintains 14 Head Start and childcare programs—9 are private partners—for children as young as three years old. Head Start programs are offered cost free to eligible families while childcare programs are provided on a sliding fee scale.

Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, Barrett has lived in Chicago for six years and is the former manager of disabilities and mental health services for the Community Economic Development Association of Cook County. 

He says that his new position at McKinley calls for the program development requiring a new level of oversight involving fiscal management and program governance. Responsible for nine directors and coordinators, Barrett says that he intends to make professional development a key priority for his area. “Our child care staff work full-time five days a week, so the challenge is to maximize staff time and find development programs that can work within our framework at the centers.”

Barrett holds a master’s degree in social work from Barry University in Miami, Fla. The married father of two resides in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood.

DOE Awards McKinley more than $3.6 Million in TRIO Talent Search Funding

Image credit: ed.gov

Ada S. McKinley Community Services has received more than $3.6 million in U.S. Department of Education TRIO Programs funding to support its educational programs that provide college readiness and access for disadvantaged Chicago students.

The funding will support, over a five-year period, McKinley’s College Preparation and Placement Program, which serve some 1,500 students in grades 6 through 12. The elementary school program serves close to 300 students in grades 6 through 8 by providing tutoring and academic skills development. McKinley’s school partners are Drake, Doolittle, Mayo and Mollison elementary schools,  Wells Preparatory Academy and Perspectives Math and Science Academy.

The program for high school students serves just under 1,300 students at five area high schools and focuses on academic skills development, financial aid counseling, college tours and assistance in finding colleges and universities that are good matches for the students.  High school partners are Hyde Park and Julian high schools, Dunbar Vocational Career High School, Phillips Academy and Tilden Career Academy.

McKinley began its educational services programs 45 years ago with the late Silas Purnell serving as its director. Due to his successful college placement track record and tireless advocacy work on behalf of inner city youth, Purnell became an iconic figure—one who passionately believed that education is the best tool for reducing poverty. Today, McKinley’s College Preparation and Placement Program has helped make it possible for more than 50,000 low-income students to attend some 400 colleges and universities around the country.

McKinley College Preparation and Placement Program notable alumni include Cheryl Burton, news anchor at WLS-TV News (ABC7); Justice Louis B. Butler, Jr., the first African-American justice of the Wisconsin State Supreme Court; Stephanie Gaines, senior attorney, Walgreens; Richard J. Gardner, Sr., M.D., Public Health Physician, Olive-Harvey College; Albert Grace, co-founder and president of Loop Capital; Andre Grant, Chicago attorney in private practice; Greg Hinton, chief diversity strategist at US Cellular; State Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-40th), Avis LaVelle, former press secretary to Richard M. Daley and President Bill Clinton; State Rep. Camille Lilly (D-78th);  Laura Washington, Chicago Sun-Times columnist, and Cheryl Burton, news anchor at WLS-TV.