The Cara Program Gets Chicagoans Facing Extensive Challenges Back Into The Workforce

• Jesse Teverbaugh
• Paige Wynne

Chicagoans is a first-person account from off the beaten track, as told to Anne Ford. This week’s Chicagoan is Jesse Teverbaugh, director of student and alumni affairs, The Cara Program.

“I had a history of substance abuse, and I knew firsthand what could make this pain go away. I consciously went out and started drinking. That led to me losing my job. Next thing I knew, it was two years later and I had lost everything. The 401(k) was gone, the life insurance was gone, the savings were gone. I signed over power of attorney to my sister and told her and my mother, ‘Tell me what to do.’