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Speaking with his trademark candor, the Congressman shared a number of humorous anecdotes before talking about the difficult times America has faced over the past few years and what is to come.

"Times are so tough right now, even cockroaches are having a hard time finding crumbs," he said. “I’m not a doom and gloomer, I’m a realist, and we’ve got a tough couple years ahead of us."

He reiterated his support for CARRE and the reentry work done by Safer Foundation, stating that these programs can offer assistance to those who need it most during these challenging times.

Safer President Diane Williams presented the CARRE Visionary Award to four recipients, including Illinois State Senator Kimberly Lightford, Cabrini-Green Legal Aid’s Beth Johnson, Chicago Tribune columnist Dawn Turner-Trice, and George Williams of the 7th Congressional District Ex-Offender Advisory Committee. The four received the award for their continued commitment to lowering the legislative barriers to the employment of people with criminal records.

Williams talked about his past and how hard it was for him to overcome his criminal record and why that drives him in his professional life today.

"In 1984, I was a client as Safer Foundation," he said. “I was in real turmoil between the new George and the old George. Safer is important because it can help you validate that thing that’s inside of you that is driving you to make changes in your life. I was determined not to go back to the old George, and now I’m working so that we can help give everyone the chance to have that experience."

A panel featuring Lightford, State Rep. Constance Howard, and Mark Myrent of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority then discussed the major reentry policies of 2010. Lightford talked about her work on employment discrimination legislation, Myrent detailed the work of the Task Force on Inventorying Employment Restrictions, and Howard stated the importance of sealing records.

"Unfortunately, there are so many individuals involved in the system," Howard said. “We are trying to help people who have made mistakes get their lives back on track."

The final panel featured State Rep. LaShawn Ford and Roosevelt University’s Kathie Kane-Willis. The two discussed the importance of creating standards that work for people with records. Ford talked about his commitment to “Ban the Box”legislation in Illinois while Kane-Willis stressed the importance of knowing what was on a criminal background check, so that if something is on there that shouldn’t be on there, a client knows what to do and who to contact.

- David Dexter

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