DuSables Carol Adams Honored as Community Champion
DuSable Museum President and CEO Carol Adams, Ph.D., was honored Sunday by a Washington Park church for her work over the years as a state official, educator and local broker of several community initiatives.
The former head of the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) was called a shero as the Life Center Church of God In Christ presented her with its Black History Month medallion of excellence and certificate of achievement. The former Chicago Housing Authority administrator was also recognized for her leadership at the housing agency where she started a program, Museums and Public Schools, which partnered public housing communities with the citys museums. She was also praised for her work with other agencies, as well as for her academia leadership as director of African American Studies at Loyola University and stints at Northeastern Illinois University as research and executive directors of the schools Center for Inner City Studies.
Dr. Adams helped to bring about the convergence of art and education in Chicago, particularly in the museum and public schools, said Wynetta Frazier, Ph.D., one of the churchs assistant pastors.
She pointed to Adams efforts over the years that brought nearly $400 million in sum to a number of higher education institutions.
Dr. Adams has a proven track record in the field of grantsmanship, so all of us who think that we can write a few proposals we need to learn from her, said Frazier.
The faith leader said time wouldnt permit her to tell of all Adams work and accomplishments. But, in short, the Fisk University alum received a masters degrees from Boston University and University of Chicago, has vitae that spans decades -- putting her in key positions within a number of schools and agencies -- and lays out her community involvement.
She was appointed DHS secretary in 2003. After her former boss, convicted Gov. Rod Blagojevich, was kicked out of office and a new administration took over, Adams became a casualty of efforts to remove Blagojevichs state agency appointees.
Adams initially accepted an offer by Gov. Pat Quinn to be a state representative in Johannesburg, South Africa but abandoned the offer shortly after it was announced in Oct. 2009.
Months before that, she was on a short list to become president of Chicago State University. The selection process made headlines as she and the former city colleges Chancellor Wayne Watson, Ph.D., vied for the post. Adams wasnt chosen.
After heading the states largest agency and its over 14,000 employees, Adams accepted an appointment that put her at the helm of a cultural and historic icon. She began her current position as president and chief executive officer of the DuSable Museum of African American History in November of 2009.
She was flanked by children of the church Sunday as she gave the congregation at Life Center Church an open invitation to visit and support the museum. For the sake of the youth everywhere, Adams urged the worshippers to support the historic institution.
When children know their heritage, they know who they are and when you know who you are, you know how to act, Adams told the congregation. We have tocelebrate ourselves, bring unity to our families because it (is) key to everything else that (is) happening in our community.
By Rhonda Gillespie
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