Clara Kirk, Founder Of Clara's House in Englewood, Dies At Age 79
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The woman known as the "Mother of Englewood," who gave battered women and children a safe place to stay for decades, has passed away at the age of 79.
Clara Kirk founded Clara's House in Englewood in 1987 to help families moving from a shelter to a place to stay for six months while they got on their feet.
It served more than 300 women a year until it closed in 2017 after Kirk had a stroke. She received several public service awards for her work in the community and the Chicago Public Schools and founded a number of other organizations in her lifetime.
"She drove everybody to make sure those women and children were taken care of," said 17th Ward Ald. David Moore, who had known Kirk since 1997. "It was beyond measure. So much so she would use her own money and own energy most of the time."
He said Kirk was able to transform lives.
"I couldn't even begin to tell you," he said. "In terms of a child being able to stay in school, in terms of a mother being able to get on her feet, to get a job and her own place."
Asiaha Butler is the executive director of the Resident Association of Greater Englewood, also known as RAGE. The organization provides resources for people in Englewood. Tuesday they delivered free groceries to those in need. Butler says Kirk inspired her to start RAGE 10 years ago.
"Every time I would talk to her she always had nuggets of wisdom, that even if I got it for five minutes or 10 minutes, I knew for sure I would get some wisdom from her," Butler said.
Pastor Jonathan Brooks of Canaan Community Church in West Englewood partnered with Kirk doing toy drives for the children at her shelter.
"She taught me very well to look at the assets in our community, not just the deficits," he said. "Miss Clara knew how to activate people's assets and allow us to be the change we want to see in our own community."
Brooks and Butler say Kirk sparked a fire within them, one of commitment to Englewood. Both say they'll keep that fire lit for generations to come.
