I am proud to be a current employee of this organization. Over the past three years this organization has had a remarkable resurgence. The new executive leadership installed by the board managed a major turnaround; reducing debt and streamlining operations. There is a renewed trust and respect from the government agencies that oversee CEDA's largest grants and contracts. CEDA's partnerships with community organizations and local governments continue to develop and strengthen.
Review from Guidestar
Some of the many programs this organizations provide are worthy and needed by the clients served; however, there are many other programs that have received federal funding through the Economic Recovery Act that are "bogus" to say the least. I recently completed a medical billing and coding course. Upon completion of the course, the funds were to include the Illinois State licensing exam. It has not happened. There has been one excuse after another. Reports to the director, Ms. A. Murff, have gone unanswered. I, along with all the other students who completed the course, have been shafted by the long leg of bureaucracy. Top administration is aware of this. and it is my belief, also in on the financial scam. The course cost was more than $2000.00 per student. Go figure. All I got was a cheapy computer-originated certificate that isn't worth the paper its printed on. I'm sure our Attorney General's office would like to sink her teeth into this one.
Review from Guidestar
I worked for this organization for over a decade. There are many dedicated and hardworking employees in this organization, but there are also some very dishonest and unscrupulous people at the highest levels of management. This is in no way a grassroots organization. It is run primarily by an "old boys network" that is very politically connected. It uses its political connections to go after any government funds it can get its hands on. Programs are designed to fit the available funding versus truly addressing the problems of the population it serves. It gets a disproportionate share of funding for its service area that should be shared with truly grassroots organizations. This organization is a classic Poverty Pimp.