Mary Cacioppi
National Consultant, Aha! Process
In addition to her role as the Founder/CEO of Bridges to Prosperity Northern Illinois Mary Cacioppi is a national consultant on poverty reduction and its impact on community and economic development. Mary has over 22 years of experience in community development, economic development, and poverty reduction. Her past experience includes working for and running chambers of commerce and economic development organizations, as well as experience leading economic development for a municipality and working in commercial development. This vast experience equips Mary with a diverse view of how poverty reduction plays a role in community and economic development.
As a National Consultant with the Aha! Process, Mary works with communities across the nation to assist them with their
poverty reduction goals. In this capacity Mary has authored a book, Economic Development That Benefits Everyone:
Poverty Reduction IS a Key Strategy. The book discusses how communities with higher levels of poverty reach can their
development goals and more, including:
- Resourced vs. under-resourced communities
- The role of community and economic development in poverty reduction
- Understanding the causes of poverty
- How a community creates upward mobility
Learn more about the book here.
Additionally, Mary has created a Workshop based on the book to help communities through the process of creating upward mobility out of poverty.
Learn more about the Workshop here.
Watch a Brief Video About the Workshop here.
Mary is a certified Bridges Out of Poverty Trainer and provides the following Workshops through the Aha! Process:
Bridges Out of Poverty: Individual Lens
Bridges Out of Poverty: Institutional Lens
Bridges Out of Poverty: Community/Policy Lens
Mary has also earned certification as a Facilitator for the following Bridges Out of Poverty curriculum:
Getting Ahead in a Just-Getting-By World (for under resourced adults)
Getting Ahead in the Workplace (for under resourced workers)
R Rules (for Middle School/High School students)
Click here to view Mary's Aha! Process Bio
Click here to learn more about the Aha! Process
Past Speaking Engagements
IL/IN National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Professionals 2025 Annual Conference Luncheon Keynote & Breakout Session, 2025
International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Washington DC Leadership Summit 2025 Breakout Session
Unlocked Potential Youth Workers Training Summit Breakout Session, 2025
Leading Ladies in Economic Development Podcast with Kaycee Bunch, 2025
Economic Development Show with Dane Carlson, 2025
Economic Development that Benefits Everyone workshop for Caroline Human Services Federalsburg, MD, 2025
Economic Development that Benefits Everyone workshop for Bridges ICT, Wichita, KS, 2024
Economic Development that Benefits Everyone workshop for Mexico, MO Chamber of Commerce 2024
Emerge Solutions Together We Thrive Conference, Economic Development that Benefits Everyone Breakout Session, 2024
Upward Mobility Workshop, Helping Florence Flourish, Florence, SC, 2024
