Josephine “Mother” Wade
A native of Forest City, Arkansas, first envisioned a life without poverty at the age of 15. Because she displayed great skill in cooking, meal preparation and party planning, Wade decided that becoming a successful entrepreneur would be the way to accomplish that dream. She and her family moved to Chicago in 1958. After owning and operating several restaurants and food establishments, Wade invested her time and energies into bringing the downtown dining experience to Chicago’s South Side.
In 1989, under her leadership, she opened Captain's Hard Time Dining restaurant and banquet hall. Wade believes in giving back. She founded We Women Empowered — an organization dedicated to mentoring children from low-income communities. In 2008 President George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States of America, presented Wade with the Distinguished Medal of Honor for Outstanding Service in the Community. Today, Wade continues to serve as a mentor to young people, especially those pursuing the dream of becoming entrepreneurs.
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”Every great dream begins with a dreamer.” - Harriet Tubman