Young Women’s Impact Network: CHICAGO

Emily has always had a passion for surrounding herself within the Jewish community, specifically connecting with Jewish women. She was previously involved with Chicago’s JUF chapter, Northwestern Hillel and served on the board for Northwestern Challah for Hunger. She is an advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention, and she hopes to emphasize these passions through her programming work on the board. In her free time, Emily enjoys cooking, playing pickleball and tennis, reading and traveling. Since moving to Chicago in 2020, she has sought opportunities to connect with other Jewish women in the area which led her to join the YWIN.

Elise has always been a strong connector and communicator and first learned of JWI while living in Washington, DC. She was excited to remain connected to the organization when she moved to Chicago in 2022. Elise has always been involved with efforts to strengthen Jewish communities – from involvement with JCC’s Camp Seneca Lake to attending Jewish United Fund events to running the Chicago Marathon with Team Sharsheret. Outside of Chicago YWIN, Elise works for United Airlines in communications and marketing. She enjoys travel, being outside and spending time with friends. Originally from Cherry Hill, NJ, Elise went to University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned a degree in journalism.

Born in Israel and raised in the Chicago suburbs, Karin is a proud Jewish woman with Ukrainian roots that have shaped her deep love for tradition and community. Her connection to Judaism grew through ten summers at JCC Camp Chi, years in BBYO, and serving on the Sigma Delta Tau board at the University of Illinois. Now living in Chicago, Karin is excited to keep building Jewish community as a board member of JWI’s Young Women’s Impact Network. She is a speech-language pathologist and loves yoga, reading, and spending time with her family! 

Eva is passionate about building community, fostering meaningful connections, and strengthening ties within the Jewish community. While studying at Michigan State University, she served as a Hillel intern, deepening her involvement in Jewish life on campus. Her commitment grew further through her participation in the Onward Masa program during the summer of her junior year, where she developed a deeper connection to the global Jewish community.

Now based in Chicago, Eva is an active member of MEMGlobal and hosts events through her Moishe Pod, welcoming others into her home to celebrate Jewish life and culture. She is eager to continue expanding her network, meeting new people, and cultivating unity among Jewish women across the city.

Professionally, Eva has worked in strategy consulting, with a focus on the technology, non-profit, and higher education sectors. Outside of work, she enjoys playing padel, traveling, and diving into a good book.

Dani has always been involved in her local Jewish community, both in the Chicago suburbs and throughout her four years at the University of Michigan. She is excited to strengthen these connections as a member of the YWIN Chicago board. Dani has worked as a physical therapist in Chicago for the past 2.5 years after graduating from Northwestern University. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, walking, cooking and trying all of Chicago’s newest restaurants!

Esther has always lived near Chicago and has been involved in various Jewish organizations throughout her life, including Hillel and JUF. She values building community, which is what led her to join the JWI board. She hopes to create a supportive space for Jewish women to connect, learn, and grow together. Professionally, Esther is a data scientist in the health insurance industry. She graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a degree in Statistics and Economics and received her master’s in Statistical Practice from Carnegie Mellon University. In her free time, she enjoys playing guitar, exploring new places, and continuously expanding her knowledge and skills.

Emily is as a pediatric occupational therapist originally from St. Louis. Since moving to Chicago in 2021, she has involved herself in Jewish groups and communities. She found JWI through a friend and loved the focus on advocacy, helping the community, and learning. She is excited to help plan and lead events which give back to the Jewish women of Chicago. In her time, Emily enjoys baking, going to musical and concerts, and reading. She graduated from Grinnell College and Washington University’s school of Occupational Therapy.  

Bio coming soon!

Starting with her high school involvement in BBYO and continuing with college involvement in Greek life, Alyssa has always enjoyed opportunities to connect with both Jewish and female-driven organizations that foster community and provide opportunities for leadership and giving back. This made JWI's Young Women's Impact Network, which she first learned about during a summer internship in Washington, D.C., a natural fit post-college - and she’s excited for her fourth year on the YWIN board in Chicago!

From 13 summers at Beber camp to facilitating Jewish affinity groups and to being a member of Sigma Delta Tau at the university of Illinois , Hannah has always been passionate about furthering social justice through a Jewish lens. Hannah is a social worker who seeks to amplify women’s voices and advocate for their experiences in her personal and professional life. These areas culminated in 2017 when Hannah spent the summer in Israel volunteering for a Women’s empowerment organization that lobbied for increasing women’s involvement in the Israeli government. Her many endeavors in the Jewish community and in women’s advocacy work have lead her to join the YWIN board in Chicago.

Building community and giving back have always been an important part of Eliza’s life. As a member of Sigma Delta Tau, Eliza learned about JWI’s mission, but became more involved upon moving to Chicago in 2021.She is honored and excited to serve as the Chicago YWIN chapter’s President this year. Eliza is a Senior Associate in Global Culture at KPMG, supporting the firm globally on promoting its purpose and values. At KPMG, she helped to found the Jewish Ancestry Business Resource Group, unifying nearly a thousand Jewish employees and allies through educational programming about Jewish culture