NCJW CNS Board of Directors
NCJW Chicago North Shore is governed by a Board of Directors which sets the policy and direction of the organization, contributes to the achievement of programmatic goals, and fulfills a variety of fiduciary responsibilities.
Officers
President: Jan Schwartz Jan is a retired Licensed Psychologist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker who had 40 years of clinical experience in Minneapolis, Minnesota before retiring. Early in her career, she developed and directed a low/no cost counseling center for the uninsured at a neighborhood agency, followed by being the Director of The Rape and Sexual Assault Center. She had a successful private practice for thirty years, specializing in multiple areas, including treating post-traumatic stress disorder. When she and her husband moved to Chicago in 2016 to be closer to family, it became an opportunity to begin her second career as a volunteer in the fight for social justice. Jan is a team builder who is very interested in building partnerships in the community. As NCJW’s Co-State Policy Advocate IL, with the support of both NCJW Illinois sections, she began two coalitions, Promote the Vote Illinois, and Promote Equity Illinois in order to join forces within the community to have the greatest voice possible in fighting voter suppression and the threat of losing civil rights. Both coalitions quickly grew to have over thirty organization coalition partners and many supporting organizational partners. Only a team, a very large one, can make a difference.
Director of Programming & Strategy: Amy Rubin Amy Rubin recently retired as JCFS Chicago’s Senior Director of Jewish Community Services where she was responsible for programming focused on domestic violence, sexual abuse, harassment, addiction, and other issues that impact Jewish homes and families. Amy is a lifelong passionate advocate for the health, safety and well-being of women and girls. She lives in Old Town Chicago, escapes to her home in Arizona during the winter, is an avid reader, and enjoys spending time with her two granddaughters.
VP of Communications & Marketing: Holly Smith In the fall of 2012, along with her husband, son, and dog, Holly moved to Evanston from Shorewood, WI, where she had been teaching English and linguistics and working on her PhD at UW-Milwaukee. A few years ago, she decided to leave academia and has never looked back. She started taking art classes, and has been pursuing more creative work, volunteering in her community, and gratefully savoring the everyday.
Treasurer: Kim Sterling Kim Sterling is the vice president of professional services for the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, with responsibilities in marketing, communications, publications, and events. In addition to a career in not-for-profit management, she has been active in her community as a volunteer. She is a leader in Sister District Greater Chicago, a progressive organization focused on state legislatures. She lives in Wilmette with her husband, enjoys time with her son when he is home from college, and always has a book loaded up on her kindle.
Secretary: Diane Schaar I am a transplant from the South Suburbs and South Cook Section, moving to Burr Ridge to be closer to family. A retired Pediatrician, I worked on the far South side of Chicago for over 40 years. My passion is the health and well-being of children and their families, stressing the need for greater equity in health care and educational opportunities in a safe environment that will help our children become successful adults. I also spend time as a volunteer for DuPage CASA, am an avid reader, baker and ice cream maker, dog lover and find absolute joy in watching my grandchildren grow. I look forward to serving on the board and helping to move the goals of our section forward.
Co-Director of Advocacy: Tina Cantrell A native Californian, Tina moved to Illinois at the request of her daughter who was getting married and settling in the North Shore. A retired educator, Tina received her BA from the University of California, Berkeley, (math and theatre) and Doctorate from Claremont Graduate University (Educational Administration). She taught high school before becoming an administrator, serving as a high school principal and superintendent. After moving to Illinois, Tina once again accepted a high school principal position, keeping it until she retired. A life-long volunteer, she was president of ORT, a global Jewish educational network, wrote grants for second-language learners and immigrant status improvement, and supported the local food pantry. Since moving to Illinois, she has been active in NCJW, accepting several positions including the presidency. She is also a co-leader of a Chicago chapter of the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom, an organization to build trust, respect, and relationships between Muslim and Jewish women. This coming year, Tina will co-chair Advocacy, along with Donna Fishman.
Co-Director of Advocacy: Donna Fishman Donna Fishman, MPH is a public health professional and has served in many capacities for NCJW Chicago North Shore including president, vice president for community service, co-chair for suburban salon, and staff for Next Generation. Nationally, she served as IL State Policy Advocacy chair, and on the nominating, program support, and resolutions committee. Donna is excited to provide strategic direction to community services and link our “on the ground” work with our advocacy work.
Director of Community Services: Barbara Dolinger Barbara has been a long-time member of NCJW. She originally became involved with NCJW when she joined a young mothers group in Columbus, Ohio where she lived for 30 years. Throughout her career years, Barbara was a community center social worker, teacher, school counselor and sales representative. She is a graduate of Ohio State University with an undergraduate degree in Social Work, and a master’s degree from Xavier University in Counseling and Guidance. She also completed post graduate works and holds a school principal certificate. Her hobbies are art, walking, Maj-jong, canasta, and lots of community service projects. She enjoys visiting her 2 daughters and 3 grandsons, who all live on the East coast.
Director of Education: Amy Kleinman Amy comes to the NCJW Board after completing five years as Board Chair for Chicago Youth Shakespeare, a nonprofit organization dedicated to innovative Shakespeare programs and productions for teenagers. Amy joined NCJW in 2020 and has served on the steering committee for Spotlight since 2021. Amy is also on the steering committee of the Women of Temple Sholom. Born in Shaker Heights, Ohio, Amy graduated from Northwestern University. For nearly 20 years, she was a director in the meeting planning department of the American Bar Association. She lives in Lincoln Park with her husband, a retired attorney. Her adult son, a college theater professor, and her daughter, a special education teacher for early childhood learners with Dyslexia, also live in Chicago. As a life-long learner, Amy participates in a film group, a book club, and adult education classes, and takes dance and yoga. She loves theater and is thrilled to be back attending in person.
CNS Rep to Israel Granting Program: Robbie Schreiber Robbie is a past Secretary of the Section and past Co-Chair of Salon. She joined NCJW as a result of Election Day 2016, discovering a renewed passion for feminism and social justice. This year she will be the Section’s liaison to National NCJW’s “Israel Granting Program”. Robbie currently volunteers as a teacher of Adult Citizenship Education for School District 214, preparing immigrants for their U.S. Citizenship Interviews. She recently taught Beginner-level ESL for Oakton Community College along with teaching Gimel Hebrew School at Congregation BJBE, where she also served on the Board. She loves bicycling, hiking, and reading with book clubs. She is looking forward to more learning and leadership with NCJW CNS.
Directors-At-Large:
Susan Blumberg-Kason: Susan is writer based in the Chicago western suburbs. She has been involved with NCJW for over a dozen years, going back to well before the Tri-County section merged with Chicago North Shore. In her free time, she volunteers with senior citizens at the Chinese American Service League in Chicago’s Chinatown. Susan and her family are members of Oak Park Temple.
Bonnie Braverman: Bonnie is a life long Chicagoan who lives in Logan Square. She is an attorney and works for a multinational insurance company handling complex professional liability claims. She is an avid reader of fiction and loves to collect art and other interesting pieces at flea markets, second hand shops and antique stores.
Bev Copeland: Bev is a Life Long Book Lover. She graduated from college at age 45 after giving birth to four children, with a degree in English Literature and a minor in Women’s Studies. Bev loved working at the Morton Grove Public Library In the Youth Services Department, for 18 years. She edited and published an international newsletter on contemporary glass art, Glass Focus, for 28 years. She conceived of and operates with her family, The Erin Copeland Building Minds With Books Project, founded in memory of her daughter. Since its inception in 1995 the project has donated thousands of books to under-served children in the Chicagoland area. Because of her life experience, she is concerned with keeping children safe, and is very focused on freeing our communities from gun violence. She is also interested in seeing the ERA passed, and issues concerning Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Bev lives in Morton Grove with her husband and is a proud mother and grandmother of three. Bev received the NCJW CNS Advocate of the Year Award in 2019.
Zehava Frankel: Having a strong Jewish identity coupled with the desire for social justice pointed me in the direction of NCJW. The values of the organization align with my values. Having the strength and guidance of so many like minded group of women I hope to use my talents to work towards positive changes in our community, state, country and the world.
Paulette Goodman: In four states and Mexico City, Paulette Goodman has been an educator/public librarian spanning all levels from elementary to university. More recently, she was the Library Resource Director at Kennedy Junior High School, a US Department of Education Blue Ribbon School, where she received numerous awards especially in creative programming. In community service, Paulette has served in a variety of executive roles that have emphasized Judaism, feminism, liberality and social action. Personally, Paulette has maintained a unique balance between family, work, community service and personal development. She is an exercise enthusiast and devoted pickle ball player. Accompanied by her husband, the couple has toured six continents. Fittingly as a librarian, Paulette is an avid reader and participates in a number of book discussion groups.
Sue Rifas: Retired from the Jewish Federation-Jewish United Fund of Chicago in 2015 after having served in a number of positions, the last of which was Vice President of Operations. Served as Co-Chair of NCJW CNS Jewish Community Against Sex-Trafficking (JCAST Chicago); participant in NCJW CNS Court Watch program. Currently Chair of the Jewish Women’s Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago (JWF); am a founding Trustee of JWF and previously served as its Grants Chair and Advocacy Committee Chair. Love movies and have been taking a film class through Oakton Community College Emeritus Program, love cats and was a volunteer with PAWS Chicago.
Elaine Seeskin: Elaine was a long-time member of NCJW St. Louis and joined CNS five years ago when she moved to Chicago. Since becoming a member of the CNS section, Elaine has been active in Promote the Vote and in developing and editing the speaker slide deck for Reproductive Justice initiative with other members of the team. Elaine is a freelance medical writer and editor who develops continuing medical education programs, primarily on the treatment of viral illnesses, including HIV, hepatitis, and COVID-19. She is also an active member of Anshe Emet synagogue, where she is a regular Torah reader and is part of the Na’aseh social action group. Elaine is married and the proud mother of 3 adult children (and 2 daughters-in-law) and grandmother to Ari, Ansel, and Naomi.
Rian Spencer: Rian is a Private Wealth Advisor and Vice President at Bernstein Private Wealth Management in Chicago, Il. She serves as a lead advisor and relationship manager to high-net-worth individuals, families, and organizations, including closely held and family-owned businesses. Rian works closely with clients to gain a complete understanding of their lifestyle, career, philanthropic, and wealth-planning goals. She worked for BMO and BMO Private Bank for 18 years before joining Bernstein in 2021 where she spent her career in Retail Banking, Commercial Banking, and Wealth Management. Rian holds a BA from Ohio University in Spanish and an MBA from Roosevelt University in Chicago. She is an Advisory Board Member of the Walter Heller College of Business at Roosevelt University, a Board Member of the Woman’s Leadership Council at Roosevelt University, and a Mentor at Roosevelt University’s Professional Mentoring Program. She previously served as a Board Member at Youth Services of Glenview-Northbrook and Shelter, Inc. in Arlington Heights. She has two sons and enjoys yoga and watching her son’s baseball games.