If the adage “April showers bring May flowers” holds true, our gardens should be in full bloom in the next few days! Though our Spring weather can be erratic, the change of seasons is one of the things I like best about living in the Midwest. With each new season, there’s a new beginning—a chance to reset, imagine new goals, and move forward. And as summer approaches, NCJW Chicago North Shore is set to do just that. Our Board of Directors for 2022-23 has been slated. It is composed of both new faces and leadership veterans. The President of this formidable group is one of the hardest working women of our section—Jan Schwartz. As my term comes to an end, I am confident that our section will thrive under its new leadership. We are publishing the complete 2022-23 Board of Directors slate in this newsletter for your review. Please take a moment to cast your vote to approve this amazing group of women.

Next month, at our Women of Vision Gala, we will be honoring three outstanding women and celebrating the accomplishments of NCJW Chicago North Shore. We're putting together a video for the event to show the many ways in which our NCJW section turns its progressive ideals into meaningful action, and we want you to be a part of it. After all, who better to spread the word about what makes NCJW CNS such a powerful force for positive change within our community and the world at large than the strong, compassionate, determined women who form its backbone. So, tell us what NCJW means to you. Here's how: 1) Download and print the I Love NCJW sign you'll find at the link below; 2) Write what you love about NCJW on your sign (for optimal readability, use a marker and write in all caps); 3) Take a selfie or have someone take a picture of you holding your completed sign; and 4) Email your photo by May 8 to Holly at communications@ncjwcns.org.

• Susan Gzesh, Senior Instructional Professor in the College of the University of Chicago, and 

• Oscar A. Chacón, Executive Director, Alianza Americas.

Click here for more information as it becomes available.

Washington Institute 2022 is a powerful conference for everyone on their social justice journey! Whether you’re passionate about NCJW’s education, community service, advocacy work, or all of the above, this conference is for you. Join us as we take Washington, DC by storm! Washington Institute 2022 is a reimagined opportunity for new and seasoned advocates from National Council of Jewish Women to come together. Over three days, we will learn new skills and tools, advance our collective mission, and make our voices heard. With so much at stake for abortion access, voting rights, childcare, equal pay, and the integrity of the federal courts, it’s more important than ever for Jewish people and allies to join forces and build collective power for change. Click here for more information on how you can participate.

For more information and to register click here.

NCJW Gives Back: Pack the Plane to Ukraine

This month NCJW is giving back to Pack the Plane for Ukraine, a local project of of Dr. Vitaliy and Natasha Poylin to bring essential medical and humanitarian aid into Ukraine. Like us, they are horrified by Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and felt helpless watching the civilian atrocities unfold. To help in a meaningful way, they are filling a place every two weeks with critical supplies for residents in Ukraine and for refugees escaping at the borders.

Based on their experience running previous medical missions, they have well established shipping routes and contacts to receive the goods and ensure they get to where they are most needed. For more information and photos, click here.

Help NCJW collect hygiene and first aid supplies for women, children and families who are most at risk during this dangerous time. Our collection dates are May 22 - 25 at seven different Chicago, north and west suburban sites. Please check the NCJW CNS website to register for collection details and drop-off addresses.

During the pandemic, the soup kitchens are serving food ordered from restaurants, with the cost covered by volunteer organizations. To donate for meals, please visit Donate - Chicago North Shore (ncjwcns.org) and indicate you’d like your donation for the Soup Kitchen Initiative. If you have any questions or you would like to volunteer for our future soup kitchen dates, contact Ellen Hall at Ellenyhall@aol.com.

The Greater Chicago Jewish Festival celebrates the large Jewish community of the Chicagoland area with a day of entertainment, nosh, and crafts. The event is open to the public and features over forty artists and crafters displaying their one-of-a-kind works, twenty traditional and contemporary Jewish musical acts, authentic dishes, and photo contests as well as inflatables and a petting zoo for the kids. The Festival is the largest Jewish cultural event in Chicago and the largest ongoing Jewish festival in America. NCJW CNS is a sponsoring organization and will have a table at the Festival — stop by and visit us! Please check here for details as they become available.

During the pandemic, the soup kitchens are serving food ordered from restaurants, with the cost covered by volunteer organizations. To donate for meals, please visit Donate - Chicago North Shore (ncjwcns.org) and indicate you’d like your donation for the Soup Kitchen Initiative. If you have any questions or you would like to volunteer for our future soup kitchen dates, contact Ellen Hall at Ellenyhall@aol.com.

On April 25, “Sex Trafficking: Can It Happen to People Like Us?” was the NCJW CNS monthly Spotlight program. Two outstanding experts – Wendy Ivy of the Zacharias Center and Sara Manewith with JCFS Chicago Response for Teens –focused on dispelling trafficking myths, confirming when and where sex trafficking happens, exploring who is vulnerable to trafficking, and illuminating what parents/grandparents and other adults can do to protect their teens and loved ones. 

If you are interested in scheduling a JCAST presentation or the Trafficked Teens exhibit, email JCAST@ncjwcns.org.

NCJW Court Watchers have been busy over the winter months. A Total of 23 volunteers observed 109 court sessions and a total of 795 cases. Two new volunteers were trained. For more information on the program, please contact Anita Weinstein at anitaweinstein@aol.com.  

Meet Our 2022 Innovative Leadership Award Recipient: Donna Fishman 

Donna Fishman first joined NCJW when she learned of it as a pro-choice Jewish organization, and that’s what keeps her here. NCJW has never stopped fighting that fight and neither has Donna. A woman’s right to make her own decisions about her body is a core value of NCJW, one that Donna is passionate about. Her passion has driven her to take on leadership positions, but Donna is more than a great leader–she creates great leaders. She shares Hannah G. Solomon’s vision for a cadre of strong women leaders to advocate for women, children and families. 

After being active in the Minneapolis Section for 7 years, Donna moved to our area in 1999, at the time when the board wanted to hire a bright and engaging young woman to start a leadership program. When President Rae Luskin met Donna in 2002, she knew she found the right person. In hindsight, it was a brilliant move, because Donna Fishman is the quintessential leader. She immediately pulled together a core group of women and worked with them to develop the “Next Generation.” Donna responded to the needs of her mentees, nurturing them to realize they can make a difference through NCJW. She shepherded them to grow by making a meaningful contribution to the community and to repairing the world. Next Generation, under her leadership, had many successful events, increasing membership by 100 in two years. One popular project of Next Gen, Luggage for Freedom, still provides for domestic violence victims in shelters today. Her work with Next Generation resulted in our section receiving two National NCJW Awards. 

Besides creating Next Generation, Donna was Illinois State Advocacy Chair for 3 years and served as section President from 2010 to 2014. During her tenure, she put together the Shabbat Services event before the 2017 Women’s March in Chicago, reaching out to Rabbis, cantors and other leaders to participate. She organized a discussion on politics with locally elected Jewish female elected officials. Her work with numerous organizations in the Jewish community raised the profile of NCJW CNS. With Stacy Saef, she worked to start JCAST and the Trafficked Teens exhibit. Donna spearheaded the suburban monthly Salon to discuss current issues, feminism and intersectionality and other important topics, sometimes with guest speakers. Social events Donna contributed to included major donor events, the very popular cooking demonstrations and Taste of NCJW. Donna approached every event or program with the big picture in mind— how to promote the Section brand, provide for the needs of members, advocate for NCJW issues, build leaders, and tikkun olam. 

Donna ‘s passion for NCJW issues has taken her down a career path that focused first on reproductive health and justice and later on the health of children. Her work encompasses understanding and addressing the social determinants of health—policy, economy, racism, and our health system—everything that touches and impacts a family. These are the issues important to NCJW that comprise our core values. Donna lives these values every day, in all aspects of her life. Donna’s past positions in the nonprofit world include Executive Director of the Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention and Parenting, Director of Training for Healthy Schools Campaign and she is currently the Director of the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness. In this position she works closely with national associations and organizations as well as federal agencies to ensure a strong system of vision health for underserved children across the United States and integrate vision health education and care into early childhood systems, schools, and public health. 

Please join us at our Women of Vision Gala on June 7, 2022, to celebrate Donna’s achievements and contributions along with our other two awardees, Jane Ramsey and Betty Magness.

Abortion is a racial justice issue. It is an economic justice issue. It is a public health issue. We must continue to advocate for access to abortion so that everyone, not just those in positions of privilege, can make their own health care decisions with dignity. NCJW has been advocating for reproductive rights, health and justice for over 125 years. And for any donation of $36 or more, we will will send you a Hanger Project charm to symbolize the desperate acts women will take when they don’t have access to safe abortion care. No woman should EVER have to resort to a coat hanger in place of safe, quality healthcare. Click here to donate.

Annual Member? Most NCJW annual memberships expired on June 30? Click here to join, renew or gift a membership online. If you prefer to mail a check, please send your membership donation to the NCJW Chicago North Shore (NCJWCNS) to: NCJW Chicago North Shore, 5 Revere Drive, Suite 200, Northbrook, IL 60062. Your annual membership donation is only $50 but it helps us make such a difference! And for those 36 and under, we offer a special double chai membership rate of just $36!

Life Member? You're not just a life member because you made that life member donation back in the day - you are a life member because you are the heart and soul of our section! Is there someone in your life that you think would enjoy being a part of our group of motivated, fun, and thoughtful women? A collective of folks connecting with each other and learning together as a community of progressive change-makers. If you do, why not gift them a membership!

Chicago North Shore has several new ways to support our section. As always, you can make a one time donation or purchase a tribute (links are below), you can even purchase an NCJW star necklace or hanger charm or become a monthly donor!