The JCFS Chicago Professional Network (formerly JCARES) offers opportunities for abuse and addiction professionals, advocates and allies to engage in discussion, explore best practices, build collaboration and examine strategies that inspire optimal services and supports to the Jewish community and beyond.

JCARES (Jewish Community Abuse, Resources and Education) is a coalition of Jewish and secular organizations, agencies, rabbis and advocates that collaboratively create, support and influence initiatives and policies to prevent, address and respond to abuse in Jewish homes, families and relationships. JCARES is administered by Jewish Child and Family Services- Chicago.

The mission of AATH is to serve as the community of professionals who study, practice, & promote healthy humor & laughter.AATH is a non-profit, member-driven, international community of humor & laughter professionals & enthusiasts. Formed in 1987 by Alison Crane, RN, AATH provides its members the education, cutting-edge resources & supportive community they need to excel in the practice & promotion of healthy humor.What is therapeutic humor?"Therapeutic humor is any intervention that promotes health & wellness by stimulating a playful discovery, expression or appreciation of the absurdity or incongruity of life's situations. This intervention may enhance health or be used as a complementary treatment of illness to facilitate healing or coping, whether physical, emotional, cognitive, social or spiritual." AATH welcomes anyone who is interested in learning more about the application & benefits of therapeutic humor. Members include scholars, psychologists, counselors, allied healthcare practitioners, nurses, social workers, physicians, funeral directors, business executives, human resource managers, educators, clergy, hospital clowns, speakers, trainers & many others who incorporate humor in their life & work.AATH was created to:1. Be a clearinghouse for information on humor & laughter as they relate to well-being.2. Disseminate information about humor & laughter to its members through regular publications & educational opportunities such as the Humor Academy.3. Develop, promote, conduct & identify the need for research that further investigates the roles humor & laughter play in well-being.4. Encourage, support & report on innovative programs that incorporate the therapeutic use of humor.5. Function as an interdisciplinary network for its members.6. Provide a caring, supportive community of humor professionals & enthusiasts.

At BJBE, we believe children are capable and creative individuals. Each child is encouraged to be their best self. A foundation of strong relationships allows each child to develop socially, emotionally and cognitively at their own development level. Our children gain self-confidence and problem solving capabilities as their ideas and observations are validated within the classroom community. Using the Jewish calendar as a guide, the staff follows best practices in early childhood education to create a high quality Jewish school. Inspired by the teaching practice of Reggio-Emilia Italy, children and teachers are partners in the learning process where children help to create the curriculum in the classroom based on their curiosity and interests. The 3 & 4-yr-old programs foster independence and encourage creativity in a warm, nurturing and supportive environment. Teachers develop a child-inspired curriculum in the classroom while integrating all areas of development including social/emotional, cognitive, fine and gross motor into the routine of the morning. The children act as explorers in the learning process and create ongoing individual and group projects. Children in these programs receive all readiness skills to assure a successful transition to kindergarten. Children continue to build on their prior knowledge of Jewish holidays, customs and traditions, and celebrate Shabbat each week by baking challah, visiting our clergy in the sanctuary and singing and reciting the traditional Sabbath blessings.As a child of educators, with a mother who taught Early Childhood and several elementary school grades, and BOTH parents who took turns as elementary school principals, it is a privilege to work alongside these teachers every Friday and on special Jewish holidays. I am doubly blessed to be able to watch a class of 4 yr-old children develop by leaps and bounds from one week to the next.

We are dedicated to the values of spiritual practice, faith, transformational study, communal Jewish life, and acts of love and kindness. We are committed to the extended Jewish community in Israel and the Diaspora.We will know we have achieved our objective when BJBE is the answer to all these questions:Where do you go that makes you feel the most connected to God and to your spirit?Where do you have the most fun?Where do you form and maintain your closest friendships?Where do you learn about values, ethics, and your heritage?Where do you go to make everything in your life more meaningful and purposeful?Where do you go to connect to eternity?Where do you get the greatest comfort?Where do you go that you and others feel the most welcomed?Where do you get the greatest clarity of who you are and who you aspire to be?Where would you go if 9/11 happened again?Where do you go to meet your Jewish friends to talk and have a nosh?Where do your children receive and retain their Jewish identities?Where do you meet when you are called upon to contribute to the well-being of others and participate in tikkun olam?

The Mission of this Sisterhood is to foster and further the highest ideals of Judaism and, as an affiliate of Congregation B’nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim, to support the Congregation and to promote closer relationships among its members. In cooperation with the Congregation, Sisterhood will organize and encourage religious, educational, community, and social activities, and promote the aims of the Women of Reform Judaism, WRJ Midwest District.

Leading Jewish organization empowering women & girls- via economic literacy; community training; healthy relationship education; proliferation of women’s leadership Our innovative programs, advocacy & philanthropic work protect fundamental rights of girls & women to live in safe homes, thrive in healthy relationships, meet full potential Endng Violence Against Women1:4 women will experience abuse – even as teens. We design programs to protect women & girls; healthy relationship education for teens; economic literacy for women of every age. Others turn to us for resources/training- via national & local forums that empower professionals, advocates & clergy to end domestic violence & protect fundamental rights of womenTaking ActionGrassroots level, UN & Capitol Hill: advocacy agenda centers on violence prevention & reproductive rights. Our Interfaith Coalition on Domestic Violence broadens our partnership in education & prevention. We engage Jewish women across US in grassroots efforts to work w/Congress via our national advocacy network & lend support to our critical issue education programs for their communities A Future for Women & Children at RiskOur current philanthropic initiatives reflect our long-held & long-term commitment to transform at-risk young lives into healthy, productive futures. Our 60-yr relationship w/ Jerusalem Hills Children’s Home represents our investment in a partnership that anchors our committment to Israel & its most fragile & vulnerable citizens. Our National Library Initiative & Mother’s Day Flower Project bring resources & support to battered women & their childrenEmpowering Jewish WomenWe celebrate women’s achievements & inspire next generation of leaders. In person, in print, online we spotlight dozens of Jewish women; awaken many more to their strength & extraordinary potential as change agents. Our award-winning magazine Jewish Woman has received 30+ national awards for creative content, writing & design

The Northwest Symphony Orchestra was formed in 1951. It was begun by a handful of people, gathered for the purpose of sharing their common avocation - music. They consisted of musicians of all walks of life, ranging from students to professionals, and covering a wide range of ages. Perry Crafton, a violinist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, was asked to lead the group as conductor. The orchestra remained under Mr. Crafton's leadership until his retirement at the end of the 1993-1994 season. At that point, Mr. Paul Vermel became Music Director and conductor of the orchestra leading it expertly for 19 years. The NSO welcomed Maestro Timothy Semanik in January, 2018. The high standards and dedication of each member continues to foster quality programming and community outreach. Today, the more than seventy members of the orchestra performs a subscription series of four concerts. The season is from October through May, with the concerts performed at the Forest View Educational Center in Arlington Heights.

After six years of successfully producing non-equity, professional shows under the name of Bailiwick Chicago we have formerly changed the direction and mission of the theater company. We are now a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a professional onstage experience for non-professional actors. Through a live auction-based casting process, we use the funds raised to give financial assistance to deserving Chicago theaters in need. Major Supporting & Featured Roles I've played include:2012 DAMN YANKEES Meg Boyd2013 JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT Rachel, the Angel2014 THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Gangster Two2015 WONDERFUL TOWN Tour Guide2016 9 TO 5, THE MUSICAL, Maria Delgado

Victory Gardens Theater is Chicago's Tony Award-winning regional theater renown for its in-house playwright's ensemble, its dedication to bringing new and diverse works to the public and its mission of making theater accessible to all (theater program initiatives within the Chicago public schools, teaching at the university level, programs for physically challenged individuals, etc).Lead, Supporting Roles & Featured Roles include:2002 GUYS & DOLLS Gambler Burt2003 KISS ME, KATE Kate/Lili2004 GREASE Patti Simcox2005 MY FAIR LADY Cockney Quartet/Maid2006 HELLO, DOLLY Ermengarde2007 PAJAMA GAME Brenda2008 ANNIE GET YOUR GUN Cowboy Trio2009 MAME Agnes Gooch2011 THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE Mrs. Meers

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Teaching hospitals in The Bronx, New York