Avodah’s 20th Anniversary – “Lighting the Way”

Honoring Our Partners in Justice:

Karen Lewis, Benetta Mansfield, and Nadia Underhill

Chicago Teachers Union (1901 W. Carroll Ave.)

Wednesday, May 23; 6:30-8:30 pm

Dietary Laws Observed • Cocktail Attire

For more information please contact Leah Greenblum, Chicago Community Director, 

at lgreenblum@avodah.net or 773-649-6141

Please scroll down to purchase tickets.

Meet the Honorees

Karen GJ Lewis was elected President of the 26,000 member Chicago Teachers Union in, 2010, and re-elected to a second term in 2012 by ninety-percent of the Union’s rank and file. A member of Chicago Teachers Union since 1988, Mrs. Lewis taught high school chemistry in the Chicago Public Schools for 22 years. Mrs. Lewis is a Vice President of the more than 1.7 million-member American Federation of Teachers, and in 2010, Karen was elected Executive Vice President to the 70,000 member Illinois Federation of Teachers. She works tirelessly to effectuate excellence in the teaching/learning experience, guard against opportunistic self-interest groups who would eradicate public education, advocate for equal quality education for all students, and protect the rights of educators throughout the state of Illinois.Mrs. Lewis‘s goal is to ensure that Chicago’s public school students attend the neighborhood schools they deserve, and stands firmly against the privatization of public education. She graduated from Dartmouth College, where she earned the distinction of being the only African American woman in the class of 1974.

Benetta Mansfield is a lawyer with over 25 years of experience as an advocate, mediator and manager. Most recently, Benetta served as the Chief of Staff of the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents over 185,000 bus operators, maintenance and clerical employees throughout the U.S. and Canada. Previously, she was the Chief of Staff of the National Mediation Board and directed the election of International officers for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, after being appointed to do so by a federal judge. She is also a Board member of the Mansfield Family Foundation. Benetta lives in Chicago, Illinois. Benetta is the Chair of the Avodah Board of Directors and also serves on the Strategy and Governance & Nominating Committees.

Nadia Underhill recently joined Thresholds as Vice President of Housing and Real Estate and has spent more than 15 years working to increase urban equity through the development of affordable housing and advocacy on affordable housing issues.  Previously, as Director of Real Estate Development for Heartland Housing, her team created and preserved more than 800 units of affordable housing, including more than 250 units of permanent supportive housing for people working to leave homelessness.  Nadia was an AVODAH corps member in Brooklyn in 1999-2000, the organization’s second year, and was a member of AVODAH’s Board of Directors from 2001-2010.  She holds a Master of Public Affairs from Princeton University, a Master of Science in Cities, Space and Society from the London School of Economics, and a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton College.   A Chicago native, she grew up in Hyde Park and attended Kenwood Academy.  She lives with her husband and son on Chicago’s northwest side.  In 2010, she co-founded TBD minyan, a living-room-sized Shabbat minyan.

Partners in Justice Co-Chairs:  Audrey May, Kalman Resnick, and Hollen Reischer & Uri Pachter.

View and purchase tickets and sponsorships below.

(The non-deductible, fair market value per ticket is $36).

We have a very exciting opportunity to grow your gift this year! Any first-time or increased donation will be matched by the Legacy Heritage Fund’s Project Accelerate by 50%. These donations will be used to execute our strategic plan. Thank you for considering a new or increased gift this year to help us maximize this significant opportunity.

Tickets and Sponsorship Levels
$5,400 – Mensch:

  • 8 Tickets (1 Premium Table), Name in print program, 5 Slide Show Mentions, Recognition on Website, Avodah Facebook Announcement, Announcement from Partners in Justice Stage

$3,600 – Inspirer:

  • 8 Tickets (1 Table), Name in print program, 4 Slide Show Mentions, Recognition on Website, Avodah Facebook Announcement, Announcement from Partners in Justice Stage

$2,500 – Builder:

  • 4 Tickets, 2 Slide Show Mentions, Recognition on Website, Avodah Facebook Announcement

$1,800 – Believer:

  • 2 Tickets, 1 Slide Show Mention, Recognition on Website, Avodah Facebook Announcement

$1,000 – Guardian:

  • 2 Tickets, 1 Slide Show Mention, Recognition on Website

$540 – Supporter:

  • 2 Tickets, Recognition on Website

$180 – Friend:

  • 1 ticket
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