In 2006, the first Chicago bayit opened with nine Corps Members in the Albany Park neighborhood. Since then, more than 150 Corps Members have worked with close to 50 Chicago nonprofits, serving over 107,000 individuals who are working to make ends meet.
Our alumni in Chicago continue to step up for social and economic justice, and they’ve had a profound impact on the local Jewish community. They’re residents of multiple Moishe Houses, building communities and programs rooted in justice; activists with the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, advocating on a local and state level for more progressive policies; and they’re lay leaders with Mishkan, a thriving post-denominational Jewish community.
In 2016, we launched the Avodah Fellowship for early-career professionals in Chicago, expanding our efforts to engage local leaders and strengthening their work for justice within the broader context of our community.
The Windy City might get cold and dark for part of the year, but the Avodahniks keeps the light on for social change at the heart of committed and supportive Jewish community.
Read the stories of Avodah Chicago alumni Rachel Sumekh, Jessica Schaffer, and Ilana Zafran Walden.
Avodah Health Educator and Outreach Coordinator
Erie Family Health Centers
LGBT Project Avodah Fellow
National Immigrant Justice Center - Chicago
Intake Coordinator
Beyond Legal Aid
Housing Justice Organizer
Jane Addams Senior Caucus
Legal Assistant
National Immigrant Justice Center
Organizer
Jewish Council on Urban Affairs
Youth Development Specialist
Howard Brown Health - Broadway Youth Center
Resource Specialist
Inspiration Corporation