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Join Community Organization Leadership INITIATIVE

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Join the COLI Chicago Cohort II if you…

  • Strive to make an impact on the Jewish community
  • Organize campaigns or community events
  • Use your unique skills and talents to further causes
  • Want to elevate your leadership impact
  • Enjoy networking and connecting with other women who share your passion
Cohort II if you…

During the COLI Chicago Cohort you will…

  • Connect with local leaders
  • Develop and build confidence in your personal leadership style
  • Build a support network of volunteer leaders across the Orthodox community
Cohort you will…

Advance your nonprofit leadership skills in…

  • Communications: How to have uncomfortable conversations and stay friends
  • What it takes to do fundraising in 2025
  • Marketing: How to stand out in nonprofit marketing
  • Budget/fiduciary duty best practices for nonprofits
  • Board governance structure and policy
  • Nonprofit strategic planning 
  • Network and problem solve together
    • Biggest challenges of nonprofit boards
    • Problem solving
    • Funding sources
leadership skills in…

Join our upcoming cohort!

Register Here

Past Presenters

Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman
Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman
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Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman

Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman is the founding director of the OU Women’s Initiative. She is a community leader with over three decades of teaching experience in New York, Alabama and Pennsylvania. She received a PhD in Educational Psychology from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, MS in School Psychology from Queens College and MA in Jewish Education and a Certificate in Educational Technology from Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University.  She received a Teacher’s Certificate from Beth Jacob Seminary (BJJ).  She is the rebbetzin of the Lower Merion Synagogue as well as the co-chair of the Lower Merion Community Mikvah in Bala Cynwyd, PA.  She is a kallah teacher and mikvah attendant.  She and her husband, Rabbi Avraham Shmidman, live in Bala Cynwyd, PA and are the parents of four sons. 

Ms. Chana Siff
Ms. Chana Siff
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Ms. Chana Siff

Mrs. Chana Siff, Executive Director of The Neuberger Family Foundation  

Chana Siff has enjoyed working in the Jewish nonprofit sector over the last 13 years, including at The Baltimore Jewish Council, The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, and most recently, serving as the director for family foundations. In her current role, she enjoys using her expertise in organizational management, community planning, grantmaking, advocacy, strategic planning, leadership training, and communications to help strengthen organizations and develop communal initiatives.

Chana received her MBA, with a focus in Leadership & Management Development, and her B.S. in Corporate Communications both from the University of Baltimore. In 2016, Chana received the Outstanding Jewish Communal Professional Award from The Darrell D. Friedman Institute for Professional Development (DFI).

Chana personally enjoys applying her professional experience to her work with community organizations and projects, including in her current role as PTA co-president and on the Executive Board of Talmudical Academy of Baltimore. She lives in Baltimore with her husband and children.

Alexis Goldstein
Alexis Goldstein
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Alexis Goldstein

Mrs. Alexis Goldstein has worked in the Jewish communal sector for the last ten years with a focus on nonprofit strategy, development, and growth. Alexis is currently Vice President of Programs at Walder Operations where she manages the Chicago-based Walder programs – Walder Education, Walder Science, and Kehillah Fund. Previously, she served as Director of Institutional Advancement at HTC and as a Senior Development Executive at UJA-Federation.

Tzivia Cohen
Tzivia Cohen
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Tzivia Cohen

Mrs. Tzivia Cohen is the founder and CEO of 14Minds, a marketing agency that specializes in strategic marketing for nonprofit organizations.

Malka Levitansky
Malka Levitansky
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Malka Levitansky

Malka Levitansky is a fundraising and marketing specialist and coach with more than 20 years of experience in the Jewish nonprofit world.  Malka currently serves as Chief Development Officer for Midwest NCSY/JSU, where she focuses on foundation and major donor cultivation and stewardship.

Sharyl Ross
Sharyl Ross
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Sharyl Ross

Sharyl Ross, CPA, is a seasoned tax professional with over 30 years of public accounting experience, including time at a Big Four firm. A trusted advisor and strategic partner, she is deeply involved in her community, serving as Board President of Libenu and Treasurer of the Jewish Neighborhood Development Council of Chicago.

Shana Erenberg
Shana Erenberg
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Shana Erenberg

Dr. Shana Erenberg is the co-founder and CEO of Libenu, which provides a lifetime of care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential respite, and advocacy services. She is also the Chairman Emeritus of the Department of Education and a professor emeritus at Hebrew Theological College/Touro University in Chicago. Dr. Erenberg maintains a private practice for the diagnostic evaluation, remediation, and advocacy of children and adults with disabilities.

Mrs. Sarah Rivkah Kohn
Mrs. Sarah Rivkah Kohn
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Mrs. Sarah Rivkah Kohn

An only child, Sarah Rivkah was 9 years old when her mother passed away after 6 ½ years of battling an illness. Her father remarried a few months later.

The loneliness she felt following her mother’s passing sparked a determination to one day provide comfort and support to teen girls dealing with parental loss. She founded Links Family in 2006, with the publication of the first issue of Links Magazine, and has continuously expanded the scope of the organization as she seeks to address the specific needs of each child.

Your Words

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    I love the connections I made with so many motivated women from all different walks of the community. I feel that I have a stronger understanding (and resources and references ) of the logistical side of what makes a well operated and legitimate Non-profit continue to be run properly and well. I loved what I learned about myself and find myself tapping into those attributes within my own day to day life.
    Brittany Ray
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    I’m totally capable of making a difference in our community and I have a responsibility to use my strengths in concrete ways.
    Anonymous
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    We as women have so much to contribute and by having a deeper understanding of the logistical side of Non-profit boards it not only empowers us as members but it allows our voices to be better heard. I loved the messaging and the hashkafa side of the first and last course.
    Brittany Ray
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    I learned the power of the individual- if you see something or are passionate about something, get involved; how organizational boards are broken down/ board members vs volunteers.
    Shifra Teichman
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    I’ve learned questions to ask prior to joining a board which I’ve already applied.
    Anonymous
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    To be empowered and have the skills and knowledge to be an effective leader and member of our community.
    Tamar Kohn
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    The Clifton Strengths Assessment was a helpful lens to view and discuss our own unique leadership styles.The sessions on fundraising and budgeting, and marketing were also super helpful and practical. One of my favorite parts of the program was the Leading Ladies panel at the end of session 4.
    Alissa Zeffren
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    I really enjoyed the diversity of the group. It was so nice to get to hear from women I might have not met otherwise.
    Anonymous
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    It was amazing to get to know so many woman from across the spectrum of our community and to learn from them and with them and create relationships with them.
    Anonymous
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    The amount of passionate lay leaders keeping our community going and growing is really incredible and it was inspiring to hear from different women throughout the community who I otherwise would not have had the chance to get to know. Overall, I thought the COLI program was a really dynamic and meaningful program to inspire and empower women's leadership in our community. Thank you again for this incredible opportunity!
    Alissa Zeffren
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    When I was first asked to be a part of it, I was hesitant as this is something completely out of my comfort zone, but after each session, I looked forward to the next one. I loved meeting new people from the community who I would have otherwise never met and who I learned so much from. It’s very inspiring to meet so many women who are so passionate about contributing to their communities.
    Raanana Stein
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    I am so honored to have been invited! As someone who is involved in event planning at work I was absolutely BLOWN AWAY from the details, thought and work that went into every single session Thank you so much!
    Ruchami Cynamon

Our Mission

To develop influential women leaders in Chicago by blending professional development, leadership education, and community connection – enabling participants to shape the local Orthodox Jewish communal landscape meaningfully.

Led by: Chaya Tova Hartman, Talia (Molotsky) Mayefsky, Rochie Porush and Mindi Zissman

About COLI