Age: 35

Pronouns: She/Her

Primary Gig: Assistant Director, Jewish Family Services

On the Side: I love spending time with my family and friends, hosting dinners, cooking, walking my dog around all the amazing parks Indy has to offer, my Peloton community, and "Netflix-and-chilling" with my husband.

How long have you lived in Indianapolis? 7 years

Describe yourself in 100 words or less: Family-oriented, hard-working, determined, committed to my community, loyal, compassionate and personable. Current dog-mom and human-mom-to-be!

How do you give back? I have dedicated myself and my career to non-profit work for as long as I can remember. I am currently serving as the Assistant Director at Jewish Family Services, an agency that offers service that enhance the overall health and well-being of families and individuals in our local community.

Who is a Jew who inspires you? Julie Sondhelm. Julie is the Clinical Director at JFS and has been a social worker in the community for many years. Her compassion, resourcefulness, forward-thinking, and dedication to her work is admirable. Julie has literally changed this Jewish community and continues to do so every day. It is an honor to work alongside her and learn from her.

How do you envision the Indianapolis Jewish community in the next 10 years? As an expecting mother, I am looking forward to experiencing all this community has to offer in raising my child with Jewish traditions and values. I envision a vibrant, diverse, inclusive, and active Jewish community in Indianapolis, one where my family can explore our cultural identity, identify and practice our religious traditions, feel connected to Israel, and deepen our sense of community.

What is one thing you look forward to as we come out of this Pandemic? Seeing people come together again for my favorite community event of the year, Adopt-a-Family (Dec. 4).

What is your proudest accomplishment in the past 10 years? Moving to Indianapolis was an easy decision to make, but it wasn't always easy to adapt. In Chicago, I had lifelong friends and a big family, and I had worked hard at developing my professional career and network there. Moving to a new city meant starting over. I quickly got involved and volunteered in the community here, I built new relationships, and started a new professional career. I was recently promoted to the Assistant Director at Jewish Family Services and play a vital role within the organization. I am very proud of everything I have built here and how quickly Indianapolis became my home and a place for personal and professional growth.

Any advice for younger professionals? Just be open minded. Take time to learn new skills and systems, explore new opportunities, be willing to take risks and experiment new ideas, and don't be afraid to share your voice.