Evanston Woman Magazine by Evanston Woman Magazine

KAREN SINGER

PRESIDENT & CEO

CREATING A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN

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FROM THE EDITOR

VOLUME 1 / ISSUE 11

CONTENTS

s my favorite season nears its inevitable end, we embark upon a new school year. Art/Culture/Life showcases the new Head of School at Roycemore, Adrianne Finley Odell. Roycemore has given my daughter, Brianna, the education and foundation she requires to be a successful young adult as she enters college. The tools, resources, and fellowship foster a dynamic partnership between student and faculty. Meeting and working with Adrianne has been a blessing and a joy. I am excited to see a new road paved in the legacy of Roycemore. Empowering individuals toward their financial goals is one of the many services First Bank and Trust provides their clients. Taking asset education to another level with the Financial Literacy Program, which provides skills for budgeting, saving, and paying down debt. Vice President Judette Kurasz shares her passion behind building the program to enhance the lives of young adults via partnerships with non-profit organizations.

7 FEATURES 7 Karen Singer, President & CEO: Creating a Solid Foundation for Women

DEPARTMENTS 2 Editor’s Corner: A Note from the Publisher and Editor in Chief, Linda Del Bosque 4 Wellness: Basics Steps To Prep For A Compartmentalized Salad with IzzyFit Personal Training

When someone asks me, “Do you know of a women’s organization that could use some assistance?” my first response is always, “the YWCA” – a place where women can regain and begin life again. The renewed growth of this organization can be attributed to current President and CEO Karen Singer. Karen – Thank you for your dedication in helping women regain their independence, courage, and self-esteem. Congratulations on the YWCA’s 80 th anniversary. XOXO!

Linda Del Bosque | Editor in Chief

9 Community: Judette Kurasz, Vice President with First Bank and Trust Financial Literacy Program

Editor-in-Chief Linda Del Bosque Graphic Designer Maribel Lopez Editors Christine Wolf, Kasimu Godfrey Photography Chantal Pryor | 2195 Photography & Annette Patko | Bordeaux Studio Advertising Office 847-722-5654

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11 Art/Life/Culture: Meet Adrianne Finley Odell, Head of School at Roycemore College Preparatory

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WELLNESS

BASIC STEPS TO PREP FOR A COMPARTMENTALIZED SALAD WITH IZZYFIT PERSONAL TRAINING 1 Choose what greens you’d like (Arugula? Kale? Romaine?) 2 Choose a grain you’d like a little bit of (Brown rice? Quinoa? None, thank you very much? I only add about 1/4 cup cooked) 3 Choose 2-3 non-starchy veggies you’re in the mood for (Peppers? Cucumbers? Asparagus? Red onions? Go nuts here) 4 Choose your protein if you’d like (Hard-boiled eggs? Grilled chicken? Non-meat-related protein?) 5 Choose a starchier carb that will take longer to break down (Legumes? Sweet potatoes? Again, for this I only add about 1/4 cup) 6 Choose a dressing (Oil and vinegar? Hummus or baba ganouch which are my current fav “dress ing” replacements) Ranch?) 7 Chop/roast/clean/prep/grill/hard boil whatever you need to for a week’s worth of lunches in one go 8 Place all of the items in separate containers 9 Put your salad together the night before so it’s ready to grab and go in the morning! And voila! You have a nutrient-dense meal that will add up to cost a lot less than going to Panera every day and you’ll likely avoid the mid-afternoon slump! Isabelle “Izzy” Libmann came to personal training in a non-traditional, roundabout way. A theater major at Northwestern University. Evanston business owner and resident, Linmann hired her own trainer and recognized a powerful experience it can be to get stronger and feel better. “AHA!” moment later, Izzy decided to become a personal trainer herself so she could help people feel stronger, healthier and, most importantly, more empowered. www.izzyfit.com 4 E VA N S TO N W O M A N . O R G

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three categories: Racial Justice and Civil Rights, Women’s Economic Empowerment, and Women’s Health and Safety. The organization celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, and began as a place for women coming from rural communities looking for work, mentorship and affordable housing. In the 1980s, calls started coming from women fleeing abuse who needed a place to stay. In 1983, the North Shore Junior League initiated a partnership. “They asked us to put aside 5 rooms, then offered us volunteers and funding,” Singer says. By 1987, YWCA Evanston/North Shore established Mary Lou’s Place, a domestic violence emergency shelter serving as many as 32 abused women and their children for up to 90 days. This year, the program celebrates its 30th Anniversary. “It’s a safe place, away from an abuser,” Singer says, “where a domestic violence survivor and her children can heal from and understand the impact of the violence they’ve suffered.” Still, according to Singer, ninety days isn’t always enough time to heal or help a victim understand that she is not alone or to blame. And so, the organization developed additional programming: relationship violence prevention and community counseling, legal advocacy, longer-term housing & support and a batterers’ intervention group to counteract violent belief systems and mindsets.

YWCA EVANSTON/NORTH SHORE’S

KAREN SINGER

POSITIVE COMMUNITY IMPACT BY CHRISTINE WOLF

Back in 2004, the Flying Fish swim program was also established as an all-encompassing program addressing equitable access to swim instruction, health & safety, and empowerment. At that time, however, the organization was overly dependent on government funding (49% Government; 51% Fee For Service).

ince joining the organization nearly fourteen years ago, President and CEO Karen Singer has quadrupled the size of YWCA Evanston/North Shore. Still, it’s impossible to quantify the organization’s positive impact on the community.

With Singer’s leadership and a 2010 Evanston Community Fund Partners for the Future grant, the numbers now speak for themselves; despite the recession, private giving is up 137% versus five years ago, and government funding now hovers just over 10%.

“Everything we do focuses on improving the lives of women, girls, and families,” Singer says. “And we can’t empower all women unless we also work for racial justice.”

“I hope the community sees how we’ve expanded services to meet women where they are,” Singer says, smiling. “I think we’ve done a lot.”

Singer oversees a staff of 100 full and part-time employees and a $5 million dollar operating budget, with services touching 16,000 people each year. The services fall into

YWCA Evanston/North Shore will mark their 80th anniversary Friday, November 10 at the “YWomen Celebration.” Visit www.ywca.org/evanston for tickets and more information.

E VA N S TO N W O M A N . O R G 7

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JUDETTE KURASZ VICE PRESIDENT WITH FIRST BANK AND TRUST FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM

y success will be making sure that others have the tools to grow their financial resources.” Those are the words Judette Kurasz lives by currently. Born and raised mostly on the South side of Chicago and attended the University of Illinois at Chicago receiving a BA in Marketing. As a full-time student, Kurasz worked 30 hours while balancing her course work leading to the success and personal development she embodies today. Over 22 years ago Kurasz joined First Bank and Trust in providing members programs such as the FDIC Youth Banking Network. “I want our programs to guide and encourage children and families on the importance of saving money. But I also want the programs to teach them the next level, which is allocating funds for future education,” she says.

“I wanted to be in on the process from the beginning. Moving to Evanston was a bonus! Also, I must admit that commuting holds no interest for me. (I don’t really like to drive.) Evanston has such diversity in its’ population and housing that I knew it was home for me.” Kurasz has a passion and excitement for teaching the community, specifically through the First Bank and Trust Financial Literacy Program, which provides participants with the skills for budgeting, saving,

COMMUNITY and paying down debt. “I have made connections with various groups, including Non-profits, schools, and business. I would love to develop a program that uses technology to supplement our in-person workshops. I think our program can make a huge impact on an individual’s life and I want to see that it is as accessible and understandable as possible.” The goal for this program is to have it grown and flourish in the coming years. The first year in building this program from the ground up has been a success for Kurasz. She continues “There is still a lot of work that needs to be done to have the program be the success that I envision it can be.” The ultimate goal of the program would be to see the individuals that have worked with Judette possessing and using the tools that it provides. Having and keeping a productive schedule, enjoying life to the fullest and only purchasing items when you can afford to were lessons instilled within by Kurasz’s parents. Her ex-husband added in the importance of retirement planning while her current partner, Robb helped her find her voice. Recently, Kurasz has been exploring meditation techniques and Pilates. She is interested in them because like most women, she seeks a balance between mind and body. “I love the creativity involved in music, dance, and art. I take time to read every day. I find travel[ing] to be important –seeing other cultures and meeting new people makes me happy.” She relates. So what keeps Kurasz from becoming complacent? She says, Robert Yohanan, Jay Lytle, and Howard Kain!!! “They are brilliant period. They are extraordinary [businessmen] with a firm commitment to this community. I can’t become complacent. It is important to me that I represent First Bank and Trust and myself as the best.” E VA N S TO N W O M A N . O R G 9

CREATING PERSONAL, PASSION, & PROJECTS MEET THE NEW HEAD OF SCHOOL AT ROYCEMORE, ADRIANNE FINLEY

ART/LIFE/CULTURE

BY KASIMU GODFREY

s the calendar nears September and fall looms in the distance, that audible groan that you hear is from students (and some teachers) that know that school is upon them. Except for maybe the students that attend The Roycemore School under the new direction of Head of School, Adrianne Finley Odell. Mrs. Odell is striving to create a fun and inviting educational experience for the students, faculty, and parents. Odell grew up in Columbus, OH and attended The Ohio State University, received a BA in International Studies with a minor in Economics. Odell received her Master’s in Political Science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Odell met her first mentor: retired Vice Admiral Robert Kihune where she began her career in government as an economic development specialist in Hawaii. Kihune taught her to give those with potential a chance to realize it under her guidance as he had done for her. She left Hawaii to join the Worldwatch Institute, a Washington D.C. think tank that focuses on global sustainability issues. During Odell’s time in Washington, D.C., she would switch her career focus after enrolling her daughter at the Calverton School (an independent school in southern Maryland) where the Head of School convinced Odell that it was time for her to change to Education. She fell in love with idea and began honing her skills through professional development courses at places like the National Association of Independent Schools’ Fellowship for Aspiring Heads and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. During her time there, Odell met another mentor, Head of School from Maryland, Marcella Yedid. She saw wisdom and strength in Yedid’s leadership profile and added those traits to her own as she began to cultivate her path. Her final stop before Roycemore would be in St. Petersburg, FL at the Shorecrest Preparatory School where she would meet Mike Murphy the headmaster whom she says “embodies a level 5 leader that Jim Collins writes about who builds enduring greatness through a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will.” Odell is uniquely aware of her influences and the shadows that she stands beneath. She is proud of continuing traditions at Roycemore like the January Short-Term, a program where upper school students are allowed to pursue a

subject of their own choice for three weeks every January. There is also the similar program in the lower school (Kindergarten-Fourth grade) where there is theme week, allowing teachers to vary the subject matter being taught. Odell is launching P3 (Personal, Passion, Projects) this coming year for the middle school allowing those students dedicated time twice a week to work on their self-created passion projects. This also includes time with a teacher/coach and external mentor to help the idea become a prototype. (She is currently looking for more individual mentors and community leaders to be a part of this program.) Programs like this are the embodiment of Odell’s drive to create an “amazing and exciting learning environment where students can’t wait to get to school each day and dive in.” She wants to ensure Roycemore is the place for a supportive educational environment infused with a “culture of inclusion and authenticity.” She is a true Evanstonian as well as you will find her jogging or biking near the lake or at numerous dining venues downtown as well as attending events at both Roycemore and Northwestern. E VA N S TO N W O M A N . O R G 1 1

ART/LIFE/CULTURE

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