Julie Gibbs, Director of Women’s Philanthropy at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, has been selected as the President of JProStl for 2016-18. Julie becomes the seventh JProStl president, succeeding Rabbi Levi Landa of Chabad. JProStl is an initiative of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis and has been recognized as the model for Jewish professional associations in the country. JProStl provides training, shares resources and promotes networking for staff at fifty organizations in order to strengthen staff members, their organizations and the community as a whole.
JProStl board members will be recognized at JProStl JAVA, a networking event “where everyone learns your name” on Tuesday, May 17 from 3:30-5:00 pm. The program is open to all staff who work at congregations, schools, agencies and organizations.
Julie joined the Jewish Federation of St. Louis staff in January 2014 and prior worked at the Jewish Community Center (The J) with Development and Alumni Relations for Camp Sabra. Before joining The J, Julie was Director of Development at United Hebrew Congregation where she first got involved with JProStl. Julie graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a degree in Journalism. Julie has also been an active lay leader in the community and is in her second term as Vice President of United Hebrew Congregation and was a 2013 Millstone Fellow. Julie has served for two years as Chair of JProStl Special Events, overseeing the JProStl annual community-wide recognition luncheon and spring “end of year” networking event. Whether as a volunteer or professional, Julie enjoys events and programs that foster community and is passionate about the connections and positive impact developed through Jewish Federation of St. Louis.
Incoming JProStl Vice Presidents are Randi Schenberg and Tabari Asim Coleman.
Randi is the Community Relations Director at Crown Center for Senior Living. She brings a high level of enthusiasm to everything she does. Randi has been at Crown Center for more than 5 years and finds the job rewarding and entertaining. Randi is currently chair of New Staff for JProStl. Randi is also involved in CSPRC – the local organization for non-profit marketing and PR professionals. Prior to working in the Jewish community Randi worked in the hotel business, at an incentive travel company and with a St. Louis Visitor Guide. Randi graduated from University of Missouri with a degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management.
Tabari is the Education Project Director for the ADL’s A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE ® Institute, a leading provider of anti-bias education and social justice training for Missouri and Southern Illinois. Tabari implements anti-bias and inclusion training workshops for schools, community organizations and businesses on a variety of topic areas including addressing bias, microaggressions, ally-building, analyzing curriculum through a social justice lens and facilitation skills. Tabari has served on the JProStl board for the past three years and also sits on the Board of Directors for HateBrakers and Leadership Council for the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He received his B.S. in Speech Communications and a Masters of Public Administration and Policy Analysis from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.
Committee chairs for JProStl are Marianne Chervitz (The J) for Special Events, Marian Gordon (Traditional Congregation) for New Staff, Erin Schreiber (Maryville Hillel) for Professional Development, Rabbi Micah Buck-Yael (JF&CS) for Jewish Education and Lory Cooper (The J) for Young Pros.
New and returning at-large board members for 2016-17 are Leah Frankel (JF&CS), Miriam Ross-Hirsch (Hillel at Washington University), Kelly Richter (Jewish Light), Rabbi Naftali Rothstein (Yeshiva Kadimah), Heather Silverman (NCJW), and Leslie Wolf (Deutsch Early Childhood, Temple Israel).
Rotating off of the 2015-16 JProStl board are Shannon Rohlman (Mirowitz), Amy Stone (United Hebrew), Rabbi Ari Kaiman (B’nai Amoona), Shirley Wise (Jewish Federation of St. Louis), Rabbi Yitz Staum (JSU), Rachel Lubchansky (Epstein Hebrew Academy) and Jean Cavender (Holocaust Museum & Learning Center). Maharat Rori Picker Neiss (JCRC) also previously served.
JProStl and the Millstone Institute are supported by the Lubin-Green Foundation, a supporting foundation of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, Karen & Mont Levy and Bill Solomon & Family. Jewish Federation of St. Louis professionals, Marci Mayer Eisen and Karen Sher, provide the staffing for JProStl, an initiative of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis’ Millstone Institute. For information contact Marci Mayer Eisen at 314-442-3810, MEisen@JFedSTL.org or go to MillstoneSTL.org/JPro.