Announcing Cohort 2 of UpStart Chicago’s Change Accelerator

The UpStart Change Accelerator (formerly the ‘Innovation Fellowship’) supports Chicagoland intrapreneurs looking to #MakeChangeFromWithin their institutions. Participants learn from master trainers, receive small-group coaching, and share their best idea at a community showcase.

We are thrilled to announce the 10 bold, Jewish leaders selected to participate in Chicago’s second Change Accelerator, beginning January 15, 2019.

Jeff Blumenfeld, JVS Chicago
Steven Chaitman, Jewish United Fund
Stacy Charnay, Temple Sholom
Marissa Freeman, OneTable
Danny Glassman, Temple Jeremiah
Stephanie Goldfarb, Honeymoon Israel
Becca Haas, Northwestern Hillel
Ariel Katz, Jewish United Fund
Mary Keen, CJE SeniorLife
Naomi Shapiro, Chicago Jewish Day School

ABOUT THE CHANGE ACCELERATOR

Change Accelerators bring together a select cohort to grow their impact as Jewish communal change agents. This intensive program equips participants with practical skills to identify and launch bold initiatives that meet their constituents’ evolving needs. As they shape their idea, they are supported by a community of peers, as well as expert coaches.

The UpStart Chicago Change Accelerator (formerly Innovation Fellowship) is a program in its second year that supports intrapreneurs* in the Chicago area looking to bring design thinking tools to their organizations. Funding for this program is generously provided by our funding partners, and there is no charge to participating organizations.

*What is an Intrapreneur? Intrapreneurs make change from within established organizations, helping their organizations design for their constituents’ needs faster and better using proven methods adapted from startups.

PROGRAM BENEFITS

UpStart Change Accelerator Fellows:

• • Identify opportunities to create change within their organization
  • Apply Design Thinking and Adaptive Leadership methodology to address a particular opportunity for redesign in their work
  • Test a new project or process in their organization
  • Gain a community of practice with other intrapreneurs in the Chicago Jewish community to support their efforts to be changemakers from within

CONGRATULATIONS TO COHORT 1, GRADUATING CLASS

Robyn Brenner
Tovah Goodman
Huston Harris
Rachel Hillman
Zev Khan
Rachel Margolis
Deborah Shub
Linda Sonin
Joellyn Stoliar

WHAT FELLOWS ARE SAYING

“Participating in this program has provided me along with senior leadership at JUF, the opportunity to collaborate and really think through a specific challenge in a methodical way.” – Cohort 1 Fellow

“[This work] brought me back to focusing on our students’ needs instead of other factors like finances, program history, etc…” – Cohort 1 Fellow

“I’m very satisfied with my staff’s participation! The step-by-step guidance and encouragement, along with timelines, kept her and our team accountable and moving forward.” – Supervisor of Cohort 1 Fellow