Mikva Challenge is happy to welcome the new Alumni Board!

Since Mikva Challenge opened its doors, 11 years ago, over 20,000 students have participated in our programs. We established the Alumni Board to create a space for these alumni to participate in the organization’s development.  The seventeen-member Board will:

• coordinate ways to reach out to other Mikva alumni;

• serve as ambassadors of the organization; and,
  

• assist Mikva Challenge Staff and Board of Directors with program planning.

To learn more about our Alumni Board members feel free to reference the bios below:

Lisbeth Leanos, President
A 2005 graduate from Curie Metropolitan High School, Lisbeth is currently a full-time college student. She has been politically active ever since her Mikva Challenge years. She was a campaign manager for a State Senator, and is currently a volunteer for one of the candidates competing for the Cook County Board President’s seat.  Lisbeth is also doing an internship with the Attorney General for the Illinois Department of Unemployment in their central office.  When asked why she is heading the Alumni Board, she said “the Mikva Challenge has created progressive leaders and future politicians. The Alumni Board is a promising chapter to this organization and I am eager to learn from my fellow alumni board members.”

Robert Ford Reynolds, Vice President
Robert was born on the Southside of Chicago and raised in the South Shore/South Chicago community. While attending Hales Franciscan High School, Robert was a member of the Mikva Challenge program from 2000-2003.  Upon graduation he headed off to Stanford University to complete his undergraduate studies. Robert most recently returned to Chicago after working on the Obama for America campaign in Columbus, Ohio. He, then, began working as an Image Consultant for The Image Studios and has most recently stepped away to start a firm of his own, Ford-Reynolds Doherty Image Consulting. When asked of his interest in serving on the Alumni board, Robert responded, “I’m very interested because it's important for us to use our knowledge and experience to ensure that future Mikva students are impacted in similar ways that Mikva impacted and is continuing to impact all of us.”

Brad Johnson, Secretary
Brad began his Mikva years during his sophomore year at Austin High School in 2003. He now attends Loyola University-Chicago, majoring in Visual Communications. He worked as a Junior Assistant to the HR Director at a top mid-size law firm and then at a staffing Group here in Chicago. Over the past two years, he has been volunteering extensively with several Loyola-based organizations including Labre Ministry, Latin American Student Organization, and Advocate.  When asked why he joined the Alumni Board, Brad shared “I wanted to continue to work closely with Mikva and reach out to alumnus like myself, who are Mikva enthusiast, to learn and tell their stories.”

Mari Mikolajczak, Treasurer
A recent Eureka College graduate, Mari finds herself in a transition period waiting to see where life will take her, which according to Mari is “exciting and a tad scary at the same time.”   Mari was active in the Eureka College’s Student Senate, and is now eager to get involved with the upcoming Primary and general elections. Mari is very excited to be on the board and help it evolve. When asked why she returned to Mikva to serve as a member on the Alumni Board, Mari said “I am excited for this opportunity to work with other alums on the Board. I know this board is going to accomplish great things.” Mari graduated from Wells Community Academy in 2005, and received her B.A in Communications in December 2009.

Alden Gus Matamoros
Alden attended Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in the Pilsen neighborhood where he graduated in 2004.  Since his time at Mikva, like other Mikva alumni, Alden has been very politically active. He has been a paid staff member on many local political campaigns, worked for a local Aldermanic office, and last summer, he interned for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in Washington, D.C.  Alden is currently an undergrad at DePaul University. On hearing of the creation of the Mikva Alumni Board, he jumped at the opportunity to once again become actively involved with Mikva Challenge, and give back to the organization that has greatly impacted his life.

Erna Dzafic
Erna’s relationship with Mikva began during her freshman year at Amundsen High School. During her four years with Mikva, she participated in several Mikva programs – she campaigned for various political candidates, and even interned for Senator Peter Fitzgerald in her junior year of high school. After high school, Erna stayed in Chicago and received her BA at Loyola University in Sociology with minors in Political Science, Women’s Studies and English. She is currently pursuing her law degree at the University’s Law School. When asked why she has returned to Mikva to help out on the new Alumni Board, she said “my continual passion and support for the program reflects the long-term impact the program has had on me. Mikva’s impact on my interest in politics and civic engagement has been invaluable. I will forever be thankful to Mikva Challenge for leaving a civic footprint on my life, and I would like to help in whatever way I can to make sure that others have similar experiences.”

Antar Morrar
Antar joined Mikva Challenge in its early years as a sophomore in 2002. A graduate of Curie Metropolitan High School, he has remained an active citizen ever since his Mikva years. He has been all over, working the gamut - volunteering for various political campaigns, and teaching children ages 7-14 creative writing during the summers. He is currently a freelance film editor and computer geek, and is working hard to nurture and develop the Mikva Challenge Alumni Board. Mikva Challenge is excited to have his knowledge and passion for Mikva on the Alumni Board.

Harold M. Moore
A self proclaimed campaign junkie, Harold Moore has spent much of his short career crisscrossing the country aiding candidates in their pursuit of elected office. Managing regional and statewide field programs from Las Vegas to rural Georgia, Des Moines to Chicago and points in between Harold has seen firsthand the diversity of the country and the power of youth committed to action. A 2003 Prosser Career Academy grad, Harold has been active within the Mikva Challenge since 2002 in its Issues to Action program, election judge and internship programs. Now the Executive Director of a Northwest Indiana based nonprofit, Harold joined the Mikva Alumni Board to provide insight and support the growth of the Mikva Challenge as alumni make the transition from high school to college/trade school and beyond.

Karla Morin
Karla got involved with Mikva Challenge during her time at Clemente High School, but her passion for political action began much earlier. A Mexican immigrant, Karla’s first rally took place in Springfield when she went with fellow classmates to demand bilingual education and an equal opportunity for success. At Mikva Challenge, Karla worked on activism projects benefiting the Humboldt Park neighborhood, volunteered for local and state campaigns, and interned in the offices of then State Representative William Delgado and Senator Miguel del Valle.  After high school, Karla interned at SEIU and Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC), and later became a Mikva Peace Fellow, where she helped run a Peace & Leadership Council and organized Mikva's 2nd Annual Peace Rally. Karla is now a full-time student. When asked why she returned to join the Mikva Challenge Board, she said “to help the new Mikva alums better transition into adulthood with the help of those who have already lived through the transition.”

Arregina Clay
Airregina Clay is a 2006 Hyde Park Career Academy Alumna. Airregina’s undying passion and commitment to building better communities has led her to currently serve as Assistant Program Director for a community based organization on Chicago’s Southside and as Project Coordinator for a teen drug prevention initiative program for 14-21 year olds. In 2009 Airregina received her A.A. degree from Kennedy-King College and is currently pursuing her BA in Accounting. In her Mikva years, Airregina participated in Mikva’s Issues to Actions and Elections in Actions programs, and the Summer Government Leadership Institute. She volunteered for numerous local campaigns and plans to run for political office in the near future. When asked why she returned to serve as a member on Mikvas Alumni Board, Airregina said “the Mikva Alumni Board is a great opportunity to work with other brilliant minds and build strong professional and political alliances.”

Kevin Brown
Kevin graduated from Jones College Prep High School and was involved in the Mikva Challenge from 2004 to 2007. He participated in the Elections in Action program, the Youth Advocacy Club, and completed the Summer Government and Leadership Institute. After High School, Kevin worked for the Illinois Coalition for Adolescent Health as a Development Associate. He is currently a freshman at Northeastern Illinois University and is excited to be a member of the Alumni Board, and to continue playing an active role in the Mikva Challenge.

Maribel Rodriguez
Maribel was in the Junior R.O.T.C. at Steinmetz High School when she got involved with Mikva Challenge. Maribel said that right off the bat she fell in love with the organization, she volunteered her time there, and even joined the Mikva Challenge Club (early Mikva program for students who couldn’t get enough of Mikva).  Through Mikva, Maribel also interned at Miguel Del Valle's office before he became the City Clerk.  Since Mikva, she has been involved in her son's local school council where she has been able to gather a few parents to organize a parent patrol group for the school. She is currently a student at National Louis University. When asked why she joined the Alumni Board, Maribel said “I joined the Mikva Alumni Board to reconnect with some of my Mikva alumni and get back my political connection.”

Nina Fuentes
A 2004 Steinmetz High School alumna, Nina began participating in Mikva Challenge programs during her freshman year of high school. In her Mikva years, she was a member of Mikva Club, Student Voices and the Young Women's Club (all early Mikva programs). Nina also interned for Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin and then State Senator Miguel Del Valle. In January 2008, Nina accompanied Mikva Challenge staff to New Hampshire to volunteer at the 2008 Primary elections.  She chaperoned seven students as they campaigned throughout the state for John Edwards. Looking back at this and other Mikva experiences, Nina added that "working with an organization that had such an impact on the degree of my activism is an awesome opportunity for me. I am excited to rejoin Mikva from this new and different perspective, especially at a time when the organization is growing so steadily." A graduate of the University of IL-Urbana, Nina is currently exploring post grad studies and other career opportunities.

Patrick Stone
Patrick attended Harlan High School on the Southside of Chicago. After his Mikva years, he left Chicago for college in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Frustrated by his experience in Arkansas, Patrick decided to return home for school. He is now a student at Depaul University. When asked why he decided to join the Mikva Challenge Alumni Board, Patrick said “joining the board I believe is a good chance for me to help out with the up and coming Mikva students, and learn in the process.”

Ricky Harris Jr.
Ricky is the youngest member on the Mikva Alumni Board. A 2008 graduate from Amundsen High School, Ricky is now a freshman at Depaul University studying engineering. Since beginning his Mikva years in 2004, he has worked for a number of local political campaigns, volunteered for organizations and lobbying efforts. He has also been volunteering his time to help Westside Community residents - working with teenagers, single parents, and the elderly. Ricky hopes to use his engineering degree to enter a public service field. 

Sam Ryan
A 2004 graduate from Jones College Prep High School, Sam got involved with Mikva Challenge as a sophomore in high school.  He was a member of the Mikva Advocacy Club, lobbying the state legislature for greater youth employment opportunities. He later served as a member on Mikva’s Youth Innovation Fund (now Education Council). Sam is now a Junior at DePaul University studying Public Policy and working part time at Mikva Challenge as their Out-of-School Time Council Program Coordinator. When asked why he joined the Alumni Board, he said “the Alumni Board is an outlet for me to give back to Mikva Challenge, an institution that introduced me to the world of policy and politics. The board allows me to network with other alumni, and help build an infrastructure for other alumni to interact with each other and graduating seniors.”

Victor Zizumbo
Victor’s political engagement was sparked at a very early age when his parents started taking him along to Workers Day marches in support of immigration reform.  A graduate of Clemente High School, Victor joined Mikva Challenge in 2003, where he campaigned for several candidates, interned for a local alderman, worked on a civics fair project on gentrification, and got the opportunity to go to New Hampshire during the primaries.  After High School his political participation shifted from elections and campaign work to grassroots activism through local non-profits. Through this political work, he went to Springfield to see how our capital is run. Now he is part of the Mikva Alumni Board where he is working to develop ways to engage our growing group of alumni. Victor is a Sales Manager for CDW, a computer networking company.

At Mikva Challenge, our mission is to train life-long civic leaders, and our alumni and students affirm our success in getting young people to become today and tomorrow's leaders!