Liz has more than 15 years of nonprofit experience, having worked at large institutions and grassroots organizations. Based on her knowledge of the field, Liz helped design and introduce Women Unite! as a capacity-building consulting firm, identifying ways to best use the networks and talents of the WU! community to advance and support progressive causes.

Prior to joining WU!, Liz served as Vice President of Development at Healthcare Alternative Systems (H.A.S.), a  nonprofit that provides behavioral health services. In this role she managed all aspects of their fundraising strategy, increasing total annual dollars raised by 130%. She spent two years as a grant writer for Thresholds, managing a portfolio of 50 foundations and corporations. In addition to her time in the nonprofit sector, Liz spent six years in higher education working at Northwestern University in Alumni Relations & Development during their $6 billion dollar We Will campaign. For four years Liz was on the Board of Directors of Palenque LSNA (formerly Logan Square Neighborhood Association), helping ensure their fiscal health and strategic growth. She holds a BA in English Literature from North Park University and received her Master’s in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University.

Where do you work?
I manage the daily operations and long-term strategy of Women Unite! This looks like managing and stewarding the relationships with current partners and clients; working to identify and secure new clients; collaborating with our Director of Communications and our Director of Marketing and Design on external communications projects and fundraising campaigns; and generally making sure WU! and it’s incredible team has the support and resources needed to keep kicking ass and taking names

How long have you been involved with WU!?
I’ve been with WU! since the very beginning. We started as a text thread after the election of Donald Trump. That text thread evolved into monthly fundraisers for local nonprofits and continued to grow and develop over 3 years into a full-fledged organization committed to rethinking and reimagining how nonprofit work is done! It’s been really incredible to see how quickly this organization has grown while still staying true to its radical roots and mission.

What do you like most about WU!?
It actually took COVID-19 for me to realize what I really love about my role with WU! I love the 1-on-1 meetings I have with folks from across the city to discuss possible partnerships. (I still have those but they’re not the same via Zoom!) These interactions introduce me to so many cool people who do really cool shit. I find these conversations really hopeful because it reminds me that we’re not alone. We all have passions, we all have ideas, and we’re all working in our various spheres to make those things real. Despite the seemingly endless stream of negative news, there is lots of positive, good stuff happening in spite of it all.

What’s an issue you care deeply about?
A core issue that drives me is reproductive justice that uses an intersectional lens. I think the most impactful solutions, the most healing and effective policies are ones that center Black women and femmes. Thought leaders like Dorothy Roberts and Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw were both very influential in my learning process around an intersectional approach to reproductive justice.

What’s a hobby you have? 
I like to cross-stitch! I mostly do freehand versions of women I admire. My most prized projects are of Angela Davis, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes (from the No Scrubs video), and Beyoncé from the 2016 Super Bowl. 

What gives you hope? 
Young activists and leaders like Marley Dias and Little Miss Flint. I say this as someone who isn’t that old (I’m only 35!), but I truly believe that it’s the youths (yes, that’s a reference to Schmidt) who will keep us honest, keep us radical, and remind us that a better world is actually an achievable goal. Whitney was right. The children are our future. 

What are 2–3 ways you’ve been getting through this pandemic?
Content! Consuming content—primarily books and TV—has always been a way for me to make sense of the world. I’ve really enjoyed the following reads and shows:

• Charmed (the 2018 reboot) 

• Kim’s Convenience 

• Never Have I Ever 

• The City We Became, N.K. Jemisin (READ ALL OF HER STUFF RIGHT NOW) 

• Pachinko, Min Jin Lee

• The World According to Fannie Davis, Bridgett M. Davis 

• Severance, Ling Ma (This book is wild. It feels like Ling Ma has the power to predict the future? Note it may be a little “too real” as it critiques modern global capitalism through a…wait for it…VIRUS THAT STARTS IN CHINA.) 

Fun/random fact you want to share?
I love the Fast and the Furious franchise. 

What’s one of your favorite local Chicago businesses? 
I love Felt, a local women’s boutique. As someone who tries to be a more conscious clothes consumer, I feel like this store provides a way to do that as the shop offers a lot of small, domestic designers that are easier to fact check than huge conglomerates/big fashion houses. 

I also love the Moonlighter and Plant Shop. Moonlighter has an absolutely INCREDIBLE burger and Plant Shop has a great selection and super kind, super knowledgeable staff. An added benefit is that both businesses aren’t just supportive of WU! but of the broader community and other incredible nonprofits across the city. They also treat their staff well and have taken really great precautions against COVID-19.