Sofia Jouravel

Sofia emigrated from St. Petersburg in 1988 and grew up in NYC and California's Bay Area before moving to Chicago in 2010. Since then she has actively participated and volunteered with various Jewish initiatives including Russian Hillel, Birthright Israel Next, YLD LEADS, School of Madrichim, Moishe House, and inaugural Ezra World Trips to China & Costa Rica. She has served on the RJD Board since July 2016. Sofia's career has transitioned from the pharmaceutical industry to public health and the sustainable food industry and she is excited to bring her program management background to help steer RJD. "When I moved to Chicago, I was greeted with an open-armed Russian Jewish community full of events, opportunities, and friendly individuals who are now my close friends; I want to give back to this wonderful community". 

In addition to her passion for cultivating the RSJ community, she is also passionate about championing local and sustainable food systems and spends her free time exploring food culture locally and abroad and working on projects as a Board member of Chicago Market, a grocery store co-op opening in Uptown.