JCUA is proud to announce Benetta Mansfield as the 2026 recipient of the Rabbi Robert J. Marx Award for Social Justice. Presented each year in honor of JCUA’s founder, this award recognizes an individual whose work has made a lasting impact on the fight for a more just world.

Benetta grew up in a family of activists in Chicago, where the values of civil rights and social justice were part of the fabric of daily life. She has worked on every federal election since she was 15 years old when she canvassed with her brother for Eugene McCarthy. She went on to spend more than 30 years as a union-side labor lawyer, dedicating her career to the belief that every worker deserves fair wages, dignity, and a voice on the job. She served as in-house counsel to a labor union, was appointed by a federal judge to oversee the election of officers of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, served as Chief of Staff of the National Mediation Board, and capped her career as Chief of Staff of the Amalgamated Transit Union, representing more than 185,000 workers across the U.S. and Canada.

Upon returning to Chicago, Benetta channeled that same commitment into organizations shaping the local and national social justice landscape — serving on the Board of JCUA, as Vice President of the Board of Arise Chicago (a faith-based advocacy center for worker and immigrant rights), as Board Chair of Avodah (which through its service and fellowship programs trains young Jewish adults to be social justice leaders), and while living in Washington, as Chair of the Board of Operation Understanding DC, which builds leadership and understanding between Black and Jewish young people. Benetta was also the founding co-chair of the Board of JCUA Votes. Throughout this time, Benetta and her husband Kalman Resnick have been dedicated members of JCUA, supporting our organizing campaigns for immigration justice, community safety, housing and economic justice, and more.

JCUA is excited to celebrate Benetta at Acts of Change on Sunday, June 14th. Learn more about the event here!