Steve Rothschild, Vice President

What’s your personal and professional background?

I’m a Chicago native, born in Hyde Park. After that, I lived in Jeffrey Manor, Chicago Heights, West Bloomfield (a suburb of Detroit), Ann Arbor for college and medical school, Cleveland for my residency, and then back to Chicago since 1984. Almost all of my professional life has been as a Family Physician at Rush University Medical Center on the west side, and for the past 6 years I have been Chair of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. Lisa and I raised our family in Chicago, and after 25 years in the South Loop we recently moved to Edgewater to be closer to our new granddaughter.

What’s a favorite memory or meaningful experience you’ve had with JCUA?

I really love everything about JCUA: organizing, trainings, protests, holiday events, Acts of Change. What is most meaningful for me is not a single event, but the opportunity to get to know so many different people who care about justice and our community. From my first actions with our Community Safety Committee back in 2015 to this week’s Tisha B’Av gathering at the Broadview ICE Detention Center, I am always excited by the diversity and passion of my JCUA family.

What’s your favorite thing about Chicago?

My first thought about my favorite part of Chicago was the Lakefront and our parks, but upon reflection I want to say FOOD! So many amazing restaurants representing the cultures of the entire world. Although local historian Dilla Thomas always says “Everything dope about America comes from Chicago!” (TRUE!), sooner or later every dope taste from planet Earth ends up in Chicago.

Nia Crosley, Treasurer

What’s your personal and professional background?

I’m originally from around Austin, Texas and was an 8th grade U.S. History teacher before I moved to Chicago. Here in Chicago I went to law school at Northwestern and am now an associate at Burke, Warren, MacKay and Serritella (BWMS), where I do estate planning, tax strategy, and wealth succession management. My first job after law school I served incarcerated survivors of domestic violence with Ascend Justice. I continue my passion for justice through pro bono in this work.

What’s a favorite memory or meaningful experience you’ve had with JCUA?

I have really enjoyed my time on the Community Ventures Partnership (CVP) advisory committee. I have learned a lot about the inequities in Chicago neighborhoods and have been proud to hear how organizations including JCUA help to solve problems in partnership with leaders in underserved communities. We had a teach-in at Wabash Y which delved into the overlap of Black and Jewish communities in what is now the Bronzeville neighborhood. Not only was it personally meaningful to me as a Black Jew, but I was also so pleased to see how interested JCUA members were in this history.

What’s your favorite thing about Chicago?

Chicago is THE town to be in for history buffs. Everything that’s happened in America seems to have a tie to this city, and because of intense segregation you can learn a lot just by looking at our maps. I also love the diversity of Chicago’s Jewish community and the depth of learning I am able to do each week. I teach Hebrew school at my home synagogue Temple Sholom and my hope is that our students feel proud to be part of Chicago’s history of social justice Jewry.

Jackie Rassner, Secretary

What’s your personal and professional background?

I was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs and received social work degrees from Bradley University and University of Michigan. My husband Jake and I live in Lincoln Park with our 3 kids (Violet, Eli and Avi) and our pup Penny. I currently serve on the Board at Mishkan and Prescott Parents, in addition to my role at JCUA.

What’s a favorite memory or meaningful experience you’ve had with JCUA?

I have been working on the Bring Chicago Home campaign since 2021 and have had so many opportunities to grow as an organizer! My most meaningful opportunity was giving a High Holidays sermon at Mishkan in 2023 encouraging 1,400 individuals to vote yes on Bring Chicago Home.

What’s your favorite thing about Chicago?

The people! From the deep relationships to the quick interactions, getting to know Chicago residents and hearing their diverse stories is what keeps me here!