Women’s Philanthropy and the Jewish Community Relations Council are excited to welcome Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, to Milwaukee.
Antisemitism does not only threaten the Jewish community – it jeopardizes the safety of countless other communities and our fundamental democratic norms and values. Amy will discuss the different ways antisemitism manifests in a post October 7th world and how it is inextricably linked with the broader fight for our democracy. View additional resources
ABOUT EDIE ADELMAN
The Edie Adelman Political Awareness Endowment Fund is a tribute to Edie’s commitment to both the empowerment of women and the responsibility to be informed citizens. The Fund and lecture series are organized by Women’s Philanthropy of Milwaukee Jewish Federation.
SPEAKER
Amy Spitalnick is the CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the national convener of Jewish coalitions working across communities to build a just and inclusive American democracy.
She previously served as Executive Director of Integrity First for America, which won its groundbreaking lawsuit against the neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and hate groups responsible for the Charlottesville violence. Under Amy’s leadership, IFA became a powerful national voice in the fight against white supremacy, antisemitism, and extremism – and its Charlottesville case has emerged as a model for accountability.
Amy also serves as a Senior Advisor on Extremism to Human Rights First, on the Advisory Board of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University, and on Bedrock’s National Leadership Council. She has extensive experience in government, politics, and advocacy, including as Communications Director and Senior Policy Advisor to the New York Attorney General and spokesperson and advisor to the New York City Mayor. She has also worked for a number of federal, state, and local officials, campaigns, and advocacy organizations, including as J Street’s first press secretary.
Amy frequently appears in national media and has been awarded various fellowships and honors, including being named a Women in Power Fellow at the 92nd Street Y, a Truman National Security Project Fellow, a City & State 40 Under 40 Rising Star, and a NY Jewish Week 36 Under 36 Changemaker. She graduated from Tufts University.
MODERATOR
Ann Jacobs is the founder of Jacobs Injury Law, S.C. in Milwaukee. Her practice specializes in personal injury cases, including automobile accidents, nursing home abuse/neglect, financial abuse/fraud, and medical malpractice. Ann honed her legal skills as a public defender, becoming an experienced courtroom advocate, and defending clients in cases ranging from juvenile offenses to murders.
After a decade of service to the Wisconsin Association of Justice (WAJ) as a member of the Board of Directors, Ann was elected President in 2015. In recognition of her skills, as well as her service to WAJ and the trial bar, Ann was honored as the Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2018. She has also been recognized as a “Super Lawyer” by her peers every year since 2005 and has been listed as one of the top 50 lawyers in Wisconsin since 2011. She has been named to “Best Lawyers In America” and her firm has been honored as a “Best Law Firm In America.”
In 2016, Ann began a distinguished tenure in public service as a member of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, where she served as vice chair and chair. Along with fellow commissioners and staff, Ann has guided Wisconsin through multiple election cycles, ensuring secure elections and protecting the right to vote even during a once-in-a-century pandemic. Ann serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation and previously served as the chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council. She also served as chair of the Milwaukee Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Information Service (LRIS) Committee. In recognition of her expertise in that area, she was later appointed to the American Bar Association’s LRIS committee.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Antisemitism does not only threaten the Jewish community – it jeopardizes the safety of countless other communities and our fundamental democratic norms and values. Amy will discuss the different ways antisemitism manifests in a post October 7th world and how it is inextricably linked with the broader fight for our democracy. View additional resources
ABOUT EDIE ADELMAN
The Edie Adelman Political Awareness Endowment Fund is a tribute to Edie’s commitment to both the empowerment of women and the responsibility to be informed citizens. The Fund and lecture are organized by Women’s Philanthropy of Milwaukee Jewish Federation.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Amy Spitalnick is the CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the national convener of Jewish coalitions working across communities to build a just and inclusive American democracy.
She previously served as Executive Director of Integrity First for America, which won its groundbreaking lawsuit against the neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and hate groups responsible for the Charlottesville violence. Under Amy’s leadership, IFA became a powerful national voice in the fight against white supremacy, antisemitism, and extremism – and its Charlottesville case has emerged as a model for accountability.
Amy also serves as a Senior Advisor on Extremism to Human Rights First, on the Advisory Board of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University, and on Bedrock’s National Leadership Council. She has extensive experience in government, politics, and advocacy, including as Communications Director and Senior Policy Advisor to the New York Attorney General and spokesperson and advisor to the New York City Mayor. She has also worked for a number of federal, state, and local officials, campaigns, and advocacy organizations, including as J Street’s first press secretary.
Amy frequently appears in national media and has been awarded various fellowships and honors, including being named a Women in Power Fellow at the 92nd Street Y, a Truman National Security Project Fellow, a City & State 40 Under 40 Rising Star, and a NY Jewish Week 36 Under 36 Changemaker. She graduated from Tufts University.
MODERATOR
Ann Jacobs is the founder of Jacobs Injury Law, S.C. in Milwaukee. Her practice specializes in personal injury cases, including automobile accidents, nursing home abuse/neglect, financial abuse/fraud, and medical malpractice. Ann honed her legal skills as a public defender, becoming an experienced courtroom advocate, and defending clients in cases ranging from juvenile offenses to murders.
After a decade of service to the Wisconsin Association of Justice (WAJ) as a member of the Board of Directors, Ann was elected President in 2015. In recognition of her skills, as well as her service to WAJ and the trial bar, Ann was honored as the Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2018. She has also been recognized as a “Super Lawyer” by her peers every year since 2005 and has been listed as one of the top 50 lawyers in Wisconsin since 2011. She has been named to “Best Lawyers In America” and her firm has been honored as a “Best Law Firm In America.”
In 2016, Ann began a distinguished tenure in public service as a member of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, where she served as vice chair and chair. Along with fellow commissioners and staff, Ann has guided Wisconsin through multiple election cycles, ensuring secure elections and protecting the right to vote even during a once-in-a-century pandemic. Ann serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation and previously served as the chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council. She also served as chair of the Milwaukee Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Information Service (LRIS) Committee. In recognition of her expertise in that area, she was later appointed to the American Bar Association’s LRIS committee.
RESOURCES
Jewish Council for Public Affairs produces resources for the community relations field and Jewish Community Relations Councils (JCRCs) to support their work nationally and locally. These resources range from professional development, issue-based advocacy toolkits, and best practices to implement programs and mobilization efforts.
