Kara works on the Institutional Advancement team at Chicago’s largest human service provider and also offers expertise as an independent grant consultant. With a personal history shaped by generations of poverty and domestic violence, Kara proudly became a first-generation college graduate, earning a BS in Political Science and Communication Studies, followed by an MA in Urban Community Studies. Passionate about causes that are deeply meaningful and personal to her, such as gender-based violence, low-income students, and first-generation professionals, Kara is thrilled to join the Between Friends board in 2024. Kara and her son enjoy taking their chocolate lab to the beach and soaking in all that Chicago has to offer. They love participating in events and programs through the Chicago Park District and discovering community events to attend.