Advisory Committee – Pittsburgh

Originally from California, Rachel earned her BA in History from Princeton. Following stints as a Catholic school teacher and documentary filmmaker, Rachel earned her J.D. from Fordham Law. After several years as a litigator in the private sector, she became Assistant General Counsel for Success Academy Charter Schools in New York City. She now serves as the Deputy Director of Policy at PennCAN.

Lena Andrews is a Planning and Development Officer with ACTION-Housing where she manages the construction and renovation of affordable and supportive housing throughout the Pittsburgh region.  Lena is an urban planner by training and is passionate about building diverse, vibrant connected urban communities.  Before coming to ACTION-Housing, she worked for the Urban Redevelopment Authority where she spearheaded the Allegheny Riverfront Green Boulevard planning process, a federally-funded planning initiative to create new bicycle, pedestrian, and transit infrastructure integrated with housing and riverfront reclamation along the Allegheny Riverfront.  In her free time, Lena enjoys reading, running, practicing yoga, and cleaning up her neighborhood as a part of the East Liberty Trash Warriors. She has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Dartmouth College and a master’s degree in public policy from Carnegie Mellon University.

Pam Eichenbaum has built her career around solving community challenges via innovative and creative community development and outreach solutions. Pam currently works for Innovation Works as a Business Development Associate, where Pam supports fundraising activities from foundations, government entities, and corporations. In her role, Pam also shapes collaborations and new strategic initiatives with other organizations to support growth of the region's economy. Previously, Pam worked for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, an initiative of the Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association, managing a program, special projects, and events. Prior to joining the Alliance, Pam worked at the University of Maryland as a fundraiser and program coordinator. Pam started her career in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood as a Community Organizer – an experience that launched Pam’s professional path in community development. Pam is immersed in the community – serving on the Repair the World Advisory Committee and as a Partner with Social Venture Partners, Pittsburgh. Pam still serves as a Board Member for Adele’s Circle of Women at the University of Maryland in a virtual capacity. Previously, Pam served on the Board of Directors of the Hillel Jewish University Center of Pittsburgh. The close-knit Pittsburgh community and multi-generational civic commitment drew Pam back to Pittsburgh after living and working in Washington D.C. Pam has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh and Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Maryland.

In addition to his day job as a financial planner with the Luttner Financial Group, Grinberg has served as President of Pittsburgh Marathon’s Board of Directors, an officer of the Jewish Assistance Fund, chairman of the Community Relations Council, and sits on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. He also devotes time to Partnership2Gether. He has received the Manny Gold Humanitarian Award from the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Becca Hurowitz is the Senior Manager, Campaign and Missions for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. She manages volunteer fundraising for the $13.7 million Annual Campaign, and raises money through one-on- one solicitations and donor stewardship. Becca oversees all missions to Israel and international destinations, advancing and advocating for the importance of Jewish travel experiences to the Pittsburgh Jewish community. In 2012, Becca planned and executed a 300-person Mega Mission to Israel, the largest in the Federation’s history. Since 2012, she has planned missions to Argentina, Cuba, Prague, Budapest, Morocco, and numerous missions to Israel. Becca is a parent liaison for Emma Kaufmann Camp, and an active volunteer on the parent committee of the Environmental Charter School. She lives in the Regent Square neighborhood of Pittsburgh with her husband and 3 children, who attend ECS and are second generation JCC overnight campers. She and her family can be found hiking in Frick Park or hosting neighborhood parties. Becca is a passionate music fan who has been to hundreds of concerts, and an avid traveler who has visited more than 25 countries.

Hal B. Klein is Pittsburgh Magazine's restaurant critic and associate editor. He's a six-time Press Club of Western Pennsylvania Golden Quill award winner for his writing on food, farms, sustainability, restaurants and more, as well as an Association of Food Journalists award winner for his coverage of permaculture. Hal's work also has appeared on NPR and WESA, in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Eater and other publications. He spends his spare time in his garden, making bagels, and enjoying the greatness that is Pittsburgh.

Alicia LaPalombara is a health care professional, currently working on the Innovation Team at Highmark Health to drive patient-centered care. She is a Philadelphia native, and comes to Pittsburgh most recently by way of Baltimore, where she completed a fellowship in hospital administration at Johns Hopkins. Alicia is passionate about improving the health of communities and creating a healthcare system that provides every patient with the care and compassion they need. In her spare time, Alicia enjoys practicing yoga, taking pottery classes, reading, hiking, and cooking. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Kenyon College and a master’s degree in healthcare policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University.

Becca joins the Repair the World: Pittsburgh's Advisory Committee as an excited alum! Born and raised in Pittsburgh, she has inherent passion for creating positive, sustainable, and equitable change in her communities. Becca graduated with a B.A. in International Studies with a minor in Cultural and Human Geography from Ohio Wesleyan University. After graduating, she devoted two years of service as a Repair the World: Pittsburgh education justice fellow and team leader. Becca currently works with 412 Food Rescue (a partner of RTW: Pittsburgh) and Film Pittsburgh. She is honored to serve on the board of a service program that enriched her life in many impactful ways.

Judith Yanowitz is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She runs a molecular genetics lab at the Magee-Womens Research Institute where her team uses microscopic worms to elucidate the molecular underpinnings of human infertility and cancer. She served as a mentor for the Society of Developmental Biology CHOOSE! Development program and since then has committed herself to promoting minority representation in STEM fields. For the last five years, she has been partnering with the Neighborhood Learning Alliance in multiple science outreach capacities, including helping to launch their Tech Warriors program and organizing summer internships for high school students. The mother of two teenagers, she is excited to be working with Repair the World as it expands its programming for families.