Sarah Cort

she/her

Regional Director, Midwest

Sarah (she/her) is thrilled to join the team as the Midwest Regional Program Director. Prior to Repair The World, her passion for experiential education and relationship building led to a career as an overnight camp professional. She was the Summer Camps Director at McGaw YMCA Camp Echo for seven years. One highlight of Sarah’s tenure at Camp Echo is her work with families and staff to facilitate and implement the first all-gender cabins. While she spent her summers at camp, she led Taglit-Birthright Israel trips most winters, and was in the first cohort of Birthright Fellows. Prior to her role at Camp Echo, Sarah served as the Director of Education at KAM Isaiah Israel in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, where she ran the Religious and Nursery School programs. To better meet the needs of that community, she created Shoresh, a Shabbat-based experiential program, where children would attend Religious School on Friday afternoons, ending with family Shabbat services. Sarah has a degree in Early Childhood Education from Indiana University and volunteered for a year in Israel as an OTZMA Fellow, part of the Masa Israel Journey. Sarah is also on the board for Camp For All Kids, which facilitates racial diversity at overnight summer camps in the Midwest. Sarah is a St. Louis native and proud Cardinal’s baseball fan. She has been living in Chicago since 2012.

Ilana Pond

she/her

Program Associate, Chicago

Raised in Chicago’s north suburbs, Ilana moved to the city in 2020 to pursue her degree at DePaul University. There she studies to obtain her bachelor’s in Business Management with a minor in Community Service and will be graduating in June 2023. Ilana is a DePaul Community Service Scholar and has focused her studies on systemic racism and environmental justice. She has worked in different segments of nonprofits, ranging from the Telpochcalli Community Education Project to develop their STEM Social Justice program, to distributing groceries at Care for Real.

Growing up in a Jewish home, attending shul, and baking traditional Ashkenazi foods with her Bubbe created a special appreciation for her Jewish roots at a young age. This has continued throughout her life and college experience. In August 2022, Ilana was part of an Interfaith Leadership Delegation Trip to Israel/Palestine with Metro Chicago. There, she had an immersive social justice experience where the focus was to help mend the political climate on campus through educational travel. While on her trip she expanded upon Judaism and social justice, connecting both her passion for non-profit work and her upbringing.

Ilana just took part in the Fall 2022 Service Corps with Repair and is thrilled to be returning to now fill the role of the Chicago Program Associate. She is passionate about expanding volunteer services and social justice education. During Ilana’s free time, you will find her reading, trying out a new vegan restaurant, or spending time with family and friends.

Lexi Silvers

she/her

Midwest Development Director

Lexi Silvers (she/her) is a fundraising professional who is thrilled to serve as Repair the World’s Midwest Development Director. A graduate of Loyola University Chicago where she received her Master’s in Public Policy, Lexi’s background in political fundraising and campaigns sparked her passion for development through the art of storytelling. Prior to joining Repair, Lexi worked for Keshet as Manager of Individual Giving and for then-United States Senator Joe Donnelly as State Fundraising Director. Lexi lives in Chicago and in her spare time can be found listening to public radio, drinking more coffee than is medically recommended, organizing blood drives, and spending time with friends and family.