Cydney Wallace
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Cydney has made tremendous sacrifices in the name of racial justice, devoting her time and energy to fight for police accountability. Cydney sits on the board of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA) and was a co-founder of
Kol Or, JCUA's Jews of Color Caucus.
She volunteers on JCUA's Police Accountability and Grassroots Alliance Police Accountability campaigns. Cydney created content for and facilitated JCUA's first ever Racial Justice Training for members and the Congregation Partner Racial Justice Training. She attends coalition and committee meetings, speaks at events, and helps educate the public about JCUA's important campaigns.
Additionally, she works to dismantle antisemitism and pre-conceived ideas non-Jews have about who Jews are. She has helped build important and lasting partnerships with non-Jewish allies, making everyone safer and stronger.
Cydney is an alum of the Avodah Justice Fellowship, an impactful and diverse community of people who are passionate about exploring justice, Jewish life, and the powerful intersections between the two. She enjoys attending Beth Shalom B'Nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation with her husband and four children.
She is dedicated to making the world a better place in a deep and systemic way. She not only bravely speaks out about injustice but takes action to change the lives of those around her. In a very tangible way, Cydney has moved the Jewish community and beyond to be better and more whole.
AGE:
35
PRIMARY GIG:
Site manager of the mail room of a financial institution (an essential worker during COVID-19)
ON THE SIDE:
Volunteer with JCUA
RELATIONSHIP STATUS:
Happily married for almost 14 years!
HOW YOU JEW IN CHICAGO:
Worship including prayer, song, and dress and going to the Graystone Tavern's pop up Hanukkah bar!
IF TIME AND MONEY WERE LIMITLESS, I WOULD:
I would buy apartment buildings and create TRUE low-income housing for homeless and nearly homeless people and families with free laundromats and computer libraries with free Wi-Fi in the buildings. I'd also buy at least one of the abandoned schools and hire retired elders to teach trades to people interested in learning.
CHICAGO'S JEWISH COMMUNITY IN 10 YEARS:
Will be the world's example of an inclusive community!
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