Lisa Nicole Stoller

Lisa was nominated by someone who knows her very well: her fiancé, Adam. “Not only has she motivated women to be the best versions of themselves, she has also shown many men including myself how important it is to be positive and live life to the fullest,” he says.

Lisa started the Chicago chapter of I AM THAT GIRL, a national nonprofit that inspires girls to find their voice and sense of self-worth through community and positive messages, in spite of the bombardment of media that fosters self-doubt in girls today. Adam says Lisa spends her time creating support networks for community and lights up a room with her personality wherever she goes. This includes volunteering at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (she’s known as the “Bingo Lady”), Ronald McDonald House near Lurie’s Children’s and oh yes, in her day job at Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice.

OK, but what is she really like? “She is an incredible hip hop dancer, loves pink and glitter, is a very talented writer, and has an incredible grasp of who she is,” he confides. “Lisa has truly made my life come to life. I can’t wait to marry my best friend.”

Name:
Lisa Nicole Stoller

Age:
25

Pays the bills:
Development Associate and Event Planner for Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice

Relationship status:
Happily engaged

Describe yourself in 10 words or less:
Passionate, energetic, bubbly, genuine, outgoing, thoughtful, kind, generous, sparkly, hardworking.

Celebrity doppelganger:
Kelly Clarkson. She has a fun personality, isn’t afraid of making mistakes. Also, we both share the same love for the Chicago Mix from Garrett’s Popcorn.

How do you Jew in Chicago?
I always hang out with a group of girls that I met on my Birthright trip in 2010. Every time we get together, we talk about our trip to Israel. That trip will always be a huge and unforgettable time in my life. I enjoy attending JUF events and spending holidays with my family.

Passions:
I always tell everyone; be in love with your life, every single minute of it. I love making people feel good about themselves. I started a chapter in Chicago for I AM THAT GIRL, and it is all about inspiring girls to discover their innate worth and purpose. THAT GIRL is the best version of each of us. She’s compassionate, honest, and contribution-minded. While she is forever a work in progress, she seeks to be confident in her own skin. I love finding quotes that help inspire me and others. I think it is important for everyone to feel confident in their own skin because if you want someone else to believe in you, you have to believe in yourself first.

How do you give back?
I love volunteering! I am a volunteer for the Ronald McDonald House with my fiancé and also at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. I love being able to bring happiness to another person in any way that I can. I am the "Bingo Lady" at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and I always find it amusing when I go deliver prizes to the patients after our live taping and they tell me how excited they are to meet a celebrity.

Fill in the blank: If time and money were limitless, I would:
Travel the world with my fiancé. I would also write a book about how to build confidence in young women and about my personal experiences which led me to who I am today.

Chicago's Jewish community in 10 years:
I see it thriving. I see more involvement all the time through our generation. There are a lot more ways to become involved in the community now. I see it with my Birthright group and how it completely changed my life. With technology such as the internet, it is so easy to reconnect with others.

Me in 10 years:
I am getting married this fall, and I see myself with my husband and family living life to the fullest. I will still be running programs to help young women, and I won't give up my passion of helping others. My book will be published and ready for the world to get a close-up into the life of Lisa Nicole Stoller.