Tsiona Alder grew up in Israel where she attended Orot Teachers College and majored in Dance. She specializes in modern dance and ballet and teaches jazz and hip hop as well. She moved to Chicago with her husband in 2006 and has been teaching dance for 9 years in her studio and in girls' schools. She has also been involved in creating choreography for many girls' high school performances. Tsiona believes that 'dance is a form of art involving the body and soul, and is meant to be practiced by young and old, both to have fun and to find new ways of expressing oneself.'

Susan Brenner has been an artist all of her life. She studied fine art for 15 years at The Village Art School and won a first place award in duplication. She managed the Kohl Children's Museum for four years and created much of their daily programming. Susan then started her own business named You're Fired, a "paint your own ceramics studio" in Glenview, that she owned for 12 years. She ran art classes and summer camps for as long as she owned the studio. In her recent trip to Israel in 2010/11, for 7 months, Susan taught many art classes to the students at She'arim and EYATT Seminaries.  Susan currently teaches fine art privately or in groups to children and adults, runs multimedia art classes for children and tweens and works at Sabina Studio in Skokie. Susan also sells her Judaic paintings privately and is always available to do customized art commissions.

Aliza Bulow is National Coordinator of the Ner LeElef North American Women's Program, and Senior Educator for The Jewish Experience in Denver, Colorado. A 13th generation American born to Protestant parents in the 1960's, Aliza began a spiritual search in early adolescence and converted to Judaism at the age of 16. After intense study, Aliza has been a Jewish educator for over twenty five years and she now mentors women who work in Jewish adult education and teaches ongoing classes in Jewish philosophy, basic Judaism and textual learning skills, and lectures on various topics around the world. As a parent, as an educator and as an author, Aliza works to strengthen Jews and their connections to their heritage, to their mission, and to each other.

Michal Cohen works as an LCSW at Jewish Child and Family Services counseling individuals, couples and families, and is a very hands on and involved Rebbetzin of one of Chicago's largest Orthodox congregations. She is a much sought after speaker and educator on both Torah and psychology and has a special passion for teaching Jewish Bridal classes through the Daughters of Israel. Michal says that most rewarding for her is her role as "Savta" to her grandchildren.

Sharone Goodman is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and the Body Beautiful Institute in Los Angeles. She began her career in Manhattan as a menswear designer and continued her creative journey as an artist specializing in drawing, painting and fiber.  Through her growth as an artist, a mother and a woman, Sharone has come to believe that every person represents a canvas, and she is dedicated to teaching the art of dressing.

Pearl Gross has been teaching and inspiring women for over 30 years, as a beloved and dynamic teacher at local day schools and throughout the community. She also shares her knowledge and joy with women of her synagogue, Congregation Shaarei Tzedek Mishkan Yair, where her husband has served as Rabbi for the past 20 years.

Dr. Hila Handler is finishing her residency in Family Practice at Aurora Hospital, Milwaukee. Her interest in health and spirituality was ignited at the University of Chicago, where she spent a year writing a thesis on Bio-Energy Medicine. Hila has traveled around the world, working with healers of different origins including herbalists in Belize, a quantum physicist in St. Petersburg, acupuncturists in Beijing, and she studied and taught Iyengar Yoga for 7 years. She earned her medical degree at Rush University.  Hila says "I am thrilled to be invited to speak at a CTN event, the organization that changed my life more than anything else on my journey for truth, and where I found my home."

Miriam Jaffe is a creative and 'out-of-the-box' teacher who brings her incredible knowledge and insights to women all over Chicago.  She has been a highly respected teacher at Ida Crown Jewish Academy for 22 years, teaches at the Anne Blitstein Teachers Institute, and gives classes and lectures throughout the community.  She is blessed with 6 incredible children and as she puts it, "recently joined the best club in the world, The Bubby Club".

Paula Myers has been 'from medical school to motherhood with a whole world in between'.  She describes herself as an ordinary person who is dealing with extraordinary circumstances.  She shares her story and useable knowledge so others can find their own faith and strength.

Mashi Polstein is a passionate educator whose use of drama and contemporary expressive technique has inspired teens the world over. Mashi is the founder and former director of Torah High: For the Arts, a groundbreaking initiative that combines traditional Jewish learning with a progressive arts-based education. While studying theater and psychology at York University - Mashi began developing a drama infused curriculum that would eventually be used as a medium to teach an accredited Jewish Ethics and Values Course. After getting married and moving to Israel she continued to teach drama at Emunah V'omanut an arts-based seminary in Jerusalem. She recently moved back to Chicago with her husband and two beautiful children. Mashi advocates for the use of arts in the classroom to create exciting, dynamic, and impactful lessons. She aspires to help women develop and nurture their creative sides, and to use their gifts to impact the world for the better.

Ilana Chava Shechter has been creating catchy, thought provoking and meaningful music since the age of twelve. She combines personal experience and Torah insight to make music that is sure to inspire. Her songs take you on a journey of introspection and expression.  Ilana sees music as a gift from G-d that has the power to transcend the physical and connect us all with something higher.  Ilana received vocal training from Elizabeth Fauntleroy of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and Kate Moss of the University of Illinois, and has been a member of choirs and a cappella groups. She runs a Women's Rosh Chodesh (Celebration of the New Month) group on the campus of University of Illinois, where she works to bring strength and inspiration to the Jewish community.

Talia (Greenland) Zisook is a sought after educator with many years of experience in the fields of art, music and education.  Talia received her Bachelor of Arts degree in fine arts with a music minor from Yeshiva University and went on to complete a Masters Degree in education from the Bank Street College of Education in New York City.  Although her professional experiences cover a broad spectrum, Talia has a particular and passionate interest in children's literature and illustration.  Talia's original work for children and her accompanying masters' thesis, entitled "Talking to Children about Cancer", are published in the Bank Street Library.