Sara Kurensky

“Being able to volunteer was, actually, one of the terms of my marriage!” Sara Kurensky, WMC outreach coordinator and board member, says with a laugh. “I told my husband that the day would come when I would opt to volunteer, which might affect our standard of living. He didn’t bat an eye, saying ‘Well, then, that will be our family’s contribution.’” 

Sara's husband, Steve, and their three (now adult) children have made it possible for her to spend much of her time volunteering — mainly in the arts — in her local community, she says. In fact, Sara often describes herself as a “professional volunteer.” But the refugee crisis, followed by the election of 2016, were galvanizing.  

“The more work I do, the more rapidly my ‘community’ expands to include people from all over the Chicago area and beyond.” 

Sara moved to Chicago in 1984 with $100 in her pocket, a degree in journalism, a job, and a place to sleep on her friend’s couch. Three years later she was off on an overseas adventure, travelling with Steve for his job. They lived out of four huge suitcases and a footlocker for five years - making a home in faraway places including China, India, Yugoslavia, Israel, and Japan.

Living overseas helped solidify some of Sara’s core beliefs. “It is pretty simple: people are people. We are all motivated by the same thing - our basic need for food and shelter, but also a need for love, respect and community. And we crave beauty, laughter and joy.”

Curiosity, empathy and an overriding need to share drive Sara’s activism. One of her most profound experiences occurred when her synagogue began sponsoring families through Refugee One, she says. Sara and her daughter, Kara, became part of a team that worked with a young family from Zimbabwe. 

“Every week, without fail, we visited the family. My daughter tutored the four little girls, and I helped the parents with everything from learning to cook oatmeal to opening a bank account. These determined and hardworking people flourished, and they were able to learn English, find jobs and buy their own home in less than three years!”

Sara joined the WMC team while working with the refugee family. “Right after Donald Trump’s election, Renovat, the father, asked me what it would mean. He asked if his family would be safe with ‘this President that doesn’t like black people.’ I didn't have a good answer for him. I simply told him that I was working with people who were standing up against that kind of hate." 

She started out “by helping with a few things and marshaling in 2016,” ultimately becoming WMC’s outreach coordinator, as well as a board member.

Says Sara: "I truly value being part of this amazing community where we are all working to protect the rights of everyone, improving life in our city - in our country. I’m grateful to do what I can to help.