Cheryl Kravitz, Neighbor

Cheryl Kravitz is respected nationally for her expertise in issues management, media relations, writing, diversity training, financial development, and motivational speaking. She writes for national and local magazines, newspapers, and broadcast media and currently consults with several organizations. In addition, she is certified as a yoga teacher and has received additional training to work with survivors of trauma and prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

Ms. Kravitz has received over 40 local and national awards for her community relations and writing accomplishments, many for her work with the American Red Cross. She received Leadership Washington’s Community Business Partnership award for the partnership between the NCCJ Board and the Washington Post and the Outstanding Advocate Award from the Montgomery County Family Justice Center Foundation for her efforts to combat domestic violence. Last fall, she was the first recipient of the Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse Empowerment Award. In Chicago, she was honored by Women in Communications for her investigative reporting. In Oklahoma, she received the Bronze Quill Award from The International Association of Business Communicators for her column in The Tulsa Tribune and the Silver Link Award for her collaboration with media from the Public Relations Society of America.

Ms. Kravitz developed and directed many highly acclaimed innovative projects, including Friends Outreach for Domestic Violence Intervention Services in Tulsa and the Media Day of Dialogue and Cinema and Conversation in Washington, DC. In addition, she led two successful capital campaigns in Tulsa for the American Red Cross and Domestic Violence Intervention Services.

Her career highlights include:

· Executive Director of WJRI (formerly NCCJ), a National Capital Region nonprofit

· Manager of Radio/Television; Manager of Campaign Development and Public Support Officer at American National Red Cross in DC and Public Support Director, American Red Cross, Oklahoma

· Feature writer, reporter, and newspaper editor in Chicago, Tulsa, and the DC metro area

· Development and Communications Director at Illinois Central Community Hospital in Chicago

· Former governor Martin O’Malley appointed her as Vice Chair of the Family Violence Council for the State of Maryland. Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett appointed her to the Montgomery County Hate Violence Committee, where she served as Chair of Community Outreach. She taught journalism in Chicago and was an elected member of the Board of Education in Tulsa.