SOAR Farmers Market

Deborah GershbeinPresidentFarmers Market Co-Chair Deborah Gershbein has served as the President of SOAR since 2015. She has lived and worked in Streeterville for over 30 years and strongly believes in giving back to the neighborhood she calls home. Her background and experience prepared her to successfully lead the SOAR organization building it into a highly functioning team of volunteers and members. The complexity of Streeterville, composed of residences, institutions and businesses, creates a unique world-class neighborhood. During her tenure, SOAR has built strong partnerships with Streeterville residents and stakeholders. She says: “Streeterville is an amazing neighborhood full of incredible people and places. I am honored to take part in building and celebrating the Streeterville community, the best neighborhood in the city of Chicago.”  In her free time, she enjoys all that Streeterville has to offer; the lakefront, the river, the skyline, the parks and meeting the people that live, work and enjoy the neighborhood. Judy Aiello-FantusVice PresidentFarmers Market Co-Chair, Land Use & Development Co-Chair For over 15 years, Judy  has been a member of SOAR.  Judy joined SOAR looking for an opportunity to get involved and give back to the community. She has a desire to help build a strong neighborhood as well as a sense of community within Streeterville. Nature, especially Lake Michigan, art, music, and politics all inspire Judy. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, reading, and exploring the city. Clare HennessySecretary Looking to join an organization that would allow her to contribute in more ways than just writing a check, Clare joined SOAR in 2014 in hopes of using her marketing skills to advance the organization. Joining the board in 2015, Clare stays involved with SOAR because getting to know the members makes Streeterville feel like a small neighborhood rather than the bustling area it is. She is inspired by the impact SOAR can have on the neighborhood, and when she isn’t volunteering with SOAR, Clare spends time with her family and friends, travels, and always has a project or two to keep her busy. Stephanie KeysTreasurer Stephanie has been a member of SOAR since 2019 and joined the board in October of 2022 as the Special Events Chair. She believes in volunteering and being active where she lives, including keeping the neighborhood safe and informed of issues that impact us. Stephanie loves the beauty of Streeterville and is inspired by being involved, learning new things, and keeping an open mind. She enjoys walking, golfing, reading, practicing yoga, gardening, and she is very active in the service programs of her local chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Malek AbdulsamadNeighborhood Vision Plan Co-Chair Urban planner and commercial real estate professional, Malek Abdulsamad started his career by interning for SOAR in 2013, while finishing his Masters’ program in urban planning and policy at UIC. Following his internship, he remained a volunteer with the Traffic and Transportation and Real Estate committees and participated in the review of more than 10 new developments between 2014 and 2018. Currently with Compass Commercial, Malek negotiates real estate transactions not only in Streeterville but also in all of downtown. He is involved with a number of planning and advocacy organizations in the city including the Ely Chapter of Lambda Alpha Internationals (LAI) and the Chicago Central Area Committee (CCAC). Nick BlackMembership Co-ChairChair, Young Professionals Nick is a dual career professional: He leads the Enterprise Team at ezCater and is a licensed Real Estate Broker with a penchant for connecting people with their dream homes.  On a personal level, he is an avid golfer, dabbles in cooking, and anything to do with his family, from road trips and vacations to game night. What energizes Nick the most is SOAR’s mission to bring together our tight community to create a life we love wh