Amy Skalinder Appointed President Of Community House In Winnetka

From Community House of Winnetka:

WINNETKA, IL — Stakeholders are proud to announce the appointment of Amy Skalinder as President of the Community House in Winnetka, effective immediately. A lifelong resident of the North Shore, Skalinder has held senior positions in local non-profit organizations for over two decades, distinguishing herself as an effective and collaborative leader.

“Ms. Skalinder understands and embodies our mission to promote togetherness in the community through educational, cultural, social and recreational activities,” said the Community House Board Chair, Amy Brock. “Having worked with families on the North Shore for years, she knows how to connect with people from all walks of life.”

Skalinder spent her early career working in outdoor education and social work before joining the staff at Evanston’s McGaw YMCA, where over the course of a decade, she served as the organization’s Director of Youth and Family Services, Member Services Director and Vice President of Operations. In her role as Executive Director of Angles in Northfield (formerly known as LINKS) for six years, Skalinder oversaw a team that provided reproductive health care and health education to over 15,000 teens and young adults each year while working closely with other local non-profits, including the Winnetka Youth Organization. Most recently, Skalinder was Executive Director of the Howard Area Community Center in Chicago.

“The Community House is a central point in the North Shore community, not just Winnetka,” said Skalinder. “It will be my priority to engage with all kinds of constituents, including people who’ve been coming here a long time, those who don’t yet know us, and all the supporters who’ve kept us vibrant. I’m looking forward to reconnecting with old friends and colleagues as well as meeting new people.”

Skalinder is a talented vocalist, lending her voice to both the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Choir and the Evanston-based choral performance group, Coriolis. Skalinder is currently Captain and Manager of the Evanston Tigers Women’s Hockey Club. She is a graduate of Evanston Township High School and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Tufts University as well as a Master of Social Work from Loyola University of Chicago.

“Ms. Skalinder plans to be visible and accessible to visitors in the coming weeks,” said Brock. “We hope the community will take advantage of the opportunity to meet her at one of our upcoming holiday events, including Children’s Theatre of Winnetka’s production of “Beauty and The Beast,” our annual Breakfast with Santa, or Toby Nicholson’s beloved semi-annual staging of “A Christmas Carol.”

The Community House is a unique nonprofit organization on Chicago’s North Shore that has played a special role in the community for more than a century. Founded in 1911, the Community House offers classes, programs and special events for every member of the family, as well as a full-service Fitness Center and the 350-seat, historic Matz Hall. On any given day of the week, the Community House is filled with toddlers heading to preschool; students of all ages taking karate, guitar and ballet lessons; bridge players; amateur and professional painters; and dogs in obedience training. The facility also hosts weddings, business meetings, and birthday parties and houses some of the North Shore’s most vital non-profit organizations, including the North Shore Art League, the Junior League of Evanston – North Shore and the Winnetka Youth Organization.

This press release was produced by Winnetka Community House. The views expressed here are the author's own.