Karin is a retired business analyst and software developer who spent her career optimizing processes and systems for enterprise clients and the U.S. Department of Defense. With an MBA in Organizational Behavior, she brings a strong understanding of team dynamics and learning design.
Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, Karin grew up in one of few Jewish families in her New England town. A proud Zionist, her connection to Israel is rooted in her Zeida’s journey in the 1930s from Lithuania to Eretz Yisrael to help build our homeland.
A mother of two teen daughters, Karin designed Workshop 8teen with insight into how teens learn and connect. Though retired, the events of October 7 and rising antisemitism reignited her purpose—to help raise a generation of proud, engaged Jewish teens.
Elaine Chaya is a UCLA Sociology graduate and social media pioneer with over 12 years of experience in content creation and 90K+ followers. An Iranian Jew and elementary teacher, she has spent the past eight years developing programs on mental health, identity, and empowerment—especially for
students and teens.
She has been featured in publications including Who What Wear, KTLA, and E! News and has worked with top brands i.e. Nike, Macy’s, and Skechers. In 2018, she launched the viral Woke Up This Way Challenge to talk about mental health on social media.
Since October 7th, she has become a leading voice for Israel activism, using her platform to inspire unapologetic Jewish pride and inspire, especially the next generation, to stand tall in the face of antisemitism, own their truth and boldly BE YOU.