We network OST organizations. We invest in people. And, we advocate for systemic change in OST.

Sana Jafri is the Executive Director of Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX), the largest network of Out-of-School time (OST) organizations in Chicago. CLX advocates for Chicago OST education across the city, connecting and resourcing the people and organizations that create opportunities for young people to thrive.

Sana leads strategy, fundraising, and team management at the intersection of education, equity, and out-of-school time learning. Sana co-founded the Brother Mike Awards, a first-of-its-kind recognition for OST mentors in Chicago.

She previously managed grantmaking portfolios at the Hive Chicago Fund at The Chicago Community Trust. Sana started her career as a high school teacher, giving her a front-row view of the field from classroom to boardroom. She serves on the Steering Committee for Alumbra Innovation Foundation's International Place-Based Teaching & Learning Network and co-chairs the Youth Working Group for the Aspen Institute's Trust in Practice initiative. She holds a Master's in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University and a B.A. from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her most important role is mom to three little boys.

Emily Nott (she/they) joined the Chicago Learning Exchange team in March 2026 as a CLX Fellow. Em has spent over a decade working in out-of-school time and youth development in Chicago, and is particularly passionate about supporting and convening OST educators and teaching artists to advocate for a more sustainable sector. Em is a doctoral candidate in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Alongside their scholarly work, Em is an active studio artist working in serigraphy, illustration, and zines. Em has taught courses in arts, arts integration, and social justice in education. They are a researcher with the UW Arts Collaboratory and the CALL for Equity-Centered Leadership. Previously, Em served as Director of Learning Communities at After School Matters in Chicago, where she built communities of practice and developed resources for instructors and teaching artists. Em holds an M.Ed. in Instructional Leadership from the University of Illinois at Chicago.