Convening, Amplifying, and Investing in Chicago's Youth-Serving Ecosystem

Sana Jafri is the Executive Director of the Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX), a nonprofit network of 200+ youth-serving organizations in Chicago's out-of-school time learning ecosystem. Sana has been with CLX for over eight and half years and during this time, her accomplishments include creating the City of Chicago's first festival for experiential learning entitled Chicago Learning Days as well creating the Brother Mike Award for outstanding connected mentorship.

Sana has diverse personal and professional experiences that are woven together by an emphasis on improving lives and communities through racial equity and social change. Her previous professional experiences include working in philanthropy, community development, and education (in-school and out-of-school).

Sana completed her Master's in Public Policy and Administration at Northwestern University. Sana received her undergraduate degree in secondary teaching from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Sana's most important role is also serving as a mom to two little boys.

Hillary Cook joined the Chicago Learning Exchange team in October 2022 as the Director of Programs. In this role, Hillary leads CLX's programmatic portfolio of collective learning and impact programs, community building and network opportunities, and special events that amplify and invest in the work of Chicago's youth development professionals.

Prior to joining CLX, Hillary worked in youth development for 14 years, building programs that centered youth voice and leadership within art museums. Her practice as an informal educator and programmer was driven by co-creating with communities, platforming the power of youth voice, and creating equitable career and mentorship programs. As a Chicago youth development professional, Hillary actively participated in CLX. Those experiences as a network member were transformational for her practice as an educator, and allowed her to see the power of social impact networks in action.

Hillary studied at Penn State University and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, earning degrees in Art Education, Painting, Art History, and Arts Administration. Celebrating the power of creativity and youth voice are also at the center of her collaborative practice at home as a mom to two messy and energetic kids.

Elisheba is an education leader with 15 years of experience working in government and with nonprofits offering her expertise in program design, curriculum development and project management. From instructing high school students in New York City, mentoring and training teachers at Chicago Public Schools, to producing educator workshops and academic conferences at the Art Institute of Chicago, Elisheba is committed to centering social justice and inclusive practices in all areas of her work. During the pandemic, she founded an arts organization, Black Marigolds, for elementary students in the Waukegan area which was created to broaden access to culturally relevant, project-based learning and art experiences to the community.

Elisheba joined CLX as Senior Development and Communication Manager to continue working to achieve equitable outcomes and racial equity in the out-of-school time ecosystem.

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.