The Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor offers a huge Mazal Tov to Joan Lowenstein, on her appointment to the Jewish Federation of North America’s (JFNA) Women’s Philanthropy Board. JFNA’s Women’s Philanthropy Board is a group of women leaders from across the country who are nominated by their local Federations to serve on the National level.
“We are proud to have Joan representing us on the National Women’s Philanthropy Board,” said Federation executive director Eileen Freed. “It is fitting recognition of Joan’s generosity and commitment to the local community as well as the leadership and vision she will be able to bring to this national body on our behalf.”
Joan and her husband, Jonathan Trobe, moved to Ann Arbor from Miami, Florida in 1986. Joan has worked as an attorney since that time and now is of counsel with Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss, PC, a Southfield law firm. She also taught as a lecturer at the University of Michigan and was a regular columnist for the Ann Arbor News, when it was a daily newspaper. Joan grew up in El Paso, Texas and Columbia, Missouri and her undergraduate degree is in journalism. She worked as a TV reporter in Oklahoma City before going to law school at the University of Florida. She learned Hebrew as a 6th grader during a year in Israel and also attended Hebrew University for a semester.
Locally, Joan served as Federation Board President from 2002 to 2004 and currently co-chairs the Cardozo Society, the Federation’s affinity group for attorneys. Joan has been actively involved in city politics, serving on the Ann Arbor city council for 7 years, and currently as a board member of the Downtown Development Authority. She also sits on the boards of the Washtenaw Housing Alliance and the Main Street Area Business Improvement Zone. Joan and Jon have been supporters of the University Musical Society, Ann Arbor Symphony, and the Michigan Theater. Their children, Julian, Noah, Rebecca, and Dana are in New York, Ann Arbor, and Oakland, California.
As a member of JFNA’s Women’s Philanthropy Board, Joan will have the opportunity to learn from leaders across the country and will be in a unique position to bring that knowledge back to Ann Arbor, which will be used to invigorate our local Women’s Philanthropy group. When asked how she felt about joining the National Women’s Philanthropy Board, Joan said, "I look forward to learning about other communities and how we can make Ann Arbor's unique Jewish experience even better."
We at the Federation are so proud of Joan on this national appointment. Yasher Koach!!!