About Us
How We Came to “Bee”
Our missionVolunteering runs
in the family
We put kids at the forefront of social change. The Honeycomb Project engages, mobilizes, and inspires whole families to build strong and connected communities through service.
Nearly every weekend of the year, hundreds of kids and their parents volunteer with us to learn about our city’s complex challenges and take action. They work through rain and snow. They miss birthday parties and piano practice. They know that volunteering matters.
Families return to our projects again and again — creating new family traditions around service.
What we doWe help families explore Chicago through service
Engage
We partner with more than 40 local nonprofits to develop enriching experiences for volunteers of all ages and abilities.
Mobilize
We bring the tools, staff support, resources, and site-specific curriculum needed to help nonprofits mobilize families into action.
Inspire
We’re thinking about the future. We have a steady supply of enriching activities and resources to keep families involved for the long-haul.
Our historyThis road trip went in the right direction
Two longtime friends, a road trip, and the same wish: to spend more quality time with their families. Founders Kristina Lowenstein and Catherine Tannen wanted to introduce their kids to volunteering - but quickly discovered that finding family-friendly projects wasn’t so easy.
In 2011, they launched The Honeycomb Project to mobilize families across Chicagoland to learn about and tackle important local issues like housing insecurity, environmental protection, and community health.
More than a decade later, that idea has blossomed into a full-scale movement. Through a range of programs, resources, and strategic partnerships, Honeycomb families drive social change. Our happy hive is youth-centered and parent-approved.
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Work With UsJoin Our Growing Team
Our BoardBuilding the Honeycomb Hive
Raji Bedi
Chief Product Officer
ShipBob
Paris Byrd
Chief of Staff: Legal
Obama Foundation
Sabera Choudhury
Director
Resolution Economics
Jennifer Paik Chung
Carlos Garcia
Executive Director of Product Solutions
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
Kathryn Konrad
Managing Director
J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Kristina Lowenstein
Co-Founder + Executive Director
The Honeycomb Project
Gabrielle Martinez
Co-Founder + Managing Partner
EA Collective
Meagan Newman
Chief Operating Officer
Bartlit Beck LLP
Jeffrey Sorensen
Partner
PwC
Catherine Tannen
Co-Founder
The Honeycomb Project
Attorney
Jessica Droste Yagan (Emeritus)
Managing Partner
Impact Engine
Our teamOur Dedicated Worker Bees
Kristina Lowenstein
Co-Founder + Executive Director
Kristina was 13 years old when she landed her first job making dip cones at an ice cream shop. After a few more years, and a few more jobs, she’s shifted her focus to the nonprofit sector where she worked for organizations like The Field Museum and 2016 Chicago Olympic Bid. Kristina studied Political Science as an undergrad at NYU and attended Northwestern University’s Kellogg Executive Scholars program. She is a 2017 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow. Outside of Honeycomb, she loves spontaneous dance parties, pickleball, and road trips in her camper van.
Laura Mueller
Associate Director of Development & Communications
Laura comes to Honeycomb with a wealth of fundraising and marketing experience both in the private and nonprofit sector. She holds two masters degrees from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and loves spreading our mission to future volunteers and supporters. Away from the hive, Laura can be found browsing neighborhood farmers markets, immersed in Chicago’s vast restaurant scene, or cruising with her Australian Shepherd, Ingo and children by the lake.
Caroline Stasica
Program Coordinator
Caroline attended DePaul University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in English Literature. Having worked as a nanny for over 10 years, Caroline has extensive experience with families, and she admires kids’ curiosity and wit. Caroline speaks Polish fluently and appreciates the ethnic diversity of Chicago. In her free time, Caroline loves to spend time by the lake, walk around and explore Chicago’s neighborhoods, thrift, and attend concerts.
Akie Kadota
Program Manager
Looking to shake things up from teaching music in the traditional classroom, Akie joined Honeycomb to continue its work of connecting Chicago families through service. Akie graduated from Northwestern University with a BS in Social Policy and a BM in Music Education. During her time there, she worked for multiple education nonprofits and taught a variety of youth music classes, including a music production class for residents of the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center in Chicago. Outside of work, you can find Akie playing with her two cats, exploring city events, basking in the sun at the lakefront, or cheffing it up in the kitchen!
Rafa D’Almeida
Development & Communications Coordinator
In 2018, Rafa began her non-profit work by focusing on homelessness within Chicago's immigrant communities. Since then, she has received the Verizon Do Good grant for her philanthropic work in the city, spoken at Loyola on economic inequality, and worked in business/sustainability development while supporting environmentalism efforts in Miami. She studied marketing & economics at DePaul University and has chosen to further explore public policy and legislation by pursuing pre-law at FIU. Most recently, Rafa was also selected to partake in Cornell University's WOC Leadership program. In her free time, she enjoys walking her dog (Charlie) and exploring vegan restaurants!
Josie Flanagan
Program Manager
Passionate about volunteering and community engagement, Josie is excited to immerse herself in the hive at Honeycomb! Josie graduated from Notre Dame with a BA in Political Science and Peace Studies and then joined Teach For America, where she served as an elementary special education teacher in North Lawndale. During her college years, she was involved in various organizations, including the nonprofit Questscope, the Post-Presidency Office of Barack and Michelle Obama, Notre Dame College Democrats, and the Notre Dame Student Policy Network focusing on indigenous representation on campus and in the South Bend area. In her free time, Josie enjoys exploring new restaurants and neighborhoods, practicing yoga, and getting crafty!
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