We are proud to announce that Eva Penar has joined One Hope United as our new Vice President of Government and External Affairs. Eva is an accomplished communications and marketing leader whose career has been dedicated to elevating organizations, building meaningful connections, and inspiring civic engagement across Chicago and beyond.
In her new role at OHU, Eva will lead the organization’s government relations, advocacy, and external affairs strategy—strengthening partnerships, advancing key policy priorities, and ensuring that the voices of children, families, and communities remain at the forefront of decision-making.
Most recently, Eva served as Chief Content and Communications Officer at the Executives’ Club of Chicago, where she led a transformative rebrand that included a new website, podcast, and program template. Prior to that, she spent over a decade at The Chicago Community Trust, where she spearheaded landmark initiatives such as the We Are Chicago $1 billion endowment campaign and the viral On the Table civic engagement movement, which generated more than 17 million digital impressions. She also partnered with the Sun-Times Foundation to create the Community Match Program, bringing both visibility and vital resources to nonprofits across the region.
Please join us in welcoming Eva to OHU!
Eva brings an incredible track record of not only telling powerful stories but also creating the systems and strategies that make lasting impact. Her experience, vision, and passion for community engagement make her the perfect leader to guide our government and external affairs work at OHU.
– Damon Cates, President and CEO
