Blessed with high energy, keen intelligence, and a consuming passion for social justice, Joni Yellin Cohan has made a remarkable impact in the NCJW and the wider Dallas community. She has assumed and excelled in numerous leadership roles and initiatives. 
 
The Yellin family has deep roots in Houston, where Joni, her parents, and her sister Wende were all born. After finishing public school, Joni studied psychology at UT Austin, graduating with High Honors. Her academic excellence earned her a spot in the esteemed Phi Beta Kappa society.
 
At UT, she met Bob Cohan, a law student from Dallas. They embarked on a whirlwind courtship and married a year after her graduation. They lived in Austin while Bob completed his law degree and Joni earned her M.A. in psychology. Later on, the Cohans relocated to Dallas, where her husband’s family has extensive roots. Bob initially clerked for U.S. 5th Circuit Judge Irving Goldberg, while Joni was employed at the Callier Center for Communication Disorders Program for post-rubella children. During this period, Joni formed enduring friendships with NCJW members, including Phyllis Bernstein and Julie Lowenberg. 
 
Next, the Cohans relocated to Washington DC. Here, Bob joined a law firm while Joni took on a role at the Head Start Resource and Training Center. In this position, she educated teachers on working with special needs children. Later, she worked at the Council for Exceptional Children as a Head Start Early Childhood Specialist.
 
After living for five years in DC and starting a family, the Cohans relocated to Dallas. Here, Bob established a firm with some of his UT friends. Joni became a member of NCJW, crediting individuals like Brenda Brand and Beverly Levy for introducing her to their meetings. Joni found NCJW’s advocacy and community service efforts inspiring, and her initial volunteer role with NCJW was as a docent at the Dallas Public Library. In addition, Joni’s academic credentials and professional experience proved instrumental when she served as NCJW’s representative to the City of Dallas Coalition on Children and Youth. 
 
Joni swiftly rose to the position of an NCJW Dallas board member, her exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills fast-tracking her to officer roles and, eventually, the presidency. She may be the youngest president in the history of the Dallas Section, with her preschool-aged children often seen in the office, at meetings, and events. As president, Joni relished the opportunity to engage with other NCJW section presidents nationwide, diving further into the national organization with its focus on public affairs.
 
Unsurprisingly, Joni’s presidency was just the start of her further involvement in NCJW leadership. As Texas State Public Affairs Cochair, Joni trained member advocates statewide on issues like reproductive justice and access, public education, and LGBTQ rights, and led NCJW Texas’ lobbying efforts in both Austin and Washington. Joni also served several terms on NCJW’s National Board, both as vice president and as chair of the Committee on Resolutions, the foundation of NCJW’s advocacy. In addition, Joni chaired the NCJW Dallas Research and Development Committee. The committee’s work has initiatied two new Dallas projects: Women’s Access to Comprehensive Health Services (WACHS) and Food+Fit=Fun. 
 
Joni’s reputation as a remarkable leader and advocate is well-recognized across the broader community. She has served as a long-standing member and a former Chair of the Texas Freedom Network Board, focusing her efforts on opposing textbook censorship and promoting LGBTQ rights. As the Chair of the Literacy Achieves (former Vickery Meadow Learning Center) Board, Joni partnered with coalitions on immigration policy, advocated for more teaching sites in Dallas, and taught English as a Second Language (ESL) to immigrants and refugees. 
 
Among other notable accomplishments, Joni was the Coordinator of Guardianship and Money Management Programs, Department of Gerontology at Jewish Family Service of Dallas and served on other boards, including at the Dallas Women’s Foundation. Joni also held various volunteer positions at Temple Emanu-El, most recently as cochair of the 150th Anniversary celebration. 
 
Joni and Bob have been married for 53 years, embodying the essence of true partnership and support through their enduring careers and volunteer work. They delight in sharing their love for theater, symphony, travel, and, most importantly, family. Their family now includes their three adult children, their partners, and seven treasured grandchildren. Every summer, they vacation in Estes Park, CO and take pairs of grandchildren on trips to Disneyland, Chicago, and San Francisco. One of their older grandchildren now joins the younger ones on these trips, adding to the fun while also providing necessary support. 

Joni Yellin Cohan genuinely captures the spirit of the NCJW Dallas Lifetime Achievement Award. This distinguished accolade mirrors her lasting devotion and considerable influence in our community and beyond.