Each year, Women’s Philanthropy celebrates a woman under 45 who demonstrates outstanding qualities of leadership, awareness and commitment to Jewish life with the Ann Agulnick Young Leadership Award. Women’s Philanthropy is thrilled to announce that Barbara Tenin has been chosen as the 62nd and the 2024 Ann Agulnick Young Leadership Award recipient.
True to the spirit of philanthropist and leader Ann Agulnick, Barbara was chosen for her dedication to investing in our Milwaukee Jewish community in many ways. She has been an active member of many committees in the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Young Leadership/NextGen and Israel Center. Barbara participated in the 7th cohort of the George Weinstein Fellowship, the leadership development program of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, and has volunteered as an annual campaign solicitor.
Barbara Tenin grew up in the Milwaukee area with her parents and two brothers and attended Nicolet High School. During high school, she was active in her BBYO chapter and volunteered to help B’nai Mitzvah students at Congregation Emanu-El B’nai Jeshurun.
After completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Barbara started a teaching career in Milwaukee. She later earned a master’s degree at Alverno College and an administrator’s license in Special Education Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University.
Barbara’s Jewish communal leadership journey started with the George Weinstein Fellowship in 2019-2020. Barbara and her husband, Brad, enrolled in Cohort 7 of the fellowship that included monthly classes about Jewish identity and the Milwaukee Jewish community, discussions with prominent community members and a trip to Israel in March 2020. Soon after completing the fellowship, Barbara joined the P2G (Partnership2Gether) advisory board and is involved today. Barbara is most proud of her involvement in the Weinstein Fellowship redesign, which graduated its 8th cohort in Summer 2023.
Barbara currently serves on the NextGen Council and is looking forward to her future involvement in Women’s Philanthropy, the Milwaukee Jewish Federation and the overall Milwaukee Jewish community.
In response to this award, Barbara said, “I am truly honored to join this group of 61 previous Ann Agulnick winners who have given their time and efforts into creating this remarkable Jewish community. I look forward to learning more from them being a part of the Ann Agulnick legacy.”
Barbara loves to bake/share treats, read, and go walking and running. She lives in Glendale with her husband, Brad, and two children who attend Milwaukee Jewish Day School.
Mazel tov again Barbara!