Oren Jacobson

Oren Jacobson is a civic entrepreneur, organizer, and thought leader focused on helping communities and organizations build the strength and capacity necessary to improve people's lives.

Oren ’s grandfather was among the few Polish Jews to survive WWII, making his life a statistical improbability. This truth guides and motivates Oren to live a life worthy of the Jewish lives lost for the crime of being a Jew, dedicated to supporting, strengthening, and protecting all who are attacked for the crime of being who they are. Oren knows that while progress can be slow, urgency is required in the face of injustice. In professional and personal practice, deep pride in his Jewish identity instills in him a sense of duty to disrupt the unjust imbalances of our world. ​

Guided by a mission to deepen understanding, build capacity, and drive tangible progress that creates systemic level improvement in people’s lives, his work is dedicated to creating an American reality that matches the American ideal of justice and liberty for all.

With a strong, clear voice in the fight against antisemitism and white supremacy, Oren is known for showing up consistently as an ally and organizing to help build power and change policy, including major victories in the fights for reproductive freedom and criminal justice reform and his civic advocacy spans local to international engagement. He holds a Master’s in International Relations from the University of Chicago, a Master's in Economics and Policy Analysis from DePaul University, and an MBA from Regis University.

​Oren co-founded and now serves as the Executive Director of Men4Choice, an organization that works to activate, educate, and mobilize male allies in the fight for reproductive freedom. In the spirit of deepening understanding, Oren launched Project Shema to help the Jewish community and allies understand and address contemporary antisemitism with an emphasis on how anti-Jewish ideas can be carried alongside Israel-Palestine discourse. Previously, Oren served as National Chapter Development Director for the New Leaders Council. Oren helped grow NLC into the largest leadership development organization in the progressive movement, expanding a platform for emerging leaders representing America’s full diversity.

​Oren proudly serves on the board of Reform for Illinois, which is leading the effort to combat corruption and reform Illinois’ political system. He’s also a Truman National Security Project Political Partner, the Political Chair of Personal PAC, and sits on the Citizens Action Illinois Policy Council.

​Oren lives near Chicago with his wife Betsy, an ER Doctor serving on the front lines of the COVID pandemic, their son Noah Lincoln, and their dogs, who are named after great champions for justice, Eleanor Roosevelt and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.