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We’re excited to welcome Evan Richter, who joins the MHWOW team as the newest Program Specialist! Based in Chicago, IL, Evan will be working with our hosts living in the Midwest and the West Coast of the United States. He has many years of experience at the Jewish United Fund and Metro Chicago Hillel, where he worked closely with the Chicago area Bases. He has experience in performing arts as well, most recently being one of the founding members of a Chicago-based clown troupe, the Hot Clown Company. Learn more about him below!
Hometown: Allentown, PA
Current City: Chicago, IL
Alma Mater: Muhlenberg College
Email: Evan.Richter@memglobal.org
Favorite place you have ever been to and why?
I have been lucky enough to travel to a handful of wonderful places over my life, but Arezzo, Italy, a small town located outside of Florence stands out to me. When I was a junior in college, I studied at the Accademia D’ell Arte, a performing arts school in Arezzo. I juggled, learned the ins and outs of traditional mask work, and ate more pizza and pasta than anyone should. There was something about being in a place that was so old yet so lively that resonated with me. It still does to this day!
If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be?
Buster Keaton, Jon Stewart, and Lucille Ball. Buster Keaton because he is a legend in the physical comedy/clown community, and I would do ANYTHING to hear how he accomplished some of his stunts (if you have not seen THIS video, I highly recommend it). Jon Stewart because I feel like he has some of the best, most interesting takes, and I could listen to him monologue for hours. Lucille Ball because her life and rise to fame are fascinating. Her work stands the test of time, and I would love to gain insight into her creative process.
First AIM screen name & why your 10-year-old self chose it:
This is extremely embarrassing, but my first AIM screen name was “Tapmaster95”. I chose it because I was a tap dancer for many years. Was I a master? No, but 10-year-old Evan certainly thought so.
If you could be in any TV show as a character, which show and what character?
Easy. Community. Community, in my opinion, is the best sitcom ever made (followed very closely by Seinfeld). The character is a harder question because each character on that show is terrible in their own way (ideally, I would be part of the main cast as myself), but if I had to choose a character, it would be the Dean. Mainly because he has some of the best outfits on the show.
What are you most looking forward to about joining MHWOW?
I am thrilled for so many reasons to be joining MHWOW; it is hard to pick just one! I look forward to being part of an organization that champions and supports immersive and exciting Jewish gatherings and programs. I love being Jewish and cultivating community, so to be a part of an organization where it is their mission to cultivate Jewish community is a win-win! I am also looking forward to meeting all the hosts and hearing about what type of programs they are putting on. If you are a host and are reading this, I can’t wait to meet you, and odds are, you will be hearing from me soon!