Our Team
Malik Turley
Change Instigator, Founder, Executive Director, Teacher
Malik Turley is a passionate and highly capable woman who, when she does something, goes all in. Perhaps surprisingly, her first career was IT. The experience of attending the home-birth of her friend’s child led to her becoming a Doula, which led to the discovery of belly dancing as a beneficial pregnancy exercise. This changed the course of her life.
Belly dancing as exercise–and its impact on women–fully activated Malik’s interest in physical health. This propelled her through a procession of certifications and levels of instruction: Certified Datura Style™ Belly Dance Instructor (the only one in the Midwest); Licensed Zumba and Zumba Gold Instructor, Certified Group Fitness Instructor, Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Fitness Nutrition Coach. When we say your physical health is in good hands with Malik, you can believe it.
Her fitness instruction took her to facilities all over Chicago and the suburbs. What she found was a lot of dissatisfied women: women who felt uncomfortable in the typical health club, who didn’t want a co-ed space, who wanted more personal attention and guidance. Essentially, women who wanted to be seen, heard, and celebrated for who they are. Hip Circle was created for those women.
As she worked closely with women and girls at Hip Circle, she observed a link between self-worth and body image that she didn’t herself have. She was compelled to unpack these two ideas and work with women to help them see that they ALL have worth above, beyond, and independent of their physical shape. She continues to explore and foster that philosophy at Hip Circle and has codified it in the Empowering through Movement™ teacher training program.
Belly dancing as exercise–and its impact on women–fully activated Malik’s interest in physical health. This propelled her through a procession of certifications and levels of instruction: Certified Datura Style™ Belly Dance Instructor (the only one in the Midwest); Licensed Zumba and Zumba Gold Instructor, Certified Group Fitness Instructor, Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Fitness Nutrition Coach. When we say your physical health is in good hands with Malik, you can believe it.
Her fitness instruction took her to facilities all over Chicago and the suburbs. What she found was a lot of dissatisfied women: women who felt uncomfortable in the typical health club, who didn’t want a co-ed space, who wanted more personal attention and guidance. Essentially, women who wanted to be seen, heard, and celebrated for who they are. Hip Circle was created for those women.
As she worked closely with women and girls at Hip Circle, she observed a link between self-worth and body image that she didn’t herself have. She was compelled to unpack these two ideas and work with women to help them see that they ALL have worth above, beyond, and independent of their physical shape. She continues to explore and foster that philosophy at Hip Circle and has codified it in the Empowering through Movement™ teacher training program.
Daina Jauntirans
Change Instigator, Board Treasurer
Daina is a lover of languages, which she gets to use daily as a professional translator of German and Latvian. Her translation business has been going strong for nearly two decades now. An ETHS grad and long-time Evanston resident, she is also the mom of two feminist daughters. When she is not taking fitness classes and co-working at Hip Circle, Daina enjoys her dog and cat, reading, bullet journaling, listening to podcasts, and traveling, hiking and camping with her husband.
Kjerstine Humiston
Change Agent, Center Admin
Kjerstine is an artist, a mom, and a fan of strong women. She is very happy to join the Hip Circle family. Raised in Evanston, she is happy to return to Evanston to raise her own daughter here. Kjerstine uses the pronouns she/her/hers.
Susan Emery
Change Instigator, Board Secretary, Teacher
Susan is an information management specialist and technologist who seeks all forms of physical movement to offset her computer-focused career. With experience working at companies ranging in size from a one-room startup to an enormous global tech company, Susan enjoys working in small groups best and finds the Hip Circle vision and mission as well as the challenges of providing quality services to local communities inspiring. Susan moved to Evanston in 1996, left and then returned in 1999 and through Hip Circle has committed to being a positive influence through action to bring access to the special empowerment services of Hip Circle to more women.
Tara Brinkman
Change Agent, Center Admin
Tara lives with her family and two dogs in Rogers Park near the Evanston/Chicago border. She has worked in organizations/positions that seek to help empower women, girls, and families all of her adult life, and is excited to be a part of the Hip Circle community. Tara’s top three “happy places” are, in order, listening to/watching live music, playing at the beach with her kids, and taking yoga classes. Tara uses the pronouns she/her/hers.
Laura Litton
Change Instigator, Board President
Laura takes big problems and breaks them down into manageable chunks while brainstorming, collaborating, and delivering solutions. Her passion is enabling teachers to feel confident and supported so they are able to stay in the classroom and bring more continuity and dynamic teaching strategies to our students. From teaching, coaching, leading a school, and working in the education technology start-up world, she has grown her skills in identifying issues and then working tirelessly with students, teachers, school leaders, and software engineers to promote positive and sustainable solutions that continue challenging students and bringing teachers joy.
Nancy Syburg
Change Agent, Center Admin
Nancy is a 45 year resident of Rogers Park. After retiring from school administration she does childcare, goes to the theatre, reads and comes to HCE as often as possible.
Stephanie Draus
Change Instigator, Board Member, Teacher
Stephanie Draus, ND, RYT-200 is a naturopathic doctor, a yoga and meditation instructor, and a lifelong defender of the right of all women to speak our minds, own our power, and take up space. A native of Chicago and a graduate of Loyola University, she is proud to support Hip Circle's mission to empower women in Evanston, Rogers Park, and beyond from her current home in Mystic, CT. Stephanie is certified in Embodyoga and Mindful Yoga Therapy. Her meditation instruction is based in Vipassana practice as taught in the Shambhala tradition. Her teaching focuses on a rooted experience of body, connecting breath, mind, and spirit to bone, muscle, and fascia. She finds joy in movement and in the marvels of the body (anatomy is power!) and finds peace in the connection of breath to movement and body to mind. Breathe, laugh, honor your skeleton!