Northside Festival 2026
Saturday, September 12th 11AM - 3PM Mallards | Night Mares Stadium

A Free Community Newspaper Published Bimonthly by the Northside Planning Council

Northside Changemaker: Jennifer Zisser

Everyone knows about the great work of Jenny and Andy Czerkas in building The River Food Pantry. This Northside institution has been achieving the goal of “bringing a message of mercy and hope to those in need by providing nutritional basics and encouragement” for a dozen years. As The River has transitioned to new leadership, after the Czerkas’ retirement, hard work has been done to keep both the day-to-day operations as well as long-term vision appropriate and responsive to the needs of the community.

Jennifer Zisser is a giant in that behind-the-scenes work. Serving as board chair, Jennifer has facilitated a year-long process of updating The River’s strategic planning. She worked with the board, staff and all stakeholders to revitalize the mission, vision, values and guiding principles of The River. Using her skills and insight to lead the board through this process, Jennifer is achieving her mission of giving back to the community. 

Northside News

For 30 years, the Northside News has been a free, trusted source of local news for more than 13,000 Northside households and businesses. Published by the Northside Planning Council, it supports local businesses, community voices, and dozens of local writers while connecting neighbors to what matters most. We’ve already raised over $25,500 from 135+ supporters. With just $4,500 left to raise by December 31, 2025, your donation today helps keep this community resource thriving in print and online.