Meet the SopoTeam and FUN-structors
Our experienced instructors (aka FUN-structors) are dedicated to providing a nurturing and safe learning environment where kids of all ages (that means adults, too!) can enjoy trying something new, making friends, and celebrating growth! Just a few of them are featured below!
Kimberly Brown
CEO of
Family Room Chicago
Kimberly is the CEO of Family Room Chicago, a premier family hub, and opened her first location in Lakeview East in Spring of 2025 and is pleased to announce the acquisition of Southport Fundamentals as Family Room's second location in September!
Kimberly is a transformational leader and entrepreneur who loves a healthy dose of constructive, purpose-driven disruption to drive growth – using data, technology, AND our humans.
As a proud multi-hyphenate, she believes experience drives empathy. She created the "human-centric" and "inclusive innovation" frameworks used in universities and organizations around the world today.
She is honored to take her lifelong passion for advocacy and community engagement to public service.​​
​​​
Risa McMahon
Founder of
SopoFUN
Risa (she/her), a zany Lakeview mama of two, founded SopoFUN in August of 2023 and served as CEO, CFO, CMO, lead toy fixer, Director of Programming, Party Planner, and head of janitorial services until August of 2025, when she decided she needed to take a nap.
Risa passed the torch to Kim Brown at the end of August 2025 and can't wait to see all the FUN plans at the new location!
​​​
Click here to learn more about Risa's career.
Photo credit: Brittany Welch Photography
Jana Pawlak
Guest Instructor,
Knitting
Jana Pawlak (she/her) is one of the owners of A Happy Diversion, an online store offering custom knits and painted barn quilts.
Jana is a mom, a maker, and a knitting/embroidery/baking-enthusiast...and she is especially good at helping others learn! She leads our monthly "open knit" program. If you have never knitted, are learning to knit, or if you just enjoy knitting in the company of others, this is the JUDGMENT-FREE place for you!
Once a month, we gather to practice and learn...and Jana can help brainstorm solutions if you've "knitted yourself into a corner" and need help!
​
Erin Watt
Guest Instructor,
Music
Erin (she/her) was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. She holds a BA in Theater & Media, an MM in music, and is currently pursuing an MM in music therapy.
Erin has been teaching private voice and piano lessons and after school music classes for over 17 years.
After a few years performing opera and acting in New York City, Erin came back to Chicago and acquired The Music Playhouse in 2015.
​
Click here to peruse
upcoming music classes for 0-5 year olds!
Bridget Walsh
Guest Lecturer,
Education & Counseling
Bridget (she/her) is a guest lecturer who presents as part of our "adulting is hard" personal development series for grown-ups. She is the Founder of Bridge Academics and works at Francis W. Parker School. Bridget has extensive experience coaching families through difficulties and encouraging students to advocate effectively while taking responsibility for their future. She integrates plans to meet clients' needs and identifies areas of strength to guide families towards paths where success builds confidence and independent skills. She has a wealth of connections and resources to help families overcome hurdles that may have prevented success in the past.
​
Candace Washington
Guest Lecturer,
Leadership
Candace (she/her) is a guest lecturer who presents as part of our "adulting is hard" personal development series for grown-ups. Candace is Founder & CEO of Pivotal Impact, a consulting firm focused on helping companies develop, engage and retain their leaders. As a product of under-resourced communities, she immediately connects with her audience through her authentic, infectious personality and her highly energetic and empowering delivery.
Her students appreciate her relatable experiences that allow them to see themselves in her, and immediately take action to elevate their outcomes!
Jaime Elaine Gannon
Guest Instructor,
Music/Dance & Painting
Jaime (she/her) is an Ohio native who has made Chicago her home. She studied theater and dance at Loyola and is a painter specializing in colorful, floral pieces. She is also celebrates the arts as a dance, theatre, and music educator.
​
She will be joining us as a music instructor for kiddos through our partnership with The Music Playhouse of Chicago. Jaime is the Founder of The Jaime Elaine Creative and displays her floral paintings in our living room when it's they are being featured at local art fairs.
​
Sign up for music classes for babies and littles on our
PROGRAMS FOR AGES 0-5 page!
Ms. Keeley
Guest Instructor,
Math & Pre-Literacy
Ms. Keeley (she/her) from Connections Academics is here on to take the stress away from avoiding "the summer slide"! She leads students (grades 3rd-5th) in a small groups, no larger than 4 kiddos, and provides personal instruction on math content they may be struggling with. Ms. Keeley will provide targeted review and re-teaching instruction using content or curriculum related to their classroom work.
Ms. Keeley also leads our Little Book Club and Baby Book Club pre-literacy morning classes for littles.
Learn more about our afternoon programs for 3rd-5th graders on our AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS page, or for Little Book Club times on our ​PROGRAMS FOR AGES 0-5 page!
Dan
Stepanian-Bennett
Guest Lecturer,
Chess & Guitar
By day, Dan is a senior marketing director: social media guru, videographer, strategist and brand storyteller.
By night, Dan cherishes "Girl-Dad Time" with preschooler Ella - singing songs, playing board games, along with watching football and taking bike rides on the Lakeshore Trail on weekends.
Fortunately, he also happens to be a joy-bomb and a fantastic guitar coach and chess teacher! Adults and kids alike will absolutely love learning from Dan's unique teaching style and soaking up his infectious good vibes.
Sarah Zimmerman
Guest Instructor,
Art
Sarah (she/her) has served her community as a librarian and archivist at the Chicago Public Library team for two decades. In her roles, she's managed the Chicago Theatre Collection, developed engaging programs for the public and now leads the Arts & Music and Social Science & History Departments at the Harold Washington Library.
In her spare time, Sarah is also an art and music lover (and sometimes baker) and will be joining us for fun classes for all ages to enjoy! She will guide us on paper-centric arts and crafts as well as on paper marbling adventures!
Victor
Escribens
Director of Facilities & Maintenance
Victor (he/him) is Southport Fundamentals' primo-tastic facilities director. Whenever Ms. Risa needs anything cleaned or assembled or fixed, Victor is ALL OVER IT!
In addition to being a computer superwizard with a powerful mind for all things tech, he is handy as can be with a drill AND is the only person on the planet who meets our standards for maintaining our cleanliness standards.
​
Don't believe it? Check out our Google Reviews and read all about how CLEAN we like to keep things...that's ALL because of Victor!​
​​
As if that weren't impressive enough, Victor also happens to have a voice like an angel. If you ever need someone to make you cry with their Andrea Bocelli-level vocal artistry, Victor is your guy!
​​
He loves exploring the city, going to the beach, and spending with his family--and we are so proud to consider him part of the SopoFUN family! What an absolute GEM!
Sookie
(The Robot Vacuum)
Vice President,
Carpet Maintenance
Named after the protagonist in the song "Groove Me" by King Floyd, Sookie (she/her) is SopoFUN's loyal robot vacuum. Sookie works tirelessly to suck up crumbs and dirt to make sure our guests have a fabulous bottom-of-foot experience. Our first floor carpets are dreamy, and Sookie takes the same level of pride in her work as Wrigley Field's lawn mowers.
When she was given googly eyeballs by Xavier (then age 8) which helped her see that her true love was right in front of her the whole time. In early 2024, Sookie exchanged vows with a white stick vacuum in an intimate ceremony officiated by Madison (then age 9). The children decided he should take her (first) name, so he now goes by "Mr. Sookie".
The motto emblazoned on her paper-plate-nametag is:
"Sookie is my name, cleaning dirt is my game."
