Jewish Federations of North America in partnership with Repair the World are excited to announce the second cohort of The Catalyst, a professional development initiative for Federation professionals focused on "next-gen" engagement (individuals in their 20s-30s). This virtual cohort-based training program deepens the expertise of 11 professionals from 11 Federations across our system to design and deliver programming grounded in volunteerism and Jewish learning for their local next-gen community members.
The nine-month program includes training from Repair the World educators and Jewish Federations of North America staff using a best-in-class curriculum, community-building and networking for Federation professionals with in-person Jewish service learning at Jewish Federations’ FedPro Conference, and micro-grant funding of up to $7,000 for each participating community to pilot a new volunteer/service initiative or to grow an existing one.
Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the Jewish principle of service and the means to communicate it, in addition to program design and leadership skills for integrating volunteerism as a key engagement strategy for their work.
“Jewish Federations are thrilled to partner with Repair the World for the second year with the design and delivery of The Catalyst, a transformational fellowship that inspires more volunteerism in Jewish communities across North America,” said Sophie Hearne, Director of Partnerships and Special Initiatives, Community and Jewish Life for Jewish Federations of North America.
“The first year of this program proved how powerful service can be for expanding engagement in Jewish life in local Federation communities. This year, we are excited to build upon that experience as we welcome a new cohort of Federation professionals and communities, and continue to leverage Repair’s deep expertise in this space. Our partnership has shown itself to be a fantastic example of the immense collaborative potential between Jewish Federations and national engagement organizations.”
Jewish Federations of North America are proud to be one of seven leading organizations of the Jewish Service Alliance (JSA), a coalition of organizations convened by Repair the World dedicated to enhancing and expanding service opportunities for young adults to address the most pressing social needs of our time. Funding for The Catalyst is provided by the Jewish Community Response and Impact Fund.
The fellows in the second Cohort are:
- Emma Driban, Young Adult Division Manager, Jewish Federation of Delaware
- Nicole Gorelik, NextGen Engagement Associate, Milwaukee Jewish Federation
- Laura Jeser, Associate Campaign and Engagement Director, Jewish Federation of Greater Portland
- Arielle Kaye, Program Executive, UJA-Federation of New York
- Hannah Levy, Young Adult Division Manager, Jewish Federations of Greater Dallas
- Evelyn Orlovitz, Next Gen Development Manager, Jewish Federation of Winnipeg
- Michael Reznick, Young Adults Programming and Campaign Specialist, Jewish Federation of Ottawa
- Lauren Rubinson, Cultivation & Stewardship Manager, Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey
- Ellie Sherman, Program Manager of Young Adult Initiatives, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver
- Eitan Snyder, Community Engagement Associate, Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville
- Jodi Teitelman, Program Associate, Jewish and Volunteer Experiences, Jewish Experiences at the Macks Center for Jewish Connections in Baltimore