Connectgens fellowship 2014
Launch Book ConnectGens Fellowship Powered by PresenTense
A message from
Dear Friends,
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington
Washington, DC is a city of innovators, dreamers and risk-takers. It is a hub of innovation where people are paving the way in technology, government and philanthropy. In Greater Washington, we are constantly given the opportunity and the freedom to be courageous and bold. In the spirit of our city, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington is continually redefining what is possible— developing innovative strategies to better serve our unique, complex and diverse Jewish community. Once again, we are proud to host a cohort of Fellows through our ConnectGens Fellowship, powered by PresenTense. The program gives our community the opportunity to create a culture of innovation and creativity in Jewish DC—a culture that tackles the issues we face and prepares a new generation of leaders with the knowledge and skills to bring about strategic and sustainable solutions. Over the past 3 years, the ConnectGens Fellowship has engaged hundreds of people to energize our community using innovative problem solving approaches. We thank you for being a part of this community and helping us with this important work. By supporting the ConnectGens Fellows, we are investing in a stronger Jewish future for Greater Washington.
Liza Levy
Steven A. Rakitt
President The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington
Executive Vice President & CEO The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington
Dear Community Members, This evening is a celebration. Tonight is the culmination of six months of hard work by our 2014 ConnectGens Fellowship cohort. We are inspired by the Fellows’ commitment to their ventures, community and each other. Though this class is set apart by its diversity, there are Jewish values at the core of every venture. After being guided by mentors, championed by coaches and supported by a diverse committee, our ten Fellows are excited to share their innovative ventures with you this evening. Through inclusion, education, advocacy and connectivity, they propose solutions to some of the most pressing concerns within our Jewish community. Tonight is an opportunity for you to contribute to this innovation. Your support will help these social entrepreneurs take their ventures to the next stage and make a lasting impact on our community. Please take a moment to meet the Fellows during tonight’s Innovation Expo. Ask them questions, give them advice and, if you feel so inclined, offer to support the growth of their ventures. Tonight, the 2014 Fellows join our 20 past Fellows in their commitment to bettering our community. We are honored to watch them develop and make a difference. Mazel tov! Jeff Chod and Morgan Greenhouse ConnectGens Fellowship 2013–14 Co-Chairs
introduction from the
connectgens fellowship co-chairs
The ConnectGens Fellowship is made possible through a partnership between The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, PresenTense and the generous support of our funders.
The Morningstar Foundation The Gorlin Family Foundation Devorah & Kevin Berman Gary & Ilana Gamerman Mark Kass Deborah & Michael Salzberg Steven D. Stone Stacey & Ray Thal Cindy & Rick Zitelman
Funders as of May 2014
connectgens fellowship Steering committee Jeff Chod, Co-Chair Morgan Greenhouse, Co-Chair Eve Copeland Bentovim Alisa Brem Jeffrey Finkelstein Molly Ellenberg Friedland Collin Gutman
Sheila Katz Elizabeth Kurtis Bram Levy Stacy Miller Max Sandler Aaron Shapiro Courtney Sharpe
The Steering Committee is the voice of the Fellowship, working closely with the coordinator to set the vision and direction of the program on behalf of the community. Steering Committee members recruit and admit Fellows, and match the Fellows with volunteer coaches and mentors. Moreover, Steering Committee members are the Fellows’ advocates and connectors in the larger community. The Steering Committee is vital to the success of the Fellowship and integral to PresenTense’s model of community-based entrepreneurship.
Erica Brody Community Immersion to Inclusion (CI2I) Coach: Eva Davis; Mentor: Deborah Fisher Erica is a proud Texan and Longhorn (hook ‘em!) currently living in DC and working at Deloitte Consulting. Erica is a lifelong activist for disabilities rights and inclusion, a dabbler in running and biking, an experimental baker and an avid enthusiast of all things relating to sunshine. CI2I breaks through barriers to celebrate abilities, promote respect and champion inclusion. The program creates opportunities for people with and without intellectual disabilities to learn and grow together through service projects and education about the Disability Rights Movement. CI2I builds the foundation for authentic and lasting social inclusion for people of all abilities. Target Audience: People with and without intellectual disabilities in the DC Jewish community.
“My cousin is a dancer, a horseback rider and a trustworthy friend. She also has an intellectual disability, but it does not define who she is. My dream is for her to live in a world where she is recognized and valued for her abilities and her character.�
Venture Achievements: Starting to create the CI2I service learning and Disability Rights Movement curriculum. Upcoming Milestone: Coordinating at least two service events a month with a variety of groups.
Ian Cohen Sports israel Coach: Brian Levenson; Mentor: Doug Green Ian grew up in the DC area and currently teaches preschool in Kensington. He holds a degree in psychology and has a background in website design. Ian spent a year on a Masa Israel Journey program, where he volunteered with vulnerable and underprivileged populations in Israel. While in Israel, he created a youth lacrosse program with which he visited schools weekly with the intention of bringing different populations together to play sports. Sports Israel uses the power of sport to help students in underprivileged areas in Israel. The program brings Jewish athletes from the United States to Israel to create and strengthen athletic programs at schools. Sports Israel’s youth programs provide extracurricular activities for at-risk children in Israel and bridge gaps in the communities, while creating meaningful educational experiences for the volunteers. Target Audience: Jewish athletes looking to make a difference; at-risk populations in Israel. Venture Achievements: Exploring potential schools and cities that would benefit from the program. Upcoming Milestone: Launching the program for a pilot group of volunteers.
“My time abroad made me more in touch with my Judaism and inspired me to be more connected to my community back home. I am hoping that the participants in my program will become involved in the communities where they live.”
Amy Jablin Forseter The Red Stone theredstone.org Coach: Magan Gand; Mentor: Dr. Michael Levy Amy has more than a decade of experience in the Jewish communal world, both lay and professional, and is actively enhancing the local, national and global communities. Amy hails from Michigan, where she received her BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan. She holds an MBA and MA from Brandeis University. Amy lives in Bethesda with her husband Eric and two children. The Red Stone helps create our Jewish future, one baby at a time. Its mission is to support the growth of Jewish families through nontraditional means, including fertility treatments and adoption. This venture allows a streamlined process of supporting Jewish people struggling to have children while strengthening their Jewish connection as they build their family.
“The Jewish women in groups I have participated in and led always seem to unite and create special connections. They inspired me to create a sacred space for Jewish people to grieve and celebrate the ups and downs of creating the miracle of life.�
Target Audience: Those seeking to have Jewish children through fertility treatments and adoption. Venture Achievements: Support groups forming and meeting monthly; fertility veterans serving as base of volunteer support. Upcoming Milestone: Planning the second year cohort; scaling for application at other Jewish learning venues.
Joshua Margolin Originative originative.org Coach: Ariana Heideman; Mentor: Shirley Waxman Joshua is an avid technologist by day and creative visionary by night. His involvement as a leader in the Jewish community began after returning from Israel as a member of the NEXT DC Alumni Leadership Mission. Joshua sits on the NEXT DC Advisory Committee and volunteers as an ambassador for The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. When Joshua isn’t working diligently on ORIGINative or other work-related activities, one might find him exercising or reading literature at an avant-garde café. ORIGINative is all about creating a space where Jews from all generations can showcase what Jewish identity and Judaism mean to them. This space manifests itself in the form of an exhibition in Washington, DC, with submissions sourced from both the United States and Israel in the form of videography, photography, musical and theatrical performance, poetry, literature, dance, paintings and more. Target Audience: Jewish artists and arts enthusiasts. Venture Achievements: Grant allocation, volunteer acquisition, website creation and content development. Upcoming Milestone: Deployment stage of the ORIGINative exposé.
“My hope is that ORIGINative brings Jewish creative arts to the forefront of discussion about identity formation.”
Arya Marvazy Encyclopedia Jewtannica Coach: Max Sandler; Mentor: Rabbi Yoni Kaiser-Blueth Arya, born and raised in Los Angeles, currently serves as the Manager for Talent Recruitment and Professional Development at Hillel’s International Center in Washington, DC. With a deep passion for Jewish community development since his undergraduate years at UC San Diego, Arya graduated with a Master’s in Organizational Behavior from NYU while living in Israel. A first generation IranianAmerican, Arya speaks Farsi, Hebrew and Spanish. Encyclopedia Jewtannica is an online hub of Jewish organizations categorized and filtered by topical focus, demographic served, and geographic reach. Jews of all ages and backgrounds serve to benefit from this website which gives them a quick and deep understanding of the organizations and websites in the Jewish world that fit their particular interests, and offer opportunities for Jewish connection, learning, and growth. Target Audience: Jews of all ages and backgrounds.
“I want Jews to know what Jewish organizations exist that serve their needs, and help them to better connect to these organizations, and inevitably, one another.”
Venture Achievements: Managing lists of organizations to participate on the site.
Upcoming Milestone: Building website infrastructure so organizations can input information; increasing awareness about the site.
Rabbi Mark Novak Minyan Oneg Shabbat MinyanOnegShabbat.org Coach: Joe Brophy; Mentor: Jonah Geller Mark is an ALEPH—Jewish Renewal—ordained rabbi, and since 1982 has served the DC Jewish community as a cantor, band leader, storyteller and teacher. He has been presented as Scholar-in-Residence at over 130 synagogues throughout the US and Canada. From 1977–1985, Mark was the music director of the Living Stage Theater Co. Minyan Oneg Shabbat serves as an umbrella organization for Jewish Renewal outreach and programming, including Minyan Oneg Shabbat: Renewal style worship, Mindful MOSH: Jewish mindfulness gathering, and Havdalah Café and Cabaret: a Saturday night evening of community sharing of songs, stories and assorted other talents. Target Audience: Wondering and wandering Jews; Jews who do yoga or meditate. Venture Achievements: One and a half years of various gatherings. Upcoming Milestone: 501(c) status; increased attendance at events; increased financial support to pay for musicians and co-leaders.
“There are people who are seeking meaning and do not know that there are Jewish practices that speak to their yearning. My sense is that they would welcome opportunities to establish an authentic and mature connection to their birthright.”
Jeremy Pesner Israeli Knowledge & Innovation Exchange in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (IKIE-STEM) blogs.commons.georgetown.edu/jp659/ Coach: Eve Copeland Bentovim; Mentor: Lance Sherry Jeremy is a technologist, policy analyst and emerging Jewish leader. He has focused his career in Internet and technology policy and recently earned his Master’s degree from Georgetown University. He is an involved member of several organizations spanning the Jewish, technology and social innovation spheres, and has written on technology issues for a variety of online publications.
“I was studying science and technology policy at the same time as I was reconnecting with my Jewish roots and the DC Jewish community. As I learned about Israel as the Start-Up Nation, I realized how key the science and technology fields are for the US-Israeli political and economic relationship.”
IKIE-STEM is designed to provide a forum for young, early-career STEM professionals from both Israel and the US to network and collaborate, and create new STEM research and development initiatives across traditional national, industrial and sector-based borders. This program exposes them to the variety of different actors, institutions and relationships that comprise the totality of STEM innovation. Target Audience: American and Israeli early-career STEM professionals in business, research, policy or education. Venture Achievements: Website creation; program model establishment; partnership with ASTRA (Alliance for Science and Technology Research in America). Upcoming Milestone: Establish the online IKIE-STEM community.
Rabbi Baruch Rock Gesher 4U Coach: Josh Stevens; Mentors: JoHanna Potts Rabbi Baruch presents a vision and experience of wholeness in his teaching, as a rabbi and as a global citizen. He teaches Jewish Studies and 20th Century American History at Gesher Jewish Day School. Rabbi Baruch holds a BA in History and Journalism from NYU, an MA in Desert Studies from Ben Gurion University of the Negev and is pursuing a PhD in Sustainability Education from Prescott College in Arizona. Gesher 4U provides a refreshing, empowered and personal approach to Jewish learning. Over the course of ten monthly sessions, a cohort of Gesher Jewish Day School parents experience the standards of learning that are at the heart of their children’s vibrant and meaningful Jewish learning. Each session is centered on a relevant and meaningful Jewish teaching to be decided by the cohort. Participants are tasked to “teach it to their children.” Target Audience: The parents of students at Gesher Jewish Day School. Venture Achievements: Presented plan to current parents. Upcoming Milestone: Planning the second year cohort; scaling for application at other Jewish learning venues.
“Gesher 4U creates an empowered Jewish learning community centered around Gesher Jewish Day School and through its success, will change the face of Jewish Day School community relationships.”
Jenna Shaw Walk for the Future Coach: Devorah Berman; Mentor: Jerry Greenspan Jenna is a rising sophomore at American University studying economics and international relations. She is originally from Chicago and loves having the opportunity to explore Washington, DC. The Walk for The Future is a Holocaust remembrance walk and education program resembling the March of the Living. It is an annual walk that inspires unengaged and engaged Jewish teens to stay involved in the Jewish community. The approximately mile-long walk begins with a commemoration of the Holocaust and ends with a celebration of our ability to advocate. Target Audience: Teenagers, post-Bar/Bat Mitzvah who are unengaged in the Jewish community. Venture Achievements: Partnerships with several area organizations; planning for spring 2015 walk. Upcoming Milestone: Pilot walk with more than 250 teens.
“ I hope to inspire unengaged teens to become involved in the Jewish community in a way that is comfortable for them.�
Sarah Weissmann Daughters of the Tribes daughtersofthetribes.com Coach: Geryl Baer; Mentors: Rabbi Shira Stutman Sarah works for an association that helps federal employees and retirees protect their earned retirement and health benefits, in her professional life. In her non-professional time, Sarah enjoys working in local politics and with her synagogue, and spending time with her family and friends. Originally from Ohio, Sarah is a proud Buckeye living in Maryland with her husband. Daughters of the Tribes is an opportunity for all Jewish women to gather and share in an open dialogue. Recognizing that we are all the descendants of one of the 12 Tribes, Daughters of the Tribes is an opportunity for women to come together—regardless of how they identify as Jewish—and recognize just how similar we all are. Target Audience: Jewish women of all ages, identities and observance with open minds and hearts. Venture Achievements: Researched outreach approaches; planning prototype kickoff event. Upcoming Milestone: Regular meetings for the DC community; helping other communities to host meetings.
“ My hope is to provide a space for women to grow their own personal identity while strengthening our community through open dialogue.”
fellowship in action Rabbi Baruch Rock meets with his Mentor, JoHanna Potts.
Spencer Gerrol and Jeff Rum speak at a Roundtable about turning a vision into a reality.
“My Fellow’s mission-driven and entrepreneurial spirit is contagious. Her personal life experiences, combined with her love for Judaism, has taught me a lot about what it truly means to build an organization that will make a difference.” —Magan Gand, Coach Fellows map out their venture’s 5 year plan.
At a Seminar, Fellows consider strategies for growth.
“The ConnectGens Fellowship provides an invaluable environment for our community’s brightest social entrepreneurs to share and experiment with their innovative ideas.” —Aaron Shapiro, Steering Committee
“ From the first time I met the Fellows, I knew they would be succesful. Their ventures are well on their way to changing our community.” —Jeff Chod, Co-Chair
Above: Protoyping comes alive through the Marshmallow Challenge. Left: Morgan Greenhouse, Co-Chair, brainstorms with Brian Levenson, Coach.
What is a mentor?
What is a coach?
Mentors provide high-level support and advice to Fellows. They meet monthly to discuss big-picture challenges, professional aspirations and their ultimate vision for the community. Mentors are both stakeholders in the Jewish community and seasoned professionals who provide deep and valuable insight to Fellows as they develop their ventures and themselves.
Coaches provide hands-on, tactical support to Fellows as they develop their ventures. Fellows meet regularly with their coaches to workshop their Venture Milestone assignments and discuss vision and strategy. As young professionals from a variety of sectors, coaches lend their expertise and skills to Fellows and the program at large. Together, they create a learning community that leverages diverse talent and knowledge in service of social innovation.
SPECIAL THANKS
SPECIAL THANKS
to our mentors
to our coaches
Deborah Fisher Jonah Geller Doug Green Jerry Greenspan Rabbi Yoni Kaiser-Blueth
Dr. Michael Levy JoHanna Potts Lance Sherry Rabbi Shira Stutman Shirley Waxman
ConnectGens Fellowship Powered by PresenTense
Geryl Baer Devorah Berman Joe Brophy Eve Copeland Bentovim Eva Davis
Magan Gand Ariana Heideman Brian Levenson Max Sandler Josh Stevens
For more information about becoming a Mentor or Coach, e-mail cgfellowship@shalomdc.org.
The ConnectGens Fellowship is currently one of 18 PresenTense Fellowships in 16 cities around the world.
This network spans across three continents. 6 COUNTRIES
UNITED STATES
ISRAEL
RUSSIA
CANADA
LATVIA
UKRAINE
16 Communities
Boston Chicago Los angeles New york city Philadelphia Washington, DC
Jerusalem Ra’anana Nazareth Haifa Tel Aviv
Moscow St. Petersburg
TORONTO
RIGA
KIEV
The ConnectGens Fellows are part of an international network of 176 Fellows working on 155 ventures in the following areas this year:
Environment 6%
The first PresenTense Fellowship was launched in 2007. Since then:
Women 2%
Tech 9%
Community Building 24%
579 ventures 630 Fellows
Arts 11%
Venture Topic Areas
3,000+ volunteers 500,000+ people impacted globally
Other 12% Social Action 13%
Education 17%
ConnectGens Fellowship Powered by PresenTense
Visit shalomdc.org/fellowship or e-mail cgfellowship@shalomdc.org to get involved.