Sara Sharnoff Chesley, Director of Charleston Jewish Family Services, has been chosen to participate in the inaugural cohort of the Jewish Experiential Leadership Institute – Southeast (JELI) sponsored by The Leadership Commons of The William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS).
The cohort includes 20 fellows and 5 mentors who live and work in over 12 different communities across 7 states in the southeast region. They represent 11 different types of Jewish organizations, including Jewish Federation, JCC, Hillel, Jewish family services, BBYO, JNF, day schools, synagogues, Moishe House, and more. JELI-Southeast trains Jewish professionals for leadership by focusing on four key pillars: leadership principles, Jewish learning, community building, and personal growth.
JELI-Southeast is an outgrowth of the initial JELI program which was conducted in partnership with JCC Association to train middle and senior managers in JCCs throughout North America to lead through an educational and Jewish lens. The success of the first two JELI cohorts led the Leadership Commons to explore ways to reach even more Jewish professionals and communal leaders. As a result of this exploration, JELI-Southeast was launched to reach communities which have opportunities and challenges in common. This initiative is designed to strengthen Sara's leadership skills, Charleston Jewish Family Services's role within the community, Charleston's Jewish life, and the Jewish community throughout the entire Southeast.
The Leadership Commons was able to launch JELI-Southeast with generous support from the Jim Joseph Foundation, The Leon Levine Foundation, the William Davidson Foundation, the Amy Mandel / Katina Rodis Fund, and Birmingham Jewish Foundation.
The inaugural cohort will convene for its first intensive four-day retreat in Charlotte, NC in November 2018. Under the program direction of Debbie Joseph, from Gainesville, Florida, the cohort will continue learning through monthly online sessions, two additional four-day retreats, one-on-one mentoring, and project work over the next 18 months.
In addition to building on the original JELI curriculum, this cohort will study and experience the history and culture of the southeast in order to more effectively lead their communities and collaborate to strengthen Jewish life in this region as a whole.
Click here to learn more about the Jewish Experiential Leadership Institute.
Fellows
Abbey Cowens, Database and Fundraising Analyst, Memphis Jewish Federation, Memphis, TN
Amber Lansdell, First Grade General Studies Teacher, N.E. Miles Jewish Day School, Birmingham, AL
Casey Topol, Senior Director of Programming and Volunteer Engagement, Temple Israel of Charlotte,Charlotte, NC
Corie Hampton, Executive Director, Beth David Synagogue, Greensboro, NC
Gabrielle Adler, Southern Regional Manager, Moishe House, Atlanta, GA
Ginny Vellani, Director of Statewide Initiatives, North Carolina Hillel, Chapel Hill, NC
Jacqui Drazen, Community Program Coordinator, Savannah Jewish Federation &
Jewish Educational Alliance, Savannah, GA
Jamie Krusch, Assistant Director, North Carolina Hillel Foundation, Chapel Hill, NC
Jesse Feld, Director of Engagement, Jewish Community Federation of Richmond, Richmond, VA
Kara Culp, Engagement Coordinator, Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
Kate Smith, Director of the Southeast, Jewish National Fund, Atlanta, GA
Kirby Southerland, Aquatics and Youth Recreation Director, Jewish Educational Alliance, Savannah, GA
Kirsten Robinson, Athletic Director, Levite Jewish Community Center, Birmingham, AL
Madeline Seltman, Director of Engagement, Jewish Federation of Durham-Chapel Hill/Levin Jewish Community Center, Durham, NC
Megan Harkavy, Director, Consolidated High School of Jewish Studies of Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
Nathan Somers, Director of Jewish Life/Judaic Studies Teacher, The Lerner Jewish Community Day School, Durham, NC
Priscilla Denard, Director of Programs and Events, Levite Jewish Community Center, Birmingham, AL
Ryan Woloshin, Regional Director, Eastern Region, BBYO Eastern Region, Richmond, VA
Sara Chesley, Director, Charleston Jewish Family Services, Charleston, SC
Virginia Brissette Hirshik, Executive Director, Jewish Council of North Central Florida, Gainesville, FL
MENTORS
Rabbi Adam Grossman, University of Florida Hillel, Gainesville, FL
Alina Spaulding, The Spaulding Group, Greensboro, NC
Gary Weinstein, Spertus Institute, Chicago, IL and Charleston, SC
Jane Slotin, Moise Y. Safra Foundation, New York, NY and Savannah, GA
Rebecca Simons, Hillel International, Durham, NC
STAFF
Debbie Joseph, Program Director, JELI-Southeast
Mark S. Young, Managing Director, Leadership Commons, William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education of JTS
Sara Hassin, Program Assistant, JELI-Southeast