As part of The Jewish Federation’s Community Leadership Institute, each participant is required to work on an “organizational landscape” project to learn more about a local Jewish organization and present our findings to our individual tracks. This insider information from fellow participants gave us all a better sense of the landscape of Jewish L.A.
My project was on Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger. Through my meetings with the organization’s leaders, I learned that Mazon has many initiatives that advocate for the hungry and address the growing problem of food insecurity among such groups as military and low-income families, seniors, rural communities and more. The more I learned, the more I wanted to take action and be a part of Mazon.
Though I was unfamiliar with Mazon prior to my organizational landscape project, I became so passionate about their work that I met with leaders to talk about potential opportunities for engagement. We decided together that their development committee was the right place for me, as a first step toward my goal of one day making a tangible impact by serving on Mazon’s Board of Directors.
Because of CLI, I found a true calling and purpose as a leader in Jewish L.A. I hope to help more families and communities solve the problem of hunger in the months and years to come.
Exclusively for young adults between the ages of 25-40, CLI is the top-tier program that provides young professionals with the skills, training, development and networks to launch into a lifetime of success. By participating in four highly competitive, specialized tracks—Universal, Real Estate, Entertainment and Russian Jewish Community—participants expand their personal and professional networks while gaining critical skills that will help them become leaders in our Jewish community and beyond.
Applications for our next cohort are being accepted through May 15, 2015.
