After a year-long pause, the Avodah Justice Fellowship welcomed its 2022 cohort. The fellowship is a leadership development program for Jewish professionals in the fields of public service.
The intensive program is designed to deepen participants’ social justice knowledge and strengthen their ability to make positive changes within Kansas City.
The program curriculum draws from Avodah’s 23 years of experience empowering Jewish advocates in the justice sector.
The 12 members of the 2022 Kansas City cohort spend six months participating in a series of workshops, dialogues and retreats, culminating with a project that addresses a justice issue within their community. Upon completion, the cohort will join Avodah’s alumni network of more than 1,300 people.
Avodah made the decision to pause the immersive program in 2021 after wrapping up the 2020 program virtually.
“We took a moment to pause and consider, ‘What elements of this program make it so impactful?’” said Amy Ravis Furey, Kansas City Justice Fellowship Director. “We can give people all the theoretical frameworks we want, but it’s less likely to be successful if they don’t have an opportunity to go out in the world and apply what they’re learning. I am overjoyed to have the fellowship running again, and this is an incredible cohort to do it with.”
Members of the cohort bring widely varied skills and issue areas to the fellowship, with specialties ranging from higher education to transportation to healthcare.
The 2022 Justice Fellows are:
Babs Bradhurst, Financial Planning and Analysis Manager for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority; Elissa Bamberger, Canine Specialist at KC Pet Project; Liz Feldman, Assistant Director Campus Recreation at University of Missouri - Kansas City; Jay Gilman, a consultant with CCS Fundraising; Mike Goodman, Operations Manager for KC Streetcar; Maggie Haghirian, Director of Kesher KC at Jewish Family Services; Jeff Harris, Operations Director at Camp Young Judaea Midwest; Ashley House, a research assistant at the University of Kansas Medical Center; Sarah Markowitz, Assistant Director of Education and Programs at Jewish Community Relations Bureau | American Jewish Committee Kansas City; Sarah Oleander, Disease Investigator for the Jackson County Health Department; Aviva Symons, Director of Member Engagement at Congregation Beth Torah; and Allison Ullman, Registered Nurse at Saint Luke's Health System.
The Justice Fellowship also operates in Chicago. Those interested in learning more about Avodah’s Justice Fellowship and other programs can visit avodah.net/.
