As a member of JWI’s Young Women’s Leadership Network I was fortunate to be able to attend The United State of Women (USOW) Summit that took place on May 5-6 in Los Angeles. The passion and commitment of the women I encountered galvanized me. I’m now ready to roll up my sleeves and get involved.
This past weekend I joined a group of 15 people between the ages of 23 and 33 with Act Now Houston on a service/learning trip to Houston, Texas, to aid with Hurricane Harvey relief. Though the hurricane has disappeared from the news, rebuilding continues in Houston, primarily in low-income areas.
We explored the need to hold both in our classrooms: Our biblical characters who speak up, and those whose voices are silenced or who censure themselves out of shame and fear. Those whose power is elevated through voice, and those who we never hear.
JWI’s tagline certainly rang true last month throughout the Young Women’s Leadership Conference. I felt informed of women’s issues in the workplace and out inspired to make a difference in my community and my life and empowered to make the changes I need to see it all through.
The 2017 Young Women’s Leadership Conference brought together over 200 Jewish women from across the United States to network with and learn from JWI’s inspiring Women to Watch honorees. Hali Simons attended the event and wrote about her experience for JW magazine.
Since attending the conference last year, I have become an active Network member, and I am now honored to serve on the D.C. Network Board. As part of this year’s YWLN Conference Committee, I am so excited to energize a new generation of leaders, and to continue learning from women who speak their minds, and from their hearts.
JWI's new Joan Margolius Cherner fund, commemorating a beloved supporter, has been created to help women and families rebuild their lives after domestic violence.
Marla Garchik has co-chaired walks in support of Autism Speaks for more than a decade, and is the founder of Peace Love Solve, which sells apparel featuring distinctive designs and messaging raising awareness and inspiring acceptance of those with autism.
Anna Isaacson is senior vice president of social responsibility at the National Football League, where she played a pivotal role in developing the NFL’s programmatic response to a series of domestic violence incidents in 2014.
Erica Keswin, founder of The Spaghetti Project, has spent 20 years working in organization and leadership development and travels around the country speaking at conferences and meeting with companies and community groups.
Co-owner and COO of Sandy Spring Builders, Mimi Brodsky Kress has had an outsized impact on an array of non-profit organizations in the Washington area while forging a highly successful career in the building industry.
Mardene Miller, president of global healthcare advertising and promotion agency Harrison & Star, oversees the development of campaigns to help pharmaceutical companies educate physicians and patients about diseases and medications.
Kathy Raffa, a CPA, is president, as well as owner and partner, of Raffa, a Washington, D.C.-area firm which provides accounting, technology, tax and financial consulting services to more than 1,000 nonprofits.
Pam Sherman is a nationally syndicated columnist (the Suburban Outlaw), actor, recovering lawyer and leadership consultant. Today she coaches and conducts programs for leaders all over the world about leadership communications and how to find their EDGE: Explore, Dream, Grow, & Excite™.
Shelley Zalis, the L.A.-based CEO of The Female Quotient and founder of the Girls’ Lounge, works to empower individuals and companies to champion diversity and equality.
A documentary now showing at film festivals tells the story of a seriously strong little girl. As an Orthodox Jew and a female athlete, 15-year-old powerlifter Naomi Kutin is not only breaking records, but also shattering stereotypes.