Fellows

Repair the World couldn’t do its work without the support of its dedicated full-time fellows. Our fellows serve for two years alongside local nonprofits addressing community needs, mobilizing their peers to take action, and engaging in Jewish learning and professional development.

Marissa Aaronson

she/her

Fellow, New York

Marissa Aaronson

she/her

Fellow, New York

Marissa recently graduated from Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary, with degrees in American Studies and Hebrew Bible, respectively. Marissa is passionate about Jewish education and sustainability and excited to have the opportunity to work at the intersection of those interests at Repair the World. In college, she helped lead the Hannah Weiss Sustainability Team at her university’s Hillel, advocating for more sustainable building-wide policies including compostable dishes and cutlery for Shabbat dinners and reusable water bottle fillers. Outside of work, Marissa is likely found doing yoga, hosting themed Shabbat dinners, or searching for the best green spaces in New York.

Wise Allen

he/him

Fellow, Pittsburgh

Wise Allen

he/him

Fellow, Pittsburgh

Wise is our newest fellow in the Pittsburgh area, looking forward to joining Repair the World in fighting for social justice and facilitating growth in overlooked places. Wise is a University of Pittsburgh graduate with a B.A in History and an unabashed nerd! As a staff member of the City Clerk’s Office in downtown Pittsburgh, Wise has spent countless hours pouring over forgotten city records and ordinances. A lover of all things outdoors you can often find Wise on the trails and bike paths in Pittsburgh and trails, while on rainy days, Wise prefers to be nose deep in his newest book.

Bianka Bermudez

she/her

Fellow, Miami

Bianka Bermudez

she/her

Fellow, Miami

Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Bianka is a Nicaraguan American with a lot of love for her community and her city. She studied at Florida International University (FIU) and received an English degree with a concentration in Creative Writing, while also pursuing Women and Gender Studies. Bianka has always believed that the arts have an invaluable impact on society and cares deeply about the stories of underrepresented voices being heard in the media. In her time at FIU, she also served a term as the president of the Women and Gender Studies Student Association (WGSA) and was able to work alongside groups such as the National Organization for Women (NOW) and Planned Parenthood which further cemented her interest in volunteer work and gender equality. As a Latina woman and a member of the LGBT+ community, Bianka is invested in social justice work and excited to make an impact on her beloved city of Miami as a fellow with Repair the World. She hopes to be able to learn ways to put her studies into practice to tackle all areas of inequality in Miami and be able to hone the tools to support her community. In her free time, Bianka can be found writing poetry, creating art, and volunteering at local theaters with her sister.

Em Duhamel

they/them

Fellow, Pittsburgh

Em Duhamel

they/them

Fellow, Pittsburgh

Em is a Jewish educator, Jewish youth professional, and reproductive justice advocate hailing from Cleveland, OH. Em moved to Pittsburgh after graduating from the University of Cincinnati with degrees in philosophy and interdisciplinary studies with a focus on social justice theory, along with a certificate in LGBTQIA+ studies. Their studies focused on issues of feminist and transgender theory, the impact of mental illness on empathy and morality, and reproductive justice in the transgender community. Em taught Judaics for middle schoolers at Wise Temple for two years, served as the Jewish Life chair, president, and Tzedek intern of Cincinnati Hillel, and interned at the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati in their Planning and Allocations department. In addition, they served as the event coordinator and president of the University of Cincinnati chapter of Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity. They currently are the group leader for Tzelem Pittsburgh, a Moving Traditions program for Jewish LGBTQIA+ teens. Em has been an aspiring rabbi for the past decade and plans to center pastoral care and chaplaincy for trauma survivors and people with marginalized identities in their rabbinate. In their free time, Em can be found creating art, exploring Talmud, exploring the Pittsburgh area, and playing with their cat, Oatmeal.

Delayna Feuerzeig

she/her

Fellow, Miami

Delayna Feuerzeig

she/her

Fellow, Miami

Delayna has always been passionate about Judaism and her Jewish identity. Her ancestors inspire her values of community, justice, and liberation for all people. Delayna wants her life’s work to involve supporting Jews in connecting to their culture, history, and religion, as well as documenting Jewish history as they live it through art. She is originally from northern New Jersey and has a Bachelor’s Degree from the Commonwealth Honors College at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she majored in Social Thought & Political Economy and minored in Sustainable Community Development. In her free time, Delayna spends quality time with loved ones, crafting, thrifting, and watching bad reality TV. In her first year as a fellow with Repair the World Miami, Delayna focused on Early Childhood Education with local partners Branches and Lotus House. Delayna has learned so much in her time as a fellow in Miami, and is excited to continue engaging in service and growing as a person!

Hazel Garrity

she/her

Fellow, Atlanta

Hazel Garrity

she/her

Fellow, Atlanta

As a New England transplant, Hazel is thrilled to be a part of the warm and sunny Atlanta team! Originally from a one-stoplight town, she has long searched for a Jewish space to call home and grow in. After graduating from Smith College with a BA in the Study of Women and Gender, Hazel moved to Georgia to join Atlanta Repair where she has found that home! Her passions range from Reproductive Justice to every single dog she sees. Hazel is specifically dedicated to finding ways to consistently grow in her role as a fellow and a young Jewish woman, utilizing humor, honesty, and love for her community. She is always down for a chat and looking to make new friends and memories!

Courtney Harrison Geese

she/her

Fellow, Detroit

Courtney Harrison Geese

she/her

Fellow, Detroit

Courtney was born and raised in the Metro Detroit area. She has a Bachelor’s of Social Science majoring in History and Politics with a concentration in Religious and Cultural Studies from The Open University in the UK. During undergrad, Courtney volunteered as a community organizer for local initiatives focusing on healthcare equity, LGBTQ+ rights, immigrant and refugee rights, reproductive freedom, and environmental justice initiatives. Courtney recently moved back to Detroit after living in Germany for five years, where she learned to speak German and later became an ESL teacher. For the past 3.5 years, Courtney has served the community SecularSynagogue.com, a virtual Jewish community for cultural Jews and their loved ones. During her time at Secular Synagogue, she enjoyed working with an incredibly loving community passionate about Jewish values and transformative, healing justice.

Celine Guindi

she/her

Fellow, Los Angeles

Celine Guindi

she/her

Fellow, Los Angeles

Celine was born and raised in Guatemala, a country known for its high levels of poverty. Growing up, she felt a strong need to help others and make a positive impact. At 18, she moved to Israel to volunteer in a kibbutz and Magen David Adom, an organization focused on emergency medical services. It was an incredible experience that showed her the power of community and unity. Driven by Celine’s passion to explore her Jewish heritage, she joined Jacademy, a Jewish gap year program in Berlin, which allowed her to engage with global issues through a Jewish perspective, broadening her horizons and shaping her values. Inspired by her experiences, she decided to pursue her first degree at Reichman University in Israel where she studied Marketing and Political communications with a minor in Entrepreneurship. As part of her academic journey, Celine had the opportunity to study abroad at George Washington University. There, she engaged with diverse communities and expanded her knowledge in new and exciting ways. Now, she is thrilled to begin a new chapter with Repair the World. With her passion for social justice and commitment to tikkun olam, Celine is excited to contribute to meaningful initiatives and create lasting change.

Annie Herz

she/her

Fellow, Los Angeles

Annie Herz

she/her

Fellow, Los Angeles

Hailing from Chicago, Annie is excited to begin her west coast chapter with LA Repair. Here, she intends to meld her communication skills with her passion for supporting local communities through strategic outreach efforts. As a midwesterner to the core, Annie left Chicago’s north suburbs to study at DePaul University in the city, where she earned her BA in public relations and advertising, with minors in photography and event planning. She held various communications roles prior to joining Repair, managing multiple client workflows at once to effectively communicate with target audiences and meet key goals. Inspired by the possibilities and power of community, she looks forward to building authentic connections with LA residents to create lasting justice. Annie is equally committed to curiosity and learning from the world around her – she can be often found in museums, following along DIY TikToks, or wrapped up in a new book.

Rebeccah Lipson

she/her

Fellow, Boston

Rebeccah Lipson

she/her

Fellow, Boston

Becky recently graduated from UMass–Amherst with a degree in Sociology. Becky demonstrated exceptional dedication and earned recognition for her outstanding scholarship, receiving the prestigious W.E.B. Du Bois Outstanding Sociological Achievement Award. During her time at UMass–Amherst, Becky actively engaged with her college’s Chabad House, where she found a sense of community and participated in various activities. Recognizing the importance of giving back, she volunteered as a tutor for incarcerated men at the Hampshire Jail, contributing her time and knowledge to support their educational pursuits. She also served as a Case Management intern at Jewish Vocational Services, where she honed her skills in client support. In this role, she worked closely with assigned clients, thoroughly understanding their educational, training, and job preferences. Through her diligent research and resourcefulness, Becky identified and shared relevant resources with the clients and staff, ensuring they had access to crucial information to facilitate their personal and professional growth. Becky possesses a deep understanding of societal dynamics and a genuine passion for assisting others. Her dedication, empathy, and resourcefulness make her a valuable asset in any setting, as she continuously seeks opportunities to positively impact individuals and communities alike. As she embarks on her professional journey, Becky’s commitment to social change and her ability to navigate complex challenges are sure to propel her towards success and make a lasting difference in the lives of those she encounters.

Jess Miller

they/them

Fellow, Atlanta

Jess Miller

they/them

Fellow, Atlanta

Jess is an artist and educator. They are excited to spend the next two years learning new, creative, and exciting ways to involve the community around them. When not at Repair Jess works as a balloon twister, and is passionate about entomology.

Mel Shaiman

she/they

Fellow, New York

Mel Shaiman

she/they

Fellow, New York

Mel joined Repair the World Brooklyn as a fellow in 2023. Mel earned their B.S. in International Affairs and Geography from George Washington University (Go Hippos!). Their passion for understanding the relationships between society and the environment has been influenced by many of their life experiences. Having grown up on Long Island, Mel has always loved going to the beach and exploring the tidal ecosystems home to many shellfish and shorebirds, which profoundly shaped the towns their family and friends call home. They discovered their interest in the field of urban sustainability and environmental justice during their undergraduate career as a research assistant, where they worked on an interdisciplinary team to measure sustainability indicators for Arctic cities. Now, they are interested in becoming more involved in the nonprofit world after serving with NYC Civic Corps through AmeriCorps in 2022, where they experienced how connection and support can empower people in their communities for more equitable outcomes across many areas of life. For this role, they moved to Crown Heights, and their experience as a community member helped them to fall in love with the neighborhood and also see the struggles it faces. In their free time, Mel likes to try new recipes, work on their jigsaw puzzles, or play games on their Switch. You will also likely find them exploring a new subway-accessible trail or hanging in a park with their cat, Roomie.

Sophie Mae Sherbin

she/her

Fellow, Detroit

Sophie Mae Sherbin

she/her

Fellow, Detroit

Sophie Mae is a dedicated learner and passionate advocate for food justice and sustainable food systems. Growing up in metro-detroit and being one of the first Peer Corps Detroit mentees, she witnessed the immense disparities in access to healthy food, and developed a strong desire to aid change. Sophie is actively involved in Jewish community, and was president of Shir Shalom Temple Youth in Metropolitan Detroit. Her interests led her to the University of Vermont, where she pursued a B.S. in Food Systems along with minors in Nutrition and Food Science, Politics of Inequality, and Political Science. She has actively engaged with grassroots organizations from a policy-oriented approach with MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger to her recent role as Director of UVM Hillel Fresh, providing free locally sourced Shabbat kits to students all around Burlington. During Sophie’s study abroad in Perugia, Italy, she partook in a food sustainability program that affirmed the connectedness of social justice, environmental sustainability, and policy development. Now, she is excited to be on the Detroit Repair team as a fellow and return to the organization where she was first introduced to urban farming and the magic of Jewish advocacy. In her spare time, you may catch Sophie experimenting with new recipes and local ingredients, getting her hands dirty, or planning her next adventure.

Sam Trombly

he/him

Fellow, Boston

Sam Trombly

he/him

Fellow, Boston

Sam has always been passionate about social justice and wants to impact the world he lives in positively. In the last year as a Repair the World fellow, he’s worked to mobilize his Jewish community in Boston to stand in solidarity with their city and the people in it. In college, he majored in Molecular/Cellular/Developmental Biology and practically lived at his Hillel while programming events and leading Shabbat services. At Repair, he’s able to not only care about the world we live in, but do something about that care.

Adam Weingast

he/him

Fellow, Baltimore

Adam Weingast

he/him

Fellow, Baltimore

Adam is thrilled to join the Repair the World team in Baltimore as a Fellow. He recently earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Temple University. While participating in an internship program through Temple’s Feinstein Center for American Jewish History, Adam realized his passion for non-profit work. In the spring of 2023, he interned at the Jewish Relief Agency, which works to combat food insecurity and inspire volunteerism in the Philadelphia area. In his free time, you can find Adam playing ultimate frisbee, searching for good hikes, rooting for New York sports teams, and playing the drums.

Hannah Zinker

she/her

Fellow, Baltimore

Hannah Zinker

she/her

Fellow, Baltimore

Hannah has always been drawn to issues of social justice and community action. With over a decade of passion, work, and education in areas of social justice and civic engagement, Hannah is excited to bring together her Jewish identity to social justice efforts. Prior to joining Repair the World, Hannah earned her B.A. in English with a minor in political science from Skidmore College. Hannah went on to earn her J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law where her focus was criminal defense. During her time in Cincinnati, she worked as a fellow for the Ohio Innocence Project, serving those who were wrongfully convicted. She also worked as a fellow for the Hamilton County Ohio Public Defenders’ Office, providing direct representation for clients in municipal court. While in law school, Hannah was the vice president of the Jewish Law Students’ Association. Although her experiences in law school taught her about working directly with and advocating for those affected by systemic injustice, she looks forward to helping make change at the community level.