Marissa Aaronson

she/her

New York Teen Program Associate

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.

Jacki Altman

she/her

City Director, Miami

A Colorado native, Jacki has been an experiential educator for over a decade. After graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a BA in Anthropology and Film Studies, Jacki adventured to Miami, FL and never left. Her love of working with young people and crafting intentional programs grew in her roles as Youth Director of Temple Beth Am in Miami, FL and as Events Planner of the Student Center Complex at the University of Miami. Jacki values learning and is proud to hold a Master’s degree in Community & Social Change (MS. Ed) from the University of Miami, as well as a Certificate in Jewish Education from HUC-JIR. Her recent community work includes managing the Social Justice Teen Fellowship, an action-oriented program for Jewish teens that examines social justice issues at their root through partnership with local community organizations. Jacki sees the world through a “we” lens. Her approach to social change is rooted in critical reflection, intentional action, and collaboration. Jacki believes that through collective work and the amplification of marginalized voices, we can upend systems of oppression and reimagine society. She is excited to work with Repair the World and serve the dynamic Miami community. Jacki loves puzzles, puns, and nerding out about TV shows/movies.

Michael Auerbach

he/him

City Director, Los Angeles

Michael (he/him) is thrilled to bring Repair’s fellowship program to Los Angeles, as he greatly believes in the power of service to bring people together in common cause. Previously, Michael spent six years as the Executive Director of Kinful – a K-12 social-emotional learning/intercultural exchange program connecting students in the U.S. with peers in South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Turkey, and Ukraine. His passion for pursuing social justice through service-learning began in the Peace Corps as a Girls’ Education & Empowerment Volunteer in Mauritania and was later bolstered while serving as a United States – China Friendship Volunteer (what a title!) in Chongqing. Following the Peace Corps, Michael served as a Shriver Peaceworker Fellow in Baltimore with the Choice Program, whose mission is to disentangle young people from the juvenile justice system by strengthening youth and family ties to their communities. After his fellowship, he became the AmeriCorps Program Director, and later Director of Public Partnerships, for Blue Engine in NYC, whose mission is to maximize the potential inherent in every classroom, teacher, and student, so that every learner thrives no matter their race, income level, or learning style. During this time he also served as a Franklin Project Ambassador at the Aspen Institute (now Service Year Alliance) advocating for inclusive and equitable pathways to service in America. Michael holds a Bachelor’s in International Studies from the University of South Florida, and a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. In his free time, he enjoys surfing, playing video games, and telling everyone he meets why Deep Space Nine is the best Star Trek series.

Rendy Auguste

she/her

Senior Manager of Brand and Marketing

Rendy Auguste is a Communications and Marketing professional who works with nonprofits to grow their brand and create mission and vision driven marketing content. After spending 6 years working with nonprofits in the Washington, DC area, Rendy is back in Brooklyn, her hometown. She is passionate about elevating an organization’s voice, providing opportunities for enhanced visibility. Rendy wanted to continue working with a dynamic nonprofit that is making deeply meaningful impact in communities locally, nationally, and beyond. She is excited to instill her passion for effective communication as Brand and Marketing Manager at Repair the World. She is also excited to work with Repair the World communities to help them build connections with community members and partners. Rendy loves exploring wherever she calls home. So, you’ll find her at a museum, farmers market, coffee shop, or taking long walks through different neighborhoods. Rendy holds a Bachelors in Mass Communications from St. John’s University and a Masters in Strategic Communications from American University.

Laura Belinfante

she/her

Senior Director of Digital Strategy

Laura (she/her) is currently the Senior Director of Digital Strategy at Repair the World, focusing on ways to grow and scale an audience of changemakers online. She is a passionate advocate for social justice, technology, and the forgotten histories of Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews (including her own family’s history). Prior to joining Repair the World, Laura was a Product Manager on the research and development team at a technology startup. She also worked at the National Ramah Commission where she launched digital initiatives for the organization and their alumni community. Originally from California, Laura is a KIVUNIM alumna, a member of Schusterman’s ROI Community, an alumna of JDC Entwine’s Global Leadership program, and a graduate of Jews for Racial and Economic Justice’s Grace Paley Organizing Fellowship. She has been featured for her work on eJewishPhilanthropy, Times of Israel, and JTA. Laura holds a B.A. from University of California, Santa Barbara, in Anthropology, Global Peace and Security, with a focus on Technology and Entrepreneurship.

Lisa Bodziner

she/her

Senior Director of Development

Shana Bloom

she/her

Chief Program Officer

Shana is passionate about, and experienced in, understanding the systems and strategies that support organizational growth. Prior to joining the Repair the World team, Shana worked for 8 years at UJA-Federation of New York. While there she launched a volunteer initiative focused on strengthening non-profit organizations so that they could better meet their missions and the evolving demands of 21st century workplaces. Shana is a clinical social worker by training and started her career working in the foster care system as a trauma-informed family therapist. Through this work she developed a deep understanding of issues facing New York City’s most vulnerable, and has infused her clinical training into all elements of her professional work. Shana has a B.A. in Jewish Studies from New York University and an MSW from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. She is a graduate of the Avodah Justice Fellowship and is a proud, third generation “Bronxite”, where she currently resides with her husband and two children.

Julie Busch

she/her

Manager of Growth Strategy Operations

After graduating from Northwestern University, Julie has worked as a theatre artist and educator, most recently coaching middle and high school students on test prep, essay writing, and college admissions at Private Prep and marketing children and families programs at the JCC Manhattan. She is thrilled to join Repair the World as the Virtual Programs Senior Associate. Originally from Scotch Plains, New Jersey, Julie now resides in Brooklyn where you can find her watching reality TV and hunting for the city’s best fries.

Tori Burstein

she/her

Senior Manager, Office of the President

Tori (she/her) moved to Brooklyn to work as a Repair the World fellow, where she collaborated with a variety of local partners to support schools, youth programs, and build community through volunteering. Since then she’s stayed connected to Repair the World as an alumni ambassador, where she led a giving circle for young people to redistribute their stimulus checks to bail funds and COVID19 mutual aid. After her year as a Fellow, Tori joined the team at ZogSports as their Customer Experience Associate. Her passion lies at the intersection of sports and social justice, so when she’s not watching live football games from her laptop or following athlete activists on Twitter, you can find her volunteering for PowerPlays, a newsletter about sexism in sports. Tori grew up in Miami, Florida and is a proud alumnus of the University of Florida. Go Gators!

Sarah Cort

she/her

Regional Director

Sarah (she/her) is thrilled to join the team as the Midwest Regional Program Director. Prior to Repair The World, her passion for experiential education and relationship building led to a career as an overnight camp professional. She was the Summer Camps Director at McGaw YMCA Camp Echo for seven years. One highlight of Sarah’s tenure at Camp Echo is her work with families and staff to facilitate and implement the first all-gender cabins. While she spent her summers at camp, she led Taglit-Birthright Israel trips most winters, and was in the first cohort of Birthright Fellows. Prior to her role at Camp Echo, Sarah served as the Director of Education at KAM Isaiah Israel in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, where she ran the Religious and Nursery School programs. To better meet the needs of that community, she created Shoresh, a Shabbat-based experiential program, where children would attend Religious School on Friday afternoons, ending with family Shabbat services. Sarah has a degree in Early Childhood Education from Indiana University and volunteered for a year in Israel as an OTZMA Fellow, part of the Masa Israel Journey. Sarah is also on the board for Camp For All Kids, which facilitates racial diversity at overnight summer camps in the Midwest. Sarah is a St. Louis native and proud Cardinal’s baseball fan. She has been living in Chicago since 2012.

Caroline DeHaven

she/they

Teens Program Associate, Boston

Caroline, a native of New England, has cultivated a profound dedication to urban justice issues and community development from an early age. Her intrigue with hostels as a potential solution for homelessness and a platform for teaching independent living principles served as the catalyst for her leadership in organizing intercultural cooking classes at Hosteling International Boston. This experience unveiled to her the substantial impact that her combined skills in administration and communication could have on her community.

However, the onset of the Covid pandemic temporarily disrupted her educational pursuits and community engagement. During this period, Caroline’s involvement with Hillel offered her a fresh avenue to integrate her passions with Jewish learning. Within the framework of Hillel service initiatives, she played a pivotal role in orchestrating an annua Purim drag show that not only raised funds for the Trevor Project but also fostered discussions on topics related to gender identity. Additionally, Caroline facilitated on-campus Zoom cooking classes with a focus on mental health and “Tikkun Hanefesh.”

Caroline continued her dedication to this field during her two study abroad experiences in Sydney, Australia, and London, England.In Australia, Caroline made significant contributions during her time at Selina, a multifaceted hospitality company specializing in co-working, co-living, and wellness. Her role involved actively identifying and establishing valuable partnerships within the local and national community. In the UK, her work focused on affordable housing, requiring her to gain a comprehensive understanding of housing law in England.

In her leisure time, Caroline frequently immerses herself in intimate concert experiences, culinary exploration, and globetrotting adventures across the United States and around the world.

Annie Dunn

she/her

Program Manager, Pittsburgh

A Michigander at heart, Annie relocated to Pittsburgh upon acceptance to the Repair the World Fellowship in 2015 where she collaborated with local partners to increase food access and support local urban agriculture. Having first-hand understanding of the transformative experience of a service year, she is excited to be overseeing the Service Corps program in Pittsburgh and helping to inspire a lifelong commitment to service amongst its participants. Since 2019, Annie has been managing the Sheridan Ave Orchard and Garden where she facilitates weekly service-learning opportunities and builds authentic relationships with the garden’s neighbors. All of the produce that she and her trusty volunteers grow is hand-delivered to East End Cooperative Ministry’s food pantry located right across the street. Annie holds a B.S. in Psychology from Aquinas College of Grand Rapids, MI. Outside of work, you can find her running the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, sharing a meal with friends, listening to true crime podcasts, and rearranging her 150 houseplants.

Daniel Etter

he/him

Senior Program Manager, Colorado

A rural Vermont native, Daniel’s early experiences with his local 4-H club inspired his lifelong commitment to helping others and affecting positive change. Combining this with his passion for soccer, he has worked for decades to build community and support youth development as both a coach and a Program Coordinator. In addition to serving as PTO Vice President at his children’s school and supporting a nearby community garden, Daniel has volunteered for years at his local JCC. A summer serving as the JCC’s Interim Assistant Camp Director helped him find his purpose in the non-profit sector and led him to ‘Repair the World.’

Daniel graduated with an English / Communications degree from Guilford College, where he was a 2-year captain of his soccer team, served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and worked both as a Tour Guide for the Admissions department and a Supervisor for the IT department. He then spent years writing, developing websites, and performing tech support as a freelancer, during which time he joined Starbucks as a part-time barista for their benefits. Although it was intended to be temporary, he embraced the company’s commitment to developing people and serving communities and made it a career. Progressing into a Manager Trainer role and winning numerous awards, he grew with the company and spent seven years developing teams, training leaders, and managing operations.

Daniel married his college sweetheart, Jordan, and settled in her hometown of Boulder, CO. Nearly 20 years later, they now have three children and still play soccer together.

Nathaniel Gaul

he/him

Senior Program Associate, Atlanta

Nathaniel (he/him) is a native ATLien, passionate about community involvement, and honored to join Repair the World Atlanta as the Senior Program Associate. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 2021 with a B.A in International Affairs and German. During his time in Athens, he became active in the boxing and theatre communities. Nathaniel is excited to combine his passion for coaching, social justice, and spirituality in this new role.

In his free time you can find him acting in and producing plays with Bubble Theatre Company.

SG Gladstone

they/them

Senior Program Manager, New York

SG (they/them) is a Californian at heart, now living in Brooklyn. They have spent the past 10 years working with kids and teens in classrooms, camps, and speciality learning environments. This is in addition to their work as a writer on topics such as mixed race identity and popular culture, both professionally and through labors of love. SG spent much of their time as a young person in youth groups and camps, and originally came to work in the Jewish social justice world as a youth coordinator at JYCA. In their previous role, they created and managed a JOCSM teen cohort in the San Francisco Bay Area. SG is thrilled to be a New York resident and explore avenues and experiences such as arts/culture, Black sci-fi, the Atlantic Ocean, and actual seasons.

Cindy Greenberg

she/her

President and CEO

Cindy (she/her) is the President and CEO of Repair the World, whose mission is to mobilize Jews and their communities to take action to pursue a just world, igniting a lifelong commitment to service. She was the founding executive director of Repair the World NYC, where she built a robust program focused on mobilizing the Jewish community to meet pressing local needs through service and learning in Central Brooklyn and Harlem. Previously, she worked for Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life for fifteen years, including as the executive director of NYU’s Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life. Cindy holds a masters degree in Non-Profit Management from NYU’s Wagner School and is the recipient of the Schusterman Fellowship, the Shirley Chisholm Women of Excellence Award, the Bed Stuy Campaign Against Hunger Harvest Heroes Award, and Hillel’s Richard M. Joel Exemplar of Excellence award. Cindy lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Dan, and their three children.

Eli Greenstein Jacober

he/him

Senior Director of Growth Strategy

Eli (he/him) grew up in the Bay Area of Northern California and is always looking for ways to connect to the diverse community around him through food justice & service projects. Prior to working at Repair, Eli helped found a non-profit focused on employment for adults with diverse abilities, worked as a corporate social responsibility consultant and managed teams focused on compliance and operations work. Eli is grateful that he can now bring his passion for Jewish values-based work to this role and inspire others to engage with Repair to take action on both a local and national level.

Hannah Grossman

she/her

Director of Education, National Partnerships

Hannah Grossman (she/her) is an experiential educator who believes in applying Jewish wisdom to enact social change and build community. She is thrilled to join the National Partnerships team to help expand the field of Jewish service learning after serving as Repair the World’s New York Program Director and Family and Youth Senior Program Manager.

Hannah has spent over 10 years in the world of Jewish education as a curriculum writer, Assistant Director of the K-12 religious school at Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn, and as the Director of Education at Young Judaea Camp Tel Yehudah.  Combining her thirst for travel and community building, Hannah volunteered in the rebirth of Jewish communal life in the Czech Republic and served as a JDC Entwine Fellow in Mumbai.

Hannah earned Master of Arts degrees in Experiential Jewish Education and Bible from the Jewish Theological Seminary. She also holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Comparative Literature and Judaic and Near Eastern Studies, and a certificate in Coastal and Marine Sciences from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Additionally, Hannah spent a transformative year at the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators.

In her free time you can find Hannah biking, hiking, illustrating her children’s books, playing Frisbee, swimming laps, and volunteering as a reading tutor.

Lauren Halperin

she/her

Senior Program Manager, Bay Area

After getting a degree in English from the University of Michigan, Lauren came to Berkeley to participate in the Urban Adamah fellowship which deepened her understanding of her own Jewish identity and how it weaves into the world around her. Most recently, Lauren’s been living and learning in Moishe House Oakland Lake Merritt, a Bay Area hub within an international network of Jewish communal homes. Lauren has been working towards food justice and security in the Oakland community as a three-cohort member of the Service Corps, and is excited to continue building and growing within this movement.

Haley Harper

she/her

Director, Development

Haley (she/her) is thrilled to join the Repair the World team and support sustainable growth as the Grants Manager. Graduating with a degree in English from the University of Arizona, Haley has worked with several nonprofits to share their mission and impact to foster relationships and bolster community engagement. Most recently, Haley facilitated many of the fundraising and outreach efforts of a nonprofit serving youth experiencing homelessness in Phoenix, Arizona. Haley has served as an AmeriCorps Volunteer to help refugee youth achieve their educational goals, and also as a Peace Corps Volunteer in rural Rwanda to create sustainable resource access for teachers and students. Experiences as both a volunteer and staff member at nonprofits has made her a strong believer in the tremendous impact one person can have by donating their time. Passionate about storytelling, Haley is eager to share the important work done by Repair the World. In her free time, Haley can be found reading mystery novels, hiking the Arizona mountains, and playing with her dog.

Hilai Hemmat

she/her

Accounting Associate

Prior to working with Repair, Hilai was a Staff Accountant of Quality Branded LLC, a restaurant group that owns 13 different restaurants in Manhattan, NY and Denver. Before that she worked with Robert Half as their permanent Accounting Consultant. On behalf of Robert Half, she advised companies in different industries needing help with financial analysis, accounts payables, accounts receivables, billing, invoicing, and various other accounting and financial duties. She is adaptable to a wide range of softwares.

Hilai earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting from York College, City University of New York. She specialized in Internal Auditing. Hilai is originally from Chicago, Illinois but became a New Yorker from Queens at the age of 14. She currently lives with her husband in Flushing. They are enjoying their time as newly weds. In her free time Hilai enjoys swimming, baking, and art. As hobbies, she also loves reading books, and listening to audiobooks.

Spencer Kaseff

he/him

Senior Program Associate, Los Angeles

Lauren Koenig

she/her

Data Strategy Senior Manager

Lauren (she/her) is an enthusiastic, motivated and dependable analytics guru. She is the Data Strategy Senior Manager at Repair the World, focusing on driving and improving Salesforce use while promoting a strong data-informed culture. Lauren is certified in Practicing Positive, Purpose-Driven Leadership and Youth Mental Health First Aid. Before joining Repair, Lauren managed Patient Safety and Client Financial Analytics for CVS Health. She served as a Community Engager for JCC 20s and 30s, received the BBYO Great Midwest Region’s Advisor of the Year Award, served on national and state leadership for the CVS Health Women Inspiring Success and Excellence (WISE) Colleague Resource Group, and received numerous recognitions from CVS Health during her tenure. Lauren received her Bachelors of Science in Microbiology and Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology from The Ohio State University where she was a proud member of Alpha Epsilon Phi and served on the Hillel Board (she still has a love of football!). Lauren lives in Buffalo Grove, Illinois and enjoys spending time with family (including her husband, daughter and dog) and friends!

Landry Levine

they/them

Senior Operations Associate, New York

Landry is excited to work towards social change alongside the team at Repair the World! They previously worked as the Student Experience Coordinator at New York City Guitar School, one of the largest music schools in the city, where they enjoyed creating a welcoming community that supported teachers and students alike in defining and achieving personal greatness. A graduate of Vassar College with a B.A. in Philosophy and Drama, Landry was active on campus in experimental performance and in the Jewish-Palestinian solidarity movement.  Originally from Texas, they have spent the past several years in Brooklyn as a dedicated organizer for racial, economic, and gender justice.  In all their work they strive to see the big picture alongside everyday details, combining the creativity and collaboration they picked up in theater with the organization and problem solving they also picked up in theater. They enjoy making art with friends, playing music, ranting about the news, occasional blogging, and learning new things in increasingly deep internet rabbit holes (most recently: building computers!).

Melissa Levine

she/her

Senior Director of Immersive Service

Melissa is thrilled and honored to join Repair the World as Service Corps Director. Melissa was born and raised in South Florida and graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park. (Go Terps!!) During her time at UMD, she was incredibly involved in Jewish life on campus and participated in multiple Repair Alternative Spring Break trips. She also volunteered with the many Jewish social action groups on campus which is also where she met her husband! Melissa began her career in the Jewish nonprofit world at the Foundation for Jewish Camp where she spent many years working on multiple impactful programs to strengthen the field and provide for more Jewish campers to have life-changing summers at camp. Following FJC, she worked at the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey developing it’s camp department. After experiencing her first winter with a newborn baby, Melissa’s Cuban roots needed to move back home to Florida and she began in a new role as Director of Florida Partnerships for Hillel International. In this role, Melissa worked closely with the 10 Hillels in Florida and major Jewish Federation funders to ensure the Hillels were achieving operational excellence and continually increasing their engagement of Jewish college students. Melissa is excited to continue on her path in the Jewish world dedicating her time to Repair the World and the Service Corp. Melissa lives in Cooper City, Florida with her husband and three children, Logan, Darcy, and Owen. Melissa is passionate about all things summer camp, making funny Instagram posts of her kids, and spending time with her family.

Celia Livshin

she/her

Senior Director of National Partnerships Strategy

Celia Livshin (she/her/hers) is honored to join Repair the World as the Senior Director of National Partnerships Strategy. A native Midwesterner, Celia started her career in coordinating weddings and events, before taking the jump into the Jewish non-profit sector. For the last 10 years, Celia has worked at BBYO coaching professionals across the Midwest, East Coast, and Canada to create opportunities and programs allowing thousands of teens to find their home in the Jewish world. Celia has a B.S. from The Ohio State University in Business Administration and Marketing, and a Certificate from Hebrew Union College in Experiential Education. Celia lives in Cleveland, OH with her husband, Gene, and their three children and rescue pup, Rooney.

Julia Malaga

she/her

Chief Operating Officer

Jules Mallis

they/them

Executive Director, Pittsburgh

Jules (they/them) is the City Director of social justice based service organization, Repair The World Pittsburgh. They have been organizing youth programs and creative endeavors for the past 12 years in Pittsburgh. Mallis is a multimedia artist, VJ, DJ and educator working with digital media, paint, installation, performance, sound and audience interaction. Their work focuses on building community, audio-visual experiences, speaking truth, and imagining new landscapes. Mallis has exhibited, performed and curated work across the United States including at The Andy Warhol Museum, The Carnegie Museum of Art, The Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Coaxial Arts Foundation, PhilaMOCA, MOCA Cleveland, Baby’s All Right, The Silent Barn, Fringe Arts and more. Mallis has a joint degree in Studio Art with a concentration in Electronic Time-Based Media and in Cultural Anthropology from Carnegie Mellon University. Mallis was the Creative Director of art gallery and creative hub BOOM Concepts from 2014-2018, where they helped develop and carry out monthly artist exhibitions and programming. BOOM is dedicated to the advancement of POC and LGBTQIA creative entrepreneurs. BOOM Concepts serves as a space for field building, knowledge sharing, peer to peer mentorship, and storytelling. Mallis was recognized as Creator of the Year by the Pittsburgh Technology Council in 2016, alongside longtime collaborator DS Kinsel under their creative moniker “Magic Organs”. In 2018, Mallis was commissioned to paint a 1000+ feet mural on the ground of Strawberry Way in Downtown Pittsburgh. It features colorful imagery interlaced within an interactive game asking bold questions about equity and justice to the audience. In addition to their work as an artist, they have built up and led the Positive Spin youth cycling program over the last decade. Across two different organizations in Pittsburgh (Bike Pittsburgh and MGR Youth Empowerment) they worked tirelessly with Pittsburgh public schools and area charter schools to ensure students in grades 4-12 had enriching and engaging after school and summer activities related to bike safety. Engaging with all people about bike safety became central to their work with Bike Pittsburgh for many years, resulting in them organizing and hosting Bike Pittsburgh’s 6th annual women and non-binary biking forum. This forum sought to add elements of solidarity, community, and understanding amongst women and non-binary people through the lens of biking and transportation accessibility. These same themes of community, mentorship, solidarity, personal enrichment, and accessibility run through all endeavors Mallis is involved with. Whether at work or in the artist’s studio, their vision is constantly aimed towards how to better the future for themselves and other people, one day at a time.

Mike Martin

he/they

Senior Program Associate, Boston

Janu Mendel

he/him

Senior Director of Community Impact

Janu was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica where he had his bar mitzvah in a sand-floored synagogue and developed his life-long love of reggae music. He completed his B.Sc. in Political Science in 2005 at the University of the West Indies. He immigrated to the United States in 2006, working in corporate business for seven years. Seeking something more meaningful, he found his home in Miami’s Jewish community and realized that this was where he belonged professionally. He was recruited as an Outreach Fellow for Temple Beth Am in 2013 and managed their young-adult engagement efforts for five years. Concurrently, he spent three years on staff as the Director of Engagement at the University of Miami Hillel. The opportunity to take a more active role in community building and civic engagement led him to his current role as founding Executive Director of Repair the World Miami. Janu is an alumnus of the Pardes Summer Program and Bend the Arc’s Selah Leadership Program for Jews of Color, as well as a member of the ROI Community and a current Wexner Field Fellow.

Micali Morin

she/her

New York Family Program Senior Associate

Micali is excited to return to Repair as the Summer Teen Program Associate. She believes in the transformative power of mutual aid and is inspired by the endless passion and fervor of teenagers engaging in serving their communities. Micali first became involved with Repair in the Fall of 2020, when she served as a Corps Member with Met Council on Housing, a tenants rights organization in New York City.

A native of Massachusetts, Micali first learned about the impact of social justice through NFTY Northeast and throughout twelve summers at Crane Lake Camp. She is a proud graduate of NYU Tisch with dual degrees in Dramatic Writing and Journalism. She has taught at a number of synagogues across the northeast, educating and engaging with youth as they explore their own Jewish identities. In her free time, Micali freelance writes, experiments with new recipes, and pretends to know how to paint.

Trudy Morse

she/her

Manager, Jewish Education

Trudy (she/her) is the Manager of Jewish Education at Repair the World. Prior to working for Repair the World, Trudy was a  Springboard Ezra Jewish Education Fellow at Stony Brook Hillel cultivating diversity and inclusion across religious and cultural lines. As a queer Southern Jew who studied International Politics, Trudy loves combine her two passions of Judaism and social justice in this new position. Currently, Trudy is working on her MA Ed from the Jewish Theological Seminary. In her free time, you can find Trudy hosting Shabbat dinners, cooking multiple-course meals, reading, and walking her dog Leo with her fiance Marlee in the gorgeous Los Angeles weather.

Dahiana Tavarez Nanda

she/her

Controller

Dahiana is an experienced accounting and finance professional with a demonstrated history of working in the nonprofit industry. She takes a tremendous amount of pride in serving the not for profit sector and helping colleagues. Dahiana graduated with a BBA in Accounting from Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College. Her most recent roles were Finance Director at American Arbitration Association and Accounting Supervisor at The Legal Aid Society.

Dahiana lives on Long Island with her husband and their two children. During her free time, she enjoys traveling to new places and learning about new things.

Ryan Newberry

he/him

Senior Manager, Development

Ryan (he/him) is thrilled to contribute to Repair the World’s sustainability and growth through the power of storytelling and relationship building. He took the scenic route to the nonprofit world, working first as a newspaper editor and then as a marketing copywriter. Volunteering as an English teacher for refugees and immigrants inspired Ryan to pursue a new career path, one that would leverage both his strategic communications skills and his passion for equity and justice. This call to serve led him to NYU’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service — where he earned a master’s in nonprofit management — and ultimately to Repair the World.

Speaking of scenic routes, Ryan enjoys traveling, hiking, playing disc golf, and taking long walks with his wife, daughter, and pup in their South Orange, NJ, neighborhood. He’s a native Texan (howdy!), a non-native Spanish-speaker (¡hola!), and did his undergrad at the University of Oklahoma (Boomer Sooner!).

Kate O’Bannon

she/her

Chief Strategy Officer

Kate (she/her) leads Repair’s strategic planning, works with Repair’s Board of Directors and key stakeholders, oversees development and digital strategy, and serves on Repair’s Executive Team. She enjoys fusing her passions for tikkun olam, Judaism, and relationship building with other passionate leaders on the Repair team. Prior to joining Repair in 2017, Kate worked at the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, where she supported the Foundation’s efforts to connect and support global networks of young Jewish adults. She started her career by completing a service year as a JDC Global Service Corps Fellow in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Kate studied at the University of Virginia and outside of work, serves on the boards and executive committees of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and Hillel at the University of Virginia. Kate is a recipient of the JPRO Network Young Professional Award. She lives in San Francisco, California with her husband, Clark, is an avid traveler, and can usually be found sipping on green tea and staying active through trying out the latest fitness trends, cooking (especially Asian cuisine as an homage to her Filipina heritage), and volunteering.

Ilana Pond

she/her

Senior Program Associate, Chicago

Raised in Chicago’s north suburbs, Ilana moved to the city in 2020 to pursue her degree at DePaul University. There she studies to obtain her bachelor’s in Business Management with a minor in Community Service and will be graduating in June 2023. Ilana is a DePaul Community Service Scholar and has focused her studies on systemic racism and environmental justice. She has worked in different segments of nonprofits, ranging from the Telpochcalli Community Education Project to develop their STEM Social Justice program, to distributing groceries at Care for Real.

Growing up in a Jewish home, attending shul, and baking traditional Ashkenazi foods with her Bubbe created a special appreciation for her Jewish roots at a young age. This has continued throughout her life and college experience. In August 2022, Ilana was part of an Interfaith Leadership Delegation Trip to Israel/Palestine with Metro Chicago. There, she had an immersive social justice experience where the focus was to help mend the political climate on campus through educational travel. While on her trip she expanded upon Judaism and social justice, connecting both her passion for non-profit work and her upbringing.

Ilana just took part in the Fall 2022 Service Corps with Repair and is thrilled to be returning to now fill the role of the Chicago Program Associate. She is passionate about expanding volunteer services and social justice education. During Ilana’s free time, you will find her reading, trying out a new vegan restaurant, or spending time with family and friends.

Samantha Pride

she/her

Director of Operations

Samantha (she/her) graduated from Oregon State University with a B.A. in Sociology and B.A. in International Studies. Her passion for service – learning programs and volunteering started when she served as a City Year AmeriCorps Member in Philadelphia. She later graduated with a M.A. in International Development and Social Change from Clark University where she completed original research in Brazil on women’s political attitudes. Samantha returned to City Year in New York to work as a Grants and Compliance Manager for their portfolio of city and state funding. In her role, she is looking forward to supporting the growth of Repair the World through among other things, building people friendly systems. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys hiking, reading, traveling and spending time with her husband and family.

Myer Rosenblum

they/them

New York Program Director

Myer Rosenblum (they/them) is a spirited advocate, leader, and changemaker. As the New York Program Director at Repair the World, they oversee Repair’s young adult programming across Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. Most recently, Myer managed LGBTQ voter engagement strategy at HeadCount and grew The Trevor Project’s volunteer program to support suicide prevention and crisis intervention services for LGBTQ youth. Throughout their career, Myer’s work has spanned from art advocacy programming for incarcerated youth to viral LGBTQ educational campaigns—always with deep roots in collective liberation and justice. They graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Richmond with a B.A. in American Studies and Gender & Sexuality Studies.

Outside of work, Myer volunteers as a crisis counselor for LGBTQ youth, reads as much trans literature as they can find, and frequents thrift stores and museums across the city. They currently live on ancestral Lenape land (so-called Brooklyn) with their cat and jungle of thriving houseplants.

Celena Ritchey

she/her

Program Associate, Bay Area

Celena Ritchey (she/her) is a midwesterner at heart and excited to continue her west coast adventures while joining Repair the World in the Bay Area. In 2018 she earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Policy from The Ohio State University (Go Bucks). Her experiences at Ohio State prompted her to do a summer of service with AmeriCorps VISTA following graduation, which then inspired her to serve with Repair the World in their Detroit community as a Fellow in 2018-19. Since completing the Fellowship program, she has worked in the non-profit field in both Program Management and Volunteer Coordination roles. Celena is presently a board member for Women’s Environmental Network (WEN), and enjoys volunteering in local community gardens. If you ever need to find Celena, she recommends you check the thrift stores down Haight Ashbury or hop over to her SF house Instagram page to see where she’s walking.

Harriet Rivkin

she/her

Manager, People and Culture

Harriet (she/her) is a British-American education & nonprofit administrator, always keeping the value of tikkun olam front and center. Harriet has a BA in Arabic and French, and an MPA in Public Administration and Management, both from University College London. Harriet started her career teaching Hebrew school, raising money for a community center for the elderly, and serving as a City Year AmeriCorps Member in Detroit. Each of these experiences further instilled in her a passion for social and racial justice, local community service, and education reform. Since completing her Master’s, Harriet has combined her knack for creating systems with her dedication to social change as an Operations professional, and is now a proud member of the National Team at Repair the World! In her free time, Harriet can be found baking banana bread, singing cheesy songs, registering voters, and discovering more of NYC!

Andi Robik

she/her

Senior Financial Analyst

Andi Robik (she/her) is an experienced financial analyst with more than 8 years of experience in the Jewish nonprofit world and 11 years in corporate finance. Andi attended Lehigh University, graduated with a BS in Accounting and obtained her CPA license shortly after graduation while working at the accounting firm of Coopers and Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers). Andi was most recently employed as the Budget Manager for the Union for Reform Judaism and had previously worked for Bristol-Myers Squibb in various analytical financial roles.

Andi grew up in the reform movement, spent a semester studying at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and has held many leadership roles in her synagogue including VP of Finance and President. She is excited to combine her love of Judaism with her professional skills at Repair the World.

Andi has been living in Glen Ridge, NJ for the past 27 years and is moving to Franklin, NJ in the coming months. She has three young adult children and a “senior wiener” (a 13-year-old dachshund). In her spare time she enjoys running, skiing, road biking, and both jigsaw and crossword puzzles. Andi can be found spending her vacation time on the beaches of Long Beach Island at the Jersey shore or the ski slopes in Vermont and Colorado.

Jared Rosenbloom

he/him

Regional Development Director, Northeast

Jared comes to Repair the world with 10 plus years of nonprofit experience. From Synagogues to JCCS to BBYO, Jared has made a name for himself in the Jewish community establishing relationships and making a difference that inspires the next generation of Jewish leaders. Jared has a BA in Psychology from Ramapo College and a Masters in Nonprofit Management and Jewish Communal Service from Gratz college. Jared lives outside Philadelphia with his wife, step daughter and twin children.

Elizabeth Savin

she/her

Stakeholder Engagement Associate

Elizabeth Savin (she/her) is from Pittsburgh, PA and ventured south to Wake Forest University where she studied business and environmental science. After working in environmental education and equitable food distribution in Georgia, Elizabeth is excited to apply her communication and advocacy skills as the Stakeholder Engagement Associate. She enjoys working in collaborative roles where she can build relationships and forward community building initiatives. Outside of work, Elizabeth can be found exploring hiking trails, going for runs, trying new recipes, and relaxing with a good book.

Darielle Shandler

she/her

Operations Associate

Raised in a small town in southern Virginia, Darielle Shandler graduated from Drew University with a BA in Theatre Arts and minors in Arts Administration and Jewish Studies, which included spending a semester at Tel Aviv University. Following school, she has pursued a career in theatre, specifically in stage management, light design, and producing, which has taken her all over the world. Through her artistic work, she has made connections by telling stories with movement and in multiple languages. She has seen theatre bring people together across beliefs, cultures, and continents.

During her time supporting North American programming at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, she rediscovered her enthusiasm for Jewish education and learning for learning’s sake. She is passionate about caring for the earth and for the stranger, and is thrilled to further explore those Jewish values in her work at Repair the World. She has been happily based in New York City for close to a decade, exponentially growing her library with little consideration for the size of her tiny apartment. In her free time, when she isn’t seeing or creating theatre, you can find her reading, crocheting, or skimming articles on productivity systems.

Josh Sherman

he/him

City Director, Baltimore

Josh (He/Him) is the City Director for Repair the World Baltimore. Prior to joining the staff of Repair the World, he served as the Director of Community Relations for the Baltimore Jewish Council. There he expanded their interfaith work and social justice education programming. He also worked for the Edlvaitch DCJCC in their volunteer department. Josh is a Baltimore native and previously served as a program manager for Repair the World Baltimore for three years. Josh studied Religious Studies at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio and recently received a certificate in Jewish Ethics and Social Justice from the Jewish Theological Seminary. Josh has a passion for Baltimore and looks forward to giving back to the community that helped raise him.

Grant Beleza-Schutzman

he/him

Senior Associate, Grants Management

Before joining Repair the World, Grant served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and Mozambique. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 2016 with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Linguistics and from Oxford University in 2022 with a Master’s of Studies in Comparative Literature. He remains passionate about and dedicated to supporting service organizations and engaging in community service, in particular promoting public health and youth development. In his spare time, you can find him writing and reading poetry, playing guitar, and going for runs in whatever green spaces he can find.

Sam Sittenfield

he/him

Director National Partnerships

Sam Sittenfield is a Philadelphia-based educator and facilitator. At Repair the World, he serves as Director of National Partnerships, building meaningful education and training experiences with partners in the Jewish Engagement and Jewish Social Justice field to grow the field of Jewish service. He plans, builds, and facilitates education and training in the topics of volunteer management, social justice, and Jewish experiential education. Sam is a proud alumnus of Repair the World’s Fellowship, Avodah’s Justice Fellowship, M2’s Senior Educator Cohort, as well as a certified Brooklyn Urban Gardener. Outside of work, you can find him fermenting vegetables in his apartment, volunteering at local gardens and parks, and organizing alumni from his high school.

Michaela Slutsky

she/her

Regional Director

Michaela is currently a Regional Director at Repair the World, overseeing operations, strategy, and development. Previously, she was an Education Consultant at The Jewish Education Project, after completing her Master’s at NYU Wagner/Skirball, an MPA in non-profit management and MA in Hebrew and Judaic Studies. Michaela also co-created RUACH: Emotional and Spiritual Support, an online mental health start-up to support the Jewish community at the beginning of the pandemic. Prior to that, Michaela was the Program Manager for the Applied Research Collective for American Jewry, a startup initiative from NYU Bronfman Center, developing an academic fellowship and communal Roundtable. Michaela began her career as the Program Director of Teen and Young Adult Services at Marks JCH of Bensonhurst in Brooklyn, NY, where her passion for experiential Jewish education and communal identity began. Michaela served as Camp Director at B’Yachad, a unique educational, overnight camping experience for Russian-speaking Jewish (RSJ) teens focused on Russian Jewish heritage and exploration of personal identity. Michaela is a native New Yorker whose family is originally from the FSU.

Joel Srebrenick

he/him

Senior Operations Associate

Joel (he/him) is a seasoned experience manager and educator with a background in Israel experiential education and teen leadership training. Raised in New Jersey, he returns to live in the NY area after 7 years living in Israel and working in various roles leading programs with Young Judaea Year Course, a post-high school gap year program, including Directing the Tel Aviv Semester. Joel has a passion for systems and operations, and is at his best supporting the operations and logistics of educational and mission driven experiences.

Joel has spent the last 12 summers working at Camp Tel Yehudah in upstate New York in both programmatic and administrative roles, and is a big believer in the transformative power of summer camp. He holds a bachelor’s degree in politics and government from the University of Maryland, but spent most of his time on campus at the Starbucks where he worked throughout college as a barista. It’s here that he gained his appreciation and obsession for all things caffeinated. Joel enjoys travel, but more recently can be found during most of his free time reading or spending time with his fiancee Suzanne and their adorable puppy Lulu.

Rebecca Steinman-DeGroot

she/her

City Director, Detroit

Rebecca (she/her) is a Michigan native and is currently serving as the Director of Education for Dor Hadash, a supplementary Jewish education program of the Detroit Jewish Coalition, for youth and families in the city of Detroit. Rebecca recently moved to Detroit from Los Angeles, where she served as the Associate Director of Education for Limudim, the religious school at IKAR, a progressive spiritual Jewish community in LA. Rebecca has worked in education for over 17 years, as a teacher in the classroom, a tutor, an administrator, a mentor, and as a consultant. Rebecca is also currently in the second cohort of The Jewish Women of Color Resilience Circle and Transformational Leadership Fellowship through Dimensions Inc., a part of the Detroit iEngage Community Educators Cohort through the Shalom Hartman Institute, and is incredibly excited to be working at Repair the World Detroit to create intersectional, inclusive, diverse, and embracing community.

AvirLev Waxman

he/they

City Director, Boston

A lover of Torah, bad jokes, and liberatory politics, AvirLev has spent many years both professionally and as an activist in political, labor, and environmental movements. Now, he is excited to bring together a love of Judaism with deep service work, and hopes to help spread a radical and social justice oriented notion of tikkun olam. AvirLev defines his Judaism as traditionally-informed and mystically-inclined, and takes great joy in God-talk and Jewish spirituality. When not repairing the world, AvirLev can frequently be found making groan-inducing puns, singing as he walks down the street, and talking to strangers.

David Weitzman

he/him

Program Manager, Miami

David (he/him) is honored to be joining Repair the World as the Senior Program Associate in Miami. Born and raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, David completed his B.A. in Advertising from the Pennsylvania State University in 2019. He spent the past two years working as a Springboard Innovation Fellow at the University of Miami Hillel. Throughout David’s time at Hillel, he organized social justice programs for students on campus and partnered with Repair the World Miami on many of these projects. David is excited to combine his passion for social justice and Judaism in this new role. In his free time, you can find David rollerblading on the beach, working on his yoga practice, trying new restaurants in Miami, and hosting dinner parties for his friends.

Katie Wexler

she/her

Senior Director, People and Culture

Katie Wexler (she/her) joined Repair the World in June 2021. Prior to working with Repair, Katie was Hillel International’s Director of Human Resources, supporting the ~150 professionals working for the Schusterman International Center. Her career with Hillel began in 2003 creating programs for graduate students and young professionals in the DC-area. She then went on to multiple roles with the organization including working with Hillels in the Former Soviet Union and Latin America, managing Grants and Accreditation and ultimately landing in the Talent space where she found her passion for People & Culture work. Katie earned her SHRM-CP HR Certification through the Society for Human Resources Management in 2020 and is a graduate of the University of Colorado, Boulder. Katie lives in Kensington, Maryland with her husband and daughter. In her space time, Katie enjoys all things Broadway, baking and books (feel free to ask her for recommendations!).

Alome Wheeler

she/her

Program Manager, Manhattan

Alome is a passionate young woman born and raised in New York City. She is a native of the Harlem community and has sown a seed in the community during her tenure with several local after-school programs. Her experience working with non-profit organizations has instilled a passion to serve in organizations geared toward the upliftment of communities.

Alome’s introduction to the importance of service came in her adolescence via her church. She spent many Saturdays working the food pantry lines, separating donated clothes for giveaways as well as participating in several service projects. This transcended once she reached Daytona Beach Florida where she earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration. Alome is a proud Alumni of Bethune – Cookman University, Go Wildcats! While in Daytona, Alome fought through shyness and insecurity to strive for the students of her class when she became Senior Class President. It was in this role she became a woman of service, managing student concerns and council meetings all while handling her academics.

Post graduation, Alome worked with several after-school programs in the Harlem area, including serving as the Assistant Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Harlem. She has an understanding of her community through her efforts while working with school-to- prison pipeline institutions. Through adversity, Alome has aided in the advancement of her previous students. The evidence of care and consistency drove her to collaborate with program directors and staff to institute adaptable changes. 

Alome is a Repair The World Alum, having joined the Manhattan Service Corps cohort shortly after quarantine. As a Service Corps member, she worked with The Food Bank for New York City and the Taft Resident Association. Alome is excited to sustain and grow lasting relationships with organizations and partners in the Harlem Community for the upliftment of the people. 

In her spare time you can find Alome laughing with her father, enjoying time with friends, or painting.