Thirteen St. Louis area college students and recent graduates were named to the first-ever group of Changemaker Fellows, joining peers from more than 100 communities across North America, as well as Europe, South Africa, and Israel.

The innovative three-week online leadership development experience is designed to expand the Changemakers’ careers, networks and, most importantly, their ability to effect positive change in your community and the world.

“Our Changemakers are active members of the Jewish community and are deeply invested in social action and advocacy,” said Jody Gerth, the coach for the St. Louis Cohort. Gerth works at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis in the Israel Center and with Teen Initiatives. “In my job, I mostly work with teens, but I was excited to have the chance to interact with this fantastic group of young adults in our community.”

The St. Louis Cohort of Changemakers included:

  • Michelle Bennett
  • Zoey Fleisher
  • Noga Melnick
  • Isaac Murdukhovich
  • Jacob Poscover
  • Rebekah Poscover
  • o   Zoe Rosenberg
  • o   Megan Rubenstein
  • o   Adam Schenberg
  • o   Daphne Singer
  • o   Zachary Swartz
  • o   Samantha Zucker
  • o   Sophie Zucker

In 100 hours of Changemaker podcasts, daily challenges, core sessions and electives, mentor and cohort meetings, over three-week sessions in July and August, they learned with leading experts and visionaries in their fields, and from each other.

The cohort participants wrestled together with complex topics, learning how to converse openly with others who hold different views. They traveled virtually across the global Jewish community, discovering beauty in the diversity of our Jewish traditions, while appreciating shared values. They went deep into Israeli society and history.

Within the urgency of the challenges of 2020, they explored service and advocacy through voter mobilization, food insecurity, disability awareness, antisemitism, racial justice, and care for our most vulnerable, including Holocaust survivors.

Changemakers follow-up activities will take place throughout the year and plans for another session this winter will be announced soon. Interested prospective Changemakers should email info@jewishchangemakers.org.