Jewish Federation of St. Louis Celebrates Inaugural Webber-Jacobs Leadership Fellowship Cohort

The Jewish Federation of St. Louis celebrated the completion of its inaugural Webber-Jacobs Leadership Fellowship, a six-month leadership development program designed to cultivate the next generation of young adult Jewish community leaders.

Twenty Fellows in their mid-20s to early-30s participated in the inaugural cohort, building leadership skills, exploring Jewish values and identity, developing connections with peers, and gaining a deeper understanding of Jewish communal leadership and philanthropy.

The cohort participated in sessions focused on leadership development, Jewish learning, values exploration, community engagement, philanthropy, and the role of Jewish communal organizations.

As the culmination of the fellowship, the Fellows were divided into four groups, each focusing on a different area of Jewish communal life: social action, Jewish identity, leadership, and philanthropy. The groups explored their topics and developed a capstone presentation that put their community-wide ideas and strategy into action.

“The Webber-Jacobs Fellowship is about more than developing leadership skills. It is about helping emerging leaders discover how they can make a meaningful difference in Jewish St. Louis,” said Danny Cohn, President & CEO of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. “This inaugural cohort has brought tremendous energy, curiosity, and commitment to that journey. They will help shape what comes next for our community, and investing in them today is an investment in the strength and vitality of Jewish St. Louis for generations to come.”

The Webber-Jacobs Fellowship was made possible by the generosity of Hank Webber, Managing Principal of Urban Impact Advisors and former Executive Vice Chancellor at Washington University in St. Louis, and his wife, Christine Jacobs, M.D., Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine at Saint Louis University. Both are committed to building community, providing educational opportunities, and helping young adults thrive in service to the Jewish community.

“We are incredibly grateful to Hank and Chris for their vision and investment in these emerging leaders,” Cohn said. “The impact of the Webber-Jacobs Fellowship will extend far past this experience, and we look forward to seeing these Fellows continue to grow as leaders, philanthropists, and volunteers in our Jewish community for many years to come.”

If you are interested in participating in the second Webber-Jacobs Fellows cohort, contact Alec Faye Rothman at ARothman@JFedStL.org. Applications for the second cohort will open in late fall. To learn more, visit https://www.jfedstl.org/programs.