Read about our past Emma Institutes.
On July 25th, over 45 women gathered together at the Westside JCC for Jewish Women Changing LA. Attendees participated in collaborative learning and heard from our featured changemakers and panelists. Thank you to our sponsors: Bend the Arc, Southern California, Jewish Women's Conference & NCJW/LA.
Featured Changemakers:
Anjuli Kronheim serves as LA Organizer at California Common Cause where she trains students, members, and volunteers to build power on relevant campaign issues. She executes media and outreach events, actions and lobby visits.
Malka Haya Fenyvesi is an Independent Consultant based in Southern California. She is an innovative and award-winning educator, trainer and conflict resolution practitioner with over ten years of experience.
Maya Barron is the LA Organizer for Bend the Arc So. California, a national organization engaging Jews in action to create opportunity and secure fundamental rights for all Americans.
Ayana Morse is the associate director of the Silverlake Independent JCC, where she is leading the charge in reanimating Jewish life on LA’s east side. She is a co-founder of East Side Jews.
Featured Panelists:
Tzivia-Schwartz Getzug served as the founding Executive Director of Jewish World Watch. She practiced law for several years before becoming the Western States Counsel for the ADL. She left the ADL after almost 7 years to serve as the Community Liaison on DreamWorks’ first animated film, the Prince of Egypt. Tzivia also served as the Senior Vice President for Public Affairs at the Jewish Federation, responsible for the work of the Jewish Community Relation’s Committee.Tzivia and her husband, Steve, were both born and raised in Los Angeles and, with their three children, are members of Adat Ari El synagogue.
Allison Graff-Weisner serves as the Executive Director of City Year Los Angeles. Allison has worked at numerous community development and education organizations in the U.S. and abroad. After running parent involvement programs at 20 schools in the Bronx with Learning Leaders, an organization that engages 10,000 volunteers in New York City schools, Allison became a leader of the program department. Prior to Learning Leaders, she taught and ran an after-school program in D.C. during her year of national service with Public Allies. She is a graduate of Berkeley and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.
Vivian Rothstein served as the Deputy Director of the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE), which organizes for good jobs, a clean environment and healthy communities in the Los Angeles area. She directed LAANE’s Santa Monica Living Wage campaign and other efforts to win living wages and union representation for hospitality workers. Vivian is still active at LAANE serving as the Director of Special Projects. Vivian’s organizing career began with the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project of 1965 and the founding of the Chicago Women’s Liberation Union in the 1970s. She been able to continue her commitment to community engagement and empowerment throughout her work life while making a living and raising a family. (It can be done!) Vivian has two grown children, one an affordable housing specialist and the other a labor economist. She lives with her life partner in Santa Monica, CA. Click here to read a PBS interview with Vivian.
On June 20th over 35 women gathered together at NCJW for the Emma Institute: Advancing Your Career and Community Goals. Attendees participated in collaborative learning and heard from our featured innovators and panelists. Thank you to our sponsors: Jewish Women's Conference, NCJW/LA and JSpace.
Featured Innovators:
Heather Wilk - Cause Caust Marketing and Straight But Not Narrow
Kim Silverstein - Silver Lining Photos
Leslie Goldenberg - Ernst & Young
Paulette Light - www.thefriendex.com
Featured Panelists
Julie Gertler is CEO and Founder of Consensus Inc., where she works with Fortune 500 companies, local government and non-profits to foster support for forward-looking projects and programs. In the 1980's, Julie served as president of the NCJW/LA. Under her leadership, the organization created The Women's Center at Council House, offering free space to non-profit organizations serving women. A graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School Public Disputes Program, Ms. Gertler serves on the Board of the LA Economic Development Corporation where she co-chairs the Land Use Committee. Julie currently serves as an Advocate in the Spring 2012 Emma Fellowship Class.
Originally from New York, Amy Straus graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Film & Television. Upon graduating, she moved to Los Angeles and became a writer-producer for top sitcoms including 'Friends'. Amy began her new career as a mom when she had her daughter, Sally, who is now almost 3-years-old. In 2005, Amy got involved with NCJW/LA, first as a volunteer eventually she became Vice President of Women Helping Children and then Board co-President. Amy is also active on the NCJW/LA Section Advisory Committee, which advises the national board of NCJW on local issues. Amy is committed to women's empowerment.
