Schmooze with Suze
Hi, I’m Suze. Here with your dose of culture, values and global citizenship- and where we tackle those topics others may consider off-limits.
A little about me, I’m a busy GenX mom who, quite frankly, wanted to grow up like the Brady Bunch… But ended up being raised in the shadow of Schindler’s List. So this means I’ve spent a lifetime navigating these mixed messages we get hit with daily. You know those conversations- where we wonder if it’s safe to speak our minds? Can we share our experiences? Voice our fears and concerns, or should we just keep our mouths shut?
Well, too bad. I need to know! But I’m no expert. So, I’m going to schmooze the experts and get their thoughts. Why? So when we engage with our kids, colleagues, or the countless committees we interact with, we can do it with competence, kindness, confidence, and maybe a bit of humor.
If this sounds like your cup of coffee- welcome to Schmooze with Suze!
Schmooze with Suze
Can Curiosity About Community Connection Be Our Compass To Navigating New Environments? My Guest: Leah Palestrant, Director at Hillel International
Transitioning from the familiar to the unknown can be daunting, especially during our formative years. Whether faith and community were once at the center of our education, or it becomes a new space in which to find more ways to connect on a deeper lever, college campuses have often been at the heart of spiritual journeys. My first excursion away from my regularly scheduled programming of prayer was on a college campus, in fact, where words like "fellowship" meant where active seniors gathered, "pluralistic" meant a lot of us, and "micro-communities" was not in our vernacular. (Was it even in existence?) And they all somehow were what made me find my very diverse and inclusive people at something called Hillel.
In this episode, I schmooze with Leah Palestrant, the inspiring director of the Springboard Fellowship at Hillel International. From her impactful experiences with Teach for America to volunteering with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, Leah shares heartwarming stories of working with Special Olympics athletes, young adults and a society of global citizens that highlight the transformative power of exploring unexpected career paths and just saying yes to things that make her happy.
In this episode, we are also celebrating the diverse and inclusive world of Hillel International. At a time when Jew hatred globally, and on college campuses intentionally, are at the highest rate historically- how do micro-communities continue to thrive and cater to the unique backgrounds of Jewish students? Through a grassroots approach, Hillel empowers students to create spaces that resonate with their identities. We discuss the challenge of balancing Jewish identity and community engagement and the evolving role of leadership in meeting individual needs.
Video: 12 Who Care: Leah Palestrant: https://youtu.be/TqqB7a1f6Z4?si=trT-QNJyDgRAkypq 'Tikkun Olam' sums up Leah Palestrant's mission. Her impressive volunteer resume reflects her passions as she aims to help repair the world.
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