Hillel International’s Post

Did you get your March issue of Milwaukee Magazine? You'll see a familiar face from UCC! Learn about the history and evolution of UCC as well as Laura Gutierrez's journey to CEO in the latest issue. Click the link to read the full article: https://bit.ly/4c5s5za

Have you been supporting higher education but getting disappointed in your ROI? Disappointed that the Ivy League college you've been supporting teaches students to hate Jews and demand their genocide. Disappointed that your money is going towards furthering hate instead of spreading light. I understand. You wanted to help propel society forward, but your money has been funding a backward slide. Luckily, there's another option. You can still support higher education. Jewish higher education. Only this time, your money will be spent on spreading light, love, and real moral values. PM me and I'll find you a great Jewish school to support. ______ ATT is Chicago’s central agency for enhancing Jewish education through professional development, courses, funding & advocacy.

Art - an economic boost .. along with joy, artistic delight, skills enhancement, mental health boost and so much more

Not what I planned on posting about today but... 4 years after changing the school names that honored Confederate leaders, the Shenandoah County school board voted to change them back. Mountain View High School and Honey Run Elementary School will return to be known as - Stonewall Jackson High School and Ashby-Lee Elementary School.  3 men who fought to protect the institution of slavery in the United States. And it will cost the school district approximately $300,000 to make the changes. In 1860-61 South Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, and Texas all presented "declaration of causes" for their secession from the United States and formation of the Confederacy. All included statements regarding slavery, including this one from Mississippi: "Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery—the greatest material interest of the world." The State of Texas complained against the northern states: "They have encouraged and assisted thousands of our slaves to leave their homes; and those who remain, have been incited by emissaries, books, and pictures to servile insurrection." This is only one county, in one state - we shouldn't generalize this as being a representation of the entire country - BUT, we shouldn't underestimate it's representation either. Open your eyes. #humanity #challengethestatusquo #ethicalleadership #slavery

Gracious Grounds is a non-profit housing community that supports successful independent living for adults with disabilities. Gracious Grounds looks beyond limitations to create an environment that is affordable, friendly, and resident-centered. They emphasize life-enriching activities and togetherness by promoting: community involvement, inclusion, employability skills and opportunities, daily living skills, and spirituality. In simple words, they want their residents to live a meaningful and fulfilling life wherever they live, work, or play. To hear more about Gracious Grounds and many of the amazing resources available in our community, tune into their story on StoryCorps. If you want to read about the organizations, information can be found in my book, "The Power of Community Connectedness: Creating Lifelong Impact & Inclusion for Individuals with Disabilities." Books can be found on Amazon using the link in the comments and at The Bookman here in Grand Haven. There is no need to journey alone. There are people and organizations who want to walk alongside you. Reach out. It is my hope that other communities will start similar organizations. Any one of the book's contributors would be happy to share their model and answer questions. Community Connectedness is powerful! We are truly better together. #community #housing #disability #inclusion #connection https://lnkd.in/gUQKqxDD

"Is hope, a teachable concept or a lived experience? Where does knowledge about hope actually come from? ... How can we organize understanding when hope is something so personal, intimate, and sometimes deeply and sensitively aligned with how we see and present ourselves to the outside world?" Four Fellows, Catalina Chacón , Sue Egersdorff , Barbara Bullard and Jack Davies all of whom attended the Salzburg Global Center for Education Transformation program "Civic and Civil Education: Identity, Belonging and Education in the 21st Century" reflect on the multifaceted nature of hope, emphasizing its role as a force for resilience and action, yet acknowledging the risks of false hope and despair. Follow the link below to read the full op-ed on how they propose using creative arts to facilitate open conversations about hope: https://ow.ly/WHhr50QCBS1

Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion once said, “It is not enough to be up to date, you have to be up to tomorrow.” This wisdom rings true now more than ever as we face unprecedented challenges and opportunities in connecting American Jews and Israel. The recent Israel-Hamas conflict underscored the essential bond between our communities. American Jewish Committee (AJC)’s 2024 Survey of American Jewish Opinion revealed that 85% of American Jews believe it’s crucial for America to support Israel, and 57% felt more connected to Israel and their Jewish identity after the October 7 events. Yet, many expressed a gap in their education about Israel, highlighting the need for initiatives that deepen this connection. Programs like AJC’s Leaders for Tomorrow (LFT) are pivotal. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, LFT has empowered over 2,500 high school students to become passionate advocates for Israel and the Jewish people. Meeting these young leaders is nothing short of inspiring—they choose to learn and stand up for what matters, even amid their busy lives. Equally inspiring are the Shlichim from The Jewish Agency for Israel, who serve as living bridges between Israel and Jewish communities across North America. Their firsthand experiences and cultural exchanges enrich both their understanding and ours, fostering mutual respect and a shared sense of purpose. The newly announced partnership between AJC and The Jewish Agency is a testament to our commitment to these connections. This collaboration will create informed, passionate advocates and build lifelong relationships between young Jewish American leaders and Israeli emissaries. I am filled with hope and determination as I settle in into my new role. Strengthening these bonds is not just a professional duty but a personal mission. We are investing in the next generation of Jewish leaders, ensuring that they have the tools, knowledge, and support to thrive. Together, we are not just navigating today’s challenges; we are building a brighter, more connected tomorrow. I look forward to contributing to this vital work and standing on the shoulders of giants who have paved the way. Let’s continue this journey with open hearts and minds, ready to support and uplift one another. #JewishLeadership #AJC #Israel #JewishAgency #FutureOfJewry #CommunityBuilding #Advocacy

My second article!

The following reality was addressed in my 2026 article titled I Call Foul on the Media's Coverage of Divorce and Conflict in General. After publishing that article, I was never again contacted by members of the press for my opinions. I was apparently placed on a “black list,” which was and is fine with me for the reasons set forth in that article. (https://lnkd.in/ggTKCvAd) “Angry demonstrations receive a lot of press, but not the students who have crossed protest lines – even while others shouted – to speak calmly with each other. Students told me they’ve witnessed this at Indiana and the University of Chicago; surely it has happened elsewhere. Multiple campus chapters of the depolarization non-profit Bridge USA have hosted events about the conflict. At Elon University, a small liberal arts college in North Carolina, over 200 students attended a presentation and facilitated workshops about the war. At Dartmouth, a few protesters were arrested for “trespassing” – but more than 1,600 students livestreamed a public dialogue event co-sponsored by the Jewish studies and Middle Eastern studies programs. At Queens College in New York, the Hillel leadership has been counseling Muslim students, because the school is currently without an imam. There are many other examples, of course. Syeed says the challenge is to “saturate the campus with conversation”. Everybody knows that a one-off event for Black History Month or a singular diversity training won’t teach students to see the world through an antiracist lens. The same is true for bridge building. Offering an elective in constructive dialogue or hosting an inter-department conversation in response to a major global conflagration won’t fundamentally teach students to empathize with each other.” https://lnkd.in/gSbtJPXE

I am officially a Founding Member of 93% Professionals - the UK’s least exclusive network, hosted by The 93% Club. As the age-old saying goes - it’s not what you know; it’s who you know. For too long, access to influential networks of advice and support has been restricted to a privileged few.  Until now. This system then retains power to the few. Before we can even spell our own names, people in the UK are sorted into two camps: the 7% of us who will go on to represent 65% of judges, 61% of doctors, 60% of bankers, 43% of newspaper reporters, and 48% of FTSE 350 CEOs - and those of us who won’t. The 93% who went to a state school. It's also Black History Month, so of course, I want to use this as an intersectional teaching moment where Akala breaks down the constructs of 'race' and 'class' https://lnkd.in/exxYq8YV. In the Thatcher years, when my Dad was striking at Rover, and my Mum would go to the butchers to ask for bones for the dog (we had no dog), this was how we ate delicious soups and stews. We never went hungry, but private school was not something we could afford access to. Even to go to the State School, my Dad had to petition as there were initially no black people. It was the other side of Oxford, the posh side, about 1 hour with my Cello. Later, as a black woman asked to erase my education from LinkedIn, I have been on the receiving end of how classism, racism and elitism mix and mingle. Change is coming; The 93% Club of Professionals is the UK’s first-ever network of state-educated professionals and allies. Together, we are changing the face of networks forever by redistributing opportunities and connections to those who have historically been excluded from networks of influence. #stateschoolproud #breakingallisms #elitism #93percentclub #blackhistorymonth #againstallismsandphobias