What drew you to work at the J?
When I first heard about the job, I thought it sounded like something I would be good at. It’s engagement forward, hands-on with the community, and a big part of my job is connecting with people, which I really enjoy. When I came to the J for my final interview, there was something really calming about walking into a place where I have always felt safe and somewhere that felt really comforting. I have only fond memories of things at the J, including my Bat Mitzvah. I knew when I walked in, this was going to be the perfect place to work every day.
When I first started, everyone made me feel so welcome. Frannie Kahan, Director of Cultural Arts & Engagement was and is so helpful, and everyone really added to the level of comfort the J brought already. Now it’s been almost three months (which is crazy!). I feel like I just started, but I also feel like I’ve been here for so long because of the friendships I’ve made and the people I’ve met. Not everyone can say they feel at home in their workplace, but I can!
What are you excited to do in your new role?
I’m really excited to meet new people, plan fun events, and get people to the J! This role is about getting people together, and I think everyone just wants to hang out with their peers. It can be hard meeting new people in your 20s and 30s, so making it easy to branch out is the goal. I just moved back to Cincinnati, so these events are also helpful for me to create a community that is fun and enriching. The overall goal is just for people to have fun and create a community they feel comfortable and welcome in.
What do you do in your free time?
In my free time, I really like to cook and read! My mom is a great cook, and I grew up helping her in the kitchen. Before I moved into my first apartment in college, I was determined to be able to cook on my own without my mom’s help, so I cooked my way through the Tasty cookbook. It was fun and taught me about different foods that I liked and foods that I didn’t like so much. Now the roles have reversed, and I cook a lot for my family! I also just recently got into reading. I used to hate reading and I never read the books I was supposed to (sorry to all my past English teachers!), but recently I started really liking it, and now I can get through a book a day if I really put my mind to it!
I also really like hanging out with my dog, who is arguably the best!
