Resilience in Action: Cultivating a Thriving Jewish Youth Community

Yoni Schwab, PhD, is the Assistant Head of School at the Shefa School in Manhattan, the first and largest Jewish day school in the world for children with dyslexia and language-based learning disabilities. As a member of the 3-person founding team, he has been involved in every aspect of the school since its launch in 2014. A clinical psychologist, Yoni previously served as the Psychologist at The Windward School and on the faculty of the Windward Teacher Training Institute. He is an Adjunct Clinical Supervisor at Ferkauf Graduate School of Yeshiva University and maintains a private clinical practice. He is a sought-after presenter on a range of topics, including ADHD, anxiety, limit setting, learning disabilities, and the effects of technology on youth. He lives in Riverdale, NY, with his wife (a teacher) and has 3 children.

Frieda B. (she/her) is a senior at Hastings High School in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, where she is Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper, President of Amnesty International Club, and Secretary of the Model UN team. Additionally, she is a Chair of the Executive Board of Hastings KIDS, a venture of her town’s Youth Council that connects teens to service opportunities, through which she founded her town's Intergenerational Club. Frieda is excited to return to Kol Koleinu this year as a Teen Leader. Last year, she was a Rising Voices Fellow at the Jewish Women’s Archive and contributed blog posts to the JWA website. Frieda enjoys reading, photography, learning about history, and traveling.

Pamela Barkley, Vice President of Program (she/her/hers), is in charge of overseeing the development and implementation of Moving Traditions programmatic offerings. Pam works with a team of gifted educators to bring the magic of caring connection and Jewish insight to teens, teachers, parents and clergy. She brings over 25 years of experience in facilitation, education, training and coaching as well as a deep passion for finding opportunities for personal growth in herself and others. Pam has a BA from Brandeis University and an MSW from NYU and is a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainer. When not engaged in all things Jewish, Pam can be found dancing anywhere and everywhere, hiking in the woods listening to podcasts, or walking on the beach with her husband and twin daughters.

Brooke Desir is an educator with over 25 years of experience dedicated to fostering creativity, problem-solving skills, self-confidence, and a growth mindset in all learners. As the founder of BeSpace Creativity Studio, she designs process-based educational experiences that empower children, families, caregivers, and educators to explore, experiment, and create.

Brooke integrates a diverse range of accessible materials to spark curiosity, rooted in the belief that creativity is play, and play is a fundamental tool for learning. Through her work at organizations such as The Creativity Project, The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, Thevenet Montessori School, and Union Square Play, she inspires learners of all ages to view creativity as a way of thinking and engaging with the world, nurturing self-confidence and encouraging them to take risks, make mistakes, and grow through their experiences.

Brooke is also currently working alongside her sister and fellow educator, Lauren Jensen-Iqbal, on an initiative at the Harvard Innovation Lab. Together, they are developing a tool aimed at addressing mental health challenges faced by children and teens, with a focus on using creativity as a powerful and supportive resource for emotional well-being and personal growth.

Sara Diament, Shalom Task Force’s Managing Director of Education, has over two decades of experience in education, program development, and community engagement. Before joining STF, Sara was the Director of School Services and Special Initiatives at Hidden Sparks, a professional development organization supporting educators in Jewish day schools across North America and Israel. She also oversaw services for at-risk youth at Youth Advocate Programs Bergen County and ran a psycho-educational program for adolescents at the Somerset Women's Health Center. In addition, Sara developed and facilitated anti-bullying workshops for students, teachers, and parents, through a partnership between Girl Scouts and the Jewish Women's Foundation,  and served as a consultant to Jewish day schools on health curricula while authoring Talking to Your Children About Intimacy: A Guide for Orthodox Jewish Parents.  

Drew Fidler, LCSW-C, is the Director of the BBYO Center for Adolescent Wellness, where she helps ensure that BBYO and other Youth Serving Organizations are places where adolescents can thrive through institutional best practices in health and wellness. Drew’s career has focused on aiding youth serving organizations and their staff in understanding children’s mental health issues, and best supporting and advocating for their needs. Prior to joining BBYO, Drew worked for Baltimore Child Abuse Center as a Forensic Interviewer, Policy and Program Development Manager, and then as the Director of Prevention and Education. She also worked with youth serving organizations to analyze their systems relating to protecting youth and creating safe environments, conducts trainings, and creates programs for organizations. Drew has an MSW from New York University and a BA in Psychology from Skidmore College.

Paige is Moving Traditions’ Director of the Meyer-Gottesman Kol Koleinu Teen Feminist Fellowship, a year-long program that gives teens across the country the skills to take part in Jewish, feminist social change-making and community building. Paige holds an MA degree in Jewish Communal Service from Baltimore Hebrew Institute at Towson University, a Certificate in Non-Profit Studies from Johns Hopkins University, and a BA in International Development and Social Change from Clark University. When Paige isn’t connecting teens to life-changing curriculum, she can be found hanging out with her wife and kids, baking challah for friends, and building community among her neighbors. 

Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Director, Programs, Jill focuses on community care initiatives (mental health, SEL, inclusion, diversity, etc.), Jewish educational resources, professional development, and leadership training. Her love of Jewish camp was sparked more than two decades ago at URJ Camp Coleman as a camper, and she continued as a counselor, educator, and visiting faculty. She’s also spent time at URJ Kutz Camp and worked with youth groups across New York. Jill was an FJC Cornerstone Fellow in 2006, a program she now proudly helps facilitate as part of her work.

A south Florida native, Jill moved north to attend NYU, followed by seven years in TV news production, as a directing and operations supervisor at NY1 News. Invested in designing thoughtful, welcoming and meaningful experiences, Jill received her Master’s degree in Jewish Educational Leadership at JTS’s Davidson School. In 2022, she received the JPRO Young Professional Award, and is currently a Facilitation Fellow with Resetting the Table and a proud part of the Honeymoon Israel alumni community. Jill is passionate about helping camp and Jewish organizations bring their values to life through action and policy. Plus, she enjoys chocolate, social-impact documentaries and movies with morals, running, storytelling, exploring cultures through travel, the High Line Park, and living in western Queens with her partner and kiddo. 

Gabriela, BaMidbar’s Clincal Director, has worked for nearly a decade of work in hospital systems. Her work has included providing care to patients and families, clinical supervision, as well as working with graduate students and medical trainees. Gabriela is thrilled to be part of the BaMidbar team where she can combine her passions for mental health, Jewish identity, and community education. Gabriela is also a registered yoga teacher with specialized training in health and mental health yoga. She also loves finding time for yoga and exploring New England’s beaches and mountains. 

Ari M. (he/him) is a senior at Hunter College High School. He is editor-in-chief of school newspaper The Observer, president of the Transgender/Non-binary Alliance club, and an avid music lover/guitar player. Through his Kol Koleinu capstone project, he founded the Interactive Bilingual Children’s Program, which partners with local elementary schools to provide ESOL support for young migrants from Latin America.

Dr. Novich (he/him), JQY’s Clinical Director, has years of experience practicing in different clinical settings and with different populations and has also worked in the queer space as an author and advocate. He looks forward to helping JQY members improve their mental health by promoting awareness and teaching skills, all with a good dose of humor. 

Alessandra R. (she/her) is a junior at The Dalton School in New York City, where she runs varsity cross country and track. She is a member of Central Synagogue, also in New York City, where she attends the Lese Center for Living Judaism. Alessandra has also been dancing for many years. Alessandra is a Kol Koleinu Teen Leader, spending her 2nd year in the program supporting first year fellows as a community builder.

Ben has served as Head Songleader, Director of Youth Engagement, Cantorial Soloist, Artist in Residence and Guest Artist for communities in Larchmont, Cincinnati, Zionsville, Delaware, Baltimore, Lake Tahoe, and the greater Washington DC area. Over the last 10 years, he has produced three albums of Jewish music, and two children's books, centered themes of resilience, agency, and treating each other with kindness. Ben holds a Bachelor's degree in Music from the University of Delaware. His passion for song as a medium for strengthening Jewish identity is rooted in his own experiences growing up at URJ Eisner Camp, and he’s grateful for the opportunity to share his love of Jewish music with the Jewish community of the Upper West Side.
 

After finding meditation as a tool to address anxiety at 19 years old, Yael has supported others in uncovering their inherent worth and capacity for deep joy through mindfulness. She is the author of the award-winning book What Now? Meditation for Your Twenties and Beyond (Parallax, 2017) and teaches at NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service.
Yael founded Mindful NYU, the largest campus-based meditation program in the country, and has served as the Chief Mindfulness Consultant for Procter and Gamble. Her work has been featured on platforms such as Good Morning America, CBS News, and Fox 5 News, as well as in Time Magazine, Real Simple, and the Harvard Business Review. She is a regular contributor to the Ten Percent Happier and Roundglass apps.

Betsy Stone is a Yale-educated retired psychologist who lectures internationally on issues of psychological wellness, trauma and post-traumatic growth, generational differences and many other topics. She consults with clergy, leads Scholar in Residence weekends and supports Jewish professionals. Her work is published in eJewishPhilanthropy and the Times of Israel. She is engaging, knowledgeable and approachable. 
 

Jeffrey Younger is the Director of Communications and Program Operations at Shalom Task Force (STF), where he oversees a variety of educational and outreach initiatives, including the nationally recognized Purple Fellowship. This teen fellowship empowers high school juniors and seniors to gain critical leadership skills while deepening their understanding of domestic abuse in the Jewish community. During his seven years at STF, Jeffrey has helped launch impactful programs for teens, young adults, and professionals. He has also spoken across the country to teens on topics such as forming healthy relationships, recognizing red flags, understanding forms of abuse, setting boundaries, and being a supportive friend. Jeffrey is deeply passionate about making a difference in the Jewish community.