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Professional

Welcome our 2021 Tribe 12 Fellows!

December 22, 2020 by Hannah Isaacs

We are so excited to welcome these 16 amazing people! Over the course of the next few months, we cannot wait to watch them grow!

 

 

 

Aimee Goldstein 
Curlyfish Productions
Fun Fact: Has a 20-year-old pet frog

 

 

 

Michal Naisteter
Sex Positive Mama
Favorite Jewish Food: Latkahs

 

 

 

Matt Bussy
Diversifying Philadelphia’s Jewish
Film Festival
Fun Fact: I’m half-British!

 

 

 

Danielle Silberman 
Peace Lily Counseling Services
Favorite Jewish Memory: My wedding!

 

 

Alexa Stango
Aleysunflower Secondhand
Clothing Store
Favorite Jewish Memory: Shabbat dinners with roommates

 

 

Erica Kushner
Habonim Dror North America and Movement Democracy
Fun Fact: Erica makes challah every week

 

Eli Robbins
civio.io
Fun fact: Eli is Juban
(Jewish Cuban)

 

 

 

Elijah Tomaszewski
Those Near and Far: Writing
Transgender and Jewish Characters
Favorite Jewish Holiday: Simchas Torah

 

 

Jamie Price
LIB Consulting Group
Favorite Jewish Memory: overnight summer camp

 

Sonia Gordon-Walinsky
Pasuk Art
Favorite Jewish Ritual: Rosh Hashanah mini – seder w/special foods for the new year

 

 

 

Amanda Thum
The Confidence Class, Inc.
Favorite Jewish Ritual: Shabbat

 

 

Gabrielle Schwartz
Cannabis and Cosmetics
Favorite Jewish Memory: Birthright Trip in 2015!

 

 

 

Jessica Grill
Nature Play NJ
Fun Fact: has competed and placed in traditional archery competitions

 

 

 

Hana Bernett
Safe Socially Distant Social Skills
Fun Fact: Loves her Margate summers

 

 

 

Benni Litman
LIB Consulting Group
Fun Fact: Used to study chimps
in the wild

 

 

 

Becca D’Onofrio
Parenting Positively
Fun Fact: Lived in Amsterdam for 5 years

Filed Under: Adulting, Cool Stuff, Fellows, Professional

Are you an Intrapreneurer?!

October 7, 2020 by Polly Edelstein

The Tribe 12 Fellowship – for Entrepreneurs and…Intra-preneurs?

Many of you are familiar with the Tribe 12 Fellowship. It’s a leadership and entrepreneurial program for individuals that are dedicated to personal growth, enriching communities, and making Judaism their own. Through a curriculum built on the themes of self-discovery, philanthropy, emotional intelligence, and entrepreneurship, Fellows apply the tangible skills they learn to create a capstone project of their own design: a new or existing business, nonprofit, community, or anything in between.

But what about folks working in established organizations that they didn’t create? I’m glad you asked! While known for incubating new ventures, the Tribe 12 Fellowship is also for people looking to grow and develop within an existing organization. Whether you’re looking to increase engagement, prototype a new program, or just hone your professional skills to better serve your current work, the Fellowship can provide you with the foundation to achieve your goals

Do you know someone who is looking to innovate and progress in their current place of business? Could you be an intra-preneur?

Reach out to our Fellowship Coordinator Polly to learn more about the Fellowship and how it could best serve you!

You can reach Polly via email at Polly@tribe12.org

 

Filed Under: Adulting, Cool Stuff, Entrepreneurs, Fellows, Professional

12 Questions with Madam President

September 23, 2020 by Hannah Isaacs

We sat down with our newly elected President of our Board of Directors and asked her the important questions! Learn more about our fearless leader, Rachel Dukeman, and all about her favorite Jewish foods & celebrities. 

12 Questions with Madam President

1. Who are you?
Who are you? Who? Who? Whoo whoo? That’s what I assume everyone hears in their head when they read this question. Who am I? I’m just cool enough to know that those lyrics were written by The Who and definitely nerdy enough to associate the song with The Masked Singer and CSI.

I’m a native digital user who loves to unplug by going for hikes and birdwatching. I love plants and gardening. I’m an avid amateur chef and homesteader. I live in South Philadelphia with my partner of 12 years. I run my own business (a consulting practice).

I love learning about and tasting new wines. I find it a great way to relax while appreciating new places and cultures – throughout history wherever there has been grapes and people, there’s winemaking. And that now includes my basement!

2. What would your 6-word memoir be?
Almost perfect but not quite.

3. How long have you been involved with Tribe 12?
When the light first shined in the darkness, I was there. So… since the beginning. I was involved with Tribe 12’s predecessor, The Collaborative, and when Ross (our CEO) was talking to people about launching Tribe 12, I joined the Founding Executive Committee of the Tribe 12 Fellowship. A few years later, I joined the Board of Directors (one of the youngest members at the time!). I’ve been a board member for 7 years now. Then I joined the Board’s Executive Committee, and now I guess I’m stuck for life.

4. What’s your favorite homesteading project right now?
Oh, so many! Like many of us in the pandemic, I binged all of Bon Appetit’s “It’s Alive! With Brad Leone ” and started fermenting garlic in raw honey, which takes a while, so I’m excited that it’s now 4 months in and it’s so yummy with a splash of soy or Brag’s and homegrown green onions as a chicken or tofu marinade. You’ll never need take-out with this easy, flavor-packed meal. If this is not already happening at your fermentation station, I’m challenging you (Davinica)!

I also am very proud of my lacto-fermented lemons, which are a Morrocan-style preserved lemon. Takes about a month for the magic to happen. Then chop one up with some garlic, parsley, and add to full-fat Greek yogurt – oh my heavens! Delish. I eat that with everything from crudité to Adana Kebabs.

And lastly, homemade kombucha is the new sparkling water in my house — which is to say the most popular not-from-the-faucet beverage to drink morning, noon, and night.
Fav flavors include strawberry and ginger. I’d like to experiment with a pineapple mint.

5. Favorite Jewish celebrity?
Jon Stewart. No, Paul Rudd. Did you see his fun PSA about wearing masks? Well- watch it here! It’s a tie. They’re both smart and funny (and, did I mention, good looking?).

6. What is your bagel order?
I go classic with this. None of that rainbow unicorn nonsense. Give me an everything bagel with lox and the works. Do not skimp on those capers! (Mom, if you’re reading this, it’s a whole-wheat-everything bagel.)

7. What’s your favorite memory with Tribe 12?
Eleven years ago, I called Ross (our CEO) to ask to pick his brain about Jewish engagement of young professionals. I needed some first-hand insights to inform a strategic plan I was working on. Now either because it was a very Jewish discussion or a very nonprofit one, I entered the conversation asking for a favor and left having agreed to join a committee! (And now, as they say, the rest is history.)

AND a second favorite memory for you: A few years back, when Tribe 12 discovered it has a surplus of people named Rachel, it organized a Rachels-Only Happy Hour!

8. Who is the most interesting/most surprising person you met through a Tribe 12 connection?
Every connection is interesting! Ha! But most surprising to me was when I was at a dinner party and the host invited a childhood friend from Ohio who had recently moved to Philly. As a way of introduction, she motions to me and says vaguely that we’re both involved with Jewish nonprofits. So I make an invitation to Tribe 12’s Launch Night (the culminating event of the Fellowship program). As it turns out, her guest had already agreed to be on our Board of Directors! Jewish geography at its finest. Just goes to show how far-reaching our networks are.

9. What do you think Jewish life will be like in 10 years?
Since a Jewish woman will be President of the United States, the country will be running much smoother.

Yes, and… Since more people better understand the intersectionality of our multi-culturalism, we’ll find antisemitism, racism, and xenophobia are much rarer than present-day.

The trending decline of brick-and-mortar synagogue membership continues, however, in our post-pandemic world more people have discovered the joys of forming intentional communities of like-minded people who share common goals or interests. ::clears throat:: Y’know, tribes. These intentional communities or tribes act as safe spaces for people to express their authentic selves, explore interests, and work collectively – to overall live happier, healthier lives.

As the intentional communities branch out and intersect (yes, you can be in, say, a Jewish theatre tribe and an anti-racism activist one), we develop great leaders who respect and advocate for Jewish values.

10. As the nonprofit world questions the equity/access of the traditional board structure, what are you bringing to the table to create change from within?
I see myself as a catalyst to bridge our nonprofit into its next phase. With nearly 20 years of experience working with nonprofits, I’ve had the opportunity to see what it takes to run one from the volunteer level to running programs to managing staff to being executive leadership to sitting on a Board of Directors. This 360-degree-view has provided me with insights that, combined with my graduate studies and 12+ years as a strategic planning consultant, will enable me to promote and adopt new policies and help bring more voices to the table.

I say “help bring” because it is not on me or any one person alone to make our organization more equitable or accessible – it is on all of us. What is on me more specifically as the Board President is to create a platform in which all voices are heard within the organization. It is the role of the Board President to facilitate discussion, to listen to, and reflect on constructive criticism and to set a precedent that all perspectives are valuable. The next generation of nonprofit leadership is not top-down; it is grassroots, it is homegrown, it is collaborative, and it is reflective of the constituency it serves.

I am hopeful that with the years of experience I have within the organization, I am in a good position to build trust and understanding with as many stakeholders (staff and board, foremost) as possible. The fact that people know me pretty well should make it easier for me to challenge the status quo and push people to think differently – to stretch outside their comfort zone while knowing they are in safe hands.

11. If you had a magic wand what are your biggest aspirations for Tribe 12?
Well, if it were a truly magic wand, I’d just abracadabra us a large endowment. I mean, who doesn’t want a well-endowed organization?! 😉

All jokes aside, that does bring me to the heart of what I’d like to see Tribe 12 achieve over the next few years, which is to say: more money! With a larger operating budget, we would be able to better compensate our staff who are the life blood of our organization.

I am a firm believer that the term “non-profit” is misleading because, for most people, it implies “no” profit – and that is not the reality of the situation. In a nutshell, a non-profit is required to re-invest all of its profits back into the organization and its mission. That doesn’t mean a nonprofit cannot compensate its employees well (or fairly). It also does not preclude a nonprofit from making money.

I aim to have Tribe 12 increase its budget by diversifying funding streams, enhancing earned income options, and improving our ability to fundraise with individual donors. Of course, this is the worst economic time since the Great Depression to take on such an endeavor –but anything worth doing may come with challenges.

12. Pats or Genos?
Bleh, neither. Those two over-publicized monstrosities have lost sight of what makes Philadelphia an amazing city to live in. They have to see the irony of putting up signs that say things like “English Only” when your own relatives came to this country not knowing the language. Or how shaming people for not knowing the [highly contrived] lingo of ‘wit’ or ‘witout’ is a silly strategy for a business that benefits from this City’s tourism. And, let’s not even get started on the health or climate implications of a menu that revolves around beef (and processed cheese).

Now that I sound like a complete (and annoying) social justice warrior, I’ll play your game – I’ll add Tony Luke’s to the mix so that I appear accessible and seem like I’m one of the people, but I’m venturing slightly off the beaten path like the trailblazer I am. LOL. In all honesty, I do like how their menu has more offerings and that pickle bar is a Jewish foodie’s best friend.


Don’t miss anything Tribe 12 related! Follow us on Facebook & Instagram! 

Filed Under: Adulting, Cool Stuff, Jewish Wisdom, Philly, Professional, Tribes

How We Will Start The Work of Racial Justice

June 8, 2020 by Hannah Isaacs

On Thursday, we shared the following message with our community in reaction to the killing of George Floyd and subsequent protests around the country.

We hear you. We know we need to do more. We have not shown up for racial justice as we know the Tribe 12 community expects and deserves. Starting now, Tribe 12 is deeply exploring our own deficiencies as an organization in regards to combating racism. Our inaction has been harmful to the Black community and Jews of Color. It is our turn to do teshuva (the Jewish tradition for repentance by returning to a higher state), to transform our complacency into righteous and redemptive action. We have a lot to do. We will not always get it right, but we will not give up. Our ancestors said, “It is not our job to complete the work, but neither are we free to desist from it”. Today we commit to doing the work.

Over the past few days, our team has taken direction from Black voices, both locally and nationally, to shape our short term response and plan for a long term response. Here are some of the things we’re committing to today.

    • Amplify anti-racism resources: We begin by sharing this document of Anti-Racism & Jewish Resources crowdsourced by racial justice leaders across the country including Jared Jackson, founder of Jews in ALL Hues and a 2011 Tribe 12 Fellow. We will continue to share resources like this in our communications.
    • Amplify Black voices: We are committed to using our social media to amplify Black voices at the direction of @jessicawilson.msrd and @blackandembodied who started the #AmplifyMelanatedVoices campaign. We have been, and will continue to, share content from Black writers typically without our own commentary.
    • Patronize Black-led businesses: Through our established programming, we see opportunities to redirect some of our funds to black-owned businesses and racial justice nonprofits. Examples include donating to a racial justice charity of the winner’s choice at one of our virtual trivia nights; purchasing our next book club selection from local Black-owned bookstore Harriet’s Bookshop; or committing to order food for future in-person events from Black and Mobile, a black-owned food delivery service.
    • Convene our community to contribute to Black-led organizations: A Giving Circle is a group of people who come together to pool their money and make a group decision about what charity they want to support. Our staff has been trained by the national organization Amplifier and has run dozens of these circles. In the next two weeks, we will convene a circle of 20s and 30s who will select a Black-led non-profit organization or community fund. Each participant will be asked to contribute $10 or more to the pool of funds. To learn more, email Davinica. 
    • Encourage involvement in and contributions to Black-led organizations: While we learn and do our own work, we have heard from our community that people are looking for racial justice organizations, actions and causes to support but are overwhelmed by the choices of how to help and who to help. In the month of June, we are offering free 90 minute virtual conversations with our staff of trained community guides who will take you through a structured exploration of your personal values, your views on impact and giving, and what you uniquely bring to the table. By the end of this conversation, we hope that you have clarity about what tangible action you can immediately take. To learn more or select a time for a conversation, email Danielle.
    • Create a long term plan: By June 30th, 2020, we will present a plan to our board of directions for a complete reevaluation of our organization’s role in racial justice. If our goal is to create an equitable, accessible, and inclusive community, that work starts with us, as an organization and as individuals. The plan may include an audit of ourselves and our organization, setting equity goals, and significant education and training at all levels of our organization (thank you to Avodah for your guidance on these elements so far). All pieces of this reevaluation will be implemented by racial justice educators and consultants who are from the Black community. 

We want to hear from you now.

What do you think of our plan? What are you encouraged by? Where did we miss the mark? While we would love to hear from everyone, we will prioritize the feedback of Jews of Color and the broader Black community first and foremost. Email yo@tribe12.org to share your thoughts with our full team. 

Filed Under: Philly, Professional

Reflections on the 10th Annual Tribe 12 Fellowship Launch Night

May 20, 2020 by Hannah Isaacs

To those who attended our virtual Tribe 12 Fellowship Launch Night – Thank you! We hope you were inspired by the work our Fellows put into their ventures. It takes a lot of courage to continue to innovate and dream big in these uncertain times and we could not be more proud of their achievements.

Unable to make Launch Night this year? Check out our virtual recording of the evening here. Want to keep up with our Fellows and learn about the things they are working on and needed as they continue to grow and develop their ventures?

Read below to learn more about what they are up to and how you can help!

Hillary Barlowe: Ehyeh

I am looking for folks to follow my Instagram @spiritcarekit to meet the artists and healers contributing to the boxes. Preorder a box for yourself or sponsor one for a neighbor.

Jessica Creane: IKantKoan

I need $10,000 to pay a team of designers a living wage for the month it will take to make R&J a reality.

Alex Fox: Real Estate for All Abilities 

Follow me on Instagram at @closeitwithfox help me reach, and let me know of disability organizations. And refer me to clients of all abilities that could use my help in real estate.

Matthew Goldberg: MakeAway Retreats 

Sign up for the first retreat at super early bird pricing or express interest! Find more information here! 

Dani Horn: Repair the World Philadelphia 

I am looking for volunteers for in-person and virtual opportunities to address local urgent needs as well as financial contributions to support Repair’s community efforts.Visit werepair.org

Sara Kupfer: Fit Jewess 

I am asking 5 of you to introduce me to a social media influencer who has an engaged Jewish female following for a one day Instagram takeover so that I can increase my reach. Follow me @fitjewess

Shoshana Leshaw: CreativeCare Consulting

I am looking for 2-3 people who are creative, business-minded, and driven to partner with me part-time as I grow this idea. Together we can remind mental healthcare workers that they are not alone.

Caleb Murphy: TheKindversation

Please like and subscribe to my Youtube channel and share my videos on all your social media platforms.

Katie Rabinowitz: The Shaw Method

I am looking for new clients looking to shake up their routines by signing up for my newsletter, joining my daily classes, or signing up for a personally curated program. Follow me @theshawmethod 

Michael Saks: Michael Saks Digital 

I am looking for 10 small Jewish businesses looking to update or develop their digital footprint. Follow me @themichaelsaks 

Noga Schechter: Rapid Medical Parts, Inc

I am looking for connections to Medical Facilities, NGOs, Municipalities and State Governments to fill in pre-orders for our emergency ventilator solution. 

Ashley Toal: iGoodBoy

I’m looking for a dog trainer who can help me lead virtual dog training sessions. Follow me @igoodboypets on Instagram! 

Nicole Wasilus: Everybody Loves Organizing 

I’m looking for new clients in the Philly area who want to organize their homes. Schedule a free virtual consultation with me at bit.ly/lovesorganizing. And follow my Instagram @everybodylovesorganizing

For more information on our Fellowship Program please reach out to Fellowship Coordinator Polly Edelstein or see our website! 

 

Filed Under: Cool Stuff, Entrepreneurs, Event Recap, Fellows, Professional

9 Ways the Fellowship Helped Me Start a Successful Business

May 6, 2020 by Hannah Isaacs

Join the 2020 Fellowship Cohort for the 10th Annual Tribe 12 Fellowship Launch Night: The Beginning!

Hear first hand from one of our Fellowship Alumni! 

Aleeza Ben Shalom of Marriage Minded Mentor went through the Tribe 12 Fellowship in 2013. As CEO of her business, she works as a coach and trainer to empower singles “to get over their hurdles and under the chuppah.” Aleeza is also the author of Get Real, Get Married. Check out Marriage Minded Mentor on Facebook!

Tribe 12 Fellowship gives young budding entrepreneurs an opportunity to blossom. So what is their secret and how do they build an entrepreneur? Here are 9 ways they helped me to grow and become the professional that I am today.

1. Belief In Me, Not Just My Venture

While it’s true that Tribe 12 would be ecstatic to see your venture succeed, it is not the venture that they believe in. It’s not your amazing business idea they want to support. Tribe 12 believes in YOU! They want to help you to grow personally and professionally. Whether your venture succeeds or fails, YOU will always succeed. Because even a failure is an opportunity for growth and learning. And if you have skills, Tribe 12 knows you’ll go on to try something else until you succeed.

2. Business Training Sessions

There is a wonderful and intimate group (about 10-12) of fellows each year. Together you receive training and participate in workshops where you learn new skills, refine your venture and engage in new thinking. Your peers are there to support you. I loved having a team of good hearted and supportive people to help me refine my vision and make my dream business a reality.

3. I Found Myself A Cheerleader

Being an entrepreneur can be lonely and challenging at times. Personally I work from home and spend much time on my own growing my business. Having a peer group and supportive business networking group made a huge difference. I knew I had a squad behind me who supported me and wanted to see me succeed. They cheered me on along the way. A supportive environment is key to an entrepreneur’s success.

4. Network, Network, Network.

I appear outgoing to most people, but I’ll tell you a secret: I’m an introvert by nature. While I have trained myself to be more of an extrovert, meeting new people can be a challenge. Tribe 12 provided me a network and connections that made meeting people a joy instead of a challenge.

5. Go Ahead And Make A Mistake

Tribe 12 embraces mistakes. In fact, if you’re not making mistakes in business you’re doing something wrong. Together we looked at where we went right and where we went wrong. I had a support group to help evaluate how to do things better next time.

6. Grant And Scholarship Opportunities

Whether you’re a for profit or nonprofit business, Tribe 12 lets you know about local, national and international opportunities to get financial support on an ongoing basis — long after your Fellowship has ended. In addition, they have a network of funders who are eager to learn about your venture and possibly support it. I personally received financial support to bring a 20-hour coaching training to market through a connection from Tribe 12.

7. It’s Not A Sprint, It’s A Marathon

Tribe 12 taught me to take my time, develop my ideas and build my business. Personally, I was in a rush to make things happen. Thank goodness for Tribe 12. They helped me to slow down and take the time to do things right.

8. Build Your Business Around Your Life

Instead of a traditional model of building your life around your business, Tribe 12 encouraged me to build my business around my life. At the time I was in the Fellowship I was pregnant with my 5th child! Building a business, while important, had to come second to taking care of my family. Tribe 12 believed in my passion and vision and helped me build a wonderful business around my wonderful (and growing) family. I so appreciated that they believed in me even when it looked like I had my hands full. I slowly grew my business and was afforded the ability to be a stay-at-home mom and work part time doing something I love. Now that my kids are all in school I have time to grow my business at a faster pace.

9. Launch Night

There’s just something special about presenting your venture to a crowd of a few hundred people. I stood on stage and shared what I was doing and why it was important to me. I also had to prepare a table, present my business and talk to potential clients. Of course I had to have business cards ready to go; I also had copies of my book, Get Real, Get Married, which was released at Launch night 2013. To this day I am always prepared to attend an event, speak to people and share what I’m doing in business. I still have my bag packed with my tablecloth and everything necessary to showcase my business.

Could I have done all this on my own? No. Tribe 12 was instrumental to my success. Thank you, Tribe 12. I love what I do and I love that you still support me and my growing business.

Join the 2020 Fellowship Cohort for the 10th Annual Tribe 12 Fellowship Launch Night: The Beginning! Launch Night will be the first time to hear about their socially-conscious businesses, nonprofits, and projects that will change our communities and the world. Join us to discover what ventures our Fellows have created, share your insights in a small group of like-minded individuals, and learn what you can expect from the Fellows and their ventures. This free event is open to the public. You must register in advance as a Zoom link

Filed Under: Adulting, Cool Stuff, Entrepreneurs, Fellows, Philly, Professional

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