JWFA’s Agents of Change Training (ACT) is a year-long journey of personal development and empowerment. Participants gain insight into their existing skills and passions and learn how they can harness their energy to make a lasting difference, challenge themselves to be vulnerable and thoughtful, and grow toward their full potential. Building on the themes uncovered in JWFA’s Community Study, the program’s unique curriculum is designed to help Jewish women lead more authentic and meaningful lives, personally, professionally and communally.

For more information on the ACT program, please contact Jodi Hirschfield at jhirschfield@jwfatlanta.org. 

ACT engages participants collectively and individually. Topics explored throughout the course include:

• Leading a value-driven life
• Navigating difficult conversations
• The power of working as a collective
• Impact philanthropy
• and much, much more.

Learning is conducted as a group through monthly seminars and intimate conversations led by leaders in their fields. In addition to the sessions, get-togethers are scheduled regularly to allow the group to have time to socialize and get to know one another. ACT Participants will also be invited to various JWFA programs, meetings, and social gatherings throughout the year and will be invited to join an ongoing alumni association following completion of the program. Participation in the ACT program is limited in order to provide the best chance for meaningful engagement and interaction with fellow participants.

The women who invest their time and energy in ACT are poised to make a positive and lasting impact in their own lives and the lives of others.

ACT is open to all self-identifying women in the Atlanta Jewish community, ages 25+ who support JWFA’s mission to empower women and girls through social change and wish to develop skills to impact their community, share expertise and inspiration, and be part of a network of like-minded women.

ACT Alumnae on their experiences:

“There’s just something about ACT that reoriented me and helped reset my values. The program helped me remember who I was and helped me to reinvent myself. The concept of the program helped me put myself out there in ways I would not have had confidence to do before.”

“The ACT program was such a special moment in time and space. It gave me the opportunity to reflect honestly and carve out time to show up, just for myself, which is so incredibly valuable.”

“Not only did ACT enable me to connect with people in a really deep and meaningful way, it enabled me to make new friendships and deepen the relationships I already had and make them even stronger.”

“ACT gave me a group of women that are so incredibly supportive of each other and truly care about one another. To be able to express our own vulnerabilities is a gift, especially among women. I’ve found that in my life through this experience.”

“The robust and happy interactions created through ACT gave me a whole new group of women I’m now completely connected to. I’ve been able to delve into their worlds and invite them into mine. I didn’t even know I how much I needed that but now I know I really did.”

“ACT gave me a moment to recenter and reflect and look inward, which was so meaningful to me. I feel so connected to the women I’ve met through the program and so hopeful and energized.”

“I’d like to thank this group and this program for giving me the space to really think about what’s important to me, how I want to spend my time, things I want to get involved with and the connections you introduced us to, from Ruth Messinger to Billy Planer to Nadia Bilchik. It was just a space that I would not have carved out for myself to be able to do this type of introspection and I just really appreciate the gift that it has given me of what I’ve been able to learn over the last year as well as tools to help guide decisions moving forward.”

Meet the Sixth Cohort of ACTivists 

Erica Ashner is a PR professional with experience in media relations, corporate communications, event planning, marketing and social media. She is currently the global PR Manager at Contentsquare, a digital experience analytics platform. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, working out, traveling (and researching restaurants and activities). She lives in Roswell with her husband and daughter. 

Susan Blum was raised in New Jersey and received her undergraduate degree from Columbia and MPA from New York University. She is an attorney, focusing on bankruptcy and Social Security Disability. Susan previously worked for the Baltimore Jewish Counsel where she oversaw the interethnic and interfaith work and advocated for the Jewish community. She lives in Sandy Springs with her husband and son and has another son in college. She enjoys walking her dog, hiking and being a Philly sports fan. 

Jana Camerin was born and raised in Atlanta and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in private practice. She is involved in the advocacy and training of other professionals in specialized areas of the mental health field through the lens of social justice. Jana loves spending time at Lake Lanier with her extended family in Atlanta, along with her husband, two children, and sweet dog who is still learning to love water!  

Amy Eisenman has called Atlanta home since she was just a year old. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and went on to complete her master’s in professional counseling at Georgia State University. Amy has dedicated over 15 years to the mental health field and recently opened her own private practice in Sandy Springs. She resides in Brookhaven with her husband, two daughters, their dog, and cat. 

Sharon Feingold is a native Atlantan who recently returned “home” after two decades away in New York City and Asheville, NC. She graduated from The George Washington University and received an MBA from Georgia State University. For more than 20 years she has worked as a voiceover artist, voicing everything from commercials to animation. She also launched her publishing company, Orange Puffin Playgrounds. She has one adorable daughter, and a fish named Bluey. 

Debra Greenfield is an Atlanta native with degrees from University of Georgia and Georgia State University. She previously worked as a Child-Ljfe Specialist and has been a stay-at-home mom for many years. Debra is very active in local philanthropies such as Giving Grace and CHOA. She and her three kids reside in Dunwoody.  

Susan Heidt was born in NY, raised in the South and has called Atlanta home for 40 years. She is a graduate of the University of Alabama and is an active volunteer, serving as Vice President of Congregation B’nai Torah, a member of AJFF’s Film Evaluation committee, along with roles with JNF, Backpack Buddies, MJCCA, The Sandwich Project and more. Susan has chaperoned the Maccabi Games and works as a personal trainer and Pilates instructor. She and her husband live in Brookhaven and are parents to three adult daughters.  

Jessica Kraitzik grew up in Seattle, Washington. She and her husband moved to Atlanta in 2001, and she received her master’s in education, after which she worked at The Davis Academy. While raising her three kids she became interested in parenting and in 2020, she got certified as a Parenting Coach. Jessica just finished her two-year term as President of Congregation Beth Tefillah. She lives in Sandy Springs with her husband and three kids. 

Laura Katz was born in New Jersey and has lived in Atlanta for over 30 years.  She earned dual graduate degrees – one in Social Work from the University of Maryland and another in Executive Coaching from Emory University. Laura runs an executive coaching company and serves as the interim senior director of REALITY Israel. She is a mom to two grown children and can be found travelling, cooking Israeli dishes, hiking, playing pickle ball or mahjongg and hanging with friends and family. 

Kerri Katz was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and attended Emory University, where she earned a B.A. in English. She worked in Public Relations in New York and as a teacher and freelance writer after moving to Atlanta. She later found her true calling as an End-of-Life Doula and hospice volunteer. Kerri was Board President of ORT Atlanta and has held many volunteer positions at her children’s schools and her family’s synagogue. She and her husband, Erez, are empty nesters with two adult children. 

Danielle Kroo is a Cincinnati native who works for American Jewish Committee as Director of Operations for the Center of Education Advocacy. She holds degrees from Lehigh and Michigan State Universities. Danielle’s commitment to the Jewish community was shaped by the Young Judaea youth movement, where she attended summer camps, participated in Year Course, and met her now-husband while working at camp. Her career includes roles at AIPAC, Planned Parenthood and The Global Good Fund. Danielle also serves on the Board of the Red Tent Fund. She and her family are members of Congregation B’nai Torah and reside in Sandy Springs.  

Lizzie Lack was born in Philadelphia and moved to Georgia in sixth grade. She graduated from Georgia Tech with a business degree and relocated to Manhattan to work in Public Relations. Two years later she moved home to begin her fundraising career at her alma mater and is now Director of Development for The Breman. Lizzie lives in Brookhaven with her husband and their labradoodle, where she enjoys gardening, reading, convincing her husband to take on house projects, and being the cool Aunt to her 10 nieces and nephews. 

Leslie Levine was born in Dallas, TX and raised in Chattanooga, TN.  She has a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and has called Atlanta home for 27 years ago. In addition to running her own private practice, she co-founded a grassroots effort, Building Community Thru Conversation, engaging interfaith individuals in “kind and curious” conversations on Israel/Middle East to help fight the rise of antisemitism worldwide following the events of October 7, 2023. Leslie loves being out in nature, working at sleepaway camp, and crafting and resides in East Cobb with her family and dog.   

Laura Marcus was raised in Virginia but has lived in Atlanta for 30 years. She is the Program Coordinator of the One Good Deed program at Jewish Family and Career Services. She received her undergraduate degree from Tulane University and a master’s in health services administration from George Washington University. She spent many years as a Melton student and has volunteered with NCJW.  She and her husband have three children and live in Sandy Springs.  

Rebecca McCullough is a (basically) native Atlantan who grew up in the vibrant communities around Woodward Elementary, Cross Keys High School, and Congregation Or Ve Shalom. She followed her passion for creativity to the University of Georgia, where she earned an ABJ in advertising with a minor in art. Rebecca has spent more than 17 years at The Weber School, currently serving as the Director of Creative Services. She enjoys reading, crafting, and embarrassing her two adult-ish children. Married for 25 years, she threatens divorce more often than her husband finds comfortable. 

Renee Sevy-Hasterok grew up in the Detroit area and has called Atlanta home for almost 40 years. She received her MSW from Georgia State University and spent 15 years as an oncology social worker in a large hospital system before deciding on a career change. She currently works as a Program Coordinator for doctoral students at Emory University. Renee is the mother of four grown children and two grandchildren and lives in Dunwoody with her husband.   

Rachel Shimoni Simons was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA and was a Jewish day school student until she attended University of California, San Diego where she studied psychology.  She also completed an MA in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy.  She began her career as a therapist and then worked as a clinical supervisor and program director overseeing prevention and intervention services to families impacted by child abuse and domestic violence. Rachel later switched to private practice, first in Chicago and then Beverly Hills.  She currently lives in Sandy Springs with her husband, soccer playing son, and hound dog. 

Laura Weiss was raised in Chicago and made her way south to attend Emory University. Early in her career, Laura did strategic marketing and special events for Macy’s, MCI, and Nortel Networks.  She also owned Dolce, a gourmet food store in Sandy Springs for 10 years.  After selling her business, she headed back to her alma mater and was Director of Operations at Emory’s Goizueta Business School MBA Career Center. For the last nine years, Laura has been the Admissions Director at The Epstein School.  She loves traveling, cooking, entertaining and theater and lives in Sandy Springs with her son & daughter. 

Janine Wiskind is a native of South Africa and emigrated to Atlanta, GA in 1997. She got her Master of Occupational Therapy at Brenau University and has spent the past 22 years passionate about supporting children and their families through that OT lens. She runs her private clinic in Sandy Springs and has also taught continuing education classes for allied health therapists all over the country. She recently launched her Body and Brain Parenting Curriculum online to support a wider audience.  She is a wife and mother to two teens and thrives on being a constant learner, exercising, being out in nature, reading, and laughing with good friends.  

You can read about all of our ACT Alumnae by clicking here.

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