Students & Alumni

Jewish Communal Leadership Program Class of 2012

Liz Grossi is the Lead Communications Coordinator for the City of Fort Collins. Before that she worked as the Colorado Development Manager with Share Our Strength, a national organization working to end child hunger in America by connecting kids with effective nutrition programs. She raised funds to support Colorado programming and coordinates special events to help build broader awareness of the organization. Before she returned home to Colorado, Liz spent three years working for the Fair Food Network in Ann Arbor, MI. She served in many different capacities, completing her work there as Director of Partnership Development. While a JCLP student, Liz worked with Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County and on environmental and food justice issues with Hazon in New York City. She was also part of the team that created "What Is Jewish Detroit?" JCLP's 2012 Communal Conversation.

Jewish Communal Leadership Program Class of 2012

Sara Shvartzman works for Kavod Senior Life as the coordinator of Kavod On the Road, organizing programs for Jewish seniors in partnership with varied agencies and synagogues in Denver, CO. Before returning to her home state of Colorado, Sara worked as the Arts and Culture Coordinator for the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore. While in JCLP, Sara was an MSW intern with Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit and Hebrew Senior Life in Boston.

Peace Corps Masters International Student Admitted 2014

Akirah is a proud native of Newark, NJ. She received her Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology from Virginia State University, a Historically Black University in Petersburg, Va. After her first term as an MI student, she accepted a 10 month English Teaching Assistantship with the US Fulbright Program in Malaysia which broadened her mind on the importance of cultural exchange and diplomacy. Upon returning, she left to serve in the Peace Corps as a Youth Development Volunteer in the Kingdom of Eswatini. During her service she worked as co-director of BRO (Boys Reaching Out) male empowerment program and youth facilitator in her community with GLOW (Girls Leading our World) female empowerment program. She has worked extensively with youth in various capacities and settings including youth empowerment clubs, schools, and pre-adjudicated and adjudicated youth. Akirah's desire for seeing more informed and empowered youth of color, strengthened families and healthy communities has led her to Social Work. As a Master's International Student in the School of Social with a focus on Children & Youth in Families, she hopes to gain practical skills to become a more vibrant youth worker, change agent, effective community organizer and citizen of the world.

Masters International Student Admitted 2014

Born to immigrant parents, Andrea grew up in a predominantly Latino immigrant community in Los Angeles, California. Through her life experiences she discovered her passion for immigrant and refugee populations. She was aware of many issues her community faced and wanted to be an agent of change and support. She knew that becoming educated was key to do so. She attained a Bachelor's of Science in Community and Regional Development from UC Davis. She was the first one in her family to pursue a college degree. Living in border towns was her effort to better understand the migration phenomenon. She was accepted to the University of Michigan under the Master's International Social Work program which allows her to gain a Master's of Social Work while gaining international experience trough serving in the Peace Corps. She served for two years in Costa Rica under the Youth Development Program in a border town with Nicaragua. Through this educational opportunity Andrea hopes to integrate the multiple perspectives she has gained and become a better support system for immigrant and refugee peoples experiencing challenging life transitions.

Master's International Student Admitted 2014

Bethany was raised outside of Cleveland, OH, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Sexuality Studies from The Ohio State University. She has recently returned from two years in Botswana as a Peace Corps Volunteer. While in Botswana she worked with young people on issues of gender, sexual and reproductive health, and life skills. She has an affinity for the arts, and is interested in the ways in which the arts can be used to transform organizing. Although she would like to continue to travel and experience different cultures, she will always call Cleveland home. Bethany would like to work with youth on the issues they are passionate about, and to try her hand at legislative advocacy. She aspires to lead a life of balance, love, and adventure.

Coverdell Fellow Student Admitted 2017

Biannca is a proud native of Detroit. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Bennett College with a BA in Special Education. After graduation, she completed a term of service in the Peace Corps as a Special Education and Youth Literacy Advisor in Jamaica. After Peace Corps, she served in AmeriCorps for a year in Philadelphia at College Possible as a High School Coach helping low-income scholars navigate the college admissions process and SAT prep. She has worked extensively with academically gifted and academically challenged scholars and is proud of the significant achievements of her scholars. Biannca's desire for sustainable, results-oriented community building led her to the field of Social Work. As a Coverdell Fellow in the School of Social Work's Community-Based Initiative program, she hopes to gain more practical skills to become an effective community organizer. Knowing that there is no comparison to the transformative power of a superior education, she is currently working on forming an educational non-profit. After earning her MSW, this 21st century global-minded champion will leverage her knowledge and resources via technology to provide 24/7 access to exceptional educational opportunities to underrepresented students in underserved communities.