I met these three girls at various points throughout the first weeks of school- High Holiday meals, Shabbats, etc. They were all from Milwaukee, and lived in the same residence hall. I began doing programming in their dorm, and as their friendship grew, they started connecting more and more with events at Hillel. I formed close relationships with them both individually and as a group. Now, they participate in Jewish Volunteer Corps and WEJI; additionally, Lynn is one of our new FYI Fellows!
Jane and I first spoke at the Kick Off BBQ. She is from a small town in Wisconsin and was so excited to be around so many Jewish people her age! We talked a lot throughout the first few weeks of school- met for coffee, and soon, she took on the role of stage manager for our Jewish Theater Project fall production. Jane’s involvement grew throughout the year; leading services, chanting Torah, and starting a band with some of her friends, who performed at our Spring coffeehouse!
Beth had a rough start to her first year here. I knew her name from seeing it on a ton of lists and things like that, but didn’t meet her and connect until second semester. She had had a hard time in her residence hall, and moved at the beginning of the spring semester. Beth and I talked a lot one on one during the Women’s Programming events she came to. After a few failed attempts at a coffee date, we started running into each other around town, and more and more, she started coming to events here. At the end of the year, she talked to me about how much she wanted to become involved here, and we talked about some programs she wanted to work on next year!
Ivy auditioned for our play in the fall, but was not cast. As the first semester wound down, she contacted me to express interest in Jewish Theater Project for the spring. We met for coffee, and talked about her idea for the spring play. She struck me as intensely talented and passionate, and as a freshman, we handed her the reins to direct the spring play. She did a phenomenal job, and became close with me, and Matt Canter. We both met with her before she left for the summer, and she pitched a new idea she had for a theater troupe. Ivy is clearly excited and engaged by her involvement with theater, which will be a way to keep her involved in the coming years.
Meredith became a leader this year by default; she was not born Jewish, but had been working with Andrea- learning and studying, and working towards converting. Meredith was interested in LGBT programming, but had never really been involved before. She was well connected in the UW LGBT community, and so I asked her if she’d be interested in helping get our group, One In A Minyan, off the ground. Over the course of the year, Meredith helped create and implement two successful programs.
I met Deborah because she worked at our front desk- but had never gotten tied into the community here beyond that. Our conversations went from chatting while I picked up messages, to me asking for her help on our Chanukah party. As the year progressed, Deborah started coming to Shabbat pretty regularly, and applied (and was chosen!) to be one of the FYI Fellows for next year. Deborah is in one of the Jewish sororities on campus and has started taking leadership roles in creating a greater Hillel/Greek connection!
Ann actually found me…she was browsing through the UW Hillel website, and was excited to find that we had a theater program. Ann and I spoke, and soon she was helping out on our fall production. Within a few conversations with Ann, we made a real connection—we come from the same area back at home, so we knew people in common, and it was clear to me that she was so talented! I got the sense that Ann had a difficult transition from her Jewishly populated home-town, to being the only Jewish kid on her hall her first year here. Ann had never really gotten involved in Hillel before emailing me. This spring, Ann produced and managed our production of “Kindertransport”- she did a fantastic job and expressed interest in staying involved next year.
I first met AC (a first-year student) after he talked to Jamie at Shabbat one night and told her he wanted to get more involved. Jamie suggested I call him, and later that next week, he and I had coffee. He told me that he had spent the first few months here feeling disconnected and a little overwhelmed. We talked about things he liked doing- camp, playing tennis, being social… soon, AC was coming around to Hillel regularly, checking out different meetings and events. He volunteered to help with the Chanukah party, which was his first time ‘leading’ at Hillel. By 2nd semester, AC was well connected and known in different social circles around Hillel. AC and I continue to work together on programming such as FYI, and have formed a really great bond.
After meeting Sam (a Sophomore) at a kick-off meeting for Jewish Volunteer Corps, Sam and I began to meet regularly for coffee to talk about things he wanted to do. Sam had a lot of vision and excitement about literacy work in the community, and he organized and planned a great event (a fundraiser) within weeks of our first meeting. In the Spring Semester, Sam continued to meet with me, and we would talk about just about anything. He asked me to write him a recommendation for a special literature program abroad, and he will be spending next semester in the UK!
Lara (a Junior) is an interesting “engagement” student, in that she is a well-connected and well-respected leader in the campus community. In the beginning of the year, it was suggested that I connect with her because she was a house fellow in one of the public Residence Halls. Throughout the year, Lara and I would get together for coffee once in awhile to chat and catch up, and Lara became really committed to co-programming in her hall with me! Together, we held 2 well-attended events in her hall (Challah baking and Hamantashen baking). It was a great partnership for us both, and Lara has expressed interest in continuing to help throughout the coming year as she takes on an even larger leadership position in the University.