JWA talks to Rising Voices Fellowship alum Phoebe Chapnick-Sorokin, a Special Projects Coordinator for the Jewish Federations of North America, for our series marking the tenth anniversary of the fellowship.

JWA: Tell us about your experience participating in the sixth cohort of the Rising Voices Fellowship in 2018-2019.

Phoebe Chapnick-Sorokin: I had an amazing experience participating in the Rising Voices Fellowship (RVF). I was eager to expand my writing experiences to new contexts, as writing was very central in my high school experience as editor-in-chief of our school newspaper. Participating in RVF did exactly that: each blog post assignment was unique and allowed me to explore new topics and styles of writing, and the lasting relationships I formed with my fellow cohort members created a new community filled with shared values and important dialogue. The first retreat was the highlight of my overall experience. I went in nervous to meet new people, and immediately felt comfortable with the group because of the welcoming environment created by JWA.

JWA: What were the impacts of RVF on your high school self?

PCS: Growing up in Iowa City, I was surrounded by very few Jewish peers. Although I was very involved in activism in my community, I hadn’t spent a lot of time thinking about it through a Jewish lens. The Rising Voices Fellowship helped me realize how integral my Jewish roots are to my passion for activism. In general, after both learning how to better understand my Jewish feminist identity and meeting the other members of my cohort, I became much more confident in expressing my Judaism and Jewish values. 

JWA: How has RVF continued to influence you as an adult?

PCS: The Rising Voices Fellowship was one of the main experiences that made me realize how much I value learning through a Jewish lens and how my interests intersect with Judaism. Since my time in the fellowship, I have continued exploring how my various passions connect to Judaism, such as music and mental health advocacy, and I credit my ability to connect these experiences to my learnings in RVF. 

JWA: You graduated from Northwestern in 2023. Can you talk about your Jewish and feminist involvement during college?

PCS: My involvement with Hillel at Northwestern truly shaped my college experience. Northwestern Hillel is filled with strong female leaders, including the Campus Rabbi and Associate Director, both of whom are important mentors for me personally and professionally. I frequently discussed the views of abortion relating to Jewish faith and how women are portrayed in biblical texts with the Campus Rabbi. The Associate Director inspired me to go into the Jewish professional world, using it as a launching pad to explore my many interests, both Jewish and non-Jewish. I hold the record of participating in the most Jewish Learning Fellowships at Northwestern Hillel (five), with topics such as Big Israel Questions and Sex, Love, and Relationships, a testament to the wide range of offerings to which I was lucky to have access.

JWA: Can you tell us about your current work for the Jewish Federations of North America?

PCS: I currently work as Special Projects Coordinator in the Community and Jewish Life department at the Jewish Federations of North America. The department was formed to increase and reshape Jewish life in North America, and in my role I assist my colleagues with a wide range of projects and initiatives, including developing a strategy to engage the Midlife (55+) demographic, Shabbat of Love, the Israel Educational Travel Alliance, and much more. This position has allowed me to strengthen my current skills and build new ones, such as managing calendars, communicating with lay leaders, organizing large-scale convenings, and, of course, writing. I engage with professionals and lay leaders both within Jewish Federations and throughout the Jewish nonprofit community in North America, allowing me to gain a unique perspective of the Jewish professional landscape. 

JWA: What advice do you have for young people discovering their Jewish and feminist identities?

PCS: Stay strong in the identities that are important to you and know that there is a place for Judaism in all forms of activism. Take advantage of the opportunities presented to you, and continuously seek out learning opportunities!