Emily Shrode attends the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly. Courtesy: Emily Shrode

Jewish Federations of North America runs a special fellowship to support the emerging voices and future leaders of Jewish life in North America called Jewish Changemakers. Young adults with an interest in Judaism who yearn to make an impact in their community are invited to apply via the online portal.   

The Fellowship includes six weeks of virtual plenaries. Speakers join these special weekly Plenaries via zoom and impart their unique wisdom to the Changemakers within that session. Zoom’s breakout room feature not only gives Changemakers the chance to discuss their interpretations of the speakers’ key points but also the opportunity to make connections with one other. Weekly small-group sessions during the six-week period give Changemakers an opportunity to deepen their connections with one another. All Fellows are offered a mentor. In sparking more dialogue, the Changemakers are encouraged to participate in discussion boards following the pathway of their own-interests relevant to what the Jewish communities across North America face.   

Upon completing the work that goes into the Fellowship, Changemakers will earn a $350 stipend for their efforts.   

However, that is only the fellowship itself. And Jewish Federations of North America provides a wealth of opportunities for Changemakers to stay engaged after they’ve completed their six-week fellowship – through the Changemakers Network, 2,500+alumni of the Fellowship receive exclusive continued leadership training and networking opportunities to support their ongoing journeys. As of this year they are introducing Pathways, a program that lets these fellows further learn about community building, advocacy, and fundraising. Subsidized volunteer trips to Israel for those who have gone through the Changemakers program are also offered.   

An additional opportunity afforded to Changemakers is the chance to attend Jewish Federations’ annual General Assembly at no cost. The attendance and hotel are covered for Changemakers and an extra travel stipend is offered based on how far they travel.   

In 2024, the General Assembly was hosted in Washington DC. Notable Zionist voices like Hen Mazzig, Barri Weiss, former hostage Aviva Siegel, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog made appearances and addressed the assembly.  

Austin’s own Emily Shrode applied for the Changemakers fellowship last January and became a fellow in the summer of 2024. She enjoyed meeting young Jewish adults with her same passion for community. Furthermore, she was delighted to meet the Jewish professionals and lay leaders from her very own local federation when she traveled to DC to attend her first GA.  

“I feel like Changemakers came into my life at just the right time,” Shrode said.  “Because had I not participated at this exact moment in my life, I may not have fully absorbed the experience and the opportunities it provides with its due appreciation.”   

Shrode grew up in Spring, TX and has been in Austin since 2016 when she started classes at the University of Texas. Shrode is a former Moishe House resident and has served on the board of the Austin Chapter of Hadassah for the past three years. She was able to bring this background of leadership with her going into the Changemakers program.   

“In every Zoom meeting, I really looked forward to the breakout rooms. I recognize that everyone participating in the program has their own background with leadership. Listening to others plus sharing my experience prior to Changemakers was inspiring. There really are endless ways to be involved in the Jewish community! All anyone needs to do is just show up.”   

At the General Assembly in Washington DC, Shrode was able to see some of the friends she made on those calls over the course of her program. Additionally, she was able to befriend so many new faces. Many of these faces being Austin locals from her own federation!   

“Would you believe that on the flight heading on my own to the conference, that I would meet three people going to the SAME conference sitting right across the aisle from me on our Southwest flight?” Shrode exclaimed.  

While in the nation’s Capital, Shrode seized the opportunity to visit the Capital, go on a ghost tour, and support the Jewish nation at the Stand with Us Rally which she wrote about in her column on the Times of Israel. To read the full article visit: blogs.timesofisrael.com/proudly-representing-hadassah-at-the-stand-together-rally-in-washington-d-c/  

When talking about some highlights from the GA, Shrode had this to say, “Oh, my goodness, here were so many special moments. On the opening night of the GA I met and briefly hung out with comedian Tiffany Haddish. That was not on my bingo card going into the conference. Jewish Federations was able to bring in some very special speakers too! I was able not only to meet Hen Mazzig, the Israeli writer and influencer, I also got to share with him how his work encourages me to raise my Zionist voice and continue to write my articles for the Times of Israel. There I realized that Jews will only make it through these antisemitic times if we commit to being one other’s strength.”  

“Becoming part of Changemakers means a lot to me. As many know, I came to Judaism as a young adult after growing up in a Christian household. My Jewish journey is the path less taken and it has made all the difference to me. It is not always an easy path. How do I adopt these new traditions? Should I learn Hebrew? How can I carve a space for myself into an entirely new community? The Changemakers program challenged my leadership skills. The questions posed to us made me view community engagement in ways I previously hadn’t. And I needed the community of young professionals with a strong identity in Judaism to bond with over the Jewish experience since October 7th.   

“It was because of Changemakers that I got to travel to the General Assembly. I had the chance to be in the room with some of the most influential voices when it comes to diaspora Jewish life. It dawned on me that I deserved to be in that room. That I have in-fact carved a spot for myself in the Jewish community and grown my roots. This community wouldn’t be the same without me. Which quite literally means I am a change-maker.”