Marcia Cohodes, WHP Alum (Minneapolis): I was very happy to see that the GA offered presentations and interactive [round table] discussions on the subject of Inclusion and Jewish adults with disabilities.  Also, instead of talking about millennials and how Federations can engage them, there were numerous opportunities to hear directly from this population in breakout sessions and plenaries; resulting in many stereotypes being dispelled.

Marcia Cohodes, an alum of the Wexner Heritage Program, focuses primarily on two areas in the Jewish community: inclusion of individuals with special needs and Hillel LIFE. She has spearheaded multiple inclusion programs in the Minneapolis area and around the country, including her work on the JFNA Domestic Affairs Cabinet and as co-chair of the Disability Workgroup, and with Tikvah-Atzmayim. Marcia also designed, along with Jerry Ingber, Hillel LIFE, a program funded by local WHP alumni. The program honors the Wexners for their commitment to Hillel, raises the visibility of Hillel locally and brings Jewish students together with one another and introduces them to the greater Jewish community. Marcia can be reached at macohodes@earthlink.net.

Ofer Chen, WIF Alum (Class 27): My favorite thing about the GA was the feeling of a special connection bonding all participants from so many places and opinions into one community, and allowing each of us to approach others and naturally engage in conversation.

Ofer Chen, an alum of the WIF, most recently served as Head of Department of Community Health at Maccabi Healthcare Services, Israel's second largest HMO. In this role, he was in charge of Maccabi entire family physicians sector, developing new models for community healthcare and for providing better management of chronic diseases. He previously worked as a clinical internal medicine specialist for many years. Ofer can be reached at oferche@gmail.com.

Stephen Hazan Arnoff, WGF Alum (Class 13): 

Stephen Hazan Arnoff, an alum of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship, is Director of Culture, Community, and Society at Shalem College. He holds a doctorate in Midrash and Scriptural Interpretation from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Previously, he was a Tikvah Scholar at NYU Law School and a Mandel Jerusalem Fellow at the Mandel Leadership Institute. Before joining Shalem, Dr. Hazan Arnoff served as Executive Director of New York City’s 14th Street Y, where he led that institution’s evolution into one of the fastest-growing anchors for Jewish communal life in North America. He publishes and lectures widely on art, religion, music, and Jewish life, and is currently completing a book on religion, myth, and popular music. Stephen can be reached at hazanarnoff@gmail.com.