What is the YA ambassadorship?

Inspired by the Jewish Foundation's community survey and the Reflect Cincy initiative, the YA Ambassadorship is designed to seek to understand the underrepresented segments of the Jewish population in Cincinnati, specifically those who want to be involved in the Jewish community but sense barriers that prevent them from doing so. We hope to work together to understand what those barriers are and how we can help mitigate them.

Who should apply?

If you're Jewish, in your 20s or 30s, and like to good times and deep, important conversations, you will love the YA ambassadorship!

Be prepared to gain a better understanding of Jewish communal life, test assumptions, and think big about why and how to help our Jewish peers on the periphery feel more connected.

Where will it take place?

The meetings will be all over Cincinnati, in different cool venues all over town. With the exception of the weekend retreat, which will likely be a plane's ride away and somewhere much warmer than Cincinnati =)

When will the meetings be?

The meetings will be monthly-ish, in the evening, and will be calendared around the cohort's schedule. But here's a tentative schedule:

11/07

11/28

12/12

01/02

01/16

RETREAT 02/09

02/27

03/13

03/27

04/17

If you have to miss a meeting, that's ok, we can make it up in an individual session, but it's definitely more effective (and more fun) to be there with the group.

Who is behind this?

Hi, my name is Kayla Soroka. I'm originally from New York and moved to Cincinnati with my family seven years ago; we've loved this community since Day 1.

I'm grateful for all the opportunities I've had to serve the community here, be it as an educator, YP program director, board member, committee participant, and (my personal favorite) Shabbat dinner host!

If you've met me, know me well, or bumped into me at event or the JCC, you may already know that I love cooking, eating, traveling, deep conversations, learning things, and my very adorable kids (in no particular order, jk).

I am deeply passionate about strengthening our community through building stronger relationships and increased awareness, especially between different sects of Jews. My YP program, (formerly known as The JTeam, now called) CJX Young Professionals, is all about creating a space for Jews of all types to meet, connect, have a good time and learn from each other. Always accessible, approachable, relaxed and free.

This ambassadorship is my newest adventure, and I hope you'll join me!