Meet Talia, GatherDC’s Summer Intern! Talia is so excited to be joining the Gather Team for the summer. Talia is a rising senior at Wesleyan University, where she majors in English and Environmental Studies. Read the full article to learn more about what Talia will be up to this summer!
Hannah: Hey Talia—so excited to talk to you! First question: what brings you to the Gather team?
Talia: A friend of mine saw the job description and sent it to me! I was really excited by the work Gather is doing, especially because DC is my local community. I wanted to work in an environment that puts people first and develops meaningful relationships.
Hannah: What’s something you’re excited for in your internship?
Talia: I’m looking forward to supporting Gather’s in-person experiences like ‘Beyond the Tent.’ I love curating experiences for folks from start to finish, there’s no better feeling than watching people enjoy something you’ve created.
Hannah: Describe your dream day in the DMV from start to finish.
Talia: I would wake up to perfect DC weather (75, sunny, no humidity) and start the day with a walk in Rock Creek Park. Then, I’d head to Call Your Mother for a Sun City (no meat) bagel sandwich and iced latte. I would meet up with my friends for a combination of art museum hopping, book store browsing, and maybe a little vintage shopping before stopping for a snack at Union Market. We’d head to the National Mall for a picnic and drinks before catching an outdoor movie, then end the day with a late-night stroll at the monuments. Obviously, we’d get a lot of candid Instagram pics along the way.
Hannah: What do you do to relax or for fun at the end of a long week?
Talia: I love watching TV with my family and exploring new places in the city with my friends.
Hannah: How do you connect with your Jewish identity or Jewish community?
Talia: My Jewish identity feels very rooted in social justice work and community building. I feel most connected to my Judaism when I’m engaging in political dialogue, protest, or community service. I also love Shabbat and creating space for peaceful connection before going into the weekend.
Hannah: Speaking of Judaism, do you have a favorite Jewish cultural reference?
Talia: I love those “tag yourself” memes that pop up around the Jewish holidays, like “which Passover dessert are you?” They’re so fun to send around to my Jewish friends and really illustrate how diverse the Jewish community is. It’s fun to make fun of yourself sometimes!
Hannah: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Talia: My mom has always encouraged me to approach situations with as much kindness and compassion as possible. It’s easy to forget that folks are usually showing up the best they can, myself included. Extending love and care to people can go such a long way, and saves your own feelings from getting hurt unnecessarily.
Hannah: If you could invite any three people to your Shabbat dinner, who would they be and why?
Talia: Ilana Glazer (so funny, how could you not want her at shabbat?), My grandfather (he passed when I was little and would have loved to share Jewish experiences with him) and Megan Thee Stallion (real hot girl sh*t).
Hannah: Last but definitely not least—complete this sentence: When Jews of DC Gather…
Talia: We create a vibrant community!
Want to meet Talia? Send her an email here!
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