GatherDC’s signature Open Doors Fellowship is an innovative initiative that brings together and trains self-proclaimed “people persons” to become go-to leaders, conveners, and facilitators of DC and NoVA Jewish life.
Fellows learn to hone their leadership and engagement skills at bi-monthly meetings, celebrate Shabbat together, welcome DC and NoVA newcomers to the city, and receive financial support to bring a unique capstone project to life – all while forming deep, lasting friendships with one another.
Professional leadership, program facilitation, communications, and team building training at bi-monthly learning sessions.
Stipends to take DC or NoVA newcomers out for coffee to help them find their place in Jewish life.
Your cohort may include a celebratory Shabbat experience or a weekend long retreat so you can develop meaningful relationships with like-minded peers.
Financial support to create a unique capstone project of your choosing that will enrich our local Jewish community.
A network of professional staff and peers to be a go-to resource for you.
You should have some time, energy, and enthusiasm to spare for a few months.
Great! Applications are currently closed, but email us at info@gatherdc.org we will let you know as soon as applications launch.
NOTE: ALL are welcome to apply. It doesn’t matter how involved you are – or aren’t – in Jewish life, what your Jewish background is, your gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, or nationality, we’re just looking for amazing young adults with potential to become leaders and conveners of Jewish DC.
Email GatherDC’s Engagement Director Alexandra Tureau at alexandrat@gatherdc.org
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“GatherDC’s Open Doors Fellowship is a group of relentless extroverts who love building connections and community, especially in a Jewish context. We spend months reaching out to newcomers and not-so-newcomers to DC, buying coffees, and schmoozing our way through GatherDC happy hours, to help everyone find their people.”
“The Fellowship allowed me to affect the Jewish Community by encouraging me to listen to the community’s needs, and providing me resources to create positive change.”
“The Open Doors Fellowship helped me remember what I love about my Judaism, as well as learn how to work with others to create a Jewish community that speaks more deeply to more of us.”
“As Open Doors fellows, we are hubs of the networks of relationships in the DC Jewish community. It was amazing to see how the connections we help facilitate between individuals in the community could quickly multiply into so many new connections.”
The true cost of the Open Doors Fellowship is $600 per person. We are able to offer this fellowship to participants at no cost due to generous support of our funders who believe that incredible young adults have the power to transform our Jewish community through peer-to-peer engagement
GatherDC welcomes the participation of interfaith individuals, and people of all abilities, backgrounds, gender identities and sexual orientations. GatherDC fosters inclusive communities and strives to accommodate all needs whenever possible. If you require special accommodations, please contact us in advance of the event at (202) 656-0743, and we will make every effort to meet your needs.
