Good People Talk

Considering societal trends and schisms threatening the robust functioning of American democracy, Civic Spirit — a Good People Fund grantee — works with educators and students in faith-based schools across the country to bolster civic fluency, skills and engagement. Civic Spirit's Executive Director, Rabbi Charles Savenor, speaks with GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger about the … Continue reading In Challenging Times, Advancing Civic Engagement →

Jamal Alkirnawi is a leader in the Bedouin community in Israel and the Founder and Executive Director of A New Dawn in the Negev, a Good People Fund grantee. The organization uplifts Bedouin youth facing socio-economic challenges in the region, and with a Bedouin-Jewish core, promotes equality, co-existence and peace. “I have the responsibility for … Continue reading In Israel's Negev, A Passion to Uplift Bedouin Youth and Advance Co-Existence →

Shoshana Barzel founded New Neighbors Partnership in 2020, establishing clothing partnerships for newly resettled families in New York City. The clothing partnerships are the foundation of long-term community support networks, an invaluable anchor for refugee, asylee and asylum-seeking families. Shoshana speaks with GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger. The Good People Fund: www.goodpeoplefund.org Read The Good … Continue reading For Newly Resettled Families in NYC, Threads of Connection and Support →

Esty Shushan is a Haredi woman who founded Nivcharot — a Good People Fund grantee — to promote the status and rights of ultra-Orthodox women in Israel through education, advocacy and cultivation of women leaders. In conversation with GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger, Esty describes her personal journey finding her voice as a social visionary, … Continue reading For Haredi Women in Israel, Gaining a Voice →

Individual and collective trauma affects our potential to do good in the world as social visionaries, especially now in a broken landscape. So, how we seek awareness, perspective and healing is critical. Rabbi Igal Harmelin — who is active in the trauma field and spoke at The Good People Fund (un)conference last fall — talks … Continue reading Healing as Activism →

The first-ever Good People Fund (un)conference brought nearly 70 GPF grantees from throughout the US and Israel to New York in November — for two intensely rewarding days sharing experiences, origin stories, professional development and more … and shattering the isolation inherent in visionary leadership. In this post-(un)conference episode of Good People Talk, GPF Executive … Continue reading In Their Own Words: Reflections from The Good People Fund 2024 (un)conference →

Merav filled her tote bag with fresh fruits and vegetables, a typical scene at a farmer's market anywhere. But this one in West Jerusalem is different: food is rescued, prices are non-existent, and individuals and families facing food insecurity — like Merav's — are welcomed and respected. The whole environment, created by JLM Food Rescuers … Continue reading Stories of Hope: JLM Food Rescuers →

Often their life experience includes being ostracized from family … being homeless … being a sex worker … being abused … being shunned. So at Trans House in Tel Aviv, trans women are embraced for who they are without judgment or whispers. Linor Abergel is CEO of the Israeli Transgender Association — a Good People … Continue reading Stories of Hope: Israeli Transgender Association →

Beth Weinstock walked into that classroom carrying grief … but also a driving purpose. In 2021, her college-aged son Eli accidentally ingested fentanyl and died. Yet six months later, Beth and her daughter, Olivia, co-founded BirdieLight — a Good People Fund grantee — to honor Eli by spreading awareness about fentanyl in drugs to students, … Continue reading Stories of Hope: BirdieLight →

At an oasis of calm and healing called Ruca's Farm — a Good People Fund grantee — IDF veterans like Gideon are finding relief from trauma and a path toward light. Here, social visionary Nir Lahav, who grew up on a kibbutz in northern Israel, is combining his own love for the land with a … Continue reading Stories of Hope: Ruca's Farm →

Samara, incarcerated and suffering from advanced lymphoma, received a compassionate release from prison, a move that arguably saved her life due to the intervention of Medical Justice Alliance — a Good People Fund grantee. MJA mobilizes volunteer clinicians as expert medical witnesses for advocates seeking care or outright release for clients facing often life-threatening illnesses, … Continue reading Stories of Hope: Medical Justice Alliance →

Jereme is a Black pastor and salvage company manager. Aaron is a white, Orthodox Jewish human resources executive. A friendship seems unlikely … but a tight one formed from their participation in Rekindle — a Good People Fund grantee joining members of the Black and Jewish communities to rebuild their historic relationship and accelerate positive … Continue reading Stories of Hope: Rekindle →

Besides heading The Israel Lemonade Fund — a Good People Fund grantee — Shari Mendes serves on an Israel Defense Forces reserve unit dedicated to caring for the bodies of female IDF soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. In this episode — presented as we mark one year since October 7 — Shari describes her … Continue reading Voices from Israel: Marking a Year Since October 7 →

Shari Mendes is a breast cancer survivor — who during her journey of treatment and recovery, met patients facing severe financial struggle exacerbated by loss of work and other factors. Responding, she founded Israel Lemonade Fund — a Good People Fund grantee — to help breast cancer patients in financial crisis, offering one-time grants covering … Continue reading For Breast Cancer Patients, Offering Financial Help … and Lessening Stress →

Good People Fund (un)conference keynote speaker Ruth Messinger is a prominent social change advocate, and former President and current Global Ambassador of the American Jewish World Service. In this special pre-(un)conference episode, Ruth speaks about the Jewish and moral imperative to repair the world … the challenges facing visionary leaders … and what she's planning … Continue reading (un)conference Preview! Repairing a Challenged World, with Ruth Messinger →

Tag Meir (“Light Tag”) — a Good People Fund grantee — was founded in 2011 by Gadi Gvaryahu to counter racism in Israel, and has grown to lead a coalition of more than 50 organizations across political, religious and cultural spheres to mobilize voices for coexistence, support victims of hate crimes, and more. Since October … Continue reading In Israel, Countering Racism and Hate →

Come November, at The Good People Fund's (un)conference in New York, singer-songwriter John Beltzer will bring us into his unique zone of good … leading attendees as we give our voices to a song personalized for a child facing a serious medical challenge. Since 1996, John's Songs of Love Foundation has touched the lives of … Continue reading (un)conference Preview! Songs of Love, with John Beltzer →

With antisemitism rising exponentially and perniciously on cyber platforms, Fighting Online Antisemitism — a Good People Fund grantee based in Israel — uses its corps of 3,000 trained volunteers around the world and AI to monitor online spaces, report antisemitic content, and move to eliminate it. In this very timely episode of Good People Talk, … Continue reading Fighting Online Antisemitism →

Since Oct 7, colleges are flashpoints of antisemitism and anti-Zionism. TribeTalk, a Good People Fund grantee, is equipping Jewish college students with knowledge, resources and confidence to navigate through this challenging reality … and giving college-bound students information on what to expect when they arrive on campus. Jude Sydney and Robin Friedman are co-founders of … Continue reading For Jewish Students, Navigating Surging Antisemitism on Campus →

In our severely challenged world — as we look to define and grasp hope — Rabbi Debra Orenstein sat with Good People Fund Director of Engagement Julie Fisher to talk about her own journey to hope … the value of hope to our mental and physical well beings … practical tips for all of us … Continue reading Embracing Real Hope, In Trying and Challenging Times →

Amy Ever, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, is the Founder and CEO of A Courageous Voice — educating and equipping children, parents, teachers and community leaders with the knowledge and tools to end the scourge of child abuse, neglect and exploitation rooted in both on- and offline spaces. Amy talks about her journey from … Continue reading From Trauma to Impact: Ending Child Abuse and Exploitation →

Three of our visionary grantees in Israel vividly describe how they're meeting new challenges since the terrorist attacks of Oct. 7, and staying true to their passions and missions elevating good and hope — and uplifting the communities they serve with renewed resolve. While in Israel in March, GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger and GPF … Continue reading The Good People Fund, Live from Israel →

We're at our 50th episode of Good People Talk! Marking this milestone moment, we've handed the microphone over to special guest host — Jodi Rudoren, Editor-in-Chief of the Forward and former Jerusalem Bureau Chief of The New York Times — as she discovers The Good People Fund's secret sauce for building and sustaining a community … Continue reading 50 Doses of Good →

Blyth Taylor Lord founded Courageous Parents Network in 2014 — some years after her daughter, Cameron, and her nephew, Hayden, both died from infantile Tay-Sachs. Blyth turned her grief into purpose. CPN — a GPF alum grantee — uses education, advocacy and community to equip and empower parents of children with serious medical conditions. She … Continue reading Turning Grief into Purpose →

For youth across the spectrum of developmental, physical and learning abilities, the war presents unique challenges. Beth Steinberg and Miriam Avraham — both mothers of children with Down syndrome — are the Founding Directors of Shutaf (“partner” in Hebrew) — practicing an inclusionary model of informal programming for kids, teens, and young adults across abilities. … Continue reading Voices from Israel: During Wartime, Maintaining Community for Youth Across Abilities →

Kavod v'Nichum (“Honor and Comfort”) — a GPF grantee — brings Jewish end-of-life discussions and practices into the light by elevating and advancing Chevrot Kadisha — holy societies that support individuals, families and communities during a sacred life cycle event. Sarit Wishnevski, Kavod v'Nichum's Executive Director, joins Naomi Eisenberger, GPF Co-Founder and Executive Director, to … Continue reading Building Community Around Jewish End-of-Life →

Since its founding, Road to Recovery has driven thousands of Palestinians — mostly children — from crossing points to Israeli hospitals for critical medical care … and back again. Road to Recovery Chair Yael Noy joins GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger to discuss how the organization and its volunteers are adjusting to new realities on … Continue reading Voices from Israel: For Road to Recovery, Embracing Hope →

Shlomit Somech-Lehmann is CEO of Al Baqour, a Good People Fund grantee using innovative approaches to early childhood education to empower Israel's challenged Bedouin community in Israel's Negev. In this very personal conversation with GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger, Shlomit shares stories of loss and hope from October 7 and the weeks since. This is … Continue reading Voices from Israel: Personal Reflections from Israel's South →

Brit Ha'Leviot — a Good People Fund grantee in Israel — works to protect and promote the rights and well-being of trans and gender diverse youth and their families, and educate institutions like schools, and greater Israeli society. Co-Founder Merav Livni Keish speaks to GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger about how the organization is adjusting … Continue reading Voices from Israel: For the Trans and Gender Diverse Community, Support through Crisis →

In this second episode of Voices From Israel, Good People Fund Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger welcomes and introduces Julie Fisher as GPF's new Director of Engagement. Julie was the Founder and Director of the Consortium for Israel and the Asylum Seekers, and describes challenges to the asylee population in Israel before and since Oct. 7, … Continue reading Voices From Israel: Helping Asylum Seekers in Israel During the War →

Sahar — a Good People Fund grantee — has for more than two decades offered volunteer-based online support to Israelis experiencing mental and emotional distress. Since the horrific attack on Israel on October 7, the organization has geared up to meet unprecedented need for its services. In this first episode of Voices from Israel, GPF … Continue reading Voices from Israel: Addressing Trauma in Israel →

As The Good People Fund (un)conference approaches, our guest is featured speaker Jon Adam Ross — a New York-based artist, activist and educator, and co-founding artist and Executive Director of the In(HEIR)itance Project. In this dynamic episode, Jon describes the power of harnessing our stories and narratives to fuel and deepen our work and advance … Continue reading The Good People Fund (un)conference: Artist, Activist and Educator Jon Adam Ross on the Power of our Stories →

After Irwin Rosenstein (z”l) was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and later dementia, his wife Carol discovered that music making eased his condition and uplifted his spirits. So the two founded Music Mends Minds — a Good People Fund grantee based in Los Angeles — to create musical support groups benefiting individuals with Alzheimer's, dementia and … Continue reading Music as Medicine →

As The Good People Fund's (un)conference approaches in November, our guest is Rabbi Joel Mosbacher of Temple Shaaray Tefila in NYC, host of the two-day event. Rabbi Mosbacher — who will be a keynote speaker at the (un)conference — describes its significance to the Shaaray Tefila community, and shares his compelling social action journey, one … Continue reading The Good People Fund (un)conference: A Conversation with Keynote Speaker Rabbi Joel Mosbacher →

MARVA — a Good People Fund grantee — was founded in 2015 by Israeli attorneys and social welfare experts who wanted to assist and empower Israelis facing difficulties caring for their personal welfare, well-being and legal rights. GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger speaks with Dr. Mickey Schindler and Dr. Michal Wosner of MARVA. The Good … Continue reading In Israel, Preserving Dignity and Autonomy for the Vulnerable →

EAT — formerly known as Pesia's Kitchen — is an Israeli non profit and Good People Fund grantee — combating food waste while elevating food justice for under-resourced populations and communities. EAT Co-Founder and President Gideon Ben Ami and EAT Executive Director Yoni Ben Ami are a father and son team inspired to make impact … Continue reading In Israel, Combating Food Waste and Elevating Food Justice →

In underserved communities in Israel, English proficiency can mean the difference between economic and social success, and stagnation. English B'Yachad — English Together — is a Good People Fund grantee making online pairings between Israeli young adults and North American volunteers to advance English language skills, create positive futures … and form friendships in the … Continue reading Practicing English … and Finding Hope and Friendships →

In Israel's Negev, the Bedouin community is mired in a generational cycle of economic and educational stagnation. Al Baqour — a Good People Fund grantee — is using innovative approaches to early childhood education and family empowerment to break it … while respecting the traditional groundings of the community. GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger speaks … Continue reading Uplifting Bedouin Children and Families in Israel →

Eli Weinstock was a college student in 2021, when he died from unintentional exposure to Fentanyl. Dr. Beth Weinstock, Eli's mother, and Olivia Weinstock, his sister, began BirdieLight — a Good People Fund grantee organization — to educate youth about Fentanyl and its lethality, and to save lives and honor Eli's memory. They speak with … Continue reading After a Tragic Loss, Fighting the Fentanyl Epidemic →

As founder of MyChild'sCancer — a GPF grantee — Oded Grinstein gives parents of children with cancer the medical knowledge and social support they need to be strong advocates for effective treatments and positive outcomes. The journey began when Oded's infant daughter was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that she effectively beat back. … Continue reading Guiding Families Through Pediatric Cancer →

In Israel, Shana Aaronson is the CEO of Magen for Jewish Communities, a GPF grantee organization addressing sexual abuse and exploitation in the Orthodox Jewish community. Under her leadership, the organization is making huge impact by helping and supporting survivors, raising awareness and educating in the community and beyond, and advocating for survivors in investigatory … Continue reading Supporting Survivors of Sexual Abuse →

The art of deriving and telling life stories can be the great connector — empowering individuals on the edges of society, bridging divides in communities, and advancing social justice. Cara Solomon is a former journalist establishing and practicing this approach as Founder and Executive Director of Everyday Boston, a GPF grantee. She describes the impact … Continue reading Storytelling as the Great Connector →

For individuals in emotional distress — including those with suicidal tendencies — an empathetic advocate trained to gauge the severeness of need can be a bridge to a positive outcome. SAHAR — a GPF grantee — is a volunteer-driven Israeli non-profit organization using a unique tech model as a form of intervention. GPF Co-Founder and … Continue reading In Israel, A Unique Model to Help Individuals in Emotional Distress →

For underserved and vulnerable youth and families involved in the juvenile court or child welfare systems in Massachusetts, resources as varied as a bus fare, a laptop, even a bed, can tilt the balance toward improved systemic and personal outcomes. Anne Bader-Martin is a juvenile court attorney who founded One Can Help — a Good … Continue reading For Vulnerable Youth and Families, Filling Voids and Changing Outcomes →

Barry Hoffner was on a personal trip to Mali in 2010, when he was struck by the lack of educational opportunities for young people in rural villages around Timbuktu. So he decided to build a school. Now, a dozen years and 16 schools later, his organization, Caravan to Class — a Good People Fund grantee … Continue reading In Rural Mali, Planting Futures Through Education →

Beth Steinberg and Miriam Avraham both have children with Down syndrome, both moved to Israel, and both found a lack of informal education programming for those with developmental challenges. So, they started a program themselves. Shutaf, which means “partner” in Hebrew, is a Jerusalem based organization — and a Good People Fund grantee — practicing … Continue reading Shutaf: Filling a Void with Inclusion →

Dana Marlowe was a working mom in metro Washington, DC who was driven by a personal experience to start I Support the Girls, a Good People Fund grantee. The organization gives bras, menstrual products and other personal care items to people around the world who need them desperately — due to homelessness, natural and human-made … Continue reading “Homeless Women Need Bras” — Giving Dignity to Those in Need →

Asher Lovy grew up in the insular Haredi community of Borough Park, Brooklyn and was sexually, physically and mentally abused by his mother. The silence within his community — where discussion of such aggressions was neither acknowledged nor welcome — propelled Asher to make some noise as head of ZA'AKAH (Hebrew for “outcry”), advocating for … Continue reading Advocating for Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse in the Orthodox Jewish Community →

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, The Survivor Mitzvah Project has been operating in overdrive, navigating turmoil and destruction in Ukraine to maintain contact with Holocaust survivors, deliver them more critical aid, and in some cases provide them safe passage out of the country. Good People Fund Exec. Dir. Naomi Eisenberger speaks with The Survivor … Continue reading Aiding Holocaust Survivors in Ukraine, as Humanitarian Crisis Continues →

At The Warehouse NJ, individuals and families emerging from homelessness and displacement are finding new beginnings with dignity. Here, they choose donated furnishings and home goods for their new apartments and living spaces, as they begin an upward trajectory in their lives. Kim Sleeman founded The Warehouse NJ — a Good People Fund grantee — … Continue reading Creating a New Beginning, Starting at Home →

Elysa Rapoport gave birth to a stillborn daughter in 2016, and soon discovered a lack of emotional and practical support systems in Israel for those facing pregnancy and infant loss. So she determined to make change and co-founded Candles of Hope, a GPF grantee. Her organization is building and providing resources and channels of support, … Continue reading Moving Pregnancy and Infant Loss Out of the Darkness →