Blog Post / Emergency Response
Today, 2 years ago, Israeli civilians were attacked, kidnapped, and murdered. Children were traumatized, families torn apart. Two years later, Gazan civilians are attacked, starved, and murdered. Children are traumatized, families torn apart. Only now, the scale is unfathomable. Entire bloodlines wiped off the map. Babies withering away. Genocide. I…
Blog Post
I recently had the opportunity to take a step back and review my seven years as Director of Development for ActionAid USA. I was putting together an internal presentation about my job, and realized it gave me the perfect excuse to reflect on accomplishments as well as think through where…
Blog Post / Emergency Response
Tonight marks the first night of Passover – a celebration of the Biblical exodus of the Jewish people out of slavery and into the Promised Land. Passover happens to be my favorite Jewish holiday, as I have always found strong connections between the exodus of the ancient Israelites and the…
Blog Post / Emergency Response
The story of Hanukkah is one of the Jewish people fighting against a tyrannical ruler for the freedom to practice their religion. The Jews then rededicated their holy temple and witnessed a small amount of oil – meant to light the temple’s menorah for just one night – miraculously last…
Blog Post / Emergency Response
Every morning when I was a child, my dad would declare, in a sing-song voice – “There’s nothing like a nice, hot shower!” – as he stepped into the steaming shower and the first deluge of water hit the top of his head. It’s a motto that has stuck with…
Blog Post
While much of the corporate sector is out there making claims about social responsibility through greenwashing and pinkwashing and bluewashing, Yvon Choinard has put his money where his heart is. In giving away his entire company, Choinard has truly broken new ground. Most philanthropic millionaires and billionaires put their money…
Insight / Emergency Response
One evening this month, as I was home in my mostly quiet Denver neighborhood, a loud motorbike drove by. I was temporarily filled with rage at the idea that this noise might wake my baby, who had just fallen asleep. It only took a moment for sadness, embarrassment, and horror…
Insight / Emergency Response
About two hours’ drive northwest of Bangkok, a small farming community in the Kampangsaen district of Thailand is making huge strides to develop young people. Led by Mrs. Pichsinee Cheunchoowong, Baan Huai Rang Ket Primary School is piloting a cutting-edge program that challenges traditional methods of teaching. Situated in a…
Insight / Emergency Response
As a Jew, I understand the importance of a Jewish state. My people have been persecuted for our faith since Judaism was conceived nearly 6,000 years ago. In fact, much of our religion is defined by this persecution, with some of our most important holidays telling stories of discrimination, oppression,…
Insight / Right to Food and Agriculture / Women's Rights
Leaving their farms at first light, Mary Afan, Sarah Yapwa, and Lovelyn Ejim traveled upwards of nine hours on foot, by bike, and by bus. They came from across Nigeria to join me in an unassuming hotel conference room in the Asokoro region of Abuja. The three women are local farmers…