Photo: DC Jewish Service Corps members ’18-’19 gather for a summertime reunion.
There are so many benefits to doing Avodah, long after the program ends. Avodah alumni manager Lauren Fine breaks down the best hidden perks of serving in the Jewish Service Corps or participating in the Justice Fellowship.
What fields do Avodah alumni go into after doing the program?
Alumni work in a wide variety of fields. The top 10 most common fields of work among the alumni community are social services, public policy, health care, law or legal services, nonprofit management, education, youth development, therapy/mental health, and community organizing.
76% of alumni say the program helped them make decisions that impacted their current profession or area of study.
How do Avodahniks support each other after the program ends?
Avodah alumni have shown up for each other in tremendous ways throughout the years. Countless alumni have gotten jobs through the network, found housing and roommates, and made invaluable network connections for their careers. It is common for alumni to remain close friends with others from their cohort and meet new alumni friends after the program ends.
What kinds of programs does Avodah provide for alumni?
Each year, Avodah runs a mentorship program where alumni can provide and receive mentorship from other alumni. Mentoring pairs are matched based on field of work, personal life experiences, or activism and organizing.
We have various opportunities for career support, including an intensive career coaching program, personalized resume and cover letter support, and more. We also offer virtual group spaces for alumni to gather around areas of interest and field of work considerations.
What are some benefits that most alumni might not know about?
Alumni who are interested in attending graduate school can look through a list of alumni, organized by degree and school, who are willing to talk with others about their grad school experience. When an alum is unsure which career path to take, they can request network connections with alumni who work in various fields and ask questions to help them make a choice.
Alumni share opportunities for learning, getting involved in local activism, trying new Jewish experiences, and more through the listserv every day.
Also, we have partnerships with Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute for Religion as well as the Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership at Brandeis University that provide scholarships for Avodah alumni to attend these programs.
How do you help alumni make the most of the Avodah Alumni Network?
The greatest resource alumni have access to is one another. The depth of knowledge and experience within our network is a source of support across our network every day.
Alumni are encouraged to use our alumni listservs to ask for what they need – from mutual aid to a date for their grandma.
Multiple times a year, we remind alumni to ask each other for informational interviews and offer funding for them to host local alumni gatherings.
To learn more about support and offerings for Avodah alumni, visit Avodah.net/alumni
