Photo: Ethan Roberts Photography

By Johnna Parks
Program Associate

Aug 12, 2026

My Jewish identity has shaped every stage of my life. Looking back, I can trace every step of my journey back to the Jewish community that raised me. 

It began at home, where my parents taught me to celebrate Shabbat each week and instilled in me a deep appreciation for Jewish life and community. They nurtured that foundation by sending me to Jewish preschool, enrolling me in Talmud Torah and Herzl Camp, and encouraging me to become involved at Beth El Synagogue. Through those experiences, I developed a love for Judaism, Israel, and the importance of showing up for my community. 

When I arrived at the University of Minnesota, I found another Jewish home at Minnesota Hillel. Hillel gave me opportunities I never imagined — from traveling to Washington D.C., Eastern Europe, and Israel, to serving in student leadership and helping strengthen Jewish life on campus. Each experience deepened my connection to the Jewish community and challenged me to think about how I could make a meaningful impact. 

During my senior year, Rabbi Jill Avrin, JCRC’s Director of Campus Affairs, introduced a new opportunity to our campus: the Ko’ach Advocacy Fellowship. The fellowship challenged us to deepen our understanding of advocacy, build meaningful relationships, and find the confidence to use our voices on behalf of Jewish college students. I joined hoping to become a stronger advocate, and I left with the confidence to use my voice, build relationships across differences, and lead with purpose. 

The stronger my Jewish identity became, the more I knew I wanted my career to reflect those values. I chose to major in marketing and nonprofit management because I wanted to dedicate my work to building and supporting the kinds of communities that had given me so much, a journey that ultimately brought me to JCRC.  

Today, I have the privilege of working alongside Rabbi Avrin — not as a fellow, but as a colleague — helping cultivate the next generation of Jewish leaders through the second cohort of the Ko’ach Advocacy Fellowship. One of the most rewarding parts of this role will be seeing familiar faces in the fellowship: friends and fellow Hillel students who are now beginning the same journey I did. I was in their place just one year ago and now I have the privilege of helping guide their experience. 

The investment JCRC made in me as a student is one I can now pass on to others. I feel incredibly fortunate to build a career around something that has shaped my life so deeply, and I’m excited to help ensure more young Jewish leaders discover the same sense of purpose and belonging that I did. 

This blog post was the featured staff column for the August 2026 Gesher (‘Bridge’ in Hebrew) – JCRC’s monthly email newsletter.
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