Young Leaders Becoming Community Change-Makers
Phil and Bailey Balderston — who were the first members to join the Young Leaders Society — are prime examples of community-driven millennials who are eager to lead their peers, fundraise, and advocate for The Center for Jewish Life as an inclusive and welcoming community-centered project. “It is a great symbol of the investment people are willing to make in the community, and the importance of bringing together all community members. That is why The Center resonated with us.”
Part of what makes their commitment so special is that Phil and Bailey are transplants who split their time between Miami and Philadelphia. As Phil explained, in the process of commuting he and Bailey have learned that there doesn’t have to be a single place that's “home.” Instead, they have discovered that you can call two places your home and be instrumental in multiple places.
For the Balderstons, the critical factor in belonging to a place, is investing in it on multiple levels. This is even more critical as we strive to reweave the fabric of the community since the pandemic began.
Read on to learn more about Phil and Bailey’s goals for The Center for Jewish Life and the Young Leaders Society, their involvement in the Jewish Community, and more, from an interview with Phil.
Q: What are your thoughts on the benefits of being part of the Young Leaders Society and why did you feel it was important to join?
A: I think there are a lot of reasons. To feel at home somewhere you need to be a part of the community, knowing the people there, spending time with them, understanding where they come from. That is our primary reason. Developing those relationships with people in the community is important.
Q: What kind of programming would you like to see at The Center for Jewish Life - especially for young professionals like yourselves?
A: The dinners are great - Friday Shabbat dinners are terrific. We would love to see more of those hosted by The Center of Jewish Life. In addition, there can certainly be service events on the weekends. Bailey has attended a bunch and has really enjoyed them. It's not only about religious services, more about building community and community events. Those types of events are more our style.
Q: How do you identify “community” and what do you want to see from The Center for Jewish Life in regards to improving upon that community?
A: We are very inclusive so we look at the community as really everybody who lives in or has ties to a certain area. We would encourage The Center to bring in everybody, or as many people as possible. Neighborhood outreach and neighborhood events make the community stronger, especially the Jewish community. We would love to see more events involving the neighbors, Jewish holiday events, and big celebrations with multi-generations - that would be terrific!
Q: Phil, can you tell us about your involvement with the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History?
A: I currently serve on the Board, . It's a wonderful museum that was built from the ground up in an international location. It is an important way to tell the Jewish story and experience in America, and showcases what makes America such a special place. It was important to support it because it is in my backyard. This culturally important institution relates personally to me and my ancestors, and their experiences as immigrants. In addition, the museum has great leadership, with a lot of people who are enthusiastic about its mission, and I wanted to help however I can.
YLS donors are visionaries; they know that investing in The Center for Jewish Life means they are investing in their community’s future. We strive to make YLS a robust network for young professionals in Central Miami. What sets The Center for Jewish Life apart from other professional organizations is the focus on philanthropy and community engagement. Learn more about the Young Leaders Society and how you can leave your mark on Miami’s future by clicking the button below or contacting us at info@centerforjewishlifemiami.org.
