Malkie Schwartz, who organized Footsteps’ first meetings a decade ago at Hunter College, was honored two weeks ago for her work with former Hasidic community members. Credit: Beth Kander. Nugitegog. At first the former Lubavticher from Crown Heights ran the organization as a … Playing next. Debra Fine, Chair Elie Gordis, Vice Chair Carrie Shapiro, Treasurer Ann Kirschner, Secretary Steven Eisman Shelley Fischel Gary Freilich Merle W. Gonchar Adina Kadden
Footsteps offers a safe space for people to thrive after they leave ultra-Orthodoxy.”It was these people in mind that Malkie Schwartz had when she created Footsteps at age 22. Report.
Find RelSci relationships, employment history, board memberships, donations, awards, and more. In 2012, a Footsteps report found that new membership had grown from 35 in 2009 to 95 in 2012, a 170 percent jump.Certainly, there are high rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal tendencies among “Fotsteppers,” as members are fondly referred to, says Santo; an internal survey found some 50 percent had a mental health diagnosis, and 35 percent were in therapy.“From a mental health perspective, asking questions is a healthy thing to do,’ explains Santo. Open gallery view. Three members have joined the organization’s board and serve as spokespeople for the organization through writing and media appearances. 4:24. “I see so many directions that the organization can go in under Lani’s leadership,” she says.“I had secular family members who helped me when I left, but I knew most people didn’t, and I saw that their own struggles were that much harder because of it,” explains Schwartz, who began imagining a formal organization to help these people and quickly realized her idea needed financial backing to grow.Hindy, currently pursuing a graduate degree at a top university in New York, doesn’t attend many Footsteps events anymore. Others in the Orthodox world take a more balanced view, like Eliyahu Fink, an Orthodox rabbi in Los Angeles who studied at right-wing institutions such as Baltimore’s Ner Israel Yeshiva and the Yeshiva of Far Rockaway. Malkie Schwartz, by the way, has gone on to become a lawyer and now serves as the Director of Community Engagement for the Institute of Southern Jewish Life. Malkie Schwartz to leave Footsteps When Malkie Schwartz first decided to leave behind her native Chabad-Lubavitch community in 2000, she had a strong network of support in secular New York — something that she realized most formers chasidim have difficulties finding. It was these people in mind that Malkie Schwartz had when she created Footsteps at age 22. Expand your fundraising pool and make warm introductions to potential new business connections.Browse in-depth profiles on 11 million influential people and organizations. Justyn Loree. One example is Leah Vincent, who discussed the need for Footsteps on Katie Couric’s talk show. “While we may express our dismay that there’s a need for Footsteps, we must also express our appreciation that it’s there.”Schwartz’s aunt, Deborah Freedman — now a Footsteps board member — connected her to close friend Peter Cherneff, a New York attorney who was immediately taken with Schwartz’s drive and vision. In any large, complex society there will always be people who feel trapped in a life they want to leave. View Malkie Schwartz’s profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. Last night on the radio (and online) was a talkshow in which Zev Brenner interviewed Malkie Schwartz, the founder of Footsteps.Also present was Michael Jenkins, director of programming at Footsteps. Nurture your network and further your business goals with smart intelligence on the people and companies that matter most to you.Relationship likelihood: StrongSenior Digital Strategist at Footsteps LLCExecutive Vice President at N.E.W.