YALA: Young Adult Leadership Action

YALA stands for Young Adult Leadership Action — and it also means let’s go in Hebrew. So what are you waiting for? Let’s go!

The next generation is eager to step up for Jewish community. YALA gives them the tools to do it. We believe in getting young adults involved as volunteers and community leaders, so we foster long-term relationships, support community organizations that empower young adults, and help nurture personal, professional, and leadership growth.

YALA empowers emerging Jewish adults who are curious, passionate, and committed to a vibrant Jewish future. We believe:

  • Leadership comes in many shapes and sizes and doesn’t belong exclusively to the boardroom.
  • Our community is diverse (and we strive to honor and reflect that diversity).
  • Young adults grow into better leaders when they are empowered to make Judaism their own.
  • Long-term relationships between YALA and the young adults we serve is a fundamental facet of community leadership; we invest in them from first spark to full flame.

What We Do

YALA: MINI-GRANTS

The YALA MPLS Mini-Grant is a program available every quarter that offers funding for the development of initiatives created by young Jewish adults in Minneapolis. These initiatives must have a direct connection or be focused on providing a service or a dynamic experience to the local Jewish community. Applications for the YALA MPLS Mini-Grant opens at the beginning of each quarter and is followed by an assessment process that determines the quantity of funding that each applicant may receive. Applicants are encouraged to reapply if the initiative shows success on its first run.

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YALA: COFFEE CHAT

Are you new to town? Or are you a local looking for ways to get involved Jewishly? The YALA Coffee Chat is a one-hour long casual meeting with the YALA Director or a Steering Circle member set to create connections with young Jewish adults to find ways to build engagement, find resources or leadership development opportunities within the local Jewish network. Let’s meet and we’ll help you get connected to Jewish life in the Twin Cities.

YALA: COMMUNITY EVENTS

Throughout the year, YALA MPLS hosts a series of community and social events aimed for local young Jewish adults and designed to build network, explore ways to empower Jewish identity, build community, volunteer with local organizations and help develop the next generation of local Jewish leaders in Minneapolis and its surrounding areas.

Past events include: YALA’s Shabbat of Love, Leadership series, How To Series, Unmask the flavors of Israel: Purim, Mimouna: A Moroccan post-passover party and more!

YALA: GLOBAL TRAVEL

Are you ready to take your Jewish journey to the next level? The YALA Global travel program is designed to connect young Jewish adults in their 20’s – 40’s in the Twin Cities to other Jewish communities around the world.

Join us in our next global adventure!

For more information contact the YALA MPLS Director: Ivan Gil at  igil@jewishminneapolis.org

What’s it like to travel with YALA? Read on to find out!

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LEADERSHIP & COMMUNITY ACTION

YALA Steering Circle

The YALA MPLS Steering Circle is a platform designed to foster, connect, prepare and activate the future generation of Minnesota Jewish young adults in the areas of philanthropy, leadership, community impact and global connection.

The YALA steering circle meets monthly to:

  • Evaluate and create YALA programs
  • Study trends and needs of the young adult Jewish community
  • Brainstorm ways young adults can engage more deeply with Jewish philanthropy.

Daniel Vallejo

YALA MPLS Steering Circle Chair

Ezra Strohm

Operational Committee

Zack Rosenzweig

Operational Committee

Annie Birnberg

Events Committee

Emily Leventhal

Volunteer Committee

Aly Ketover

Member at Large

Madeline Jack

Events Committee

Aaron Raskin

Mini-Grant Committee

Stay connected with YALA MPLS!

Facebook

Stay up-to-date on programs and opportunities for young adults by liking and following our Facebook page!

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Instagram

Or, follow us on Instagram for access to your community hub for young Jewish life + leadership in the Twin Cities.

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Newsletter

Sign up for the YALA newsletter to receive updates on current events, programs, and more!

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Contact us

YALA MPLS Director: Ivan Gil

igil@jewishminneapolis.org