Reflecting on a Year of Growth, Learning, and Momentum 

On May 19, 2026, Na’aleh welcomed board members, community leaders, partners, and supporters to its inaugural Annual Meeting. 

The evening was both a celebration and a reflection. We honored Emily Gaines Demsky as the recipient of the Debra Silberman Weinberg Leadership Award, recognized the many leaders and partners who have helped shape Na’aleh’s growth, and shared what we have learned through a year of listening to our community. The Annual Meeting also provided an opportunity to articulate a vision for the future of leadership development in Jewish Baltimore and to engage in a meaningful conversation with Ben and Myrna Cardin about civic engagement, civil discourse, and leadership. 

Across Jewish Baltimore, volunteer and professional leaders are navigating increasing complexity. They are strengthening governance, building healthy teams, managing change, engaging volunteers, and making difficult decisions in an environment that rarely slows down. 

Over the past year, Na’aleh spent a great deal of time trying to better understand what leaders need to lead effectively. Through more than 150 stakeholder conversations, surveys, and focus groups, we heard a remarkably consistent message. 

Leaders are looking for practical tools, trusted colleagues, and opportunities to learn, reflect, and wrestle with challenges alongside people who understand the realities of leadership today. 

Those conversations shaped much of our work this year. 

Responding to Community Needs 

For volunteer leaders and board members, that meant programs like Back to the Boardroom, which focused on strengthening governance practices and board effectiveness. 

For professionals, Professional Playbook provided practical workshops focused on workplace success and leadership development, while Elevate: The Coach Approach to Supervision helped supervisors develop a coaching mindset to better support and grow their teams. 

We also heard a desire for spaces where leaders could engage in difficult issues thoughtfully and respectfully. Beyond Dispute helped participants develop the skills and dispositions necessary to navigate challenging conversations with greater understanding and civility. Through Presidents’ Circles, agency, synagogue, and organizational presidents came together to learn from one another and explore the opportunities and challenges facing their organizations. 

The encouraging news is that leaders told us these experiences are making a difference.  Participants consistently described the programs as relevant and immediately useful in their organizations. Across evaluations, leaders reported gaining new skills, stronger professional networks, greater confidence, and tools they could put to work right away. 

Building Connections Across Jewish Baltimore 

As Board Chair Randi Buergenthal noted in her remarks at the Annual Meeting, “strong leadership changes everything. It strengthens organizations, deepens relationships, builds trust, and creates greater possibilities for the entire community. That is why this work matters.” 

Connection emerged as another clear theme in our conversations with leaders this year. 

In response, we expanded opportunities for professionals and volunteer leaders from different organizations, backgrounds, and experiences to connect and learn together. 

Midday Mingle brought together professionals from diverse backgrounds who work throughout Jewish Baltimore. Our mentorship program connected emerging and experienced professional leaders in conversations focused on growth, learning, and support. Communities of practice created ongoing spaces for professionals with shared responsibilities to exchange ideas, share challenges, and learn from one another’s experiences. 

Looking Ahead 

Looking ahead, we remain focused on strengthening the programs and experiences that help leaders grow. 

One of the most significant projects we undertook this year was a review of the ACHARAI Fellows Program. Through interviews, focus groups, and community conversations, we explored how one of Baltimore’s signature leadership programs can continue to prepare future board presidents while evolving to meet the needs of today’s volunteer leaders. 

The process reaffirmed ACHARAI’s importance and generated valuable insights that will help guide the program in the years ahead. 

Starting this summer, Na’aleh will launch a new Supporting Organization Membership model, expanding access to consultation, governance resources, leadership development opportunities, and professional learning experiences across Jewish Baltimore. The model is designed to support board members and professionals while helping organizations invest more intentionally in leadership development.  

We will also introduce Professional Playbook Deep Dives, allowing leaders to explore important workplace and leadership topics such as facilitation and organizational culture in greater depth. At the same time, we will continue investing in mentorship, communities of practice, governance learning, and leadership development opportunities that help leaders grow alongside one another. 

This fall, the Shoshana S. Cardin Leadership Symposium will feature Dr. Yehuda Kurtzer, President of the Shalom Hartman Institute, in a timely conversation about how communities remain strong, connected, and resilient while making room for difference, disagreement, and change. 

Why This Work Matters 

Emily Gaines Demsky’s Tell Me Three Good Things project has inspired so many of us with the reminder that even in complicated times, it is important to notice what is hopeful and worthy of our attention. 

The challenges facing our community are real. So is the talent, commitment, and generosity of the people who lead it. 

Throughout the year, we saw leaders investing in their own growth, organizations investing in their people, and professionals and volunteers building new relationships across the community.  

Supporting that growth, connection, and leadership will remain at the heart of Na’aleh’s work in the year ahead.