Who's Afraid of Young People? Gen Z, Milennials, and more

Gen Z is engaging in Jewish communal life with new expectations around leadership, belonging, and impact. For many families and organizations, this presents both opportunity and challenge. How can institutions move beyond surface-level youth engagement to foster meaningful, intergenerational collaboration?

Drawing on Avodah's 28 years of experience with young people, and Emilia's career in this field, this session explores practical approaches to engaging Gen Z as partners in Jewish social responsibility and leadership development. We will examine common barriers to cross-generational work, reflect on real-world scenarios from Jewish communal settings, and identify strategies that support shared ownership, accountability, and long-term sustainability across generations.

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Emilia Diamant LCSW, is a seasoned social worker, educator, and program strategist with nearly two decades of experience at the intersection of justice, leadership, and community. Trained in clinical social work, Emilia brings a trauma-informed, relational approach to her work with individuals and institutions, centering care, accountability, and transformation. She currently serves as Chief Program Officer at Avodah, where she leads national programming that mobilizes Jewish leaders toward systemic change.