Alliance’s Seth Finkle selected for fellowship

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JCC Association’s Merrin Center for Teen Services has selected 14 professionals working with teens in affiliated JCCs and camps in North America to participate in the acclaimed Merrin Teen Professional Fellows Program. Seth Finkle, teen programming coordinator and director of Camp Haverim at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, is one of those selected.

“I am very honored to be accepted into this prestigious fellowship. I feel this will help me grow as a JCC professional but also as a Jewish communal leader,” Finkle said. “I look forward to learning with and from my peers in the field. Working with teens is challenging as well as rewarding. This fellowship will allow me to learn best practices in the field and help enhance the Teen Enrichment program at the Alliance’s Dwares JCC.”

The program features five seminars held over 18 months. The gathering is in New York City in January. Participants focus on developing their leadership skills, learning how to serve teens more effectively, planning their career paths in the JCC movement and deepening their Jewish knowledge. One of the seminars is held in Israel.

Finkle has worked at the Alliance for the past two years. He participated in the Israel Up Close program, which allowed him to travel to Israel for the Schlichim (emissary) training program this past April.  Before coming to the Alliance, Finkle worked at the Providence Children’s Museum as a floor manager. He has worked at the Washington, D.C., JCC as a preschool teacher; was an assistant for the Washington Jewish Film Festival and the associate production manager and equity stage manager for Theater J.

“We are so excited that Seth will be participating in this wonderful program,” said Michelle Cicchitelli, vice president of programming at the Alliance. “Not only will Seth grow as a professional, we will all benefit from learning about the best practices happening throughout the country amid various JCCs.  It is truly a great opportunity for our whole community, and Seth is the perfect person to lead the charge.”

Jeffrey Savit, president and CEO of the Alliance, agreed.  “Seth Finkle is a natural born leader, colleague, friend and all-around mensch,” he said. “Having Seth on our staff and in our community is a credit not only to our Alliance, but additionally to all of the parents, teens and children with whom he works. What a deserving choice for this fellowship.”

Finkle holds a bachelor’s degree in acting and stage management with a minor in business from the University of Rhode Island and a master’s degree in educational theater from NYU’s Steinhardt School of Education. He has taught former child soldiers in Gulu, Uganda and traveled to Rio de Janeiro to study Forum theater with Augusto Boal.

The Merrin Teen Professional Fellows Program was started in 1999, with the support of Seth Merrin and Anne Heyman.  Their partnership with JCC Association initiated this exceptional program to give those working with teens the skills to better serve a critical sector of the Jewish community.  The program has enhanced the profile of those working with teens in their respective organizations and throughout the JCC movement, enriched and deepened their Jewish identities, and built a stronger professional network of teen service providers across North America. 

The Merrin Family Foundation has since deepened their commitment to the JCC Movement and Jewish teens by helping to establish the Merrin Center for Teen Services.  This new structure in JCC Association has integrated the resources for teens provided to the field, including the JCC Maccabi Experience programs and camping services.

For more information about the Merrin Center for Teen Services or the Merrin Teen Professional Fellows Program, contact Joy Brand-Richardson, at 212- 786-5114 or joy@jcca.org.