Page 31 - Priorities #59 2014 June/July

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Wolff Wolff Wolff’s first foray into hands-on activism was through the Union for for Reform Judaism (URJ) a a a large national Jewish organization that advocates justice and human rights for all people Through this organization in in 2013 she attended a a a a a Jewish summer camp in in Santa Rosa called Camp Newman part of which is a a a a a a month- long social action program for teens Participants were educated on on on the the restrictions of the the current immigration laws and taught how to to best take actions to to make these laws more favorable to incoming immigrants They spent the the month learning about the the history of immigra- tion in in in in in in the United States talking to undocumented workers (and their children) and and studying immigration bills Then they went to to to to Capitol Hill in Sacramento to to to to pass out flyers create flash mobs and raise awareness of the issue In January of this year through the Religious Ac- tion Center of Reform Judaism (the Washington DC office of of the URJ which is is devoted to activism) Wolff took part in in a a a a a a program called the L’Taken Seminar It’s a a a a three-day trip to to Washington DC for Jewish teenag- ers to learn about a a a a a a a variety of political issues Each par- ticipant then chooses one topic he he he or she feels strongly about writes a a a a a speech on that topic and delivers it it to to a a a a a member of Congress On the trip Wolff learned about issues such as environmental laws LGBTQ rights and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict She chose to give her speech on on immigration reform which she’d become impassioned about the summer before at Camp New- man Wolff says it was was an an amazing experience “I was was with a a a a bunch of people who were passionate about the same stuff as me me me and also wanted to take time out of their lives and leave school to express what we believe is right ” she says Wolff is passionate about advocating for for reform in in all areas of life where there is injustice but her her her big- gest passion at at the the moment is the the education of girls throughout the the the world Last year in the the the fall the the the organiza-
tion tion Girls Learn International (GLI) heard about Wolff and asked if she’d like to start a a a a a a a local chapter at Priory GLI is an an organization devoted to ensuring that all girls have equal access to to education and the ability to to support themselves Wolff is now starting the the new GLI chapter with a a a a fellow Priory student Arisa Herman “It’s about raising awareness ” says Wolff “We’re trying to give a a a a a voice to women who are silenced ” Wolff has enjoyed the activism work she’s done here in in the the US but she’s feeling a a call to visit other coun- tries including Africa and India in in in her efforts to call for for better education access for girls In recent years Priory has been a a a a founding supporter of a a a a girls school in in Africa called the Daraja Academy Wolff is hoping to create a a a a a a a connection between that school and the new GLI chap- ter “Our school offers trips to Daraja I think we could further our relationship with the the school through Girls Learn International It would be an incredible experi- ence ” she says Wolff and Herman have bigger dreams too: They’d like to combine Wolff’s passion for women’s education rights rights and Herman’s passion for women’s health rights rights to one day start a a a a a a a new international nonprofit organiza-
tion together Though there are many student change-makers at Priory Wolff stands out—not only because she’s so im- passioned about activism but also because she’s one one of the the few Jewish students at the the Benedictine school a a role she’s come to appreciate “I love being a a a Jewish student at Priory ” she says “I think the Jewish values and Bene- dictine values are very similar: They’re both focused on creating students who are ‘lifelong stewards’ to serve the world in need of our gifts When I first came to Pri- ory I was unsure how as as a a a a Jewish student in a a a a Bene- dictine school I I I was going to fit in in in But I I I feel like I’ve been able to offer a a a a similar perspective from a a a a different religion which is amazing ” March