A Moment to Reflect: The Joy of Community Leadership
Last week, my husband Todd and I had the incredible honor of receiving the Sara and Samuel Lessans Community Leadership Award. It was truly a once in a lifetime event. It’s not every day that we get a moment to reflect on the years we’ve spent working with our community—and even less often with a room full of friends and peers.
The Community Leadership Award, given by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) is given to individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership within the Jewish community and beyond, particularly in areas central to the mission of the JCRC: government relations, Israel advocacy, social justice, and inter-group relations. For my husband and me, this recognition captures the diverse ways we’ve been able to contribute—he primarily within the Jewish community, and me in broader service efforts, such as my work with Metro Bethesda Rotary, the Tree House Child Advocacy Center, and reproductive rights advocacy.
Perhaps the biggest honor associated with this award was the video that the JCRC staff created. Having those who love and respect say such kind things about Todd and me was both thrilling and humbling. The JCRC video is below.
Both Todd and I were able to deliver remarks that evening as well. My wonderful child, Lake captured video of our speeches. My favorite line from the speeches was actually from my husband’s remarks, “People often ask me how I make time to get involved. And my answer is that I wouldn’t be nearly as good at the other parts of my life if I wasn’t.” Those words so beautifully reflect my own feelings not only about the importance of community service, but also about the gift it gives in return. Here are our full remarks.
Balancing community leadership with everything else life throws at you is never easy, and prioritizing the time is the biggest challenge. Throughout my journey, I’ve often found myself juggling the demands of work, volunteering, and raising two wonderful children, which brought its own set of adventures and logistical feats. These experiences have taught me that community work is not something that happens in isolation; it’s a collective effort that requires support, understanding, and a willingness to make it all fit together.
None of this would have been possible without the incredible support network I have had along the way. I want to express my deepest gratitude to Todd, who has always been by my side, sharing the responsibilities, and celebrating the wins, both big and small. I also want to honor my parents—my father, whose memory continues to inspire me, and my mother, who has always been a pillar of strength. I am equally grateful for Todd’s parents, who set such a strong example for us to follow.
If you are interested in learning more, Todd’s law firm, Crowell and Moring wrote this press release about the award.