The nine Corps members from Colorado are among over two hundred Serve the Moment fellows who are serving across the country.

Their four-month stint began with a national orientation. They and their fellow… fellows had the opportunity to ground themselves in Jewish values, then they dove headfirst into virtual service. Collectively, the first cohort of Serve the Moment fellows made 647 calls to Wisconsin voters with VoteRiders. Their initial training also included presentations from national leaders like Sarah Hurwitz, former head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama, and Rachel Gildiner, executive director of GatherDC, who led a workshop on telling the story of your self.

And now these passionate young adults are embedded in our Jewish community, helping to reimagine a society rooted in social justice and in which everyone has what they need in order to thrive. So without further ado… introducing the first cohort of Serve the Moment fellows.

Gracie Adler (she/her) | Food Bank for Larimer County

Gracie is 21 years old and originally from Oahu, Hawaii. She’s a junior at Colorado State University, where’s she’s studying sociology. Gracie is a super creative go-getter; if she says she’ll do something, you can count on her to follow through. She loves working with her hands, especially on DIY projects, and she interested in music, fashion, interior design, and community service, not necessarily in that order. More than anything, Gracie cares about making her community a better place, and she’s both excited and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Serve the Moment movement.

Gavin Alsop (he/him) | Food Bank for Larimer County

Gavin is 21 years old and a senior at Colorado State University. He’s studying political science, with a concentration in environmental politics, as well as history with a focus on the contemporary experiences of historically marginalized groups. Gavin is passionate about service work because he believes that all people are deserving of respect and support. He’s thrilled to be a part of the Serve the Moment Corps and sees his contribution as both necessary and impactful.

Rebecca Chapman (she/her) | Jewish Family Service

Rebecca recently graduated from East High School. She’s taking a gap year and, next year, will attend Washington University in St. Louis. Possessed of a strong commitment to public service, Rebecca spent the past couple of years working with an immigrant support program and for her school’s food pantry. She is currently the co-chair of the Rose Youth Foundation board and is the founder of Stories Worth Saving, a program designed to preserve their life stories of older adults in her community. Rebecca has also worked on a number of political campaigns and been an intern at the Colorado State Capitol, and she’s so excited to be serving her community in a COVID-safe way.

Peter Heilbron (he/him) | Ekar Farms

Peter has lived in Denver now for a year, having moved here from the East Coast. Prior to the pandemic, he was in construction sales, but he’s now transitioning to a new career. Peter is happy and proud to have this opportunity to get to know and understand the Jewish community here in Denver.

Alden Kahn (he/him) | Ekar Farms

Alden is a recent graduate from Denver East High school. He’s taking a gap year before matriculating in the fall of 2021 at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, where he’ll be a Garrett Sherwood Scholar. Alden plans to major in environmental science. In addition to his fellowship with Serve the Moment, he’ll work for the Aspen Skiing Company and will participate in a National Outdoor Leadership School mountaineering program in the Pacific Northwest. Alden likes reading and playing basketball, and like many of his fellow Denverites, he loves skiing, camping, and backpacking.

Reilly Rapoport (she/her) | Jewish Family Service

Reilly is from Aurora, and she’s currently a freshman at the University of Colorado-Boulder. An active volunteer in the Jewish community, she was a teaching assistant at her temple for five years and was founder and inaugural president of the Jewish Students’ Society at her high school. Reilly got the idea because she wanted to create a safe space for Jewish teens to get to know each other, learn about Jewish culture, and share their pride in their identity with other, non-Jewish students. She loves learning about Jewish values and how they apply to her everyday life, and so she’s especially excited about the work she and her Serve the Moment fellows will be doing in and for the community.

Aaron Zetley (he/him) | Milk & Honey Farm-Boulder JCC

Aaron grew up in Milwaukee, in a tight-knit Jewish family. A recent graduate of the mechanical engineering program at University of Colorado-Boulder, he love spending time outdoors, running, backpacking, mountain biking, and rock climbing. When he finally goes back inside, he enjoys making home-cooked meals and hanging out at the dinner table with friends and family. Aaron has always liked working with his hands, and he’s really looking forward to his time at Milk & Honey Farm, a two-acre sustainable educational farm. His Serve the Moment fellowship is the perfect opportunity to give something delicious back to the Jewish community that’s given him so much.

Emma Peister (she/her) | Seven Cups

Emma graduated a year and a half ago with a degree in environmental studies. Since then, she’s canvassed for the environment and has taken advantage of the pandemic to learn about different social justice movements and forms of activism. Emma finds meaning in social activism, and she recognizes the importance of community and of the bonds we have with each other in bending the arc of history towards justice. She believes strongly in the Jewish value of tikkun olam and that her job is to help make the world a better place. Emma is happy that her fellowship at Serve the Moment will enable her to connect with and help others.

Mary Smith-Feinberg (she/her)| Milk & Honey Farm-Boulder JCC

Mary is a recent graduate of University of Colorado-Boulder, with a degree in psychology. She’s always been passionate about helping others, and she’s been a volunteer for numerous animal organizations, including sanctuaries. Her placement at the Milk & Honey Farm in Boulder is a perfect match, and Mary is gratified that she’ll be able to use her past experience volunteering on various farms to help the Boulder community.