New Leadership for ELI by Josh Pedowitz
In 2020, I found myself spending a lot of time thinking about two questions: 1) How could I get involved with Crossing Thresholds as a volunteer beyond trip participation? 2) What could I do to help quell the extraordinary pain that COVID-19 was causing in our communities in Kibera? Not only did it turn out that Becca Schneider was asking herself the same questions, but also that the answer to those questions fundamentally aligned with a vision that Carter and Faith had for bringing young minds into Crossing Thresholds. Together, we saw a unique opportunity: creating CT’s Emerging Leaders Initiative (ELI) - a way to bring fresh ideas and energetic young people into Crossing Thresholds to create the future of CT’s leadership and drive meaningful, lasting impact. I’m so happy to share that the dream we had for ELI has become a reality.
After five amazing years as co-chair of ELI, I’ve decided to step down from the position. As part of the process of making that transition, I wanted to share a bit about the journey that we’ve gone through and the way we’ve grown. I also wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on the ways that I’ve grown as part of ELI. And finally, I wanted to write this blog for anyone who is asking themselves how they can get further involved, like I was. If that sounds like you, reach out and let’s chat!
It’s almost hard to believe that we launched that first fundraiser 5 years ago. Looking back, the success of that fundraiser gave us a jump start that proved there was something to the vision we all shared. The fundraiser brought in an incredible $40,000 for our medical budget. That moment wasn’t just about raising funds; it was about realizing that when we come together, we can truly make a difference. It was also a far more significant fundraising project than I'd ever been a part of, and that came with several learnings. Fundraising can feel uncomfortable at first, but I quickly learned that the worst someone could say is no. It’s easy to imagine in your mind that others won’t feel as strongly as you do about a cause, but when you show your passion and your willingness to step up, people are surprisingly generous.
From there, our responsibilities grew along with our team. We expanded into managing CT’s communications and website, rethinking how Crossing Thresholds connects with its community. We also began getting involved with CT events, helping organize and set up the annual gala. More recently, our projects have taken on an even more exciting dimension as we’ve begun hosting ELI-specific events and programming. For some time, Becca and I had discussed different directions in which ELI could grow. In retrospect, going back to the “roots” of ELI with project-based work should have been obvious. Last year, we hosted our very first cultivation event designed to welcome more young people into the Crossing Thresholds family. Hosting an event on our own was honestly nerve wracking, but it showed us that ELI needed to both create its own space and integrate with the rest of CT in order to reach its potential. This year, we’re building on that momentum with our first-ever ELI trip to Kibera in the summer! If you’re interested, please reach out! Along with the trip, we’ve crafted an experience that caters to young, new trip participants by hosting a fundraiser where we will connect past trip participants with new faces eager to learn and contribute. Join us on May 31st in NYC for this exciting event!
Thinking back, I’m beyond grateful for the trust that Carter, Faith, and the rest of CT’s board and staff have had in us over the past few years. It was that trust and open-mindedness that allowed us to try new things and have a seat at the table in the organization. As I step down from my role as co-chair, I feel so much pride for what we’ve accomplished and an immense amount of anticipation for what lies ahead. And I’m glad that I’ll continue to see and contribute to ELI’s future in a non-leadership capacity. I'm even more excited to welcome Ashley Hart into ELI leadership, joining Becca as the new co-chair. Finally, as I mentioned above, if you’re a young person with a passion for making a difference, reach out to us and get involved! If we’ve proven anything over the last five years, it’s that your ideas, energy, and commitment are precisely what we need to keep moving forward at Crossing Thresholds.
- Josh Pedowitz Co-Chair of ELI from 2020 to 2025
