Peer Leadership Fellows
A year-long fellowship for Jewish teens (grades 10–12) that develops peer leaders to connect teens to Jewish life through monthly training and community impact.
Become the Change you Wish to See in the World
Empowering Jewish teens in grades 10–12 to become community connectors and changemakers as Peer Leadership Fellows.
Through this year-long fellowship, teens learn to build authentic, meaningful relationships that foster an inclusive, connected teen community across Greater Boston. The program is flexible and self-scheduled, designed to complement schoolwork and extracurricular activities.
Fellows gather monthly, both in person and online, forming a supportive team of leaders dedicated to strengthening one another and their communities. Along the way, they learn to guide peers toward the many opportunities available to Jewish teens, while working to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and promote overall wellness.
The Peer Leadership Fellows 2025–2026 cohort is currently full; Applications for the 2026–2027 cohort will begin in Spring 2026.
Program at a Glance
- Who: Jewish teens in grades 10–12 (2026–2027 school year), living in Greater Boston
- Duration: Year-long; approx. 8–10 hrs/month
- Format: Monthly training seminars on Sundays (2–3 hours) + flexible fieldwork; in-person & online
- Locations: Throughout the Greater Boston community
- Stipend: $500 (recognizes leadership, training, and deliverables)
What You’ll Do
Kick-Off Retreat
Start the year with immersive relational engagement and skill-building to form your leadership cohort and set goals.
Monthly Training Seminars
Training in relational engagement, empathetic listening, mental health & wellness, inclusion awareness & advocacy, and leadership development.
Community Service
Lead or support projects at regional service days in partnership with youth-serving organizations and synagogues across Greater Boston.
Senior Fellows (2nd-Year)
After a successful first year, apply for advanced leadership—options include data analysis, social media ambassadorship, peer mentoring, workshop facilitation, and other personalized passion projects.
National Learning
Connect with Fellows nationwide for additional learning and training opportunities throughout the year.
Focus Areas
Fellows will have the opportunity to choose between two focus areas during their fellowship: Peer Engagement and Peer Wellness.
Peer Engagement
Fellows are trained to serve as ambassadors, helping their peers connect to Jewish life. With ongoing training and support, they strengthen and expand their social networks each month, building relationships and guiding other teens toward opportunities that align with their interests and preferred ways of engaging. In partnership with Hillel International and other local and national organizations, JTI provides Fellows with training in leadership development, relational engagement, values exploration, and design thinking, while also addressing communal priorities such as combating antisemitism, advancing social justice, and responding to current events.
Peer Wellness
Fellows work to remove the stigmas surrounding mental health and wellness, educating themselves and their peers through group learning and programmatic opportunities. Fellows engage in high-level training in awareness, advocacy, relational engagement and leadership development. This cohort is facilitated by and in partnership with BaMidbar.
Why become a Peer Leadership Fellow?
- Develop leadership and advocacy skills
- Promote inclusion, well-being, and community connection
- Build trusted, peer-to-peer relationships
- Gain resume-worthy experience and a paid stipend
Meet the Team
Director of Teen Programs & Program Coordinator, Diller Teen Fellows
Leah Finkelman Kagan
Director of Teen Programs & Program Coordinator, Diller Teen Fellows
Leah Finkelman Kagan (she/her) is an experiential Jewish educator who prioritizes relationship-building to help learners connect to Judaism and each other. In her current role as the Director of Teen Programs and Diller Teen Fellows Program Coordinator at JCC Greater Boston, Leah oversees the expansion and development of existing and new teen programs to create spaces for teens to grow into compassionate, empowered and socially conscious community members. In past roles at CJP and Temple Beth Elohim, Leah has worked directly with both teens, inspiring them to find meaningful connection between Judaism and their own lives, and teen-serving professionals, supporting them In working collaboratively and innovatively to meet the needs of Boston’s teen community. Originally from Ohio, Leah has lived in Boston since graduating with a BA in American Studies from Brandeis University. She is on the board of Tivnu: Building Justice and the Camp Council at URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy.
Featured Programs
Programs for Teens
Discover engaging teen programs in Boston at JCC Greater Boston! Enjoy fitness classes, leadership opportunities...
JCC Boston Diller Teen Fellowship
Our goal is to nurture the next generation of leaders with a strong sense of Jewish identity, dedication to the...
JCC Maccabi Games®
Join a community of Jewish teens from over 70 delegations across the globe including North and South America,...
Contact Us
Have any questions? Just fill out this form and our team will take it from there.
