Nurturing the next generation of dynamic civil society leaders is a central pillar of the Jerusalem Foundation’s mission. Our trailblazing Shai Doron Leadership Fellows Program, designed to cultivate highly trained, talented, and deeply committed leaders of social enterprises, is now well underway.
Selected from across the full spectrum of Jerusalem’s communities, the Fellows are participating in a customized professional development journey that equips them with the tools, insight, and support needed to launch and lead impactful civil society initiatives.
Pathways to Leadership
The program approaches leadership as an evolving process of deep listening, reflection, and purposeful action. Fellows are guided from exploration and complexity toward informed, practical initiatives rooted in Jerusalem’s social reality.
Through experiential learning, leadership development workshops, and immersive field exposure to the city’s diverse communities, Fellows are strengthening their leadership capacities, expanding their professional networks, and deepening both their understanding of—and commitment to—Jerusalem.
The Journey So Far
- A diverse cohort reflecting Jerusalem’s social mosaic has come together, fostering meaningful dialogue, mutual curiosity, and cross-sector learning. Trust is growing, alongside a shared culture of collaborative leadership.
- Personal and professional networks are taking shape, characterized by authentic engagement and the beginnings of joint initiatives among Fellows.
- Two in-depth community visits—to the secular and ultra-Orthodox sectors—have already taken place, creating powerful emotional experiences and helping bridge gaps in knowledge and perception.
- Fellows demonstrate strong curiosity about one another’s identities and professional worlds and are eagerly anticipating the remaining in-depth visits to the Arab and Modern Orthodox communities.
Looking Forward
As the program enters the implementation phase, Fellows are receiving increasingly individualized and close mentoring to support the development of their initiatives.
The group’s rich identity and political diversity requires ongoing care and sensitivity, ensuring the continuation of open, courageous, and respectful dialogue on leadership—while nurturing each Fellow’s growth as a leader in Jerusalem.
Step by step, the Shai Doron Leadership Fellows are putting down roots in Jerusalem’s civil society, building partnerships and forging new connections. As they grow into inspirational role models and dedicated changemakers, they remind us that we must never stop hoping, aspiring, and working toward a stronger, more inclusive future for our city.