The 2024-2026 Katz-Phillips Leadership Development Class will be Announced by the End of May 2024.
Katz-Phillips Leadership Development Program
The Federation’s Katz-Phillips Leadership Development Program, formerly known as the Lemann-Stern Leadership Development Program, exists for the purpose of training young, outstanding Jewish men and women in the Greater New Orleans Jewish community for positions of leadership.
Congratulations to the Graduates of the 2022-2024 Class
The Katz-Phillips Leadership Development Program class of 2022-2024 graduated on January 17, 2024. Thank you to Jones Walker for hosting the graduation dinner. Mark Mintz, a graduate of the 2009-2011 Lemann-Stern class and Advisor of the 2019-2021 Katz-Phillps class, spoke on behalf of the law firm.
2022-2024 Graduates: Michael & Ava Alltmont, Ben Capiello & Anna Labadie, Adam Carlisle & Emma Herr, Sam Cohen,
Matt Farah & Jessica Bach, Jeffrey Fingerman & Katie Coburn, Jason Gaines, Len & Kendall Glade, Shayna Goldfine, Michelle Hicks, Mark & Mary Katherine Kaufman, Aaron & Caitlin Klinger, Lesley Lucas, Terrell Mims, Killian Philipson, David Tucker & Melanie Sheen, and Brian & Megan Yellin
Graduation Remarks
"This program has been my lifeline, because of the experiences and the knowledge gained and the people met… All of us here stand ready to help. We are here to fight bigotry. To fight pessimism. (Even when we feel it in our own bones.) To fight for what is right; to serve our community, to support those who are broken in mind or body or soul. The Katz-Phillips program—our leaders, mentors, support staff, and Federation community at large—have given it their all to equip us, inspire us, train us, and show us we are indeed up to the job. Having spent the last year and a half with all of you, I actually can rest easier. All of us here are equal to the task. For, indeed, we must be.”
Jason Gaines
Member of Temple Sinai, a Federation Board Member, the Co-Chair of Jewish Pride NOLA and a Tulane Adjunct Professor
“Every single one of you has inspired me, made me laugh, and it has been so sababa getting to know all of you. The chance of hearing your voices, your opinions, and most importantly, your solidarity, as we face such a tumultuous time as Jews has been invaluable to me.”
Michelle Hicks
Member of Gates of Prayer & Jewish Community Day School Parent
About the Program
The Katz-Phillips Leadership Development Program began as the Lemann-Stern Leadership Development Program in 1960. Due to the extreme generosity of Morton & Carole Katz and Stuart & Ida Phillips, graduates of the 2015 Lemann-Stern class, the program was renamed to the Katz-Phillips Leadership Development Program.
Graduates of the program have served on the boards of every Jewish agency, synagogue and organization in our community, and have used the knowledge gained from the program to benefit the wider New Orleans community as well.
Participation
Participants are selected from self-nominations or nominations made by past participants and New Orleans' Jewish community leaders. The program is a year and a half in length, kicking off with an immersive mission to Israel.
The class meets monthly, September-May during the first year and September-December the second year, with Graduation in January. Each session deals with Jewish American history, social action, leadership, and more.
Thanks to the generosity of Betty Meyers, alumni are encouraged to attend the annual Betty and Phillip Meyers Leadership Development Alumni Event.
To learn more, please contact Sherri Tarr at sherritarr@jewishnola.com or at 504.780.5609.