At an Organic Farm in Israel, Changing Young Lives

June 25, 2025Episodegoodpeopletalk

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:44 — 19.0MB) | Embed

At Kaima Hukuk — a non-profit organic farm in Israel’s Galilee region — teens and young adults seeking alternative educational and social frameworks are finding connection, purpose and promise. Founder Asaf Zaiden speaks to Good People Fund Associate Executive Director Julie Fisher about the vision and impact of Kaima Hukuk and how lives are being changed there.

The Good People Fund:
www.goodpeoplefund.org

Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for stories of inspiration, hope and impact:
https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/news-and-publications/annual-reports/

In Challenging Times, Advancing Civic Engagement

May 27, 2025Episodegoodpeopletalk

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:39 — 18.9MB) | Embed

Considering societal trends and schisms threatening the robust functioning of American democracy, Civic Spirit — a Good People Fund grantee — works with educators and students in faith-based schools across the country to bolster civic fluency, skills and engagement. Civic Spirit’s Executive Director, Rabbi Charles Savenor, speaks with GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger about the organization’s origins, and its growing and critical impact.

The Good People Fund:
www.goodpeoplefund.org

Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for stories of inspiration, hope and impact:
https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/news-and-publications/annual-reports/

In Israel’s Negev, A Passion to Uplift Bedouin Youth and Advance Co-Existence

April 29, 2025Episodegoodpeopletalk

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:44 — 28.5MB) | Embed

Jamal Alkirnawi is a leader in the Bedouin community in Israel and the Founder and Executive Director of A New Dawn in the Negev, a Good People Fund grantee. The organization uplifts Bedouin youth facing socio-economic challenges in the region, and with a Bedouin-Jewish core, promotes equality, co-existence and peace.

“I have the responsibility for the young people … to bring them the light for tomorrow,” Jamal tells GPF Associate Director Julie Fisher in this episode revealing how vision and passion leads to impact.

The Good People Fund:
www.goodpeoplefund.org

Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for stories of inspiration, hope and impact:
https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/news-and-publications/annual-reports/

For Newly Resettled Families in NYC, Threads of Connection and Support

March 24, 2025Episodegoodpeopletalk

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:35 — 26.9MB) | Embed

Shoshana Barzel founded New Neighbors Partnership in 2020, establishing clothing partnerships for newly resettled families in New York City. The clothing partnerships are the foundation of long-term community support networks, an invaluable anchor for refugee, asylee and asylum-seeking families. Shoshana speaks with GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger.

The Good People Fund:
www.goodpeoplefund.org

Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for stories of inspiration, hope and impact:
https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/news-and-publications/annual-reports/

For Haredi Women in Israel, Gaining a Voice

February 24, 2025Episodegoodpeopletalk

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:31 — 30.9MB) | Embed

Esty Shushan is a Haredi woman who founded Nivcharot — a Good People Fund grantee — to promote the status and rights of ultra-Orthodox women in Israel through education, advocacy and cultivation of women leaders. In conversation with GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger, Esty describes her personal journey finding her voice as a social visionary, and the remarkable and growing impact of the organization she leads.

The Good People Fund:
www.goodpeoplefund.org

Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for stories of inspiration, hope and impact:
https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/news-and-publications/annual-reports/

Healing as Activism

January 28, 2025Episodegoodpeopletalk

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:26 — 45.9MB) | Embed

Individual and collective trauma affects our potential to do good in the world as social visionaries, especially now in a broken landscape. So, how we seek awareness, perspective and healing is critical.

Rabbi Igal Harmelin — who is active in the trauma field and spoke at The Good People Fund (un)conference last fall — talks with GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger about the imperative to address our individual and collective trauma, and the primacy of self-healing and community in the process.

— For more information on the (un)conference and The Good People Fund, visit goodpeoplefund.org

— Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for stories of inspiration, hope and impact:
https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/news-and-publications/annual-reports/

— For more information about Rabbi Igal Harmelin, visit www.igalharmelin.com

In Their Own Words: Reflections from The Good People Fund 2024 (un)conference

December 23, 2024Uncategorizedgoodpeopletalk

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:59 — 28.8MB) | Embed

The first-ever Good People Fund (un)conference brought nearly 70 GPF grantees from throughout the US and Israel to New York in November — for two intensely rewarding days sharing experiences, origin stories, professional development and more … and shattering the isolation inherent in visionary leadership.

In this post-(un)conference episode of Good People Talk, GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger spoke with two GPF grantees who were there — Erin Stieglitz of Bagel Rescue in Atlanta and Dr. Rutie Pilz-Burstein of Sport – Bridge to Education in Israel — discussing their takeaways and the value of this gathering of Good People.

— For more information on the (un)conference and The Good People Fund, visit goodpeoplefund.org

— Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for stories of inspiration, hope and impact:
https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/news-and-publications/annual-reports/

Stories of Hope: JLM Food Rescuers

December 17, 2024Episodegoodpeopletalk

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:07 — 4.3MB) | Embed

Merav filled her tote bag with fresh fruits and vegetables, a typical scene at a farmer’s market anywhere. But this one in West Jerusalem is different: food is rescued, prices are non-existent, and individuals and families facing food insecurity — like Merav’s — are welcomed and respected. The whole environment, created by JLM Food Rescuers — a Good People Fund grantee — is a seed planted to grow personal and collective power and change lives and communities.

— “Stories of Hope” is a special series of Good People Talk, where the art of audio storytelling brings the impact of our Good People Fund grantees into bold relief and movement.

— Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for more stories of inspiration, hope and impact:
https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/news-and-publications/annual-reports/

— Thank you to our narration team: Jordan Rich of Chart Productions, Itay Peled, Daniella Seltzer, Shoshi Margolin

Stories of Hope: Israeli Transgender Association

December 16, 2024Episodegoodpeopletalk

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:57 — 4.1MB) | Embed

Often their life experience includes being ostracized from family … being homeless … being a sex worker … being abused … being shunned. So at Trans House in Tel Aviv, trans women are embraced for who they are without judgment or whispers. Linor Abergel is CEO of the Israeli Transgender Association — a Good People Fund grantee advocating for rights and services for the trans community. “Here we are your family … we will support and be here for you as long as you want or need us. I didn’t have this, and I wish I did.”

— “Stories of Hope” is a special series of Good People Talk, where the art of audio storytelling brings the impact of our Good People Fund grantees into bold relief and movement.

— Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for more stories of inspiration, hope and impact:
https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/news-and-publications/annual-reports/

— Thank you to our narration team: Jamie Allen Black, Linor Abergel, Shoshi Margolin

Stories of Hope: BirdieLight

December 16, 2024Episodegoodpeopletalk

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:10 — 4.4MB) | Embed

Beth Weinstock walked into that classroom carrying grief … but also a driving purpose. In 2021, her college-aged son Eli accidentally ingested fentanyl and died. Yet six months later, Beth and her daughter, Olivia, co-founded BirdieLight — a Good People Fund grantee — to honor Eli by spreading awareness about fentanyl in drugs to students, parents and educators.

— “Stories of Hope” is a special series of Good People Talk, where the art of audio storytelling brings the impact of our Good People Fund grantees into bold relief and movement.

— Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for more stories of inspiration, hope and impact:
https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/news-and-publications/annual-reports/

— Thank you to our narration team: Jamie Allen Black, Naomi Eisenberger, Julie Fisher, Shira Shapiro