Laura Marjovsky is one of 14 professionals selected this year for the Merrin Teen Professional Fellows Program, a competitive North American leadership and training program. Marjovsky has been the Children and Family Program Coordinator at the Rady Jewish Community Centre since 2009 and currently supervises over twenty teens who work in a variety of positions. 

“I am thrilled and humbled to given this opportunity to learn new skills to do my job better. I know that over 30 people applied this year so I was quite surprised and excited when I was selected. I can hardly wait to get started at the first seminar in New York City in January 2013,” said Marjovsky who came to Canada in 2004 from Buenos Aires. 

The Merrin Teen Professional Fellows program includes three 4 day seminars in North America, one 10 day seminar in Israel where the focus is on building bridges between North American teens and their Israeli counterparts, and a concluding 3 day seminar at the JCC’s of North America Biennial Convention.

Gayle Waxman, Executive Director Rady JCC said, “In the three years that Laura has worked here, she has become an outstanding employee. She is a dedicated and committed staff person who has taken many of the children and teen programs to the next level. She also has been instrumental in creating a setting for teen leaders and counselors to develop leadership skills.”

Marjovsky, who has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from University of Buenos Aires and has worked in the educational field for over 20 years said, “It has been a real positive and rewarding experience for me to work with teens in the Winnipeg Jewish community through the Rady JCC.”

“I am the first and only Winnipegger who has ever been selected for this program. I am sure this intensive training program will enrich and deepen my own Jewish identity, as well as, help me grow as a Jewish Communal Professional,” said Marjovsky. 

The Merrin Teen Professional Fellows Program was started in 1999 and focuses on developing leadership and management skills, learning how to serve teens more effectively, strengthening their professional network and building their career path, and deepening their Jewish knowledge. 

The goal of this exceptional program is to give those working with teens the skills to better serve a critical sector of the Jewish community and to build a stronger network of Jewish Communal Professionals across North America. Since 1999, more than 80 professionals have completed the 14-month program.

This article first appeared in the Jewish Tribune.