Calling young Jewish entrepreneurs or wannabes 

The 2018 St. Louis Jewish Young Adult Technology and Entrepreneurship Summit is hoping to connect Jewish young adults who are in, or interested in, the world of entrepreneurship and technology in order to create networks and establish mentor relationships and collaborations. 

Eleven speakers will present their stories of starting their businesses, and will share advice on best practices for being entrepreneurs when the summit convenes from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7 at T-Rex Downtown, 911 Washington Ave. 

Alon Gilboa, 27, one of the organizers, was born in Israel but grew up in St. Louis, attended University of Missouri-Columbia and spent a few years in Israel after college. 

“When I returned to St. Louis, a lot of my friends had moved to the East Coast or West Coast and got involved in different types of Jewish activities besides happy hours,” he said. “They were into things that really mattered to them in other areas whether it was spirituality or fitness or art. I thought this would be a good thing for those of us in St. Louis.”

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Gilboa is CEO and co-founder of Explority, a platform (web and mobile app) that helps educators and schools improve student wellbeing by more easily creating and managing out-of-class experiences, from short field trips to longer multi-day/week programs. Other speakers include Abby Cohen, co-CEO of Sparo, a digital health company; Jeff and Randy Vines, creators of STL-Style, a graphic design and apparel company on Cherokee Street; and Benjamin D. Singer, co-founder and CEO of GiveWhen, a for-profit social enterprise to help causes match their missions with fundraising campaigns that leverage social psychology.

“We are gearing this summit to two audiences,” said Gilboa. “One is the audience already involved in entrepreneuships and technology and the other is the audience really interested in them. We’re hoping that both audiences connect with each other. Those interested can have some inspiration and meet people they can aspire to and connect with in a meaningful way. 

“Overall, the idea is to really expand the community and give people here in St. Louis a sense of the opportunities that can exist and grow here.”

Sponsors for the program are Next Dor STL, JGrads, Jewish Federation of St. Louis YPD, T-Rex and ITEN (a catalyst for tech innovation).

A kosher breakfast and lunch will be served at the summit, which is open to both Jews and non-Jews. The event is free but registration is preferred at stlsummit.splashthat.com.

Oh how good

A couple years ago, a group of Jewish millennials set their sights on revitalizing a former synagogue building in the Botanical Heights neighborhood that was last used in 1944, according to organizers. The founders received funding from Jewish Federation and the Staenberg Family Foundation and on Sunday (Sept. 30) held a soft opening for MaTovu, at 4200 Blaine Ave. It’s described as “an inclusive Jewish space in St. Louis City that fosters connection through enriching the community’s spiritual, cultural and social life.”

For those interested in finding out more, the organization will hold its grand opening from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5. Attendees can welcome Shabbat with small bites, local beer and live music. For more information visit Matovustl.org. 

And see next week’s Jewish Light for a larger story about the new center.

Teen $$$ opportunity

The Helen Diller Family Foundation is accepting nominations for the 2019 Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards. The program recognizes 15 Jewish teens annually with $36,000 each to support an ongoing social justice project, or to further their education. 

This call for nominations offers the opportunity for educators, civic leaders, and teen mentors to acknowledge Jewish teens who are actively working to create meaningful change in their communities, and the world.

Teens must demonstrate exceptional leadership and impact in repairing the world. Anyone interested in nominating a teen, or any teen interested in applying directly, can visit www.dillerteenawards.org to begin the process. The nomination deadline is Dec. 18 and all applications must be completed by Jan. 8.

Since 2007, more than $4 million has been awarded to 114 teens in recognition of their vision, innovation, and leadership. 

Past local recipients include Jessica Goldberg, a 2016 winner who attended John Burroughs School. She co-founded Performing for Pencils, a group that hosts an annual talent show to raise funds to provide disadvantaged students with school supplies. In 2013, Jake Bernstein, a then-student at Clayton High School was recognized for volunTEENnation.org, a website he started with his sister Simone in 2009. Frustrated by the lack of resources for students under 18 who wanted to find volunteer opportunities, the siblings created the nonprofit to link teens and tweens to organizations seeking volunteers.

Other past recipients nationwide have had projects that advocate for a wide range of causes including: designing and recycling clothing for homeless LGBT youth; free STEM summer camps for under-privileged girls; creating an empowering community for teens who have lost a parent; and developing awareness about the refugee crisis while creating educational opportunities for immigrant refugee students.