Carolyn Koch-Mandelbaum
“I grew up in Tennessee and was the only observant Jew in my school. I come from a family that is quite diverse, comprised of members of different religions, races and backgrounds. I have children who are neurodivergent. I was raised to understand the importance of respecting and representing all so [that] everyone is comfortable [with] being true to oneself. Growing up, most of my peers had never met a person like me, [leading me to feel] the pressure of representing my people. When I graduated high school, I came to New York and joined the masses. It felt good to be anonymous. However, over time, I’ve come to realize the importance of stepping up and speaking out [loud]. It’s the only way for others to understand your perspective, and I think that is an important thing I will be bringing into the DEI committee.”
Joined VOA-GNY in 2016