Walking the Walk Alumni
Walking the Walk Alumni encourages youth to stay involved with the goals and mission of the Interfaith Center after they graduate from Walking the Walk. Alumni events, which are planned by a student planning committee, include service-learning projects, speaking opportunities at public events, and leadership workshops. Some alumni serve as Student Group Leaders, working as assistants for their Walking the Walk network, or as members of the GreenTeam, who lead the Day of Environmental Action.
All Walking the Walk alumni are encouraged to get involved with this initiative! See the schedule of upcoming alumni events or apply to be a Student Group Leader below.
“I was so captivated by the program I couldn’t just let it slip through my fingers, so I returned as a Student Group Leader this year with my Christian and Muslim friends. There is absolutely no down side to this program.” —Mara, Walking the Walk Alumni Student Group Leader, West Philadelphia Network, 2010-2011.
Highlights from Walking the Walk Alumni
View photos from past alumni events!
Upcoming Opportunities
We are looking for Walking the Walk Alumni to serve in a leadership position in an exciting new initiative – the Walking the Walk Alumni Board! The alumni board aims to promote a sense of community between the alumni of the WTW program. The board will gage the needs and interests of alumni and create a method for Walking the Walk participants to continue their engagement in the Interfaith movement beyond the year of the program.
We are interested in creating a board of high school and college-age students and beyond. Think about applying if you are interested in outreach to fellow alumni through events and programs.
The time committment would be 1-2 in-person meetings per year, along with phone and e-mail check-ins before major events. Alumni would serve a two-year term on the board.
Please return the Alumni Board application form to Margie Scharf mns@interfaithcenterpa.org by August 14th if you are interested.
What’s New
“Walking the Walk Alumni Engage in Service at Henry Got Crops and Share”
“I feel that I have become part of more than just a program, but rather a full-fledged interfaith movement.” —Louis, Walking the Walk Alumni Summer Intern, 2010. Read his full story.
Current Student Group Leaders
Dalia Al-Bataineh, Suburban West Network
What is one religious tradition that is meaningful to you?
The group prayer the morning of Eid-al-Fitr at the mosque is the most meaningful religious tradition to me because it brings everyone together and is the largest holiday in Islam. I love seeing everyone and enjoying all of the delicious food people only make on special occasions like Eid – it’s just fun spending time with others. It’s simply Christmas for Muslims.
What is your favorite Walking the Walk memory?
The best part of my WTW year was getting to further understand other religions and their followers. I loved being able to have meaningful discussions with other people my age in such a mature and respectful way. I think WTW was my little safe-haven because I could express myself and my religious beliefs without feeling weird or inappropriate since you don’t really talk about religion every day.
What is one fact about you?
This is so bizarre but I’m a cat whisperer (I don’t even like cats). One time I was in Jordan, visiting family, and a stray cat started meowing and I meowed back and we just had a cat conversation for about 4 minutes and then I had to leave and get dinner. I’m basically a pro – so if you and your cat are having communication problems – give me a call!
Suzanne Bernstein, Suburban West Network
What is one religious tradition that is meaningful to you?
A Jewish tradition important to me is the Passover holiday each spring. Not only does it make me appreciate my ancestors’ brave escape from slavery, but it is also an excuse to spend time with my family!
What is your favorite Walking the Walk memory?
My favorite part of Walking the Walk this past year was learning about faith traditions other than my own and putting faces and friendships to those religions. I found meeting and connecting with people different from myself thrilling and I can’t wait to experience it all over again.
What is one fact about you?
I can wiggle my ears and love tootsie rolls.
Quinia Evans, Northwest Philadelphia Network
What is one religious tradition that is meaningful to you?
A religious tradition that is very meaningful to me is communion.
What is your favorite Walking the Walk memory?
My favorite part of Walking the Walk was when we went on our service projects to Share and Aid for Friends Food Programs.
What is one fact about you?
I love animals and I love to sing every genre of music.
Tal Gilad, Wissahickon Network
What is one religious tradition that is meaningful to you?
A very meaningful religious tradition for me is at the bar/bat mitzvah ceremonies. I love that when the child is receiving the torah for the first time, it is passed down from the parents. I love the meaning behind this, and goes with the Hebrew phrase, lador vador, meaning from generation to generation. The torah is symbolic, in that moment, of all the people and generations that have read it before and the generations to come.
What is your favorite Walking the Walk memory?
My favorite part of my Walking the Walk year is meeting the new “walkers”. We all get along so well, and answer each other’s curious questions. Getting along with other people and having dialogue makes the experience so much better and worthwhile! I’m looking forward to connecting with everyone again.
What is one fact about you?
A fun fact about me is that I love to crew and have done so for about three years.
Sophia Gluskin-Braun, Northwest Philadelphia Network
What is one religious tradition that is meaningful to you?
Fasting on Yom Kippur. Although not the original intent of the tradition, fasting gives me a taste of what it is like for the many people in the world who live in hunger.
What is your favorite Walking the Walk memory?
This is my first year participating in Walking the Walk
What is one fact about you?
I love vegetable gardening
MaryKate Glenn, Northern Day School Network
What is one religious tradition that is meaningful to you?
I was raised Catholic (my mom) and Lutheran (my dad) but I’m currently exploring/questioning.
What is your favorite Walking the Walk memory?
My favorite WTW memories were the discussions I had with my fellow participants. They were all immensely intelligent individuals, and I learned so much from them.
What is one fact about you?
I’m a supreme Gilmore Girls aficionado. Seriously. Ask me anything.
Sam Slavitt, Northern Day School Network
What is one religious tradition that is meaningful to you?
Culturally Jewish, religiously Atheist
What is your favorite Walking the Walk memory?
My favorite part about participating in Walking the Walk was doing service projects.
What is one fact about you?
I have an iPhone app in the App Store called SlavittMind
Graham Small, Suburban West Network
What is one religious tradition that is meaningful to you?
A religious tradition that is very meaningful to me the singing of hymns and anthems. Music and religion are two things I am very passionate about. When I am singing is when I feel closest to God. I feel even closer when the music is designed to praise him.
What is your favorite Walking the Walk memory?
My favorite part of the Walking the Walk year is the Stereotypes session. This is a session that is held later in the Walking the Walk year, and is also the most meaningful session in the program to me. During this meeting the students write down all the stereotypes they can think of for each religion and later they are read aloud. The following discussion is an example of what this program is trying to achieve. All of the students talk about how offended they are by the stereotypes not only of their own religion but also of other religions. This session inspires the individuals in each group to go out and make a difference.
What is one fact about you?
A fun fact about me is that I have been playing piano since I was two, and have been composing my own music since I was eleven.
Leah Zebovitz, Central Philadelphia Network
What is one religious tradition that is meaningful to you?
A meaningful religious tradition for me is the Passover Seder. It is a time when my family and friends gather together to celebrate the holiday and we always make our Seders fun by adding games or skits.
What is your favorite Walking the Walk memory?
My favorite part of the year at Walk the Walk was when we went to Aid for Friends to package meals and learn about the organization.
What is one fact about you?
I have been to Alaska 8 times-I go every summer to visit my cousins and just to enjoy the beauty.
Past Student Group Leaders
2011 – 2012
- Sydney Fleekop, Matt Siegleman, Suburban West Network
- Ricca Marx, Wissahickon Network
- Sophia Waldstein, North/Northwest Network
- Ilanit Goldberg, Wissahickon Network
- Arin Ahlum Hanson, Suburban West Network
- Rev. Rob McClellan, Day School Network
- Rev. Lamont A. Wells, Northwest Philadelphia Network
2010-2011
- Aniqa Hassan, Anisa Tavangar – Suburban-West Network
- Miriam Jason – Cheltenham Network
- Baseerah Watson, Mara Pliskin, Sheannah Conneen – West Philadelphia Network
2009-2010
- Dahlia Kenawy, Hanna Elmongy – Havertown Network
- Anneke Kat, Wyatt Smith, Isam Osman – Suburban-West Network
- Sa’ood Abdul-Basit, Danny Garfield – West Philadelphia Network
2008-2009
- Dan Siegelman, Halimah Bakillah, Yasmine Hadjar – Suburban West Network
- Hannah Weilbacher, Hope Platt, Kamil Saeid – West Philadelphia Network
2007-2008
- Ibrahim Muhaimin,Michael Pasek
- Ananas Mustafa, Brian Brodsky, Halima Freudberg – Suburban-West Network
Past Green Team Leaders
2010-2011
- Lisa Doi
- Noah Kosherick
- Hanna Elmongy
- Sa’ood Abdul-Basit
- Michael Klingerman
2009-2010
- Allison Peiser, The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
- Emna Bakillah
- Layla Tavangar
- Leena Mazid
- Michael Kligerman
- Monique Smith
- Noah Kosherick
2008-2009
- Amanda Mazid
- Dahlia Kenawy
- Isam Osman
- Layla Tavangar
- Michael Kligerman
- Sarah Claussen, The Lutheran Seminary
- Qamar Muhaimin, Student Group Leader
- Zia Islam
2007-2008
- Halima Bakillah
- Ibrahim Muhaimin
- Ja’Milla Fitzhugh
- Marjorie Scharf, Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia
- Michael Kligerman
- Michael Wanatik
- Michael Pasek
- Mikeerah Smith
- Monique Smith
- Qamar Muhaimin
“Towards the end of my time in interfaith I was doing all kinds of things I never would have done before. I was leading the team planning our annual Day of Environmental Action, and I was always one of the kids speaking at events …If I had let this program pass me by I wouldn’t be who I am today.”—Qamar, Walking the Walk Alumni Student Group Leader and Green Team Leader, 2009-2010.
