Sylvie Sherman, Candidate for the 5th Board of Manhattan BBG
Sylvie Sherman
Gotham BBYO #5071
aspiring to be your 4th Regional S'ganit
Biographical Information
School:
LaGuardia High School | Class of 2024
NYC Neighborhood:
Upper West Side
Favorite Restaurant in NYC:
Flame
Favorite Quote (and who said it):
"It always seems impossible until it is done" Nelson Mandela
Who is one of your Role Models and why?
Ruth Bader Ginsberg is one of my role models because she was a powerful Jewish woman from New York who fought against gender discrimination.
Reflection Questions
Why do you want to serve in the position for which you are caucused? Why are you qualified to do so? What will you uniquely bring to the Regional Board?
I want to serve as S’ganit because chapter programming is how we will grow Manhattan Region, attracting prospects and keeping existing members active and excited for events. What I bring to the table is my ability to elevate programs by accessing available resources. I applied and received four different grants, including the Israeli Grant, Game Changer Grant, and IC Programming Grant, which enabled me to plan and fund a Melanoma Awareness program, a Chanukah party, a Challenge Night, and a Chocolate Seder with SAJ. I purchased and distributed goody bags prior to the events so everyone could participate. If elected, I will set high goals for our chapters and region and serve with all of my might. BBYO has created a space where I feel welcome and I’m so grateful to be part of such an amazing sisterhood. I want to expand this sisterhood and use programming to do so.
Select one of the Menorah Pledge Principles and explain how you apply this principle in your day-to-day life. How does this principle influence your leadership style?
“Good sisterhood” is something I take very seriously. This past year has been incredibly challenging, but the time I spent with my two sisters and my BBYO friends made it so much better. As Regional S’ganit, I’d work hard to build sisterhood among Manhattan BBGs by hosting events meant to create bonds. I would host smaller events, special for each grade, like welcome events for 8th and 9th graders, grade-wide sleepovers for sophomores and juniors, and celebrations for graduating seniors. I will also plan larger regional programs, such as spa nights, game nights, movie nights, and regional BBG sleepovers with Good and Welfare to make sure that we are a united region. My S’ganit network will create a sisterhood among chapter S’ganits that will benefit our entire region. To me, sisterhood means constant support, companionship, unconditional acceptance, and fun; as S’ganit, I’ll plan programs that create and strengthen lasting friendships.
How can Manhattan’s programming improve on the chapter-level in this upcoming year? As Regional S'gan/it, how will you specifically address this, given that you are not planning these programs yourself, but rather working with the chapter s’ganim who will plan (most) of the events?
As Gotham’s S’ganit, I took our new chapter from 2 programs per year to 2 programs per month by focusing on consistent scheduling and thoroughly-planned, elevated programs for 40 active members. I know I can bring the passion I feel for my chapter to the regional level, by creating a S’ganim network where chapters share ideas and use each other as resources. I will work closely with my counterparts to have biweekly calls where I offer my support and reflect with them on their recent and upcoming programs. I will create our own regional program bank and also provide them with international program banks. To strengthen the S’ganim network, I will have a S’ganim sleepover to create one cohesive team, working to motivate and support all Manhattan chapters. I will use my leadership skills and passion for BBYO to create programs that will bring us “together as one, forever united.”