Resource for Jewish LGBTQ+ Students and their Career Development

Keshet קשת (Hebrew for “rainbow”) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization advocating for LGBTQ+ equality in Jewish life. It accomplishes this mission by offering professional development training modules for Jewish organizations working to become more LGBTQ+-affirming. It also offers an array of youth programs, mostly conducted online now, for queer youth ages 13-18 and 18-24 to find a sense of belonging and empowerment. There is special programming for LGBTQ+ Jewish youth of color, too. Nationally, Keshet has campaigned successfully for the protection of transgender rights, same-sex marriage, and the curbing of anti-LGBTQ+ bullying. Now, it is fighting hard for the passage of The Equality Act and has proposed federal legislation that would prohibit discrimination on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in employment, housing, education, and public spaces.

For Jewish LGBTQ+ identifying students, Keshet’s myriad online events provide invaluable and convenient networking opportunities. A well-stocked resource library includes community inclusion guides, success stories of LGBTQ+ Jews of color, a directory of inclusive Jewish institutions and clergy, and much more. Keshet also has job and internship opportunities and is currently hiring for a Salesforce Administrator position, responsible for managing and evaluating Keshet’s program implementation, fundraising, and communications efforts.

If you are interested in finding more about identity-specific career resources, schedule an appointment with a Career Coach today through Handshake: https://uconn.joinhandshake.com/login.

Photo courtesy of Steve Johnson of pexels.com

By Erik Zawodniak
Erik Zawodniak