It's Who You Know! The Podcast · Michelle W. Malkin: Nonprofit Jewish Professional

Universally Designed Communities of Belonging with Jen Phillip, President & CEO of Keshet

·44 min·1 clip

My dream is that I walk into the building and see people with and without disabilities together

Michelle W. Malkin opens by framing the podcast as a bridge between Jewish leaders and those who follow them. She says she first met Jen Phillips through the Leading Executives cohort in Leading Edge's program, and later reconnected with her at the alumni forum. Hearing about Keshet's One Community campaign gave Michelle another reason to invite Jen on. Jen is introduced as the president and CEO of Keshet, described as a community of belonging whose work includes education, recreation, adult services, and residential services. Michelle starts the interview by asking about Jen's own story, and Jen says she has been in the Keshet world for 31 years. Michelle asks how the organization and the field have changed over that span. The conversation shifts toward universal design. Jen says she does a lot of trainings around that topic, hears the familiar concern about money and capacity, and answers that no one will ever do everything perfectly; the better standard is to do the best you can and make things as accessible and universal as possible so everyone can access them. Michelle responds with an affirmation that Jen would be the right person to call for a universal design training. The interview then turns to Jen's current leadership role. Michelle asks what expectations Jen had before stepping into the position, how the reality compares with those expectations, and how the president and CEO title differs in practice from a CEO-only title. The conversation settles into the weight of leading a large organization with many moving parts. It closes with Michelle thanking Jen for the work she is doing and for the chance to learn from her, and Jen ends with gratitude and humor about staying with Keshet for the long haul.

As heard by us

A steady look at making belonging operational, not aspirational.

Jen Phillips' conversation with Michelle W. Malkin offers a clear look at how a community of belonging is built inside Keshet, across education, recreation, adult services, and residential support.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a grounded conversation about turning belonging into actual practice, not just good intentions.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from It's Who You Know! The Podcast