New Hillel director plans expanded programming

(Excerpted from the Cleveland Jewish News)

As Jewish students at Cleveland State University, Case Western Reserve University, Oberlin College and other area colleges return to campus this fall, many may find it harder to ignore the call of getting involved at their on-campus Hillel.

Gary Coleman, new executive director at The Cleveland Hillel Foundation, promises there will be many changes to increase Hillel’s visibility and provide students with a variety of enticing new programs and events.

The Cleveland Hillel Foundation serves Case, CSU and Oberlin as well as providing some resources to local universities such as John Carroll University, Notre Dame College and Ursuline College.

With Coleman’s arrival, Hillel has already begun discussions on how they can be more innovative, develop new partners and allies, and enhance fundraising. He has already begun working with foundations to create relationships and increase the grants Hillel receives. “I want to know that in a couple of years we are in a better financial situation,” Coleman says.

Increasing the visibility of Hillel not only on each campus, but to the general Jewish community, is another important goal of Coleman’s. He plans to get more information about future events into local media and will also meet with Jewish organizations to highlight events or programs of special interest to them.

With CSU’s student body of mostly commuter students, raising the profile of the Hillel there is another challenge. Although much of the campus is under construction now, Coleman would like to see a “Hillel space” either on or near the campus in upcoming years.

The new executive director is looking forward to sending more students on birthright israel trips, bringing more Israeli speakers to campus, and creating more Israel culture programming. He also wants to create a connection between The Cleveland Hillel Foundation and the Hillel in St. Petersburg, Russia. St. Petersburg has a long-standing working relationship with the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland. During his tenure at Binghamton Hillel, Coleman worked with students who helped rebuild Katrina-ravaged New Orleans. He hopes to send a group of Cleveland students there as well.

“And if a group of students wants to have an area basketball or volleyball team, Hillel will sponsor that,” he adds. “It’s just a matter of creating a wider variety of programs.”

Coleman’s fresh ideas for Hillel have already impressed Siegel. “In the short time he’s been here, I have found him to be a very quick study,” he says. “He’s really jumped in with both feet and rolled up his sleeves. I think he’s doing a great job already.”