Federations Welcome New Co-Chairs of National Young Leadership Cabinet

Jewish Federations of North America are proud to welcome the new co-chairs of National Young Leadership Cabinet, Lauren Danneman of Philadelphia and Yudi Gross of Boca Raton.


Lauren is the Director of Marketing and Philanthropy for The Danneman Firm, LLC, in Delaware. Previously, Lauren worked for JNF On-Campus designing conferences and engaging professionals to send students to Israel. She has served in various leadership roles on National Young Leadership Cabinet, including Co-Chair of Israel & Overseas, Jewish Life Co-Chair, Associate Vice-Chair of Global Education, and First-Year Orientation Chair. Lauren is very involved with the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, where she is serving her sixth year on the Commission for Jewish Life and Learning and Women's Philanthropy Executive Board.


Yudi is the founding partner of Aequus Partners Financial Planning, a bespoke wealth management firm based in Boca Raton. He previously served as Jewish Life Co-Chair, Engagement Co-Chair and Israel & Overseas Co-Chair on National Young Leadership Cabinet, and served on Cabinet’s Inclusion Task Force. He has held numerous leadership roles at the Jewish Federation of South Palm County, where he also helped launch a leadership program called the Emerging Philanthropist Institute.


“As Cabinet Co-Chairs, we will work tirelessly to engage young Jewish adults from all backgrounds and streams, to inspire them towards activism, community engagement, and philanthropy, and to foster Jewish networks that are inclusive and proud of their heritage,” Lauren and Yudi said. “Though our communities face tremendous challenges, we look at our Cabinet peers - the next leaders of the Jewish community - with much hope and optimism for what the future will bring.”


“Without a doubt, the years I spent in Cabinet helped shape my path as a Jewish communal leader and prepared me for my role today,” said Chair of the Board of Jewish Federations of North America Julie Platt. “I am so proud to watch our young leaders today and am certain that Lauren and Yudi will bring tremendous energy and vision to the organization and to our mission to build flourishing Jewish communities.”


“Yudi and Lauren will oversee Cabinet’s continued growth, as the program reaches a milestone of 450 active members – our largest-ever participation since Cabinet’s inception nearly 60 years ago. They envision leading Cabinet to build community and inspire leadership through peer engagement, and they’ll connect our more than 4,000 Cabinet alumni with our current members so that they are best prepared to lead,” added Associate VP of National Young Leadership Rabbi David Kessel.


Among the priorities that the Co-Chairs will focus on are combating antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric, creating inclusive communities that foster a sense of belonging, engaging young Jewish adults in philanthropy, and more.


National Young Leadership Cabinet is Jewish Federations’ premier young leadership development program that inspires the next generation of global Jewish leaders towards philanthropy, communal engagement and activism. Cabinet has formed nearly six decades of Jewish leaders and philanthropists and has more than 4,500 current members and alumni who foster flourishing Jewish communities across North America and around the globe.