Amy Goldberg helps other families to better connect with their community. As a connector manager for the Jewish Connection Network, she helps facilitate the Jewish agency’s Community Connector program. It helps people in the Baltimore area who want to get more involved with its Jewish community forge relationships with others with similar interests and life circumstances. Goldberg primarily works with parent connectors, who mainly assist families with children. She lives in Towson with her husband, Ben, and their children, Asher (8) and Lilah (5).
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
How did you get involved in the Jewish Connection Network?
I was a community connector in Towson when my older child was born, about nine years ago. I did that work for three years as a part-time paid position, in addition to my regular job. I built relationships with other families in the Towson area.
The Jewish Connection Network is a relatively new agency of The Associated [Jewish Federation of Baltimore] that combined some programs from the Center for Jewish Education and the Jewish Volunteer Connection. When there was an open position in the community connections department, I was very interested because I enjoyed my work as a connector. Doing full-time work was something I felt I would really enjoy.
Can you tell me about your responsibilities as a connector manager?
A lot of connectors are seeking community themselves. We have connectors in Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Harford County and Carroll County that are all seeking community in some way. They’re interested in bringing families together and creating a community for their own family. They either reach out to me or they hear about the program and someone else connects me with them. Being a connector is a part-time job, but it’s very important work in the community. I help [prospective connectors] decide if it’s something that fits their schedule and their family’s needs and help them get involved.
How do you balance your work and your family life?
The great thing about my work being in the Jewish community is that it pairs so nicely with my family and our values that my kids really are excited to be around the community. The connectors are part of my family’s lives as well, and my kids are learning the skills that I share with my connectors and becoming good hosts. So, it’s a part of our lives. And I have a very flexible schedule, so I work when my kids are at school, and as I get older, it’s a little bit easier to work when they’re home. I just make it work. And, you know, it’s nice to have flexibility in my schedule.
You’re a very active member of the Jewish community. How do you encourage your kids to get involved?
For my son, it comes naturally. He is very outgoing, he likes to be part of a crowd, and I can see that he really values Jewish community. He started going to Camp Airy (a Jewish overnight camp for boys) this past summer, and he’s going back next summer. And he really values Jewish traditions and holidays.
My daughter is younger, and she was born during COVID. Things are still new for her. She doesn’t love having a lot of people around, but I think she’s starting to understand and get excited for the celebrations and how the holidays bring people together.
What’s one thing you want to teach your children as they grow up?
Just the value of being an honest, good person, and how that will get you a long way. The values we teach in the Jewish community are just human values that transcend religion. In any kind of community, being a good person is the most important thing. My husband and I both want to teach our kids that you get out of things what you put into them. And with our involvement, the more we’re involved, the more we all benefit from being part of a community.
Family Favorites
Restaurant: The Nautilus Diner
Local Spot: We spend a lot of time at [The Shops at] Kenilworth, and we like the playground there.
Vacation Spot: Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Game: Uno
Activity: Hiking and going on walks
