Moderator:
Scott Reich
A Port Washington resident, Scott Reich is Vice President & Senior Counsel at American Express. His acclaimed book, The Power of Citizenship: Why JFK Matters to a New Generation, examines President Kennedy’s emphasis on public service and how his legacy can be used to increase civic engagement today. He lectures nationally and is an adjunct lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania.
Reich is CEO and co-founder of Believe in a Cure, a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation working to find and fund a cure for FOXG1 Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that impacts his young son, Eli.
He serves on the boards of several non-profit institutions, including the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and the College Council of SUNY-Old Westbury. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he was president of his class.
Panel:
Natalie Sanandaji
Natalie Sanandaji, 28, is a Long Island native born to an Israeli mother and Iranian father, Natalie worked in real estate in New York City before October 7th, when she narrowly survived the Nova music festival massacre during a visit to Israel. Her traumatic experience that day led her to transform her life and switch her career path to Jewish advocacy and fighting antisemitism. Preceding her work in Jewish advocacy, Natalie has also long co-hosted the "Persian Girl Podcast," where the conversations generally focus on coming-of-age experiences in the large Iranian expatriate communities of New York and Los Angeles. Given her background, Natalie is well-versed in the struggles in the Middle East against the tyrannical forces of radical Islam backed by the current regime in Tehran, and her guiding mission is to use her multicultural background to her advantage to support the fight for freedom throughout the region and across the globe.
Dr. Michael Hynes
Dr. Michael Hynes, Superintendent of Schools for Port Washington Union Free School District, is a Fulbright Specialist and an associate professor of education and leadership at Long Island University and Stony Brook University. His mission is to spread the message of the importance of a holistic approach to educating children. He emphasizes the importance of play, recess in schools, mental health and mindfulness in the classroom as showcased in the documentary Chasing Childhood. Dr. Hynes is a former assistant superintendent, principal and classroom teacher.
Hynes is also a public-school advocate, TEDx and keynote speaker. He is the author of the book “Staying Grounded: 12 Principles for Transforming School Leader Effectiveness” and has published numerous articles and featured on numerous podcasts on school leadership.
Hynes received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Bethany College and his masters and doctorate in educational administration from Dowling College. He has undergone professional training to integrate organizational learning and school leadership into programs at New York University, Stony Brook University and Harvard University. Dr. Hynes has been awarded the “Friend of Education Award” and the “Distinguished Leadership Award” by Phi Delta Kappa as well as numerous other awards related to school leadership.
Rabbi Jodie Siff
It is Rabbi Jodie’s life’s mission to guide individuals to create meaning through a Jewish lens, within the context of community. Jodie works with the synagogue’s children beginning in the Gan Shalom nursery school and reaching into the senior adult community. At the core of her work is creating and implementing inter-generational experiences that inspire meaningful connections. A Registered Yoga Teacher, RYT® 200, Jodie brings in Shabbat with congregants of all ages with Shabbat Yoga.
Kalpana Bhandarkar
Kalpana Bhandarkar has dedicated her 20-year career to improving health care and social service access for vulnerable populations and strengthening non-profit organizations’ abilities to deliver on their mission. She has held leadership positions at NYC Health + Hospitals, Maimonides Medical Center, Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center and the Children's Defense Fund. She is an active Board member of three non-profit organizations: ERASE Racism, a civil rights organization focused on fair housing and educational equity; Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, a statewide child advocacy organization working to advance policies for children and families in low-resource settings; and She Is the Universe, a global leadership development organization for teen girls around the world. Kalpana also has a long history of participating in voter registration, voter outreach and canvassing related to local, state and presidential elections. She owns and operates Spring Bhee Advisory, delivering advisory and capacity-building services for health care and non-profit organizations.
