Lisa's Long View Archives
Resilience, Responsibility, and the Work of Freedom
Posted by Lisa Long on March 23, 2026
Passover is the holiday of questions like “Why is this night different?” For me this is also a time for questions like… “What am I carrying forward and what am I ready to leave behind...."
From Crisis to Courage: Choosing Light, Choosing Joy, Choosing One Another
Posted by Lisa Long on January 22, 2026
In recent weeks, I have found myself thinking deeply about what it means to lead, and to belong, during complicated times.
Across our community, and across the Jewish world, we are living with a mix of gratitude and grief, pride, and pain. Our institutions are strong, our people are resilient and yet many of us are tired. I know I am....
Light in the Face of Darkness
Posted by: Lisa Long on Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Driving my 14-year-old son Henry north from his rural middle school this week, I saw something that broke my heart, again. Spray-painted on the sign of a local business was a swastika. It’s not the first time we've made this terrible discovery. It’s the second ...
Reflecting on a Memorable Year
Posted by: Lisa Long on Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Stepping into my new role as CEO of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation has been both humbling and inspiring. I am honored to have the privilege of leading an organization with such an extraordinary legacy and such a bright future. In our most ...
Are You Really Jewish?
Posted by: Lisa Long on Tuesday, July 22, 2025
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked this during my life. In my mostly Jewish hometown of Highland Park, Ill., I towered over most of the kids my age, and my red hair, freckles, and translucent skin stood out next to my ...
The Glass Isn't Half Empty
Posted by: Lisa Long on Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Not too long ago, Youngstown had 5,000 Jewish people. Now we’re down to about 1,400. Many in our community frame this population loss as an issue only for the Jewish community. But truly it’s part of the bigger issue that Youngstown, as ...
The 6 Pillars That Will Drive Our Work
Posted by: Lisa Long on Monday, March 31, 2025
In my last “Long” View, I shared what brought me to this type of work and why I’m so passionate about it. This time I want to lay out my plan for where I’d like to take our Federation and community. I come to this role with ...
Lisa's Long View: I went missing once... I won't again.
Posted by: Lisa Long on Wednesday, February 12, 2025
On January 1 I began my term as our Federation’s fourth CEO. To understand where I plan on going in this role, it’s important to understand what brought me to this point. So, allow me to re-introduce myself by taking you all back in ...
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