Honeycomb hosted our annual Facilitator Training October 29-30 in New York. We were delighted to welcome professionals from around the country (Plano, Indianapolis, Palo Alto, New Jersey, DC, New York) and Israel. As always, we spotlighted amazing aspects of our curriculum. Through discussion, interactive activities, valuable skill building, integrated games, and a rousing scavenger hunt around Grand Central, participants engaged with each other to bring new ideas and best practices back to their programs.

 

The 2024 Facilitator Training provided an immersive experience in youth philanthropy, diving deep into the curriculum and exploring effective facilitation techniques. Participants engaged with a variety of resources and tools, gaining insights into best practices for leading impactful sessions. The training also fostered community building through a fun evening scavenger hunt at Grand Central Terminal, where teams collaborated and enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere. Overall, the event equipped facilitators with the skills and confidence to inspire youth in their philanthropic endeavors while creating lasting connections among peers.

 

At the end of the Facilitator Training, Matt Bergman, Communication and Engagement Manager of Honeycomb, shared the following Dvar Torah inspired by the current week’s Torah portion, Parshat Noah:

In Parshat Noah, Noah is asked by G-d to build a communal safe space to ensure goodness remains after the flood. When you (our facilitators) leave FT24 you are being asked to build a safe communal space to ensure goodness continues in the next generation.

Whether your audience comes 2 by 2, or in groups of hundreds, your “ark”, your program signals the hope for future generations of goodness in the world. So, in a world with heavy rains coming from all directions… your “ark” is not alone, this group is a series of connected “arks” which are here to help support and guide when you need them.

Remember G-d’s promise at the end of Noah, remember that you are the rainbows bringing New Hope for the future of philanthropy and Judaism.