Elise Gold

Former Executive Director, Jewish Family Service of Orange County

—

Featured appearances:

• Honoring Holocaust Survivors: A Concert of Resilience and Hope, 2019

In Elise’s Words:

We’re a small agency, but we do big work. And the way to do big work is to partner with other agencies. We wanted to tell the stories of Holocaust survivors in our communities in an innovative and self-sustaining way, and SageArts was the perfect partner. We provided access to our Jewish elders and funding through one of our grants. They provided singer/songwriters, music producers, and event managers. Together, we created an experience that honored the stories and lives of our survivors, yet lives on as a cherished archive.

Michael Yonchenko

Film-maker, Community-Builder

—

Featured appearances:

• TBD

In Michael’s Words:

I love learning about people. The first thing I did when I moved from California to the Hudson Valley was go to the local farmer’s market. That was a place to really meet people, to tell them who I am and what I do. Shortly after, I met the mayor of Red Hook. He wanted to produce a video about a project to rebuild the water system in the village. It was a no-brainer. After that, I helped local highschool students tell the stories of local elders for the Red Hook oral history project. When I heard about the work Sage Arts was doing, I knew I wanted to get involved. I’m now partnering with SageArts, the Hudson Valley oral history project, and Upstate Films to bring the stories of our elders to life and share them with the community.