This past weekend, I had the amazing opportunity to attend BBYO’s inaugural Chapter Founder's Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. The 37 Alephs and BBGs all came from small Jewish communities and are all in the process of founding their own BBYO chapters. Being a part of this group was so meaningful, and I established friendships I know I will cherish for many years to come. The Summit was amazing in every way.

We had tremendous learning opportunities throughout the Summit. One of my favorite parts was getting the chance to hear the incredible stories of several successful Jewish entrepreneurs. It was inspiring to hear how these business owners made something out of nothing. The entrepreneurs explained how success is not linear and that they endured hardships on their paths to success. Like them, we had all traveled to Atlanta wanting to build something from nothing for our Jewish communities. In addition to learning the key building blocks for our chapters, we took a trip to the LEGO Discovery Center, where we created a visual by actually building with blocks.

We made connections and friendships in a way that was unique to us all, coming from small Jewish communities, because we are each a small minority in our own environment. Since we were a relatively small group, we all got to know each other on a personal level. We related to one another about the struggles of being one of a few Jews in our towns and the challenges of engaging other Jewish teens. It was especially meaningful to celebrate Shabbat together. I felt so connected to the people I had met only the day before. It was an incredible experience to share the beauty of our Friday night services, Shabbat dinner, and Havdalah ceremony together.

Since we were all new to BBYO, the traditions were new to us as well. We learned the customary cheers and traditions of AZA and BBG, as well as the history of these groups. My fellow Founder's, my new friends, and I were formally inducted into either AZA or BBG by Joelle Abaew, the 80th BBG N’siah. This part of the weekend was so memorable, and it felt very rewarding to be inducted into something that has had such a significant impact on so many lives.

Another highlight of the Summit was the time we spent at the Marcus JCC of Atlanta. It is huge and absolutely gorgeous. Since all of us are used to our small communities, it was amazing to see such a flourishing Jewish environment in action. We had chapter-building activities and lessons before the JCC hosted us for lunch and pickleball.

Overall, my experience at the Chapter Founder's Summit far exceeded my initial expectations. I’m eager to incorporate the building blocks I gained into the foundation of Park City BBYO. I learned so much valuable information about entrepreneurship and how to build relationships within my own community. I am counting down the days until I can see the friends I met and connected with. They are not only great friends but will serve as resources and inspiration as we all create our own chapters during the year. This weekend was the perfect balance of fun and learning, and I feel so honored to have been a part of the inaugural Chapter Founder's Summit.