Episode 702 brings you our conversation with Aliza Saunders, a 18/19 alum of Tinvu: Building Justice. Tivnu is a nine-month gap year program based in Oregon that focuses on social justice engagement. Participants create a community living together, discovering the Pacific Northwest, and exploring the bond between Jewish life and social justice while working with Portland’s cutting-edge grassroots organizations.
Through Tivnu, Aliza says she was able to engage in direct service, learn about marco social justice issues, live in a communal Jewish household, and explore the Pacific Northwest. She interned at Street Roots, a street newspaper that employs houseless and low-income, where I was able to work directly with those experiencing homelessness and organize winter and summer supplies from local faith groups + corporations.
Aliza also worked as a construction intern, building tiny homes alongside formerly houseless individuals. In addition to this direct service, Tivnu participants learned from local and national professionals about the root causes of the issues they observed first hand each day.