THE PRISM LEADERSHIP LAB

The Prism Leadership Lab is looking for up to 20 courageous and compassionate Jewish Clevelanders to participate in a leadership cohort from January through May of 2026. If the vision below inspires you, consider joining us. We seek a diverse group that crosses generations, religious affiliation, and political leanings. People who are part of organized Jewish life and people who feel more on the outside organizational life. Mainly we seek a group who are willing to experiment, to have the courage to dream, and who will not be daunted when things get challenging. 

Prism’s Vision: We imagine an even stronger Jewish Cleveland that is known as a community where people of all generations and perspectives feel capable and compelled to wrestle honestly—with each other, with the complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian reality—grounded in belonging and committed to holding multiple truths, empathy, and emotional resilience. 

KEY DATES

We will post new dates in January 2026 for our Fall (post Chagim) Cohort. Stay tuned!

What questions will the Prism Leadership Lab explore?

  1. How might we expand the Jewish community’s capacity for dialogue across our differences through skill-building and practice?

  2. What are our vision(s) for learning about Israel and our interconnectedness with the Palestinian people for our entire community—adults and children—that resonate with our Jewish values? 

  3. How might we normalize multiple viewpoints in Jewish Cleveland culture?

How will we build a diverse and impactful cohort?

Our vision is to build a group that is diverse across generations, religious affiliations, and political leanings. We seek those who are part of organized Jewish life and those who feel more on the outside of organizational life. Most importantly, we seek a courageous group willing to experiment, dream, and be with the challenges of our times. 

We welcome people who are interested in projects that relate to Prism’s 3 Questions above. Some areas of particular interest are:

  • Bringing Prism’s approach to dialogue into new settings (home gatherings, synagogues, schools, friend groups, etc.)

  • Articulating a set of “competencies” (knowledge, skills, values, and practices) for a refreshed community approach to Israel learning 

  • Surveying our community (using simple tools) so we better understand ourselves, the ways we relate to the Israeli-Palestinian reality, and our needs as a Jewish community 

What is the structure of the Prism Leadership Lab? 

This is a five-month, cohort-based program for people to strengthen their leadership skills related to Israel learning and conversation in Jewish Cleveland. The program combines virtual meetings with in-person sessions, including a two and a half-day retreat and two half-day gatherings. All dates are listed in the pink box below.

Based on Theory U, a framework for transformational systems change developed at MIT, the Prism Leadership Lab offers a reliable and practical set of tools for personal and collective transformation. 

You will develop a prototype or personal project to test ideas, take action, and learn by doing. Your prototype will take shape within a setting you are already active—whether as a new, standalone initiative or through subtle but meaningful shifts in existing programs or gatherings. Throughout the process, you’ll receive support from your cohort and staff.

What will I gain from this program? 

The Prism Leadership Lab offers a unique and timely opportunity to strengthen your own leadership and our collective leadership as a Jewish community.

For You:

  • Gain insight into your leadership approach and how to act from a place of deep integrity and with impact

  • Explore tools to design and implement a project that matters to your community and aligns with your values, skillsets,  and sense of calling

With your cohort:

  • Deepen relationships with peers across difference 

  • Build a community that practices dialogue and deep listening; giving feedback, holding each other accountable, and supporting each other when it’s risky to go alone

  • Collective courage to hold difference within the Jewish Cleveland community and help each other act thoughtfully.

What am I committing to if I apply to join the Prism Leadership Lab? 

  • Attend all in-person and online gatherings listed above (see FAQ below for exceptions). 

  • Take on a prototype or personal project that will advance The Prism Project’s mission and work.

  • Work towards Prism’s Guiding Principles listed on our website and in the application (you don’t need to agree with all of them to apply).

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes. There is a program fee of $300 but no one will be turned away for financial reasons. The full cost of the program is generously subsidized, making it possible to offer participation at this rate. 

    We understand that financial situations vary. If the cost presents a barrier, please don’t hesitate to have a conversation with us. For any questions related to cost, please reach out to us at sara@insytepartners.com.

  • The program welcomes up to 20 individuals who care deeply about fostering thoughtful conversation and learning in Jewish Cleveland around the Israeli-Palestinian reality. Participants will join a diverse cohort with a wide range of perspectives and experiences, learning with and from one another. Pairs and teams are encouraged to apply. 

    This program is a great fit if you:

    • See yourself as part of the Cleveland Jewish community and have an active leadership role—or want to take on one

    • Are involved in at least one Jewish space where this topic is relevant. This could be your family, friend community, congregation, school, institution, student organization, or any other space you experience as Jewish and are part of

    • Are excited to connect with a diverse group, explore what awareness-based leadership looks like, and support each other in working toward individual and communal goals

    • Resonate with our Vision and the Prism Principles and feel comfortable signing on to them as part of participating in the Leadership Lab. Prism Vision: We imagine an even stronger Jewish Cleveland that is known as a community where people of all generations and perspectives feel capable and compelled to wrestle honestly—with each other, with the complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian reality—grounded in belonging and committed to holding multiple truths, empathy, and emotional resilience. 

    • You are willing to experiment, have the courage to dream, and show resilience when things get challenging.

  • The program unfolds over five months and combines virtual and in-person learning with hands-on project work. The Prism Leadership Lab launches in the midst of other Prism activities, which you are of course encouraged to participate in. Two of those are designed to be part of the Leadership Lab. Acceptance to the program requires participation in the in-person retreat, all online and in-person sessions, and implementation of a prototype during the program.

    Please review all key dates on the page above. If you apply or are considering applying we recommend that you put these dates in your calendar.

  • Each cohort member will develop an actionable project to implement in their organization or community setting during the program. You will identify an area of potential that you feel called to address and design a step-by-step plan rooted in your perspective, strengths, and the needs of the system.

    The goal of the prototype is to learn through experimentation—creative, open-ended, and intentional—while working within existing constraints, including time and resources. The prototype is designed to be feasible—it will occur before completion of the program on May 17th.

    During the three-day retreat, participants will crystallize their vision for a prototype, define a focus area, and identify potential collaborators within their organization or community. In the post-retreat Prototype Lab, they will work with their teams to translate that vision into concrete, actionable steps—from big-picture goals to practical plans.

    Some prototypes may be standalone projects. Others can build on work already in progress—this is about experimenting with a fresh approach, not adding extra work. Prototypes are a tool for discovery—“failures” are just as valuable as successes, providing concrete insight into what works and what doesn’t.

    Here are some examples of Prism Prototypes developed by our Vision Team this past year:

    • an intergenerational dialogue between seniors and college students;

    • a project focused on deep listening and collecting information from young people who signed a petition in December 2023;

    • and a dialogue tool designed to accompany community film and book events.

    Looking ahead, possible directions for new prototypes might include

    • bringing our Prism Dialogue Toolkit into new settings such as home gatherings, synagogues, schools, or friend groups;

    • articulating a set of “competencies” — the knowledge, skills, values, and practices — that could shape a refreshed community approach to Israel learning;

    • or surveying our community using simple tools to better understand the many ways we relate to the Israeli-Palestinian reality and our evolving needs as a Jewish community.

  • Yes! In fact, we welcome it. Having two people from the same organization can spark deeper learning and more lasting transformation. Participants from the same organization may choose to develop their own individual prototypes or collaborate on a shared project to implement within their organizational setting. Either way, we believe that when more than one person in an organization is practicing awareness-based leadership, impact amplifies.

  • Aside from the criteria listed above, we will seek to build a cohort that is diverse and represents great promise for moving us closer to Prism’s vision for Jewish Cleveland.

    If you are not selected, there are many ways to get involved with Prism, from attending ongoing events to joining the Vision Team—a group of about 35 changemakers who help guide Prism, participate in Prototype Boot Camp, and stay connected through occasional gatherings and a WhatsApp group. If you’d like to learn more or get involved, reach out to us at prism.expanding@gmail.com.

  • Prism is evolving. There are many ways to get involved after the program. You can keep developing your prototype or step into leadership roles that you have carved out for yourself during the program, join the Vision Team to help guide the project, or contribute through sub-committees focused on areas like communications.

Who leads the Prism Leadership Lab?

The Prism Leadership Lab is developed and guided by the Prism Core Team, a group of dedicated Clevelanders who meet monthly to shape and steward the work of The Prism Project, together with Insyte Partners.

Prism has partnered with Insyte Partners over the past several years to design experiences and conversations that help organizations and communities lead from the future they want to create—rather than re-enacting patterns of the past. For more than 20 years, Insyte has worked across sectors, including many Jewish institutions, supporting organizational repositioning, leadership development, and collective impact projects.

The Prism Leadership Lab is designed and facilitated by Liz Alperin Solms, Principal at Insyte Partners, and Tirtzah Bassel, Consultant Partner at Insyte. Together, they draw on Theory U, a proven framework for transformational change developed at MIT and used by communities of change across the globe.

Liz Alperin Solms has been working for 25 years as a trusted partner— “being there” for leaders at the moments they are ready to cross thresholds. It might be —co-creating new strategic direction, shifting culture, activating collective leadership, creating a future that is distinct from the past. She takes great joy in creating the conditions for people to access their innate wisdom, see the humanity in each other and find the courage to act–even when it’s not perfect. 

Liz is principal of Insyte Partners and a senior practitioner with the Presencing Institute. She holds a BS degree in industrial engineering from Lehigh University and an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School. She has worked as an industrial engineer, a Peace Corps teacher, a program officer for a national research and policy organization and a workforce learning consultant. Liz and her husband live in Philadelphia, PA on the banks of the Schuylkill River–in the same building as her son, brother and four lifelong friends–a “vertical village.”

Tirtzah Bassel is a strategic thought partner and trusted facilitator who supports mission-driven organizations and leaders to navigate complexity, clarify vision, and design processes for meaningful and measurable impact. With a background in nonprofit leadership, Jewish learning, and the arts, Tirtzah brings a multidisciplinary approach to consulting—combining deep listening, creative thinking, and a commitment to pluralism.

Tirtzah has partnered with organizations such as Prism, Gray Fellowship for Principal Excellence, Olam Chesed Builders, and Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah to lead inclusive visioning processes, develop leadership capacity, and design participatory professional development experiences. Her consulting is grounded in her extensive experience as an educator and executive, including roles as Vice President of Partnerships and Jewish Learning at OneTable, Program Director at Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah, and Assistant Director at the Brandeis Institute of Music and Art.

sara montijo 

sara serves as Project Manager at Insyte Partners supporting the Prism Project. She is your go-to person for any questions related to the Prism Leadership Lab.

sara brings over a decade of facilitation experience spanning the US and beyond, valuable perspective envisioning and implementing end-to-end curricula, designing corporate training, and conducting programmatic and leadership evaluation at dozens of companies. She is an alumna of New York University, friend of attention, and a-long-walk-to-clear-your-head enthusiast.