Parnasa Fest debuts in Woodmere

Highlighting the need to network

By Yaffi Spodek

Issue of April 3, 2009 / 9 Nissan 5769

Over 100 people attended a networking event sponsored by Parnasa Fest at the Young Israel of Woodmere on March 25.

“Overall it was a really great success,” said Susanne Goldstone Rosenhouse, an organizer. “It was very well received, in a central location, with a very diverse crowd of people of all ages.”

Rosenhouse co-founded Parnasa Fest in early 2009, together with Dani Klein and Dave Weinberg, as a response to recession-related job losses.

Events planned in different communities are intended to bring together professionals from various fields to network and make connections with those in similar industries.

The Woodmere event began at 7:30 p.m., with guests mingling and meeting each other. Later in the evening Rosenhouse spoke, as did co-host Amy Shuter of Cedarhurst, explaining the goals of the grass roots effort.

Participants also introduced themselves to the crowd, in a kind of round-robin setting, as each person shared their name and area of expertise, “which helped to facilitate conversation between people,” Rosenhouse observed.

Rosenhouse works for the National Jewish Outreach Program (NJOP). She explained that she and Parnasa Fest’s co-founders –– all volunteers –– are familiar with the non-profit industry and the world of social networking, through Twitter or other mediums.

“We wanted to utilize our skills with networking on the web and in other venues, and share that with people in the community to help them connect with each other and find new leads for their businesses,” she said. “I’m already kind of immersed in the social media community so I can share tips with others about how to market themselves and find the kinds of jobs they’re looking for.

The Eliezer Project and the Orthodox Union Job Board were some of the communal organizations partnering with Parnasa Fest for the evening. Event sponsors included thefivetowns.com and myjewishcoach.com.

“It was great that the Eliezer Project came because they said there were jobs available, and it gave people hope and more incentive to come,” Rosenhouse said.

The Woodmere Parnasa Fest was the third event of its kind in New York; similar programs took place in Washington Heights and on the Upper West Side in February. Future events are planned in Detroit, San Francisco and Toronto.

“We are starting to move across the globe and looking to help others organize similar events,” Rosenhouse added. “There is a lot out there, and we can help point people in the right direction.”

Anyone interested in helping to partner or sponsor a future Parnasa Fest event should send an e-mail to parnasafest [at] gmail.com.