Finding Commonalities

"I think there's nothing more empowering than meeting others who are just as dedicated, if not more so, about how to make this world a better one," Leshnower says. "It can feel so daunting to bring about change or to improve someone's life. But when you see others taking their bite-sized pieces, you feel like, 'OK, I'm not out there in this void, acting alone.'"

As a board member of Repair the World, Leshnower supports the organization's work connecting Jewish young adults to service rooted in Jewish values. This includes meeting urgent needs like food insecurity and housing while building community and belonging.

Her passion for service traces back to her time in Geneva. In a political science class, she was given an opportunity to embark on a service learning project, volunteering as a GED coach for a man named Tony. After that first taste of service, she couldn't get enough. "I was never in my room," jokes Leshnower, who served as a Student Trustee, Geneva Heroes coordinator and member of William Smith Congress.

Her time on campus coincided with the arrival of President Mark D. Gearan, former head of the Peace Corps. A highlight for Leshnower was former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit in 2000 to speak on service.

Throughout her 25 years in national nonprofits and state and federal government, one of the largest shifts Leshnower has seen has been a broader recognition and commitment to the relocation of power. Centering community leaders closest to the issues — including women and people of color — has resulted in stronger solutions and lasting impact.

"Meaningful change will require ongoing work to yield both power and platform to those who lack them, allowing often-silenced voices the space to be heard," Leshnower says. But this is the work that inspires her.

From her first GED session in Geneva to a fellowship designed to bridge a divided country, Leshnower's career has held to a single proposition: that service is the connective tissue of a flourishing community, and that the work of bridging differences requires showing up — repeatedly, in whatever room needs the work done.