NWNY Volunteer Profile: Jan Kliger, Workshop Facilitator & Career Counselor
Meet Jan, a devoted NWNY volunteer workshop facilitator and career counselor passionate about diversity and community.
When Jan Kliger and I sat down to chat over a virtual call on a chilly December afternoon, I was immediately struck by her warmth, kindness, and openness. Jan’s passion for diversity is evident to anyone who talks with her. On the day we met, she had just attended her first Kwanzaa celebration online, which she enthusiastically described as “brilliant.”
Jan has a degree in Gerontology and was previously working with seniors. She realized that she wanted to work with young people and try to make a difference in their lives. She found New Women New Yorkers, and the rest is history! Jan has been volunteering with NWNY since Fall 2015. Her strong ability to easily connect with those around her has made her a successful workshop facilitator and career counselor.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in the NYC area?
I am originally from New Jersey, but I have lived in many places. I think I must have moved between twelve and fifteen times in my life! I have lived in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Westchester County. I rented an apartment in New York City and lived there for between twelve and fourteen years. Part of what I loved about living in NYC was the diversity; there is such an amazing diversity among people. I recently moved to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, because I love swimming in the ocean.
How did you hear about NWNY?
The variety of volunteer work with NWNY is part of what attracted me to NWNY and really appeals to me. The community aspect is also very big. I love that we create community with all different types of women.
One of the most rewarding things is when you can point out to someone who you are working with something that they never thought of before. The same thing has been true for me; I have learned about myself through my work with NWNY! Spanish is something I grew up with; my mother is from Cuba. I thought that I could speak Spanish, but I have learned through my volunteer work with NWNY that it is not the case at all!
What kind of volunteering do you do with NWNY and how have you liked it so far?
I am a facilitator for the LEAD program and Bridge to LEAD. I also facilitated our We Speak We LEAD program with the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs last year. I get nervous every time I facilitate, but by the end of the session, my nerves have gone away and I always find the sessions so satisfying. I’ve found that there is always something interesting that goes on, something I hear or think, that piques my curiosity. I also participate in 1:1 career counseling sessions. I love the variety of volunteer work with NWNY and that I don’t have to think about one thing. There have been a lot of satisfying moments, and I appreciate the open leadership of the NWNY team.
How do you relate to the immigrant experience?
I relate to the immigrant women that I work with because I see them as bold, which I am, and brave. Some of them are beyond fearless and authentic. I admire young people who embrace change and immigrate to a new country. I have not had the experience of moving to a new country, but I have moved a lot. I can’t imagine what it is like to move to a different country.
I’ve found that I also relate to the openness of many of the immigrant women—I am a very open person, too. I’m a big community seeker, always looking to be part of a community, which is often true for the NWNY participants. One of the exercises that we did in person before the pandemic was called “the warm chair.” One person sits with their back to the group in the “warm chair,” and each person in the group says something lovely about the person who is in the warm chair that they have gleaned about that person in the past seven weeks. Once, I was asked to sit in the warm chair. You can’t respond; you just take it all in and hear it. It is such a beautiful thing.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love the beach and love to swim. I have also been exercising a lot lately. I do a lot of volunteer work, including cooking for people who are in need of food. As a former textile designer, I also like to make art. For example, I make my own cards that I can mail to friends.
What are your favorite places in NYC?
My top three favorite places are Central Park, the theater, and dinner with friends.
What advice would you offer to someone who is immigrating to NYC?
Learn English—visit the library, you can find all kinds of free classes there. There are so many opportunities to learn to speak the language. Network—network as much as you can. If you’re standing in line waiting for a bus or sitting on a train, talk to a person near you. Talk to people as much as you can. It is also very important that you take risks. On the other side of fear is opportunity!
