NEXTGen A2 is a dynamic group of individuals in their 20s and 30s in the greater Ann Arbor area. Running programming as a wing of the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor, its primary purpose is to involve and connect young Jewish adults throughout Washtenaw County.
From recent college grads and graduate students to working professionals, those settled for the long run or just passing through, there is a meaningful place for anyone in the NEXTGen A2 community. Through dynamic leadership and a range of diverse events and experiences, NEXTGen A2 aims to establish and nurture a thriving Jewish community for young people spanning a wide range of life stages.
NEXTGen A2 brings new people into leadership roles every fall. You are invited to meet the 2024-2025 Board below.
To learn more or get involved in NEXTGen A2, email nextgena2@jewishannarbor.org.
Ava Armour
Ava Armour (she/her) was transplanted to Michigan from southern Illinois in Summer 2021 and cannot imagine moving back. She works in disability equity at the University of Michigan, participates in disability advocacy, and is an active member of the Ann Arbor Jewish community. When she is not working, she can be found playing French horn in various community bands, participating in paraequestrian and adaptive athletics, and hanging out with her friends and her two cats, Monkey and Matzah. Ava is a member of Beth Israel Congregation and the Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan. Ava looks forward to serving on the NEXTGen A2 Board and making events even more accessible and welcoming for the community.
Gulia Chernyak
Raised in Ann Arbor, Gulia has been deeply immersed in the local Jewish community for as long as she can remember. Her early years were enriched by experiences at Camp Raanana and the Jewish Community Center. Her Jewish and secular education continued at Hebrew Day School. Her involvement with Temple Beth Emeth’s religious school and participation in AARTY (Ann Arbor Reform Temple Youth Group) and NFTY (Northern Federation Temple Youth) shaped her high school years, where she proudly served as a state-level board member.
In 2011, Gulia was honored to attend the NFTY Biennial Conference, a pivotal event that united regional representatives from across the nation. A summer at Kutz URJ camp in upstate New York at the age of 16 was a transformative experience that deepened Gulia’s connection to her Jewish identity.
Gulia’s engagement with Judaism has remained a central part of her life, whether through intimate gatherings with friends, travels to Israel, or her recent role as a part-time staff member supporting the Main Event hosted by the Jewish Federation. Gulia’s lifelong dedication to the nonprofit sector and the principle of tikkun olam is inspired by her mother’s influential work as CEO and Executive Director of Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County.
After earning a degree in Technical Writing from Eastern Michigan University, Gulia now channels her passion for service into her role as Senior Development Manager at the American Cancer Society, where she continues to contribute to the healthcare and nonprofit sectors with dedication and purpose.
Traci Cramer
Traci Cramer is a Research Lab Specialist at the University of Michigan, where she works in a swine lab within the Department of Emergency Medicine. She moved to Ypsilanti in 2019, having previously studied animal science at Purdue University and at Texas Tech University. In addition to NEXTGen she is active with Mishpacha (the queer affinity group at Temple Beth Emeth) and she canvasses with Ann Arbor for Public Power. When not working, Traci enjoys knitting, counted cross-stitch, and trying out mid-century recipes. She was once the bride in a mock wedding at Purdue Hillel.
Rachael Dawson-Baglien
Originally from metro Detroit, Rachael moved to Washtenaw County in 2011 for graduate school, fell in love with the area, and never left! Passionate about creating community and connection, she has a degree in Macro Social Work/Community Organizing from U of M. Rachael has served on the board of NEXTGen Ann Arbor on and off since 2019 and has been behind NEXTGen’s social media for the past couple years. In her spare time, Rachael loves going to concerts, comic book conventions, and spending time with her family.
Matt Eisenberg
Matt is the Band Director at Ypsilanti Community High School. Originally from the Washington, DC area, he moved to Michigan in 2023. Matt performs with the Five Lakes Metro Brass band throughout the Detroit area on the tenor horn (picture the tiniest tuba possible). In his free hours, Matt enjoys sourdough baking and poorly playing video games.
Jack Fuchsman
Jack, a Dayton, Ohio native, grew up in a family very devoted to their Judaism. He attended Jewish day school and spent his summers at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin. He then attended Bowling Green State University where he studied Communications and also received his masters in Jewish Professional Studies from Spertus Institute in Chicago. Following college graduation, he moved to Israel for a year, teaching English. Over the last few years Jack has worked for Oklahoma Hillel and spent three years working for the Jewish Federation of Cleveland in the Young Leadership Division. He now works as the Assistant Director of Development for The Alumni Association at U of M. Jack joined the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor in 2024 and serves as the NEXTGen liaison.
Outside of Jewish life, Jack is an avid sports fan and has become an even bigger Michigan fan. Now engaged to his fiancée Haley, an Ann Arbor native, he has taken on the full Michigan identity. They attend every home football game, go to Shabbat weekly at Hillel and attend their summers at Camp Michigania, a Michigan alumni family camp. Jack is excited to finally find his forever home in Ann Arbor with his dog Joey and cat Zuzy (Mezuzah) and can’t wait to get more involved in the community.
Jackie Heymann
Jackie (she/her) is excited to be a returning member of the NEXTGen board! After moving around the Midwest quite a bit, she has now settled down in Ann Arbor and is a Disability Access Coordinator in Services for Students with Disabilities at University of Michigan. She is passionate about supporting social justice movements and is an active member of If Not Now, an organization working toward equality, justice, and a thriving future for all people in Israel-Palestine. In her free time, Jackie enjoys crafting, trying all the non-dairy ice cream, kayaking, reading, watching bad (but so good) reality TV, and hanging out with her husband (Phil) and cat (Shmuly)! Jackie is also passionate about building vibrant, inclusive Jewish communities and looks forward to working with the new NEXTGen Board and members to make it a meaningful, fun year!