Aliza Saunders

Aliza Saunders is a proud Tivnu alum, long-time Ramahnik, Cornell University graduate, and civic consultant. As a participant in Tivnu’s fifth cohort, Aliza worked at Street Roots, Portland’s street newspaper sold by people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Aliza also built tiny homes alongside and for formerly unhoused folks. In addition to these internships, Aliza loved cooking Shabbat dinners in the bayit, hiking in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, and learning from community leaders and experts in social justice fields. 

Beyond Tivnu, Aliza’s Jewish experience stems from being a camper, counselor, and division head at Camp Ramah in the Poconos. Throughout her decade at camp, Aliza learned everything from Jewish leadership skills to reading Torah to creative programming. Drawing on this creativity, Aliza graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Human-Centered Design, combining her interests in evidence-based research with designing thoughtful solutions. At school, Aliza was actively involved in Hillel, serving as the Environmental Justice Chair and then Executive Vice President, and conducted research on children’s attitudes on climate change. Now, living in New York City, Aliza works at the nexus of social impact, creative problem-solving, and design. As a civic consultant, she works with nonprofits, philanthropies, and government agencies to solve their most intractable problems and design solutions. Outside of work, Aliza enjoys long Shabbat meals, exploring Central Park, and, as always, still talking about her transformative year at Tivnu.