Robin Sysler likes to say she has “a Federation heart.” “I was trained by the best of the best in the Greater Metro West Federation,” she says with pride. “From my college field placement with JESNA, the former Jewish education agency, to getting a Federation scholarship for my master’s degree in social work at the Wurzweiler school, Federation has been a huge influence. Learning from the professionals at Federation informs how I think about programs, how I see the big picture, and how I reach out to engage people.”
Robin was an active leader in Federation up north, and though she’s been in Atlanta for less than two years, her “Federation heart” kicked in immediately. Before officially moving here, a passion for Holocaust education led Robin to become a docent at The Breman Museum. It’s work she had done previously with the Holocaust Council of Greater Metro West. There she helped write Holocaust exhibition materials and gave talks and tours to groups of all ages.
Federation connections deepened when Robin went on the Women’s Philanthropy mission to Cuba. “I had been to Cuba before and understood the issues. It was the friendships we forged that were so powerful.” Poised to become the next president of Women’s Philanthropy, Robin reflects, “My passion for Federation is being hands-on, and seeing what we can do together. I want to diversify our membership and increase involvement in a significant, tangible way. I want every woman to experience the warm welcome Atlanta gave to me.”
