Meredith Zylberberg is a licensed social worker with more than 15 years experience working with families, children and youth, and people with disabilities, as well as a decade in the Jewish nonprofit world. As a senior manager of strategic planning and grants at UJA-Federation of New York, Meredith stewards the mental health and disability inclusion portfolios, working with a wide range of agencies and institutions to meet the needs of the New York Jewish community.

Meredith has been a steadfast champion of JQY since introduced in 2017. She was instrumental in securing JQY’s first stop-gap funding, ensuring the Drop-in Center remained open beyond its initial pilot program. Meredith has worked to raise awareness of JQY within the Jewish nonprofit sector and among community leaders. Her tireless efforts have helped secure over $1 million to support JQY’s mental health initiatives, including the hiring of a full-time psychologist and the development of JQY’s clinical program.

Meredith is passionate about social justice and tries to instill the same passion in her two young children. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, her children, and their two big rescue dogs.

Jayson Littman, Community Trailblazer

Raised in an Orthodox Jewish home in the Breuer’s community of Washington Heights in Upper Manhattan, Jayson had to navigate the complexities of reconciling his LGBT and Orthodox Jewish identities. After enduring five years of conversion therapy, Jayson came out as gay and founded Hebro, a social group for gay Jews in New York City. Through Hebro, Jayson has united thousands of gay Jews and established partnerships with organizations such as OneTable, Birthright, and Honeymoon Israel, ensuring a welcoming space for LGBTQ Jews within the broader Jewish community.

In addition to his work with Hebro, Jayson serves on the Board of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, New York’s LGBTQ synagogue. Professionally, Jayson is the Director of Events & Protocol for Mayor Eric Adams. He previously held a similar position under Mayor Bill de Blasio and served as a Senior Advisor for LGBTQ Community Affairs.

Join us in celebrating Pride and the tremendous efforts of our honorees