She’s Baltimore through and through. 

Born and raised in Baltimore, Amy has spent her life rooted in this community. She attended the University of Maryland and later earned a graduate degree from Johns Hopkins. Earlier in her career, she taught third and fourth grade in Howard County and later supervised student teachers at Stevenson University. These days, she keeps busy helping with her husband Brian’s insurance agency, in addition to her volunteer work. 

“I’ve lived here my whole life,” she says. “Being born and raised here, having that connectivity and then passing that on to my kids so they see the value of it from a young age is really important to me.” 

Amy and Brian have been married for 30 years and are the parents of three children—Corey, a broadcast meteorologist in Kansas City; Mackenzie, who recently graduated from Clemson and is moving to Ashkelon to work with Israel Lacrosse; and Lucy, a recent Park School graduate who will also attend Clemson. 

Volunteering has always been part of her life. 

Service to others has remained a constant thread in Amy’s life. Before COVID, she was involved with a range of volunteer efforts, from helping women and children in transitional housing to working with children through after-school programming. She also looked for ways to bring her children along whenever she could. 

“I wanted them to see what was right next door,” she says. “I wanted them to understand our community, to appreciate what they have and not take it for granted.” 

For Amy, volunteering was never meant to be a one-time act. It was meant to be part of family life—something lived consistently and modeled over time. 

“It’s not just something you have to do,” she says. “It’s something you want to do, and something you really can get as much from as you give.” 

How her deeper connection to The Associated began 

Amy always knew of The Associated, but her real understanding of its reach began when a friend introduced her to Jewish Volunteer Connection (now the Jewish Connection Network). What began with volunteer days and community service opportunities eventually led to board involvement and a deeper appreciation for the scope of The Associated’s work. 

“That really taught me a lot,” she says. “I knew of The Associated, but I didn’t have a deep understanding of its reach or mission. There are so many arms that are so helpful that many people just don’t even know about.” 

After years of wanting to go, she finally made it to Israel through IWP. 

Amy had always wanted to visit Israel, but like many parents, she put her children first for years. Then she joined The Associated’s Inspired Women’s Project (IWP), a women’s cohort that combines Jewish learning, community service and a trip to Israel. She signed up before the war, and although the trip was delayed more than once, she stuck with it. 

“I had never gone to Israel, and I’d always wanted to go,” she says. “The war delayed it twice, and it made it a different kind of trip, but it was incredible. I’m so glad I stuck with it and stuck with the group.” 

Through IWP, she formed a strong bond with her cohort, and she left Israel with a renewed sense of purpose. “This was just for me,” Amy says. “After 20 years of being a mom first and supporting my family, being part of this women’s group really filled me up.” 

One night with IDF soldiers still stands out. 

The entire trip was packed with unforgettable and emotional moments, but one evening remains especially vivid—a dinner with IDF soldiers. “It just became like a party,” she recalls. “We danced with them and sang and sat with them and talked with them. It was such a meaningful evening.” 

What moved her most was the soldiers’ spirit. Despite the heaviness of the moment, they radiated warmth, positivity and resilience. For Amy—whose own children are close in age to many of them—the experience felt deeply personal. 

“You think about the difference between the lives our kids live here in the United States and what these soldiers are carrying every day,” she says. “That evening was just inspiring.” 

Amy brought letters that students at her daughter’s school had written for the soldiers—some from Jewish students, some from non-Jewish classmates, all filled with kindness and encouragement. “To see how much they appreciated these little notes was really special,” she says. 

Israel changed her. 

If Amy’s first trip to Israel was something she had waited years for, it quickly became clear it would not be her last. She has already returned once and is heading back again soon to help settle her daughter in Ashkelon. 

“Going definitely strengthened my relationship to Israel and my Jewish identity,” she says. “I think you can’t fully understand Israel until you go.” 

What struck her immediately was something simple but profound: the feeling of being surrounded by Jewish life. “You look around and think, everyone here is Jewish,” she says. “It sounds silly, but it was significant. Here, we are a minority. There, you feel like you can let your guard down. You feel like you belong.” 

At the same time, the trip exposed her to the complexity, pain and resilience of Israeli life. She visited the site of the Nova Music Festival, heard firsthand accounts connected to October 7 and toured Kibbutz Nir Oz with someone who had survived the devastation. But she also experienced Shabbat in Jerusalem, joyful dancing, warm hospitality and meaningful conversations that left a lasting impression. 

“It was even deeper and more meaningful than I expected,” she says. “I can’t imagine a more rewarding experience than the one I had.” 

Women-centered Jewish spaces gave her community. 

Amy says one of the most powerful parts of IWP and other women-centered Associated experiences has been the opportunity to connect with women she might never have met otherwise. 

“You meet women from different ages, different careers, different family situations, and you form real connections,” she says. “Some of these women are now people I feel very close to.” 

For Amy, those spaces have offered personal growth, friendship and a reminder that women need time and community for themselves, too. “It’s important to maintain strong relationships with other women,” she says. “And having two daughters, it matters to me that they see me take time for myself, take time for others and build those relationships.” 

Jewish life for her is rooted in values, family and identity. 

Amy and her family belong to Beth El Congregation. She describes her Judaism as deeply tied to values, belonging and continuity—knowing who you are, where you come from and what you want to pass on. 

“The values and morals of our religion are really important to me,” she says. “Knowing who you are and where you came from and why—that’s really important.” 

She loves the rituals and rhythms of Jewish life, especially the holidays that bring family together around the table. Hanukkah was always especially fun when her children were younger, with homemade latkes and sufganiyot, but she says what matters most is less about any single holiday and more about the act of gathering and carrying traditions forward. 

“It’s the rituals that have been passed down, and that I get to pass down to my kids,” she says. 

Her advice? Take the first step. 

Amy knows that for many people, getting involved with The Associated can feel intimidating at first. Her advice is simple—start somewhere. “I would highly encourage it,” she says. “There is something for everyone at The Associated.” 

She believes The Associated meets people where they are—whether they want to volunteer, learn, connect socially, support the community philanthropically or simply better understand Jewish Baltimore. 

“Until you take that leap and learn, you have no idea how expansive it is and how valuable it can be,” she says. “It’s such an incredible organization that provides so much to so many. I just feel lucky to be part of it.”