Her talent as a community builder is in large part what makes Erika Rief Hornstein, 32, so successful in her personal, professional and volunteer roles.
The Owings Mills native, who currently lives with her husband and daughter in the Woodberry neighborhood of Baltimore City, takes pride in her ability to bring people together. Hornstein, who’s expecting her second child soon, is director of experience design at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, board chair of the Jewish Museum of Maryland and a community connector for Jewish Volunteer Connection.
What inspires you in your career?
During my first week of freshman year at Emory University, a sophomore approached me in the gym and said, ‘I met you at the Hillel barbecue. Welcome to Emory! Are you coming to Hillel Friday night?’
As someone who knew very few people on campus, those words put me at ease, transformed Hillel into a natural home away from home, and inspired me to become Hillel’s vice president of freshman engagement my sophomore and junior years. Ever since then, I’ve enjoyed designing meaningful gatherings that bring people together. I’ve also learned a lot about hosting over the years from my mom and have stories ingrained in me about my paternal grandmother’s Rosh Hashanah open houses, so I guess it’s in my blood, too.
My current role at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing isn’t one I applied for. I was helping Dr. Sarah Szanton, a professor at JHSON scale an aging-in- community program for older adults, another passion of mine. “She recognized my knack for trying to enhance the delight and engagement of meetings, programs, materials and experiences.” When she became dean of the nursing school, she decided it was a talent she’d like to apply across the school, and therefore created the role for me. Now, I focus on elevating the faculty, staff and student experience through purposeful event development and other strategic initiatives.
How about your volunteer work?
I love Baltimore and Jewish history, which makes serving as the board president of the Jewish Museum of Maryland a perfect fit. Bringing to life the stories of my ancestors who lived in the same city neighborhoods and attended the same synagogues 100 years ago that I do now brings me comfort and meaning. I believe in the power of having a Jewish museum positioned between two historic synagogues — [Lloyd Street Synagogue and B’nai Israel] where all Jewish Marylanders’ stories can be kept and shared with future generations in a space that also serves as a facilitator of Baltimore City’s present Jewish community.
What was the best advice anyone ever gave you?
When Dr. Ken Stein, a professor of contemporary Middle East history at Emory University, welcomes students to the first day of his class, he advises them not to take courses based on titles but based on the professor. The same applies to professional advice — find and follow good people who emulate leadership qualities you desire, and seek to grow talent around them. Eventually, you’ll find your way to the right content.
Do you feel that sexism and salary inequities for women can be overcome in your lifetime?
I think that strides will be made in the areas of gender equity and that their will be more women in leadership positions. But I am not sure that salaries in industries like teaching, nursing, caregiving and non-profit — which are predominantly female — will change.
How do Jewish values influence and inform your career and life in general?
The Jewish value of hachnasat orchim — welcoming guests — is core to my professional role and personal life as well. My husband and I both enjoy planning and hosting Jewish-infused gatherings, stemming from our respective involvements in Hillel and Moishe House. After becoming parents, we continued to build community and (selfishly) made parent friends through the Network’s Community Connector program by hosting events for and relationships among young families living in Baltimore City.
Since 1991, Leslie Pomerantz has been a leading light in the local organized Jewish communal world.
Jmore talked with Baltimore Museum of Industry executive director Anita Kassof about the importance of just showing up, thank-you notes and more.
Jmore talked with Ashley Klapper Pressman, now the Chesapeake Region Program Director for Pearlstone/Adamah, about how Jewish values have influenced her career and the advice she would you give young women entering the workforce today.
Jmore talked with Del. Dalya Attar (D-41st) about what inspires her in her work, the best advice she ever got and more.