Our CEO, Whitney Fisch, recently connected with BaMidbar’s Massachusetts Clinical Fellow & Educator, Adam Karp, to learn more about what he loves about working with teens:
Whitney Fisch (WF): Adam, I’m so excited to chat with you today about BaMidbar’s partnership with Combined Jewish Philanthropies through the Jewish Teen Initiative Boston’s Wellness Cohort. Can you start by sharing what this program is all about?
Adam Karp (AK): Absolutely! The Wellness Cohort is designed to help teens build resilience and combat the stigma surrounding mental health in the Jewish community. We want our Teen Fellows to develop skills to support both themselves and their peers in navigating mental health challenges.
A key part of the program is that our Teen Fellows don’t just learn—they lead. After going through training, they take what they’ve learned and create Teen-Led workshops for their peers. These workshops will be happening on March 16, 23, and April 27, and they are entirely shaped by the teens themselves.
WF: That’s incredible. What have you observed in the program that has made you especially proud?
AK: Honestly, so much. One of the biggest things I hear from the teens is that there’s nothing else like this in their community. They tell me that their schools mostly focus on reactive mental health programming—offered only after a crisis—rather than proactive conversations about prevention and resilience-building. This program fills that gap.
I’ve also noticed that when we bring up real and difficult topics—things like Teen Dating Violence, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Trauma—they don’t shy away. They’re ready for these conversations. They want to engage.
And perhaps my favorite thing? When I step back and let them take the lead, they create truly incredible content. Their ideas, creativity, and leadership continue to amaze me.
WF: That’s so powerful. Why is this work so important to you?
AK: Because it’s immediately relevant to their lives. Every single thing we teach—whether it’s strategies for managing stress, fostering emotional resilience, or supporting friends—can make a difference right now. And I hear it directly from the teens. They tell me, “I used that strategy for my test,” or “I told my friend about this concept we learned.” That kind of impact is why I do this.
And honestly? I use this work in my own life, too. The concepts we teach aren’t just theories—they’re like a new lens on a pair of glasses. Once you have that lens, you see the forest and the trees with greater clarity. You start to understand both yourself and the people around you in a deeper way.
WF: I love that. Thank you, Adam, for the incredible work you’re doing with BaMidbar’s teens and for sharing your passion with all of us!