Hi! My name is Orlie Weitzman. I’m a member of the Class of 2027 at the University of Chicago Laboratory High School in Hyde Park on Chicago’s South Side. At school, I co-founded the Poets Society, which organizes spoken-word slams featuring prominent writers, including the Illinois Poet Laureate. I also serve as a peer leader, mentoring underclassmen, and as a Maroon Mentor co-chair, where I interview inspiring alumni.
Outside of school, I am a regular contributor to Jewish Telegraphic Agency, where I broke a news story on Chicago’s first kosher community fridge. The article was syndicated internationally and earned a national American Voices Medal from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. This summer, I was the Illinois Representative for the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Conference, a fully funded journalism program for rising seniors. Having recently completed a year as a Rising Voices Fellow with the Jewish Women’s Archive, I am beyond excited to continue exploring Jewish feminism through writing and editing with jGirls+!