Carlos Domacasse, 23, hopes to inspire Jewish teens in his job as the Diller Program coordinator for Baltimore. Diller Teen Fellows is a yearlong leadership program that inspires teens to explore their Jewish identities.
After growing up in Pikesville and attending Boys’ Latin School of Maryland, Domacasse continued his studies at Roanoke College, where he received degrees in political science and communications. Now, he works with Jewish teens as part of 4Front.
Domacasse lives in Roland Park.
What does your job entail?
The main thing that I really emphasize is connection. We’re in a such a difficult time for Jews in America. We need to connect, and we need to all stay close and create bonds to make sure that we all know that we are safe and accepted. We should celebrate the fact that we’re Jewish, even though many parts of the world see it as a negative. I think that we need to flip that narrative and make it seem like a positive.
Part of Diller is going on a summer Israel trip. Are you doing that this year?
Unfortunately, this year it had to be cancelled due to the uncertainty of the region. It was a real shame. The main thing that I want to emphasize, and I have emphasized to my teens, is that we need to be focusing on the people that are there and really holding our loved ones in our hearts as they deal with this difficult time on the front lines.
We interact a lot with Israel and with our partner city Ashkelon. They’re in a tough spot and I think that it’s been different in the sense of how we interact with them. We were lucky to be able to host them in April. I think the volatility of the region makes it inherently different.
It also has been different in the way that we relate to the Israelis. It’s been a lot more of making sure that they know that they are heard and that they are felt and that they’re loved.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
Definitely connecting with the teens and seeing them. I’m really proud of how far they’ve grown. It’s a difficult time to be a Jewish teen right now. They’re in 11th grade, so they’re getting ready to make the transition to college. It’s hard because I think that in Jewish Baltimore, we’re so lucky to have such a tight-knit network of Jews.
Once you make that step to college, it can get a little tricky because you have people that you’re interacting with that don’t like you for your religion or don’t like you because you support a Jewish state. The main thing is preparing them to face a reality where not everyone will be their friend.
How do you prepare them for that?
By building a strong foundation. If you know who you are and you know your beliefs, you’re less inclined to change them for acceptance. I really emphasize to the teens that they need to be who they want to be and nobody else. If you change the way that you think, you’re not being authentic.
How would you describe your relationship to Judaism?
I grew up Conservative Jewish. I never really thought much of it until I was in college during Oct. 7 and I was fortunate to be elected student body president during that time. I was in a position of leadership. Instead of people showing empathy towards the Israelis, there was so much hate and negativity.
I think that was a time for me where I told myself that I need to do something about this. I need to do what’s right to my people and contribute in any way that I can.
What is special to you about working with people whose identities you can really help shape?
When I was in high school, I would go to a lot of NCSY events and receive guidance from people like Rabbi Mordi Spero. Even though I was never a seriously observant Jew, it really helped give me that confidence and that mental wherewithal to know that I can really do anything that I put my mind to. Even if I inspire one kid throughout my life, my job is done and I will feel fulfilled.
If you could give one piece of advice to Jewish teens right now, what would that be?
Don’t lose yourself. Know who you are and be proud of it. The world can take away a lot from someone, but they can’t take away your religion.
Shira Kramer is a freelance writer.
