Jake Weinfeld, Medical Education Resources Initiative for Teens (MERIT)
Jake's Fellowship:
For the past three years, Jake volunteered as a Professional Leadership Development Saturday session teacher with MERIT Baltimore. MERIT holistically supports high school students who aspire to become health care professionals. This summer, as a Baltimore Corps Fellow, Jake joined MERIT full time as their Strategic Growth Director. In this role, Jake manages MERIT’s development, marketing and volunteer recruitment efforts. He also oversees curriculum development and programming for MERIT's Sophomore Scholars.
Background:
Jake is a Maryland native who came to Baltimore in 2012 through Teach for America. In college, Jake majored in business and worked briefly in marketing before discovering his passion for empowering students while teaching entrepreneurship to middle and high school students. Over the past several years, Jake taught science and led the Enrichment Team at KIPP Harmony Academy. Last year, he received his Masters in Education from Johns Hopkins University.
Why do you choose to live and work in Baltimore?
I was placed here in 2012 with TFA. I wanted DC but now I know that was foolish. Baltimore is way better than DC.
What's one surprising fact about yourself?
In college I won a taco eating contest and pound-for-pound bench press contest.
Go-to snack?
Chipotle, pho, gummies
