Jamie Tortorello-Allen

My name is Jamie, and I live in Westchester County, NY, where I have worked as a Cantor and Jewish Educator for 20 years. I have a PhD in French Literature, a BA in Psychology and Human Development, a Certificate in Congregational Education, and have taught children from ages 2 to18, as well as college students in language and literature, and adult learners on parenting and religion. I am a long term member of our community’s Interfaith Clergy Council and serve on my town’s Prison Relations Advisory Committee, which brings community support to the women’s prisons housed in our town. I am also the mother to three young adults and a grandmother to two young children. In 2014, my 15 year old daughter was the victim of a violent sexual crime that left her deeply traumatized and me desperate to learn whatever I could that would help me parent her through that trauma. Resources specific to young survivors and their loved ones were scarce. In joining with her to found and lead Survivors to Superheroes, I have hoped to provide for others what I was seeking myself. When I am not working on Survivors, I love to spend time reading, writing, baking, learning new languages, and enjoying the many trails through the woods around my home. I’m also exploring new and creative spiritual practices, merging Jewish tradition, music, mindfulness, silence, and prayer.