Joel Nitzberg
Director of Programs
New England Center for Arts & Technology (NECAT)
Boston, MA USA
“When I allowed myself the enjoyment of the journey without the fear of reaching a dead end, it was fun.”
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Milestones
My road in life has taken me all over.
Grew up in a poor area of New York with a “dysfunctional” family; his parents separated four times when he was young.
Says that emotional pain can be a positive thing; he thinks that experiencing hardships as a child helped him build resiliency.
He majored in geology in college, then switched over to art and communications; he says cameras were his life.
His first job was at a workshop for developmentally disabled adults; that inspired him to go back to school and get his Master of Social Work degree at Hunter College.
Years later, after he’d tried many different things, he got into community education and the passion hit him like a “lightning bolt.”
Now he works at NECAT, where he helps to train Boston’s inner-city community members in the culinary arts.
He’s never stayed at the same job for more than seven years at a time, which he says has given him the opportunity to explore different paths.
Says it’s a lifelong process to “figure one’s self out,” but he feels like he’s just about reached that point.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Bachelor
Environmental Studies
CUNY Queens College
Environmental Studies
CUNY Queens College
Graduate
Social Work
CUNY Hunter College
Social Work
CUNY Hunter College
Graduate
Social Work
Cambridge College
Social Work
Cambridge College
Career
Director of Programs
I oversee daily operations, establish relationships with partners, and develop processes to improve current programs.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Art
Education
Teaching / Mentoring
Day to Day
I identify with being a Community Educator, working in concert with multiple stakeholders to provide educational programs and experiences that are transformative for families, individual, and communities. I managed program development of this start-up job training and education organization, helping create a "whole-learner" orientation, balancing culinary arts content with personal development (soft skills), and tapping into the strengths of each individual within this learning community.
Skills & Qualities Beyond School
I thrive in places where I can practice meshing lifelong learning, program development, project management, and community engagement. Focus on gaining skills and learning things that are interesting to you and then figure out how to utilize those wherever you end up.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for high school students
You don't have to decide every step of your life right now. Be open to taking new opportunities and don't be afraid to move on when the time is right. Enjoy the journey.
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Bachelor
Environmental Studies
Environmental Studies
Graduate
Social Work
Social Work
Graduate
Social Work
Social Work
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Myself:
"I'm never going to find a job. "
Challenges I Overcame
Financial
Dysfunctional Family
Interviewed By
