Meet the Third Space Team

Jessy Dressin (She/Her) is the founding Executive Director and Rabbi of Third Space at Shaarei Tfiloh. Rabbi Jessy, as people affectionately call her, was ordained at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles in 2012 and has been working as a community rabbi for the last twelve years. She most recently worked as the Senior Director of Jewish Education for Repair the World after building a nationally recognized model for young adult engagement, Charm City Tribe, out of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore.

The through-thread of Jessy’s rabbinate has been a combination of entrepreneurial spirit and disruption in an effort to ensure that Judaism and Jewish tradition can be relevant and resonant in the lives of those who are not connecting to the community in “traditional” ways. Rabbi Jessy is deeply committed to the belief that meaningful Jewish engagement is about the real basics of Judaism: learning, practice, service and kindness to others. Thus, she aspires to be a conduit to individuals and communities engaging deeply with the wisdom of Jewish tradition as both a voice and influence on how Jews and their loved ones move through the world today. She has been named one of The Forward’s Most Influential Rabbis, published multiple articles on Jewish peoplehood and engagement and presented an Eli Talk called: The New Wanderers – God, Millennials and Jewish Engagement. Most recently, Rabbi Jessy published an essay in the book Phish and Contemporary Jewish Identity titled: Pilgrimage and Communal Rejoicing from the Ancient Temple to YEMSG. In every place, she aspires to convey that Judaism fares much better when approached as a playground – immersive, tactile, interactive and full of discovery.

When not at Third Space, Rabbi Jessy loves spending time with her husband Mark, seeing live music, convening with nature and traveling to new and favorite places.

Randi Benesch (she/her)  is the Director of Strategy and Developmentat Third Space at Shaarei Tfiloh.  Previously, she served as the Director of Advancement for Baltimore Center Stage, overseeing all development initiatives, including corporate, foundation and individual giving. Randi had spent the previous five years as the Managing Director of Arts and Culture for the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore.

 Cultivating relationships, crafting an inspiring story and activating engagement are at the core of Randi’s work at Third Space. Randi has been honored and proud to have been involved in all aspects of the initial research, creation and launch of Third Space and can’t wait to continue to watch it evolve. 

She currently serves on the boards of the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance, Na’aleh: The Hub for Leadership Learning and 4Front Baltimore. Randi lives in Ellicott City, Maryland and finds peace and joy while hiking in nature or dancing to live music. 

Mark Dressin (he/him) is the Director of Facilities and Security at Third Space at Shaarei Tfiloh. Previously Mark worked at Union Craft Brewing where he managed the packaging department for the last thirteen years.  

Mark cares deeply about ensuring the Shaarei Tfiloh part of Third Space gets it proper love and attention.  His maternal grandparents were married here and his father attended Hebrew school at Shaarei Tfiloh when he was a kid.  In that spirit, Mark wants the legacy of the space to be just as special to individual people and to make its mark on the Baltimore community moving forward as it has in the past.

When not at Third Space, Mark loves spending time with his wife, Jessy, seeing live music, rooting for the Ravens and the Orioles, and traveling to new and favorite places.  

Jane Eisner (She/Her) is the Director of Marketing at Third Space. She’s a writer, brand strategist, and creative who loves finding the story that makes someone stop scrolling, get curious, and show up.

Jane has worked in journalism and playwriting and helped shape the voices of a wide range of brands. At Third Space, she gets to put those skills toward something close to her heart: helping people find their way into a room full of new ideas, good conversation, and a sense of purpose.

After years in San Francisco, Jane came home to Baltimore to be closer to family. She lives here with her husband and two daughters, who keep her laughing and on her toes. Her toughest boss, by far, is her five-year-old.

When Jane has free time, you can find her swimming, playing pickleball, or plotting her next trip.

Lou Fusco (They/Them) is the Program Manager at Third Space at Shaarei Tfiloh. Lou graduated from Goucher College in 2021 with a BA in Anthropology & Sociology, with a concentration in Social Justice, and a double minor in Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies and Dance. Prior to working at Third Space, Lou was a Repair the World Baltimore Fellow for two years where they created and facilitated service-based community programming for Jewish young adults focusing on a wide variety of social justice themes like education, food, environmental, and gender justice.  

Lou deeply believes in the principle that we do not need to qualify our identities- Jewish and otherwise- in order to belong. They understand the importance of representation of intersectional identities and know that for many, the mere act of showing up as one’s full self is brave and radical. Lou is motivated to create an environment at Third Space at Shaarei Tfiloh in which people of all different backgrounds can come together to learn, connect, and have fun.   

Outside of work, Lou enjoys reading, knitting, spending time with friends and family, and watching football on Sundays. They also have a deep love for the city of Philadelphia- where they grew up- and will happily share recommendations on where to get a Philly cheesesteak. 

Leroy Pinder (He/Him) has lived one block from Shaarei Tfiloh synagogue since 1969.  His family was the nineteenth black family to move into the neighborhood.  As a teenager, Leroy worked at the synagogue for Michael Sopher and Ms. Arnold who helped to make the synagogue run.  He was very excited when he heard Shaarei Tfiloh would be opening back up again and wanted to be part of the team.

Leroy worked for the Mass Transit Association for 28 years among many other jobs he’s held.  Leroy has 7 kids, 30 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.  He loves to play music.  The bass guitar is his preferred instrument.  He was happily married to his wife, Sandra for 20 years, until she passed.  Anyone who knows Leroy well knows that he likes his ‘me time’ from 6 – 8 pm every night and he’s best known by the name ‘Boo Boo’. 

Robi (She/Her) comes to Third Space in a support role, bringing her experience across sectors to support Rabbi Jessy as the organization grows into its fourth year.

Before taking a professional sabbatical, Robi worked in a variety of fields, from archaeology to teaching middle school to running multilevel policy campaigns. While Robi’s official role is to support Rabbi Jessy, we’re exploring how best she can use her vast experience to contribute to this vibrant and growing organization.

Robi grew up living all over the Midwest, and as an adult has lived or worked in four continents. She is so glad to have found Baltimore, her adopted hometown.

Robi enjoys traveling and learning new things, spending time with her family, and being a part of something bigger.

Abby Rickin-Marks (She/They) is the Operations Manager at Third Space at Shaarei Tfiloh. Abby graduated from Oberlin College in 2025 with a BA in Sociology with highest honors and Jewish Studies, and a double minor in Politics and Comparative American Studies. Prior to working at Third Space, Abby worked in a variety of Jewish communal settings, including nonprofits and cultural centers, where she specialized in research, programming, and development. They are especially passionate about making Jewish spaces more inclusive and connected to broader movements for justice. Abby brings a commitment to intersectional equity and a strong logistical brain to her work. 

Abby believes that Jewish life is at its best when it is co-created – when people of all backgrounds feel invited to bring their full selves to the table. She is excited to help build a Third Space that celebrates curiosity, art, ritual, and relationships in equal measure. She is particularly drawn to work that builds bridges between generations, geographies, and personal histories within the Jewish community and the community at-large. 

Outside of work, Abby enjoys exploring neighborhoods on foot, cooking vegetarian meals, and talking about genealogy with anyone who will listen. She lives in downtown Baltimore with her girlfriend and rambunctious cat, Popcorn.

Carly Schwartz (She/Her) is the Senior Director of Operations at Third Space. A community-builder at heart who loves creating spaces where people feel welcome, curious, and connected, Carly’s work lives at the intersection of creativity, Jewish life, and relationship-building. She is especially energized by places that invite people to show up exactly as they are. Originally from Miami, Florida, along the way Carly has lived in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and even London before landing in Baltimore. She has been married to her husband, Mike, for 17 years, and they have two kids—Sammy (14) and Libby (11)—who keep life… interesting! They also have a dog named Rex who she adores, despite the fact that she is famously not a dog person.

Carly’s favorite third place is any bookstore! Especially in a new city — she can’t help but to walk in and explore!

Emily Gaines Demsky (She/Her) is passionate about the power of perspective. She makes bright paintings of flowers – the ultimate symbol of hope and possibility – and she is the founder of Tell Me 3 Good Things on Substack, a community practice where we Notice, Name + Share simple good things each day as a way of keeping hope alive during difficult times. Emily is also the creator of the f/LIGHTDECK, a tangible tool to help curious people shift their perspective and shift their lives.

When she is not painting, writing, studying and volunteering, Emily collects and writes with fountain pens; she loves beachcombing and arranging and photographing her finds; and all of her shoes are red. Emily and her husband live in Baltimore, Maryland, and they
 are the parents of two adult children.

Kohenet Dr. Harriette Wimms is on faculty at Third Space at Shaarei Tfiloh.  Kohenet Dr. Harriette is a community convener, Jewish professional, spiritual ritualist, lecturer, and social justice advocate for people marginalized by power and oppression. She is a Maryland licensed clinical psychologist, and founder and executive director of the Jews of Color Mishpacha Project. 

As a Black Jewish woman who has lived in and loved Baltimore for nearly 40 years, Harriette is passionate about the mission of Third Space. Harriette feels we need “middle spaces” where we are able to meet with people who are like us and different from us, to build connections that lift up the beauty of Baltimore and the sacredness of our diverse experiences and similar hopes for a strong Baltimore. She is especially interested in exploring legacy experiences of people in the Mondawmin and Auchentoroly Terrace neighborhoods and helping the community where Third Space lives feel welcomed and respected. 

K’ Harriette is a Schusterman fellow, a Selah fellow, and a contract trainer for Keshet. She is most proud of being mother to her 20-year-old daughter. She enjoys gardening, sipping cups of tea in the morning, giving hugs, and listening to music. 

Ami Yares (He/Him) is Third Space’s musician-residence. For over 30 years, Ami has been performing, teaching, building communities, and providing experiences to heal through art making. His professional trajectory spans working with youth in areas of conflict, performing domestically and internationally, teaching civic engagement through music, and more. He comes to Third Space via the city of brotherly love and sisterly affection, Philadelphia, to leverage the power of Jewish art making to bring community together. When Ami’s not co-leading or plotting with Rabbi Jessy, you can find him performing up and down the mid-Atlantic and running BuildaBridge, a Philadelphia-based arts and education non-profit that provides therapeutic art making to trauma-affected youth and communities. Ami is thrilled to be a part of Third Space.