The Reporter’s “Community Spotlight” feature seeks to highlight community members and find out more about them. If you want to be among the participants, e-mail treporter@aol.com. Chelsea Rego is the executive director of Hillel at Binghamton.

1. What is your hometown?
I grew up in Bricktown and Toms River, NJ, before heading to Boston, then Miami, and now Binghamton!

2. What is your earliest Jewish memory?
My earliest Jewish memory is searching for the afikomen during Passover. At the time, finding it and winning felt like a huge victory.

3. What is your favorite Jewish food or dessert?
My favorite Jewish food is my grandmother’s matzah ball soup, may her memory be a blessing, which is comfort in a bowl and full of family memories.

4. What is your favorite Jewish holiday?
My favorite Jewish holiday is Passover because it blends storytelling, tradition and family in such a meaningful way.

5. What role does faith play in your life?
Faith shows up in my life through traditions, rituals and the intentional creation of core memories for my children, my family and the community I support.

6. What has been the biggest influence on your Jewish identity?
The biggest influence on my Jewish identity has been the traditions I grew up with and now the opportunity to create those same meaningful experiences for others.

7. What is your greatest achievement, or what are you most proud of?
I am most proud of how I have grown and advanced in my career in a relatively short amount of time while continuing to show up for my family.

8. Do you have any children and/or pets?
I have two little ones who are my entire world.

9. What are your hobbies?
In my free time, I enjoy weight lifting with my husband, who has been my workout partner since day one. We have been playing video games together since day two and love going to the movies, especially on opening days.

10. What makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is spending time with my family and creating meaningful moments together.

11. What do you like most about living in Binghamton?
Even though I have only been in Binghamton for nine months, I have come to appreciate the beautiful nature and the change of seasons. The mountains feel almost magical, especially after living in the flat land of Miami.

12. Anything else you would like to share?
I feel grateful to be part of a community where I can help create connection, belonging and meaningful experiences for others. 
Thank you for welcoming me and my family into this community with such warmth, kindness and open arms.