Liora Attias-Hadar is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of American Friends of ELEM, the U.S.-based partner organization supporting ELEM/Youth in Distress in Israel. As part of her outreach, Liora travels to connect with community members, speaks at synagogues and raises awareness about the urgent crisis facing Israeli youth.

She has described her mission as ensuring young people understand "that they are not defined by the trauma they have lived through." During our recent conversation, Liora shared her passionate advocacy for vulnerable youth, a cause deeply personal to her own life experiences.

How did your experiences as a teenager inspire your work as CEO of American Friends of ELEM?

My experiences as a teenager are the reason I do what I do. They inspire me every day.

I grew up in Israel, where fear and uncertainty were part of daily life. What stays with you isn't just the moments of danger — it's what that does to a child over time. It settles into you. It changes how you see the world, how you trust people, and how safe you feel even when things are quiet.

As a teenager, I didn't have the emotional or mental support I needed. At 17, I found myself pregnant and homeless, trying to survive and searching for somewhere that felt safe. I was fortunate that someone stepped in at a moment when I needed it most and helped me find my way forward.

That's why this work is so deeply personal to me. The young people we serve are not abstract — they represent who I once was.

My role as CEO is not just about leading an organization. It's about making sure every young person who feels invisible, unsafe, or alone has someone who finds them, stands by them, and reminds them that their life can look different.

How does ELEM help at-risk youth cope with traumatic events?

At ELEM, we understand that trauma doesn't happen from a single event. It lives in the body, in the mind, and in the everyday reality of a young person's life.

Our approach is to meet young people exactly where they are — both physically and emotionally.

We operate outreach vans that go into the streets at night, reaching youth who have nowhere else to turn. We run drop-in centers and shelters that offer immediate safety, stability, and a real sense of belonging. Through our digital platforms, we also connect with young people who may never walk into a therapist's office, but are quietly struggling behind a screen.

What truly helps young people cope is human connection. At ELEM, every young person is met by a trained professional who listens, builds trust, and shows up consistently without judgment.

Healing from trauma doesn't happen overnight. We walk alongside these young people for as long as they need.

What specific programs does ELEM offer its centers?

At ELEM's centers, our goal is not just to provide immediate support — it's to help young people rebuild their lives and move toward a stable, independent future.

We offer workshops focused on life skills such as communication, financial literarcy, job readiness, and navigating everyday responsibilities. We also provide recretational activities including art, music, social outings, and group programs that allow young people to simply be young again.

Everything we do is intentional. The goal is to help each young person become a productive, independent member of Israeli society — whether that means preparing to serve in the IDF, securing employment, or finding stable housing.

Please tell us about the "Breathing Spaces" program.

Breathing Spaces was born out of an urgent need to give young people a place to breathe and feel supported when everything around them felt like it was collapsing.

Within 48 hours after October 7th, we created warm, welcoming pop-up spaces inside hotel lobbies and courtyards where displaced families were staying.

On the surface, they may look simple — bean bag chairs, rugs, music, games, and snacks. But for young people walking into them, they are so much more. They become places of safety where, for a moment, they can let their guard down.

Each Breathing Space is staffed by trained professionals and volunteers who listen without judgement and help youth begin to process what they've experienced.

We continue opening these spaces wherever the need arises, including for evacuees from Dimona after Iranian rocket attacks destroyed homes in March.

What are ELEM's goals for long-term solutions to help at-risk youth?

At ELEM, our long-term goal is not just to help young people survive difficult moments, but to help them build a future.

So many of the youth we meet have spent years feeling unseen, unsupported, and alone. Over time, that begins to shape what they believe is possible for themselves. Our role is to help them rewrite that belief.

That starts with building trust and helping them take meaningful steps forward — returning to school, preparing for IDF service, finding employment, or securing stable housing.

We also work closely with government partners and communities across Israel to strengthen services, advocate for policy changes, and ensure vulnerable youth are not overlooked.

What challenges have you faced during your tenure as CEO?

One of the most challenging parts of my role is knowing how many young people are struggling and how often their stories go unseen.

These are young people carrying trauma, instability, and loneliness. Some don't have a safe home to return to. Some have lost any sense of structure or support.

At ELEM, we are supporting over 15,000 youth — and that number continues to grow. For a country as small as Israel, that number is deeply concerning.

A major part of my role is helping people understand that supporting vulnerable youth is not only compassionate — it is essential to protecting the future of Israel.

What do you find most rewarding about your work?

What I find most rewarding are the moments that remind me what's possible, even in the hardest circumstances.

I remember visiting Galgal, one of our shelters for young women, and meeting a young woman who had been living on the streets and struggling with addiction. When I introduced myself as CEO, she turned to her friend and said, "Wow... I wish one day I could become a CEO."

It was such a simple moment, but it stayed with me. Because in that moment, something shifted. For even a second, she allowed herself to imagining a different future.

And when I hear that a young person is no longer sleeping on the streets, has found a job, or escaped an abusive situation and is finally safe — those moments are incredibly rewarding.

In those moments, I pause, take a breath, and think: we did it. We helped change the trajectory of someone's life — and helped Israel stay strong.