Carol Golden - From a Tradition of "Tikkun Olam" to a Life of "Hands-on" Activism

Today’s guest, Carol Golden, is yet another involved and engaged individual, constantly looking for ways to improve the world.  You’ll want to hear her story about how she came up with the term “community activist” as a response to the question “what do you do?” It’s a fun one!

Carol explains how her sense of the importance of community goes back to her roots.  Her parents, both “civil servants”, instilled the spirit of “tikkun olam” into their lives and hers. If you don’t know what that means, you’ll have to listen to find out!  Suffice it to say, it’s a wonderful tradition to live by. 

Exposure to diversity and wonderful teachers during her formative years also informed Carol’s world view.  The slogan “it can be done, but it’s up to you” still rings true to her today. (Good small-world story here as well.)

Later, recognizing that “our lives are (relatively) easy, but others’ aren’t”, Carol sought out ways to have her work to be useful and impactful.  This drive carried her to serve on the board of Planned Parenthood, the 101:Fund (Need based scholarships.  Oddly she found this inspiration at the fish store!), and Greenwood House (exemplary senior nursing care), among others.   

Carol's desire to be more “hands-on” and directly in touch with people led to her current involvement with Housing Initiatives of Princeton (H.I.P). A wonderful organization, helping to break the cycle of homelessness. 

The Dobbs decision also spurred her and fellow activists to create a group to support women’s reproductive rights by shepherding people through the difficulties thrown in their paths as they seek reproductive care. 

Carol never runs out of new sources of motivation!  So much to do, so little time!

Please listen in to our conversation!

Links to some of the organizations mentioned in our conversation:

https://www.101fund.org/

For over 50 years, The 101: Fund has been providing need-based college scholarships to Princeton High School (PHS) graduates for whom college can be prohibitively expensive.

 https://www.housinginitiativesofprinceton.org/

The mission of Housing Initiatives of Princeton is to assist local individuals and families experiencing housing insecurity build toward a sustainable future via stable housing, better employment, and a network of support services.

https://www.greenwoodhouse.org/about/

What started as a community nursing home for the aged back in 1939, Greenwood House is now a comprehensive provider of wellness-focused senior lifestyles and health care services. As a  not-for-profit, mission-based community, we hold ourselves to a higher standard when it comes to caring for our residents.