Living in Jamaica Plain, Rachel Lantsman is a first generation American, born to two Ukrainian Jewish refugees in New York City.
When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Rachel felt compelled to help. She helped raise and ship medical supplies and assemble first aid kits sent to volunteers in Ukraine. This fueled her passion in public service which brought her to participate in the Judicial Youth Corps during the summer of 2022. Rachel is currently giving English lessons to a Ukrainian college student, while listening to her stories about the monstrosities of the war that still take place today in Ukraine. Loving to help others in areas she is comfortable in, Rachel who has played tennis since a young age of 7, volunteers to play with young kids at her local tennis facility in Dorchester through a Boston Police led volunteer program, Volley Against Violence. Additionally, she is co-president of Jewish Culture Club where the community pushed her to create a volunteer program at Hebrew Senior Life in Roslindale that brings Boston Latin School students to spend time with residents at the center.
At a young age of 17, these and many other experiences have shaped Rachel and helped her realize she wants to pursue something in the future with Public Service which ultimately led her to apply for the Ward Fellowship. She enthusiastically puts her love for her community and personal passions into this year’s summer at the Public Defender’s Office working under CPCS Chair Anthony Benedetti.