Finding Purpose and Joy

A Neurodivergent Journey

When Susannah Lovegrove talks about Washington Hebrew Congregation, her face lights up. To her, WHC is more than just a synagogue — it is “a second family,” a place where she is welcomed, supported, and celebrated for exactly who she is. Since joining the congregation in 2008, the 29-year-old Susannah has grown into a beloved presence within our community, embodying the spirit of inclusion and connection WHC strives to nurture.

Susannah, who has microcephaly, speaks openly and confidently about her disability. She explains that while some things may be more challenging, she is fully capable of living, working, and contributing in meaningful ways. Her perspective is clear and powerful: having a disability “doesn’t mean you shouldn’t work” or be an active part of the world. It simply means finding approaches that allow everyone to succeed. At WHC, she has always felt seen, valued, and embraced — an experience that has shaped her life.

One of Susannah’s earliest and most cherished memories within the congregation is her Bat Mitzvah. For her mitzvah project, she raised money for the Montgomery Cheetahs adaptive ice hockey team that she played on and volunteered for. On the day of her Bat Mitzvah, Rabbi Bruce Lustig invited one of the team founders (who was also a WHC member) to come and meet Susannah in his study before the service. That memorable moment is just one of the things that keeps WHC (and the Cheetahs), close to her heart.

These moments of belonging continued through her confirmation and into adulthood. Today, Susannah gives back to the congregation by serving as a greeter on Friday nights, something she loves because it allows her to welcome others into the same warmth she experiences. No matter what kind of day someone is having, she says, “Washington Hebrew somehow pulls you out of the funk you were just in and brings you into a whole new reality.” The clergy, the community, and the spirit of inclusion create what she describes as a “whole different world” — one filled with kindness, connection, and joy.
Susannah’s commitment to helping others extends far beyond WHC. She works at a coffee shop that employs people with disabilities, attends regular fitness classes, volunteers at a cat adoption café, and stays connected with friends both inside and outside the congregation. Most recently, she and her mother, Alyssa, co-founded DreamTeams, a nonprofit that creates volunteer opportunities for people who, like Susannah, may have limited work hours but want to spend their days contributing to the community. Partnering with organizations such as Food & Friends and Martha’s Table, DreamTeams helps match volunteers with meaningful service projects while easing staffing challenges for nonprofits. It is, as Alyssa beautifully describes, “Mitzvah Day, every day.”

On Monday, May 18, at 7:30 pm, Susannah is especially excited about singing alongside the Interplay Orchestra, a 36-year-old ensemble for adult musicians with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities, as they present Time of Our Lives at Rockville’s F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre. The show features works by Olivia Dean, Duke Ellington, Antonin Dvorak, Dolly Parton, U2, and more. Several WHC members plan to attend, reflecting once again how deeply connected she is within our congregation.
Susannah’s resilience and warmth are an inspiration. She reminds us that inclusivity is not simply an ideal — it is a daily practice, one that enriches our entire community. WHC is proud to call her family, and even prouder to watch her shine.

To volunteer with DreamTeams, visit dreamteams.org.
For tickets to Time of Our Lives, visit fscottfitzgerald.showare.com.