Join Rabbi Jen Kaluzny, Kari Provizer, LMSW, ACSW & the Jewish Fertility Foundation of Detroit for a thoughtful panel discussion highlighting the many ways families are built. Our speakers will share both their professional expertise and personal journeys through adoption, surrogacy, and fertility treatments. This event offers a chance to learn, connect, and feel supported. Pathways to Parenthood is open to anyone in the community interested in learning about family-building journeys.

7 pm - Wine & Dessert Reception
7:30 pm - Panel Discussion

Click here to register

PANELISTS:

Alexis Cirel
Alexis L. Cirel is a nationally recognized thought and practice leader in field of fertility law and is set apart by her concierge level service, sophisticated work product, and compassionate approach.

As a member of Governor Cuomo’s Campaign Leadership Committee, Alexis was instrumental in the passage of New York’s transformational Child-Parent Security Act, which legalized surrogacy in New York, and is now considered the model legislation of its kind. Alexis’ practice focuses on all aspects of fertility law including surrogacy, gamete donation, establishment of legal parentage, embryo disposition, and more. She is one of only 200 attorneys in the country to receive the distinction of being named an Assisted Reproductive Technologies Fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys.

Alexis frequently speaks at professional conferences, guest lectures at law schools, and appears on various media outlets as an authority on fertility and family law issues. Her written work has appeared in leading law and medical journals, including the American Bar Association’s Family Law Quarterly, the New York Law Journal, and the Fertility and Sterility Journal. Following Michigan’s recent passage of legislation similar to New York’s, Alexis – who is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School – was admitted to practice in Michigan, after being asked to handle some of the first ever legalized surrogacy arrangements in the state.

More than just a counselor in the legal sense, Alexis also offers clients the perspective and comfort of firsthand experience, having built her own family through surrogacy. Together, her mastery of the law and her personal experience instill in her clients the confidence and peace of mind necessary to navigate this otherwise complex journey.

In addition to her fertility law work, Alexis maintains a robust matrimonial practice and offers unique counsel at the intersection of fertility and family law – particularly in matters involving embryo disputes and the marital presumption of parentage.

Dr. Brian Levine
Dr. Brian Levine is the founding partner and practice director of CCRM Fertility of New York, specializing in IVF, gestational surrogacy, and third-party reproduction. Board-certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, he is a nationally recognized expert featured in outlets like The New Yorker, CNN, and NBC, offering insights on fertility ethics and emerging reproductive technologies. Dr. Levine completed his medical training at NYU, where he served on the Board of Trustees, and has been recognized as a New York Super Doctor and Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2019.

Stephanie Levich
Stephanie Levich is the Founder and President of Family Match Consulting, a leading consulting firm specializing in egg donor, sperm donor, and surrogate matching. With more than 20 years of experience in the fertility field, she has helped over 3,000 intended parents build their families.

Stephanie’s passion for family building stems from her own story. After her mother suffered a severe infection as a teenager that required a hysterectomy, her parents turned to adoption to grow their family. Years later, Stephanie faced her own challenges with infertility and welcomed her two miracles through IVF.  

Before launching Family Match Consulting in 2015, she co-founded and led a nationally recognized egg donor and surrogacy agency. Her work has been featured in People, ForbesWoman, The Today Show, and Business Insider. She is also the co-author of the children's book From the Start: A Book About Love and Making Families.

Melanie Hardy
Melanie (she/her) is the Director of Research and Advocacy for the jscreen program. She  received a Master’s degree in Genetic Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2011 and was certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling in 2012. She has previously served as Director of Genetic Counseling Services for JScreen in addition to providing clinical genetic counseling services, student supervision, research mentorship, and other roles. She has also been active within professional organizations including the National Society of Genetic Counselors and the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC), currently serving on the ABGC Board of Directors as President-Elect. Her professional interests include: leadership and management, student supervision, education, mentorship, provision of telehealth and licensure, and enhancement of the healthcare experience.  She works in telehealth from her home in Midland, Michigan.

Lacey Foon
Lacey Jacobson Foon is the founder of Fascination Factory, a play-based learning center in Birmingham, Michigan. After being diagnosed with cancer caused by a BRCA1 genetic mutation, she started jscreen Detroit to make genetic screening more accessible in her community. jscreen is a national nonprofit that provides at-home genetic testing and education to help individuals and families understand their risks for hereditary conditions. Through jscreen Detroit, Lacey offers subsidized access to both hereditary cancer and reproductive carrier screenings so that all Detroiters can benefit from this essential testing. She also has personal experience with fertility preservation, having undergone IVF before starting chemotherapy, which gives her a unique perspective on the intersection of genetics, cancer, and family planning.

Neil and Ilene Cantor
Neil and Ilene have lived in Michigan for 30 years and reside in Huntington Woods with their son, Robby. They met while working for the Associated Press and attending Northeastern University in Boston, where they both earned degrees in Journalism. Ilene spent 16 years as a TV anchor before transitioning to her current role as a Strategic Communications Specialist with Ferndale Schools. Neil, an attorney with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, previously worked in Civil Rights and Labor Law and served as Director of Jewish Student Life at Hillel of Metro Detroit.

Their path to parenthood was a long and emotional 16-year journey through infertility and adoption, culminating in the joy of welcoming Robby, now a freshman at Berkley High School. The Cantor's are active members of Temple Emanu-El and Congregation Beth Shalom, maintain a Kosher home, and love hosting Shabbat dinners and celebrating Jewish holidays with family and friends.