Earlier this year, The Jewish Federation of Columbus, Jewish Foundation and the Wexner Foundation received results from the commissioned "2013 Portrait of Jewish Columbus." It was the first comprehensive study of Jews in central Ohio in more than a decade.
As a result, a working group of professionals and lay people was created to bring recommendations to the community on how to move forward.
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Agenda
Welcome and Overview
Arnie Good & Gordon Hecker
Youth ages 14-21
Or Mars, Jenni Goldson & Gary Rosenstein
Young Adults 22+
Erin Essak-Kopp, Ruthie Warshenbrot
Dayna Chessin & Michael Schottenstein
Baby Boomers & Seniors
David Kaplan & Amy Shevrin
Low Income Households
Ben Berger, Steve Allen & Eugenia Erlij
Homes with Children (0-13)
Jay Moses, Jenny Glick & Rachel Weiss– Berger
Final Thoughts
Arnie Good & Gordon Hecker
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Portrait of Jewish Columbus
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The Task
Each working group is charged with answering the
following questions:
What are the one or two programs or services that…
1. …best promote engagement with the Jewish community?
2. …could benefit the most from a community-wide effort to
increase their excellence, affordability and/or capacity?
3
Portrait of Jewish Columbus
4. Portrait of Jewish Columbus
Youth ages 14-21
Recommendations
November 3, 2014
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Working Group Members
• Jenni Goldson Co-Chair
• Gary Rosenstein Co-Chair
• Or Mars Consultant
• Elana Polster Staff
• Jennie Cammeyer
• Micah Goldfarb
• Gary Kuhr
• Miriam Portman
• Brad Rozen
• Beth Silverstein
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Recommendation:
Columbus Jewish Teen Initiative
The creation of a well-funded, expertly staffed
Columbus Jewish Teen Initiative, a coordinated
and comprehensive program, that will invest in
relationship-building, leadership development
and teen engagement.
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Key Findings
• Portrait study
• Programs currently offered in Columbus
• Scan of Jewish Columbus
• Successful programs in other communities
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Portrait Study Findings
• 1,550 households have a child 14-17
• 73% of households with children 14-17 are in
Downtown/University or Bexley
• 86% of families in Bexley area state that being Jewish is very
important in their lives
• 28-44% of families living in the perimeter areas claim that being
Jewish is very important in their lives
• 1 in 3 children overall are being raised as "Jewish only"
8
9. Programs Currently Offered in Columbus
• BBYO and Movement Youth Groups
• Birthright Israel
• B’nai Tzedek Teen Philanthropy
• Friendship Circle
• High School and Middle School Jewish Outreach
• Jewish Community Center (BBYO, JET, CIT program)
• Summer Camps (Wise, Livingston, EKC, Ramah, Guci)
• OSU Hillel
• P2G Teen Trip to Israel
• Wexner Service Corps
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9
10. Scan of Jewish Columbus – Key Needs
• Strategy and resources for engaging teens that are not connected to any
of these programs (with a specific emphasis on teens who live in the
geographic periphery of the Jewish community)
• Strategy and resources for coordinating programs with one another for
more significant effectiveness and efficiency through collaboration
• Scholarships, grants, or alternative funding to help families afford youth
group conferences, summer camps and Israel trips
• Educational planning for deepening the Jewish content of programs
• Additional personnel for individual relationship building with teens 14-18
• A database of all Columbus Jewish teens to insure increased engagement
and to measure success.
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11. Successful Programs in Other Communities
• North Shore Teen Initiative (Boston)
• Jewish Teen Initiative (Denver)
• Teen Israel Trips Initiative (Cincinnati)
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Recommendation:
Columbus Jewish Teen Initiative
The creation of a well-funded, expertly staffed
Columbus Jewish Teen Initiative, a coordinated
and comprehensive program, that will invest in
relationship-building, leadership development
and teen engagement by:
12
13. Focus:
• 14-18 year olds
• Build, enhance, and strengthen connection
between existing programs vs. creation of new
programs
• Informal educational experiences
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13
Recommendation:
Columbus Jewish Teen Initiative
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Recommendation:
Columbus Jewish Teen Initiative
• Hiring a nationally recognized full-time director
supported by an empowered advisory board
• Focusing on one-on-one relationship building by
primarily going to the teens instead of trying to bring
them to our institutions
• Incorporating appropriate levels of Jewish educational
content for teen programs
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Recommendation:
Columbus Jewish Teen Initiative
Increasing teen leadership development to:
• Empower and train teens to provide strong
leadership to their own programs and
organizations
• Think strategically about communal
collaboration (perhaps through a city-wide
teen council)
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Recommendation:
Columbus Jewish Teen Initiative
Providing a significant minimum budget for:
• Budget
– High quality Full Time Director
– Internship/Ambassadors program
– Database construction
– Teen Leadership Development
– Professional Development for Youth Group Directors
– Collaboration Grants
– Community-Wide Programs
– Administrative Costs $270,000
• Scholarships for Immersion Programs $500,000
– Israel Trips
– Summer Camps
– Youth Group Conferences
– Service Learning Trips
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Measuring Success
• The number of teens participating in organized
programs (based on data organized through this
initiative)
• Overall teen engagement as measured by frequency
and depth of engagement.
• Increased support for teen program staffing and
engagement of funding partners
17
18. In short we recommend a paradigm shift:
• Institution-based programming to relationship-based engagement
• Deeper investment in our current teen opportunities
• Teen leadership empowerment
• Coordination and collaboration across institutional and
denominational lines
A well-funded, coordinated effort, with an expert professional staff
and an active advisory board will insure that our teens will be active
and contributing participants in the Jewish community and live
enriched, satisfying, connected and inspired Jewish lives.
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Final Thoughts
18
19. Portrait of Jewish Columbus
Young Adults 22+ Working Group
Engaging People Where They
Live, Work, and Play:
A Downtown Hub and Targeted
Programming
November 3, 2014
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Working Group Members
• Dayna Chessin Co-Chair
• Michael Schottenstein Co-Chair
• Erin Essak Kopp Staff
• Ruthie Warshenbrot Staff
Members:
– Matthew Goldstein
– Brett Kaufman
– Sara Kreinberg
– Sara Scheinbach
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– Lauren Sobol
– Jonathan Stone
– Ryan Vesler
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Executive Summary
What do we want to achieve?
- Continue to grow the Jewish young professional community by
providing reasons to stay, flourish and give back
Strategy
- Build a stronger connection with new programmatic initiatives and a
downtown space that becomes part of their everyday lives
Measuring Success
- 5 year goal = engage 30% of Jewish young professionals annually
- 10 year goal = engage 60% of Jewish young professionals annually
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22. Programs Currently Offered in Columbus
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• ATID
• Moishe House
• High Street Synagogue (Torat Emet)
• OSU Hillel / Graduates and Young
Professionals (GAP)
• J-Connect at the Kollel
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23. Successful Programs in Other Communities
• The Kavana Cooperative (Seattle)
‒ “Hillel for Adults”
• The Kitchen (San Francisco)
‒ “Religious startup”
• NextGen (Detroit)
‒ Model for young adult programming
‒ 15 full time staff
• Sixth & I (Washington D.C.)
‒ Cultural hub
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Focus Group Key Facts
• Jewish 22-44 yr olds are
looking for:
– Professional development
and networking opportunities
– Substantive, content-driven
programming
– A sense of belonging…
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25. Findings from the Portrait Study
• Approximately 3,550
Jewish young professionals
• 72% of young Jewish
households are located in
the Downtown / University
District Area
• 53% of those living
downtown said “Jewish
events are too far”
• 5% are JCC members
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Recommendation
• Leverage the strength of the Columbus brand
– Young, intelligent, innovative, entrepreneurial, increasingly
urban and thriving economically
• Columbus needs a new brand of outreach and engagement
that reaches young professionals in their everyday lives
– Downtown Hub
– Targeted Programming
26
27. • Current programming needs to evolve to
reach the thousands of people who aren’t
currently engaged
• A downtown hub would provide an everyday
destination for Jewish young professionals
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Why a Downtown Hub?
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Downtown Hub
• A “daily use
space” and downtown
meeting spot for
young professionals
• Goal is to create
engagement and
connection around
the things that people
like and care to do
every day
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The Place
To Be
Engage and
Connect
Potential
Services &
Amenities
• Ambassador
program for
community
outreach
• Professional
development
• Spiritual
Programming
• Philanthropic
Events
• Coffee shop
• Activity Space
⁻ Gym
⁻ Basketball courts
⁻ Yoga studio
• Restaurant / Bar
• Programming space
• Event space
• Offices for staff of
Downtown Hub and
Atid
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Targeted Programming
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Professional
Development
Ambassador
Programs
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Ambassador Program
• Centered around one-on-one relationships
• Reach people in their day-to-day lives and
connect them to the broader Jewish community
– At work, in affinity groups and in neighborhoods
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Manager (Staff)
Retail/Finance
Ambassador
(Volunteer)
Ambassador
(Volunteer)
Ambassador
(Volunteer)
Manager (Staff)
LGBT/Interfaith
Ambassador
(Volunteer)
Ambassador
(Volunteer)
Ambassador
(Volunteer)
31. Estimated Costs and Revenue Sources
• Programmatic = $155,000/year
• Downtown Hub = TBD
– Potential Revenue Sources
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• Gym memberships (est.$40+ per month/person)
• Fitness Classes
• Restaurant/Coffee Shop/Bar
• Sponsorships
• Event space
31
32. • Meet people’s needs where they live, work and play
– Provide them with the programs they want
– In the location they are
– Integrated into their everyday lives
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Conclusion
32
33. Portrait of Jewish Columbus
Baby Boomers & Seniors
Recommendations
November 3, 2014
33
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Working Group Members
• Amy Shevrin Co-Chair
• Ray Silverstein Co-Chair
• David Kaplan Staff
• Arlene Weiss
• Dick Sabgir
• Jessica Shimberg
• Julie Weinerman
• Keila Naparstek
• Kirk Hilbrands
• Randy Arndt
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Overview
- Key findings
- What works in other communities
- Recommendations
- Final thoughts
35
36. Key Findings from the Portrait Study
• Over 50% of all Jewish households are
Baby Boomers and Seniors
– Largest demographic group
– Baby Boomers (45-64) are evenly spread out
– Seniors (65+) are concentrated in the East
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38. Programs Offered in Columbus
• Jewish engagement opportunities for
Baby Boomers & Seniors are numerous
– Synagogue programming and religious life
– Programs in Jewish organizations
– Board and volunteer opportunities
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Working Group Insights
• Barriers to engagement:
– Not aware of current engagement opportunities
– Not feeling welcome or comfortable
participating
– No personal connection
• Jewish Values
– Tikkun Olam
– Open tent
39
40. Key Findings from Other Studies
• 70% started volunteering when asked by someone
who had a strong relationship with them (Harvard
Public Health study, 2012)
• Baby Boomer volunteering is expected to grow by
50% during the current decade (U.S. Census, 2010)
• Individuals volunteer most frequently for
organizations with religious affiliation (Bureau of
Labor Statistics)
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41. How Other Communities Successfully Engage
• Baltimore, Jewish Volunteer Connection- Create
“Volun-teams” through a centralized office
• Portland, Tivnu - Builds homes (habitat for
humanity), with Jewish learning and leadership
development components
• Israel, Eschel Project- Seniors are trained to turn
hobbies into micro-businesses
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41
42. Recommendation #1: J-Link Columbus
• What:
– Connect community members to Jewish engagement
opportunities
– Consists of existing programming and volunteering
– Combination of outreach professionals and centralized data
– Initiative housed in Federation
• How:
– 4 outreach professionals with geographic responsibilities
– Connecting one-on-one with community members
– Guiding individuals to best serve their interests
• Measurements:
– Participation, both hours & dollars
• Costs:
– $300,000 - $400,000 per year 42
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43. Recommendation #2: Columbus Service Corp
• What:
– Volunteer groups comprised of Baby Boomers and Seniors
– Service, social, learning, and leadership elements
– Inspired by Wexner Service Corp
• How:
– Professional staff develop curriculum and volunteer
opportunities
– Connect service corp members to leadership positions
• Measurements:
– Participation, both hours & dollars
• Costs:
– $100,000 - $150,000 per year
– Personnel, curriculum development, operating costs 43
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44. Portrait of Jewish Columbus
Low Income Jewish Households
Working Group
Recommendations
November 3, 2014
44
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Working Group
Dr. Steven Allen Co-Chair, Nationwide Children’s
Eugenia Erlij Co-Chair, Solenis
Rabbi Benjamin Berger Consultant, The Wexner Foundation
Elana Polster Staff, The Columbus Jewish Federation
Dan Finkelman Consultant
Bobbie Garber Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority
Alisa Isaac Community Volunteer
Amy Klaben Homeport
Laurie Stein Marsh Leadership Columbus
Jennifer Marshall Formerly JFS, Goodwill
Margie Pizzuti Goodwill
45
The working group met on five occasions between May and October.
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Primary Efforts
46
• Reviewed JPAR results and reassessed low income figures
• Interviewed local synagogues, day schools and agencies
• Reviewed report on poverty and programs offered by social service
agencies in Columbus
47. Key Findings from the Portrait Study
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JEWISH POVERTY IS A REAL ISSUE
• Number of Jews in poverty* is difficult to ascertain
− Best estimate of Jewish poverty rate in Columbus is ~16%, but data
is lacking
• 14% of respondents from households in poverty stated that
being Jewish is “very important” to their life
• 1 in 5 households report costs prevent affiliation
47
* Poor = annual income <150% Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
− Up to $35,325 for a family of 4
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Working Group Findings
JEWISH POVERTY IN COLUMBUS
NOT WELL UNDERSTOOD
• Minimal cross communication and collaboration amongst agencies
• Leaders have difficulty identifying needs though high cost of affiliation
and living are clear challenges
• Shame and stigma are barriers to self-identification and affiliation
• Impoverished Jews are much more likely to be disaffiliated
• Columbus is not alone
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Working Group Findings
49
AT RISK SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION
• 240 survivors of Nazi
persecution (100+ on
Medicaid)
• 30-64 year-olds
including “working
poor”
Respondent Age from Poor Jewish
18-29,
18%
30-44,
30%
45-64,
44%
Households
65+, 8%
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Working Group Findings
EXISTING SERVICES IN
COLUMBUS JEWISH COMMUNITY
• JFS and WHV are the primary service providers in the Jewish
community ( Lack of data on what other community services
families are utilizing.)
• All organizations including synagogues have touch points with
poverty
• Discretionary funds distributed for incidental and Jewish life
needs throughout organizations
• Scrip gift certificates are main sources of monetary support
($119k distributed since 2005)
50
51. • Equip Jewish professionals (rabbis, synagogue and school administrators,
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Recommendation #1
DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EFFORT
51
agency leaders) with tools to respond and support Jews experiencing
poverty
• Support community in identifying households in poverty in order to
provide services more effectively
• Help reduce the emotional toll of poverty
• Increase community awareness of Jewish poverty
• Reduce misinformation and common dismissiveness
• Reduce shame and stigma associated with poverty
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• Number of participants in
training
• Number of synagogues
participating in Shabbat on
poverty
• Number of public events where
“poverty” is on the agenda
• Number of Jews accessing
services provided by Jewish
community and broader
Columbus social services
52
Recommendation #1
Awareness, Outreach, and Education Campaign
KEY ACTIVITIES
• Provide training for rabbis and
other professionals on the range of
community services
• Coordinate annual Shabbat on
poverty
• Create community summit on
Jewish poverty
• Develop “speakers bureau” – first
hand accounts to be shared in
public events
• Provide educational materials at
public points
SUCCESS MEASURES
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Recommendation #2
53
INCREASE ACCESS TO RESOURCES PROVIDED BY JEWISH
COMMUNITY
• Decrease barriers to inclusion
• Serve as liaison to help negotiate reduced fees and additional support
from Jewish organizations
• Increase knowledge of and access to current support services
• Rapid response to emergency situations (e.g. Bonei Mishpochot,
increased visibility)
• Reduce burden of organizations & synagogues to support financial needs
of constituents
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Recommendation #2
Inclusion Gateway
SUCCESS MEASURES
• Annual $ in fund
• Annual $ distributed to households
in need
• Number of households
coordinated across
agencies/synagogues
• Affiliation statistics amongst low
income Jewish population in future
surveys
• Database about low income
population
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KEY ACTIVITIES
• Provide single contact for those
seeking help to cover expenses
related to Jewish living
• Create fund that can be used to
supplement cost of Jewish living
• Create fund that can respond to
emergency need in response to
catastrophic event
• Provide access/referral to further
community-based job support and
counseling services
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Recommendation #3
55
SUPPORT CREATION OF SURVIVORS OF NAZI
PERSECUTION FUND
• Close gap between needs and government funding
− Reduction in Federal Food Assistance Program and Public
Medicaid funds (PASSPORT)
• Address unique aging needs
− Importance of in-home care vs. institutional settings
− High percentage of Russian speakers
− Need for specialized training for caregivers (e.g. short-term
memory loss leaves individual with memory of trauma)
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Recommendation #3
Survivors of Nazi Persecution Fund
SUCCESS MEASURES
• $ raised in fund
• Number of survivors helped
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KEY ACTIVITIES
• Leverage the match and generosity
of Wexner Family matching gift
• Increase profile of fund
• Publicize the existing reality
• Develop case studies/profiles for
publication
57. Recommendation #1
OUTREACH & EDUCATION
Recommendation #2
INCLUSION GATEWAY
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Summary
57
Recommendation #3
SURVIVOR FUND
• Identify existing leader (s) to champion message
(e.g.JCC, WHV, JFS)
• Professional with background in education,
counseling/social work and poverty
• ~$20 -50k annual programming costs
• Strengthen existing programs
• Can be considered in combination with
recommendation #1
• ~$250K (PTE and/or FTE, programming, fund
development)
• $1.5 MM for fund
58. Portrait of Jewish Columbus
Homes with Children 0-13 Working Group
Recommendations
November 3, 2014
58
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Working Group Members
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Rachel Weiss-Berger
Co-chair
Jenny Glick
Co-chair
Rabbi Jay Moses
Staff
Elana Polster
Staff
Lara Blumberg Ilissa Eiferman Matthew Freedman Sara Saldoff
Jeremy Cohen (resigned – illness)
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Meetings and Activities
The working group met six times between April and October.
The group completed the following key tasks:
• Review of data
• Conducted local research
• Conducted national research
• Brainstormed, developed, and refined recommendations in
this report.
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61. 61
Three Key Findings from POJC
50%
Percentage of
children living
In Jewish
households
with NO Jewish
education
Jewish households with
children are evenly
distributed across the 4
areas of residence in
Columbus
30%
Percentage of
children in
Jewish
household
attending
overnight
camp
Prepared by KJ Steinman, based on analyses provided by JPAR. Please contact authors for technical details. 61
62. Why Experiential Education?
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21%
As adults,
campers are more
likely to feel that
being Jewish is
very important.
(Cohen et al, 2011)
Attending Jewish overnight
camp leads to practicing
Judaism as adults.
(Pew, 2013)
64. Recommendation: JCamp Columbus
Concept:
JCamp Columbus will increase the impact of the
“magic” of Jewish overnight summer camping
• Summer camp spirit year round!
• More Campers
• Affordability
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65. Recommendation: JCamp Columbus
Examples of JCamp Columbus in action:
• Events bringing the spirit of camp into the
community.
• Collaboration: join forces to spread the message of
the importance of camp.
• Re-imagined camp fair
• In-home gatherings of camp families: educational,
social, and fun
• Scholarships and incentive coupons
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66. 6 Overnight Camps Serve Columbus
GUCI Ramah Stone
Livingston Emma Kaufmann Wise
Collectively, these camps served
approximately 200 children in 2014. 66
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67. Successful National Programs
• Foundation for Jewish Camp: One Happy
Camper, Bunk Connect
• Harold Grinspoon Foundation: JCamp 180
• Pearlstone Retreat Center, Baltimore
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68. Recommendation: JCamp Columbus
Range of Costs:
$55k staff resources (part-time) and
programming budget for local programs
$250k incentive/scholarships
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69. Recommendation: JCamp Columbus
Measuring Success:
• Increase in number of children who attend
Jewish summer camps – Double within 5-7
years
• Improved collaborative relationships between
camps, synagogues, and agencies.
• Palpable increase in the “camp spirit” in
Columbus Jewish life: warmth, singing,
creativity, experiential learning.
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70. Back to TOC
The Need
To engage the multi-generational family – not just children
Create a local “crown jewel” of Columbus
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Recommendation:
Hoover Family Center
Concept:
For many years, the Columbus JCC has used Camp Hoover as a day
camp facility for local fourth through eighth graders. The facility is well-utilized
now, but there is the potential for it to be so much more.
Fast forward three to five years. Imagine the Hoover Family Center—
the result of strong collaboration, planning and fundraising between
The Wexner Foundation, the Jewish Federation of Columbus, and the
Columbus JCC.
The Hoover Family Center is a centrally located pluralistic retreat that
will engage Jewish families across Columbus by offering meaningful
family-oriented programming with minimal barriers to participation.
The community facility will allow Jews to connect with one another
while also fostering new opportunities for experiential Judaism.
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Recommendation:
Hoover Family Center
Concept:
The immediate focus for programming will be on a multi-generational
family camp that will serve as an opportunity for children to
experience Jewish overnight camp at a younger age.
Experiential Judaism at the Hoover Family Center is not limited to the
summer months. The center’s Kosher kitchen will adjoin a conference
center and social hall to allow for year-round retreats and gatherings.
The center will be open to all local Jewish agencies and will serve as a
destination for national Jewish scholars.
While the primary mission of the Hoover Family Center is to engage
local Jewish families with young children, the one-of-a-kind multi-purpose
facility will be home to a multitude of programming.
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Hoover Family Center:
Possible Programs
opportunities for young adults,
73
Family camp programs including
Bubbie Zaydie weekend retreats.
Experiential learning
families, synagogues and
organizations
Expanded JCC day
camp offerings
Revenue from corporate or
broader community groups
beyond Jewish community
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Hoover Family Center:
Possible Programs
Life cycle events Environmental,
farming, and
outdoor
programming
Regional hub
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Recommendation:
Hoover Family Center
Rationale / “The Why?”:
• This process requested bold and visionary
thinking. This is a “big idea” worthy of the charge
we were given.
• Underutilized property
• Centrally located – serving all of Columbus
• There is no Jewish retreat center in Ohio.
• Easy entry point to Jewish overnight camp.
• Create a shared collaborative space
• Bringing the spirit of Jewish summer camping to
all ages at all seasons of the year.
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Recommendation:
Hoover Family Camp
Range of Costs:
• Feasibility study required
• Major capital improvements and facility
enhancements would be necessary
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Recommendation:
Hoover Family Center
Measuring Success:
• Use current POJC study as a benchmark
• Track alumni of the different programs at the Hoover
Family Center. Where/how do they engage? Youth
groups, overnight camps, day schools, Synagogues, etc.
• Have Jewish relationships formed that might not have
otherwise existed?
• Is there an increase in
1. Regional organizations that utilize the facility?
2. Amount of annual revenue—year over year?
3. Quantity and quality of programs hosted by agencies?
4. Quantity of private events?
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Editor's Notes
PUT OUTLINE FOR PRESENTATION HERE OR ADD ADDITIONAL SLIDE
Most program opportunities in Bexley
Analyzed barriers to engagement of diverse constituencies within this demographic
Ben Introduces
Ben – all star team, here’s what we did
Ben
Eugenia
Eugenia
- not discussed by many; more over, there is little hard data exists regarding Jewish poverty
- Anonymity leads to minimal cross communication
inability to identify needs within their communities and understanding of all services available
- Poverty is not the cause of disaffiliation but impoverished are much more likely to be disaffiliated
- Even families who are not poor experience the high cost of Jewish life and affiliation to be a barrier to entry.
Synagogues report that finances will not be a barrier to membership
Most report that 50+% of members are not paying “full” dues
Some synagogues have moved away from ticket model for HHDs
- Implicit messages and frequent costs send a counter message
Jewish observance (i.e. observing holidays, kosher, day/Hebrew school, etc.) is particularly expensive.
- Columbus is not alone, other communities acknowledge that “Jews are amongst the Hidden Poor” (Philadelphia @7%, NYC @ 25%) Boston sees increase
Eugenia
* Chart is excluding 9 questionably Jewish cases
Eugenia
- Meaning are people going to United Way service providers and others?
Ad-hoc distributions by rabbis
Kroger Scrip gift certificates administered by the Columbus Jewish Foundation for food and other staples are main sources of referral support offered by rabbis/social service professionals.
* Total scrip dollars since founding -+ $1000 per household max
Steve
- Need to improve identification, and then service to the impoverished by touch point professionals (i.e. rabbis, directors, school administrators)
By reducing the “shanda effect” (stigma and shame) we can improve self-identification
Helping to reduce the emotional toll of poverty has the potential to improve the impoverished connections to the community
Increasing overall awareness of existing impoverished Jewish population to support all of the above
Steve
Some rabbis expressed interest in receiving training
Community wide shabbat experience that happens in individual synagogues but with goal to unite around theme of poverty
Speaker Bureau Thru this process several people have come forward and said they’d be happy to do this
- educational materials should include info about general community service providers like United Way’s Pathways Out of Poverty
Steve
Responding to Shame of going to the rabbi/executive director/financial office prevents people from affiliating or continuing affiliation (synagogue, JCC, camp, etc)
Many want their rabbi to be their rabbi and not also their financial counselor, this removes the risk to the relationship
Emergencies happen and the costs of responding incrementally to crisis are significant. Bonei Mishpachot could be expanded like Yad Chessed in Boston
Steve
Steve
Steve
Summary – Steve FINAL STATEMENT: Any recommendations should only be carried out in close collaboration and consultation with existing service providers.
Ben - Thank you to Federation, the community agencies and agencies that gave significant time for interviews, & to the team
Jay introduces and does overview
Jenny – Recommendation 1 - JCamp Columbus
Rachel – Recommendation 2 – Camp Hoover
Conducted research on current activities, programs, and resources for this population in Columbus (in-person and phone interviews with representatives of synagogues, JCC, Federation, Chabad, Day schools, kollel, PJ Library etc.)
Conducted research on best practices from other communities and national organizations in the areas of early childhood education, day school education,
complementary school education, overnight summer camping, retreat programming, and more.
Jay:
1. Half of the children living in Jewish households have not had any Jewish education including 75% of those who are being raised partially Jewish
2. People are spread all over the Columbus community and we want to find a way to reach everyone;
3. Only 30% of children in Jewish households attend Jewish overnight camp.
Answer why not day schools, preschool
Camp Works: The Long-Term Impact of Jewish Overnight Camp
By Steven M. Cohen, Ron Miller, Ira M. Sheskin, Berna Torr
Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC), Spring 2011
According to the Pew findings, 44% of practicing Jews reported attending Jewish overnight camp as opposed to only 18% of those who are non-practicing. We read those results to mean that those who experienced Judaism through the lens of Jewish camp were influenced to make it part of their lives long after they attended their last campfire. We believe that many of those children may have had no other Jewish experiences growing up besides camp. - See more at: http://www.jewishcamp.org/blog/?p=1766#sthash.LgA5IyVs.dpuf
In the world café and in meetings with Many stakeholders, we determined that Columbus is doing a good job with early childhood and early primary education—JCC, Tot Shabbat, day school and Sunday school for k-2,, PJ Library etc. But many identified 8-13 year olds as the key demographic to engage, with little offered for them beyond bar/bat mitzvah training.
This age group is “Past pre-school” and “pre-youth group/Israel trip.” Day school and Hebrew school are only reaching a small fraction of kids (insert POJC stats)
Jewish summer overnight camping has been shown to be one of the most impactful Jewish experiences, leading to greater engagement and a lifelong connection to Judaism.
Fewer than 35% of Columbus Jewish children attend overnight camp.
Camping serves the entire community, and the energy generated by children returning from camp affects families and the whole community.
Concept:
JCamp Columbus will increase the impact of the “magic” of Jewish overnight summer camping by:
bringing the spirit of camp to Columbus throughout the year.
Increasing the number of children ages 8-13 who attend Jewish overnight camps
Make the camp experience affordable for a larger number of families
Concept:
JCamp Columbus will consist of several components:
6-8 events throughout the year bringing the spirit of camp into the community—some stand-alone events, and some co-sponsorships with existing events to bring a spirit and message of camp to them.
Collaboration: catalyze efforts to operate collaboratively, both with the various camps to help spread the message of Jewish camp, and with the synagogues and agencies who promote camp.
Re-imagined camp fair with collaborative spirit and educational content
In home events of “camp families,” which are educational, social, and fun while also marketing camps.
Bring appropriate camp activities or spirit into events in the community: song leader concerts, swimming, ropes course, campfires, hayrides, cookouts, camp Shabbat, color wars, sports competition, sports spectacular, camp reunion for all camps
Incentivize potential camp families throughout the year and make the money go further by offering “coupons” off the price of camp for attending X number of events, bringing friends along or hosting events
We don’t feel we need a new overnight camp
What is the current landscape of camps serving Columbus—
200 children is a drop in the bucket—we would like to double this number within 5-7 years
The need: a centrally located center to allow for experiential learning.
The community facility will allow Jews to connect with one another while also fostering new opportunities for experiential Judaism.
The immediate focus for programming will be on a multi-generational family camp that will serve as an opportunity for children to experience Jewish overnight camp at a younger age.
The need: a centrally located center to allow for experiential learning.
The community facility will allow Jews to connect with one another while also fostering new opportunities for experiential Judaism.
The immediate focus for programming will be on a multi-generational family camp that will serve as an opportunity for children to experience Jewish overnight camp at a younger age.
The need: a centrally located center to allow for experiential learning.
The community facility will allow Jews to connect with one another while also fostering new opportunities for experiential Judaism.
The immediate focus for programming will be on a multi-generational family camp that will serve as an opportunity for children to experience Jewish overnight camp at a younger age.
Create All of the above options for families or organizations from Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Dayton, Pittsburgh, and other surrounding communities.
Create All of the above options for families or organizations from Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Dayton, Pittsburgh, and other surrounding communities.
This process requested bold and visionary thinking. This is a “big idea” worthy of the charge we were given.
For many years, the Columbus JCC has used Camp Hoover as a day camp facility. It is successful but under-utilized, and it has the potential to be so much more.
There is no Jewish retreat center in Ohio. Retreat centers like Pearlstone in Baltimore have had phenomenal success as low-barrier, pluralistic Jewish environments for all ages.
Provide for intergenerational programming, e.g. Jewish grandparents with their grandchildren (especially crucial for children of intermarriage.)
Great entry point to Jewish overnight camp, pre-school and a more engaged Jewish life.
Hoover is centrally enough located to serve Bexley, Perimeter North, Downtown, and New Albany.
Synagogues and agencies which often compete could utilize Hoover Family Center as shared, collaborative space.
Bringing the spirit of Jewish summer camping—long cited as one of the most impactful Jewish experiences for strengthening our community’s future—to all ages at all seasons of the year.