Jewish Student Connection - Jim Joseph Foundation

JSC Expansion Theory of ChangePURPOSE: To serve as a catalyst for teens to take ownership of their Jewish future.PROBLEMS Most Jewish teens do not haveready access to: fun, safe and engagingspaces to explore what beingJewish means to them, intheir own terms fun, safe and engagingspaces to learn about anddevelop personal connectionswith Israel opportunities to connectJewishly with Jewish peers compelling Jewish rolemodels There are not sufficientcompelling Jewish educationalopportunities that engage teens Organizations serving Jewishteens do not collaborateeffectively and do not reach asmany teens as are interested inexploring their Jewish identity Some Jewish teens do not seeJewish involvement as cool orfun Public schools are often notseen as places for teens toexplore and connect JewishlySTRATEGIESProgram Level Build JSC clubs in public highschools Forge mentoring relationshipsbetween students and JSC staff Develop local and nationalpartnerships between JSC andorganizations in the Jewishcommunity Facilitate connections betweenstudents and opportunities in thegreater Jewish community bothlocally and nationally Develop partnerships with facultyand school leadershipOrganizational Level Identify regions appropriate for JSCclubs Launch JSC clubs in new regions Implement staff training, recruitmentand retention efforts Strengthen JSC's infrastructure tosupport expansion regionsTARGET CONSTITUENCIES Public high school students Public schools with a significantnumber of Jewish students Jewish organizationsSHORT-TERMOUTCOMESProgram Level More Jewish teens: participating in JSC clubs with greater understanding ofJudaism and Jewish life with strengthened connectionto, more knowledge about andcomfort discussing Israel making choices informed bytheir JSC experiences active in Jewish activities Wider circles of Jewish friendsamong JSC participants Stronger relationships betweenJSC and public schools Created connections betweenJSC advisors and Jewishorganizations and professionalsOrganizational Level Increased number of active JSCclubs Increased JSC staff capacity Improved JSC infrastructure andcapacity to support expansionregions Developed a plan for a viableorganizational model that cansustain expansion Stronger local infrastructureMID-TERM OUTCOMESProgram Level Continuation of short-termoutcomes Deep, lasting relationshipsbetween JSC teens and partnerorganizations More former JSC teens inongoing and immersive Jewishexperiences during and afterhigh school Enhanced Jewish communitywithin participating publicschoolsOrganizational Level Increased number of active JSCclubs Fully developed JSC staffcapacity Solidified JSC infrastructure andcapacity to support expansionregions Fully staffed and financiallyviable operations in expansionregions Produced a compendium of bestpractices for building andsupporting program capacityand growthULTIMATE IMPACT: JSC has bridged the gap between a parent-imposed Jewish childhood (―you are Jewish‖) to a proud self-chosen Jewish adulthood(―I am Jewish‖), with thousands of JSC alumni living as engage Jewish adults.3