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August 23, 2002
JESNA helps out local youth
The drop in participation in Jewish programming called for a new
initiative.
KYLE BERGER REPORTER
Many of the Jewish youth programs around British Columbia have
struggled to achieve an increase in membership over the past several
years. In fact, according to Shira Rudnick, the youth and teen department
co-ordinator of the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver
(JCC), many of the programs have actually seen a decrease in participation
over the years.
However, the future success of local youth programming may look
a little brighter now that one of the largest Jewish educational
organizations in North America has offered their assistance to the
Greater Vancouver Jewish community.
The Jewish Education Service of North America (JESNA), along with
the Institute for Informal Jewish Education at Brandeis University
(IJE), chose Vancouver, as well as Atlanta, Boston, Kansas City
and San Francisco, to take advantage of a new initiative called
the National Partnering Communities Program.
The program's goal is to develop community-wide initiatives aimed
at supporting existing programming while developing new approaches
and new vehicles for involving Jewish youth in learning, Jewish
activism, social and cultural activities, and community building.
There is a three-year time line for the carefully structured program
and Rudnick said they are just in the very beginning stages, which
involves organizing focus groups and evaluating past programming.
"Our goals are to get more participation in Jewish youth programs,
have better programming and to reach all the Jewish teens out there,"
she said. "These kids are our future and we want to ensure
that they are part of the Jewish community so that we can build
a stronger community in the future."
Rudnick said that any organizations, lay leaders or youth interested
in helping the JESNA-designed program to succeed should contact
her at 604-257-5111.
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