Key Initiatives
MOVING FROM FITNESS TO WELLNESS
While JCCs have been known for providing high quality fitness services, current health needs call for a new approach. Wellness involves a more holistic model, which includes a healthy mind and soul in a healthy body. JCCs are uniquely equipped to provide programming to answer this need.
JEWISH DAY CAMPING
JCC day camps serve over eighty thousand children and more than ten thousand staff each summer. That’s a great opportunity to connect children and their families to Jewish life, and to other programs in the JCC. But first we need to know what’s happening at the many different day camps. To that end, we are planning a landmark study in 2010 of the impact of Jewish day camping, and we’re beginning to build the capacity of JCC day camps to be even stronger in their administrative and programmatic work.
ENGAGING THE NEXT GENERATION OF JEWISH LEADERS
How many JCC leaders are in their twenties, thirties, and forties? How successful have we been at engaging this younger group? The average age of JCC board members does not reflect the great potential of younger, entrepreneurial leaders. We need meaningful leadership development programs to significantly increase the presence of this age cohort on our boards. This is an urgent priority for the entire movement if we are to effectively reshape our agencies for the emerging needs of both individuals and the larger community.
ISRAEL
One cannot consider the future direction of North American JCCs without articulating a renewed vision for a vibrant relationship with Israel. The classical Zionism of building the Jewish state is not persuasive to younger generations as a reason to connect to Israel. Still, Israel is, and must remain, central to our understanding of Jewish identity and peoplehood. The JCC has a unique ability and responsibility to create real and meaningful connections to Israel for our members and for the larger community. One helpful framework comes from the REUT institute, which has developed an approach to a new Zionism that resonates with today’s reality. It fits well with the reality and the potential of JCCs.
EXECUTIVE SUCCESSION
A major element of the success of the JCC or any institution is the leadership provided by the chief professional officer. A significant number of our executive directors (as well as those of other Jewish organizations) will retire within the next ten years. The entire movement must focus on identifying potential CEOs both within and without, and preparing them to assume these significant responsibilities. Each JCC should have a plan for succession of executive leadership, just as many have for assuring high quality volunteer leaders. We cannot afford to wait until these positions are open to take action.
