10years.jimjosephfoundation.org10 Year Retrospective

LOADING TIMELINE 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2003 2005 2006 The Jim Joseph Foundation is entering the field of Jewish education at a time of great movement marked by new leadership, new directions, grand visions, and accelerated experimentation” Mapping Jewish Education: The National Picture 2007 JWest delivered 3,342 first-time 6th-8th grade campers-more than 10% above the original goal. The best practices in professional development should be applied to the Jewish sector. Current research and theory in education maintain that professional development should be embedded in the teacher’s experience and it should be an ongoing, dynamic activity that extends across all levels and career stages. These practices, however, are rarely found in the Jewish educational world. Our review of current activity in the field identified a number of needs: to increase the numbers of those receiving professional development; to identify, recruit, and prepare new talent for professional work; to develop teachers of teachers, master teachers, and mentors to carry out the work of professional development; to arrive at clear statements of educational goals and purposes so that professional development efforts can be aligned with them; to evaluate the merits of various forms of professional development and their influence on practice. Lessons from Mapping Jewish Education, Amy L. Sales, Fisher-Bernstein Institute for Jewish Philanthropy and Leadership, November 2007 Before camp I didn’t really care at all about Judaism. After camp all I ever wanted to be is Jewish. I’ve met friends that are like sisters to me . . . It’s the place where I want to be most of the time. It not only changed me physically, but also spiritually.” - Camper at Speciality Camp 2008 The LA High School Affordability Initiative would go on to support 5 highschools collectively raise $17 million for endowment, matched by an additional $4.25 million from the Lainer fund, totaling $21.25 million. More than 600 middle income families received tuition assistance during the life of the grant. Jump to OCT 10, 2010 By the end of 2010, although the economy slowly improved, all five communities still had extensive needs. The Foundation awards a $4,950,000 Jewish Education Challenge Grant to the five Federations. They all would go on to meet the challenge in two years. Over the four-year period of Education Emergency and the Education Challenge grants, 21 percent of funds were allocated to preschool scholarships, 60 percent to day school scholarships, 16 percent to camp scholarships, and three percent to administrative expenses. In partnership with the local Federations, the Foundation continues to help provide access to meaningful Jewish learning experiences for families during difficult economic times. 2009 Spurred by a major grant from one of the largest Jewish foundations, the rabbinical seminaries of three major synagogue movements are forging a groundbreaking partnership to train Jewish educators.” JTA, May 26, 2010 Reflecting on my experience at Hadar, I feel as though I was for once part of a community that truly reflected my moral, social, and intellectual values in a religious setting. When I returned to Boston, I created a regular learning session at my apartment which drew 60 unique participants over the course of a year, meeting once a month. Most participants had never studied Jewish texts before.” Mechon Hadar alum 2010 JSC has changed my life in so many ways. From helping me map out my future decisions, to helping me grow as a Jew, JSC has proven to be my main support. It was not long ago that I walked through the halls at my public school feeling slightly different from the rest of my peers. Whether this feeling came from the Jewish Star I wear around my neck, I always felt different. I never walked through the halls of my school feeling confident in my Jewish identity. But JSC has been the most positive and motivating experience of my life.” Cali Willis of George Washington High School in Denver, CO 2011 As a result of the DJEs’ work, BBYO has shifted to prioritize Jewish enrichment … Stakeholders have a richer, more textured understanding of what Jewish enrichment can be, and they create programs that are more relevant to teens. BBYO’s Educational Framework [Kivun] has become a lens through which regional professionals and teens see their programs, which contributes to the potential richness of programs. Meaningful or high quality Jewish enrichment is following a pattern, where relevant content is put in front of teens who then discuss it in small groups, learning from the content and from each other” Learn more about the impact of the Wexner Field Fellowship, a unique oppertunity within the Wexner Graduate Fellowship/Davidson Scholars Program. 2012 They take evaluation seriously. They are at a sweet spot in terms of being involved, wanting to know outcomes, and wanting to know how those outcomes will be used.” Mark Schneider, American Institutes for Research 2013 BASIS plants the seeds of connection to Israel today so that future generations remain firmly attached to Israel.” Barbara Gereboff, Ph.D., Head of School, Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day SchoolThe mentoring program has had a profound impact on improving quality of instruction and teacher support at [my school].”” Principal at Jewish Day SchoolI feel incredibly lucky to have found such an unbelievable program. I feel as though I can actually have a measurable impact at Berkeley.” a first year undergraduate who participated in the Berkeley Institute’s Undergraduate Fellows Program 2014 What if existing programs—small as they may be—could be improved and Jewish teens from nearby cities and towns could connect and create more Jewish opportunities? These were the goals of the North Shore Teen Initiative when it was initially conceptualized in 2008.” Building a Community of Jewish Teens The foundation is pooling its resources with local foundations willing to put up matching funds for teen engagement. One of its first stops was the Rose Community Foundation in Denver, which, among other goals, seeks to keep Jews connected to their faith and community.” The Forward, August 31, 2014 INSIGHT These do-it-yourself” study groups —in which participants choose their fellow learners, the Jewish subject matter, and their teachers—are especially appealing to today’s young adults accustomed to numerous options in almost all facets of daily life. 2015 "But the impact of the program is not just in the practical guidance and support we receive. Impact also is felt through the spirit with which the program is being delivered. The organizers have, time and again, explained their intention to learn from this experiment with evaluation and feedback." – Dov Ben Shimon and Abby Porth 2016 You can write a good book, even an excellent quality book, but can you just put it in the library? That’s like the lottery; it won’t be read. You need to think equally about distribution as well as the quality of what you produce.” – BJÖRN JEFFERY, TOCA BOCA 2017 I discovered a group of people I could legitimately connect with and who understood me in my love for Judaism, discovery, and discussing nerdy things.” – 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy Camper New Investments in Educator Professional Development and in Leadership Development in Jewish Education "JRS definitly influenced my career trajectory. I was a teacher before, and now I’m a leader and a resource for other teachers. I’ve been able to grow and push myself." -JRS Educator 2018 DEC 19 Jim Joseph Z"l JAN 24 The Journey Begins JAN 16 First Steps APR 01 AUG 01 JAN 18 Building Relationships JAN 29 FEB 12 APR 16 JUL 01 OCT 29 NOV 01 DEC 03 MAR 01 The Vision Crystalizes MAY 01 SEP 01 SEP 23 MAR 17 Landmark Grants APR 05 JUL 01 DEC 01 DEC 18 MAR 01 Achieving Outcomes MAR 22 MAY 05 MAY 17 OCT 10 NOV 10 DEC 19 MAY 01 Building on Success MAR 20 OCT 11 OCT 16 NOV 30 DEC 01 FEB 05...