We are proud to announce that two of our Federation’s innovative new initiatives have been awarded prestigious 2014 Cutting Edge Grants from the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles. The funding will support the roll-out of a groundbreaking initiative in Jewish teen engagement, as well as providing Jewish college students with the tools to be more effective campus leaders and activists.
Campus Impact Network – $250,000 over three years
Successfully piloted in 2013, our Federation’s Campus Impact Network will provide 30-40 Jewish students per year from L.A.-based and surrounding college campuses with the tools to: be more effective campus leaders and activists; connect with and learn from Jewish civic leaders off campus; build bridges between social justice work, Jewish tradition and community; and create a more positive campus environment for all students. Students will attend a weekend retreat and ongoing seminars; be paired with a mentor; and apply for program grants of up to $1,000 to execute their leadership goals on campus. Students will be tasked with reaching 100 of their peers through a peer-to-peer engagement model. The Campus Impact Network ties into multiple aspects of our Federation’ work including community engagement, Israel advocacy, and leadership development.
The Jewish Teen Engagement Initiative – $200,000 over three years
Our Federation’s Jewish Teen Engagement Initiative will dramatically increase opportunities for thousands of Jewish teens to engage in meaningful Jewish experiences throughout Los Angeles. To create and ensure the optimal programmatic options and quality, we will increase awareness of teen opportunities, expand promising programs, incubate new innovative programmatic ideas, invest in teens as the co-creators of their own programming, and provide essential training and professional development. The Jewish Teen Engagement Initiative is part of our work ensuring the Jewish future.
For more information on our Campus Impact Network, contact Dan Gold at DGold@JewishLA.org. For more information on our Jewish Teen Engagement Initiative, contact Shira Rosenblatt at SRosenblatt@JewishLA.org.
The Cutting Edge Grants, established in 2006, are designed to encourage creative thinkers, social entrepreneurs and innovative organizations to develop and implement transformative programs of high visibility and impact in the Los Angeles Jewish community. “The 2014 Cutting Edge Grant recipient organizations and their programs reflect the vision of innovation-minded social entrepreneurs who will drive the future of Jewish Los Angeles,” said Jewish Community Foundation President and CEO Marvin I. Schotland.
Click here to read about all of this year’s Cutting Edge Grant recipients.
