BBYO & JSU

Can BBYO replicate the Chicago Model in other Regions across

the country?Presented By:Stacy HellerGreat Midwest Region Program DirectorPDI Capstone Project 2011

Evan Gewirtz

Regional Aleph GodolGreat Midwest Region

2010-2011

JSU Club President2008 - 2011

What is JSU?

• National Organization• Independent• Public High Schools• Staff Driven• Emphasis on Jewish Content• Emphasis on Food• Newly Funded

JSU (The Jewish Student Union) seeks to enhance teens’ Jewish identity, nurture a connection to the State of Israel, inspire an enduring relationship with the Jewish people and provide for a deeper involvement with the Jewish community, including serving as a portal to facilitate life-long involvement in Jewish inspired expression and organizations. JSU is a non-denominational program, open to all Jewish teens irrespective of background or affiliation.

JSU Mission

“From my perspective, the relationship between BBYO and JSU is strong in Chicago. I'm not sure how much of the success in Chicago is attributable to the organizations themselves, vs. the strengths of the local staff.”

-Hallie Shapiro, Director of Israel Experience

Unique Staff Relationships

• Access to teens• Staffing Resources

-Regionally & Summer Experiences • New content ideas, provide Judaic content • Reach unaware & Unaffiliated • Builds community relationships• Infuse Judaic content into Advisor Training• Help meet the goals of BBYO’s Strategic Plan, specifically strategic priorities #1 & 4:

1) Ensure continuity of the Jewish experience from adolescence into adulthood by impacting 70,000 Jewish teens by 2016 through an array of fun, meaningful and affordable experiences

4) Elevate the field of Jewish teen work through relationships that create synergies, expand access, and enhance quality

Benefits for BBYO

Benefits for JSU

• Leadership training opportunities

• Recruit BBYO teens

• Increase club participation

• Teen leaders strengthen the JSU program

• Access to more travel programs

• Staff resources

• Facility access

• Broader menu of program options

Potential Challenges

• Where is the partnership replicable?

• BBYO & JSU Stakeholders buy-in

• Are the two organizations competitive?

New JSU Funding

• JSU received $1.4 million grant to help replicate its Chicago program in South Florida, San Francisco and West Chester

• JSU also received additional funding for Denver

Identifying Pilot Regions

• Where do BBYO and JSU already have an established relationship? • What is the staffing situation in current areas?• What is the Jewish Population like in certain areas?• What are the community needs?• What are the school district rules?• Is there financial resources available?

Pilot Regions: Suggestions Based on Research

• 2 cities with new funding (1 JJF & Denver)• 2 cities with a less dense Jewish population

- 60% of teens in small Jewish communities participate*

- Teens in less dense Jewish areas need to try harder to seek out Jewish opportunities and friendship*

*BBYO’s “The Jewish Community’s Guide to Understand Teens:”

How The Two Organizations Align

BBYO“More Jewish Teens”

Reach 70,000 young Jews during their teen years

Ensure continuity of the Jewish experience

Elevate the field of Jewish teen work through relationships that create synergies, expand access, and enhance quality

Pluralistic

JSU“Open to all Jewish teens”

Reaches more than 9,000 teens annually & serve as a portal to facilitate life-long involvement in Jewish inspired expression and organizations

Enhance teens’ Jewish identity

Provide for a deeper involvement with the Jewish community

Non-Denominational

MissionMission

Teen InvolvementTeen Involvement

ContinuityContinuity

DepthDepth

AffiliationAffiliation

Thank You!