Dear Friend,

In July, we celebrate National Disability Pride Month (see community events below) and recognize National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This is a time when we uplift the many unique ways humans navigate our world.

National Minority Mental Health Month also serves as a reminder that access to culturally responsive care and supportive services remain critical for newcomer families rebuilding their lives after displacement.

At JFCS East Bay, we have expertise in working with members of our Jewish community to support mental health, and we are expanding our mental health services for all. Our diverse, experienced staff is specially trained to support refugees and immigrants who arrive with complicated trauma histories and require compassionate treatment after experiencing war, poverty, and relocation.

We also provide trauma-informed counseling, therapy, and support for people of all walks of life, regardless of age, religious affiliation, or background. Mental health is essential for all of us, and having access to a community of support can make a profound difference in our sense of well-being. If you or someone you know could benefit from connecting with a mental health specialist, please contact us on our Request Help page.

Our commitment is unwavering; we are dedicated to helping create a community where everyone can flourish with dignity.

A special thank you to the McIntyre Family Trust, whose $20,000 matching gift inspired community members to come together in support of refugee families rebuilding their lives in the East Bay. Their leadership challenge doubled the impact of every gift and helped make this campaign a tremendous success.

To everyone who supported this campaign—thank you. Your generosity will help provide immigration legal services, housing and employment support, benefits navigation, and case management for hundreds of refugees seeking safety, stability, and the opportunity to build a new life. At a time of growing need and reduced federal funding, your support ensures that refugee families do not have to navigate this journey alone.

As federal funding for refugee resettlement and supportive services continues to decline, philanthropy is more critical than ever. The need has not gone away—families are still arriving in our community seeking safety, stability, and a chance to rebuild their lives. Your continued investment helps ensure that essential services remain available when public resources fall short.



Together, you are helping transform uncertainty into hope and belonging.

We are excited to announce our Board of Directors for the new term, which begins this month.

Please welcome our new members!


• Michael Loeb, Board Member
• Tracy Ross, Board Member
• Allen Samelson, Board Member

We're also happy to welcome our new board officer, Valerie Barone, who will serve as secretary, as well our continuing board officers.

• Stanley Rabinowitz, President
• Stewart Florsheim, Vice President
• Valerie Barone, Secretary
• Gary Forman, Treasurer

With over a decade of experience in immigration law, Oliver brings deep expertise and a strong understanding of the challenges faced by individuals in removal proceedings. His work, especially during 2016 to 2020, provided significant exposure to the evolving and often complex realities of the immigration system in both the private and non-profit sectors.

Oliver joined JFCS East Bay only a few months ago, coming on board as we increase our capacity to meet immigration legal needs in the face of changing federal policies.

What excites Oliver most about joining JFCS East Bay is the opportunity to dedicate his energy to supporting people navigating unprecedented challenges within the legal system.

Our Breaking Bread Culinary Cohort combines cooking classes with conversational English practice to support newcomers in building job skills and integrating into the local economy. The cohort is now in its second phase, preparing eight refugee women to earn their California Food Handler Certificates.

We also recently launched Crafting Futures Together, a weekly volunteer-led cohort that brings refugee women together to build community, learn new creative skills, practice vocational English, and explore opportunities to turn their talents into small business ventures. We are always looking for additional volunteers who would like to teach a craft, mentor participants, or share small business knowledge.

This quarter, we hosted virtual career presentations from Doulas by the Bay and the Chef Ann Foundation, which resulted in a participant being accepted into a training program. In partnership with LOHP (Labor Occupational Health Program at UC Berkeley), we are hosting an Employment Rights and Workplace Safety workshop series to help clients better understand their rights, workplace protections, and available resources.

We are thrilled to share recent client success stories from our Employment Services department. During this last quarter:

• Three clients completed Security Guard Card Training.
• One client completed a 40-hour Behavioral Interventionist training program and has since been hired as a Behavioral Interventionist.
• One client secured an Associate Faculty position at a local college, where he will begin teaching a technology course this fall.

These successes were made possible by the dedicated support of our staff, donors, and volunteers. Thank you to everyone who helps to ensure JFCS East Bay's life-changing work continues to provide resources and education to our most vulnerable community members.

JFCS East Bay is part of the Behavioral Health Collaborative of Alameda County, an association of California nonprofit providers supporting local children, youth, adults, and older adults with mental health and substance abuse services. Through this partnership, we are able to give and receive referrals for clients, helping to bridge the gaps in service areas, and share learnings, experiences, and resources.

The collaborative is also a critical resource for client advocacy within the county, helping us to connect clients with their service providers.

To learn more, visit their website.

Let's Talk About the Problem

Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline St, Berkeley

Tuesday, July 28, 5pm-8pm

Join Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund in partnership with the Center for Independent Living for an evening of conversation with author Dara Baldwin. She will discuss her journey to become a disability activist and policymaker.

Sound Advice: A Disability Pride Event

North Branch Library, 1170 The Alameda, Berkeley

Wednesday, July 29, 6pm-7pm

This July, in honor of Disability Pride Month, the North Branch of the Berkeley Public Library presents Sound Advice, a talk by photographer and creator Nancy Rubin.

Speak Up: English Language Conversation Group

Dougherty Station Library, 17017 Bollinger Canyon Rd, San Ramon

Friday, July 31, 10am-11am

Practice your English conversation skills with other adult ESL learners in an informal and friendly setting at the Dougherty Station Library!

Registration is not required. All abilities are welcome.

Jewish California Summer Spotlight Series

The Final Stretch: A Live Webinar on the August Marathon

Wednesday, August 5, 12pm

Join Jewish California CEO David Bocarsly and lobbyist Cliff Berg for a live briefing on the budget wins we've already secured, the bills still in play, and exactly how you can help us close strong before session ends.

This isn't just an update — we'll leave you with concrete ways to make your voice heard in these critical final weeks. Bring your questions; we'll leave time for live Q&A.