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Making Connections
Your Monthly Update on Our Work and Impact
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From Gail’s Desk
November 4, 2024
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Dear Sarah,
With the election before us, the polarization of the United States looms large and frightening. And the question for all of us is how we come together as a country.
I don’t pretend to have the answer, but I grew up with the adage to “think globally, act locally,” along with my parents’ emphasis on the importance of community. That guidance has stuck with me in these recent weeks. JF&CS’s work is in bringing us together to create the community we want to live in—and to offer opportunities and supports for all members of that community.
That is the work we are doing now—as you’ll read about below—and that is the work that will be essential regardless of tomorrow’s election results.
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Gail Schulman
Chief Executive Officer
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Synagogue Communities Unite to Fill Our Pantry at Rosh Hashanah | |
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The High Holidays are a time when people remember those who are in need. Several synagogues in Greater Boston have adopted the tradition of organizing food drives to alleviate hunger in the Jewish community and beyond. Thanks to the collective tzedakah of seven congregations, the shelves of our Family Table Food Pantry are brimming with donated goods, putting us in a strong position as we head into winter.
Together, this year’s participating congregations—Temple Beth Shalom (Needham), Temple Aliyah (Needham), Congregation Eitz Chayim (Cambridge), Temple Emunah (Lexington), Temple Ner Tamid (Peabody), Temple Ohabei Shalom (Brookline), and Temple Sinai (Marblehead)—collected more than 3,300 items from hundreds of families. The wide variety of these goods is especially appreciated by clients, according to Family Table Director Bernice Behar. “When people come into Family Table Marketplace, it feels good for them to be able to make even broader choices.”
If you’re interested in participating with your congregation next year, please get in touch. In the meantime, all of this food will be gone soon! Fighting hunger is a year-round effort, so please consider purchasing items from our Amazon wish list or making a financial contribution.
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Dementia Symposium Explores Brain Health and Living Well amid Memory Changes | |
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Today, there are more than 135,000 people living with dementia in Massachusetts, and that number is expected to grow significantly in the years ahead. Yet the stigma and silence surrounding dementia remain incredibly strong, and some linguistic and cultural communities face additional barriers. In order for people to support one another and find services and resources, it helps to be able to talk openly about it—and JF&CS runs Dementia Friends for all of Massachusetts with the aim of encouraging just that.
On October 29, we held a symposium to share some of what we’ve learned with 450 participants. Our panelists shared updates on the latest brain health research and explored how that research connects to social determinants of brain health—the living conditions that affect different communities’ risk of dementia. The day culminated with remarks by two advocates—one with Alzheimer’s and one with Lewy body dementia—about how people with dementia can continue to live lives of joy and purpose.
Dementia Friends offers workshops to promote full inclusion and respect for people with dementia in their communities. Its curriculum is now available in nine different languages, with additional versions targeted to high schools, people with intellectual/developmental disabilities, the Jewish community, and the LGBTQIA+ community.
“My advice to anybody affected by dementia, whether you’re living with it yourself, if you have a family member, you’re a professional: keep talking about it and dispelling the myths.”
—Miriam Owens, advocate living with Lewy body dementia and Parkinsonism
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Nurturing Community through Parent Support Groups | |
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The journey into parenthood comes with a whole host of feelings—from happy, joyous, and exciting to depressing, sad, and sleep-deprived. At this vulnerable time, parents can benefit from safe and nurturing spaces where they can give and receive support, ask questions, and begin building a parent community.
JF&CS’s Center for Early Relationship Support offers free weekly support groups where new parents can talk about their daily lives, connect with others, and, often, form lasting friendships. We offer community-based groups at locations around Greater Boston and online, as well as specialty groups for adoptive parents, Spanish-speaking parents, parents experiencing postpartum depression and anxiety, parents of toddlers, and parents of a child in the NICU. More than 1,200 new parents took part in our support groups in the last year alone.
Led by facilitators whose extensive training ensures that participants benefit from JF&CS’s deep expertise in nurturing early relationships, the groups are known to spark connections between parents and babies alike. “The babies in the groups often range in ages from a few weeks up to a year,” explained Leslie Pucker, who coordinates the program and leads the Brookline group. “Parents of newborns can get a preview of what’s to come, and the parents of older babies can look back and see how far they’ve come in their own parenting journey.”
“I’ve been thinking a lot about how much I appreciate the group and the supportive and thoughtful environment you foster...It’s helped me build my village and find my way on this confusing and inspiring journey. I can’t thank you enough for showing us, week after week, the power of a compassionate and empathetic perspective.”
—Support group participant
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JF&CS Employment Specialist Receives Statewide Recognition for Service to Clients with Disabilities | |
JF&CS Employment Specialist Amanda Strange (center) is presented with the 2024 Employment Support Champion Award by Commission member Regina Marshall (right) and Gregory Liakos (left) of Gateway Arts. Photo: MCSPWD | |
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The opportunity to pursue meaningful work is important to many people of all abilities, and JF&CS works to ensure people with disabilities have the same access to careers that their peers enjoy.
Amanda Strange, an Employment Specialist in our Life Skills Coaching and Support team, was honored by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities for her exemplary role in helping individuals with disabilities succeed in meaningful employment.
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As her nomination said, Amanda stands out for her combination of creativity and persistence in helping clients find their ideal jobs, paired with ongoing communication with employers to ensure success. Her clients include Elizabeth (pictured), who was able to build on her love of children to earn her Massachusetts Early Education and Care Essentials Certificate and is now thriving in her “dream job” as a classroom assistant, where she is adored by both staff and students.
“We strive to make each job development process as unique as the individual, foster long-term career growth, and support the ongoing satisfaction of both employees and their employers,” said Amanda when accepting her award at the National Disability Employment Awareness Month Celebration at the State House on October 23.
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JF&CS Named to Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in MA
It’s official! We’re thrilled to announce that JF&CS, under the leadership of CEO Gail Schulman, has once again been named to the Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts by The Women’s Edge and The Boston Globe.
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Holiday Gift Card Drive
“I had just finished explaining to my kids that they would not be getting holiday gifts this year when I opened a letter from JF&CS with gift cards included...”
Please help us make sure that none of our clients need to have this conversation with their children.
Your donation to our Holiday Gift Card Drive will help bring joy to low-income families by empowering parents to pick out the gifts they know their children will love.
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