Focus Areas > Social Justice > Bohm Social Justice Initiative

Bohm Social Justice Initiative

• About
• Community Against Poverty Volunteer Fair
• Community Partners
• Summer SLICE Community Service Camp
• JCRC Helps to Restore Metro Cuts
• 5th Annual Electronics Recycling Drive
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Day
  
  
   21st Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration
  
  Several hundred people from throughout the St. Louis community attended the 21st Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Jewish Community Commemoration on Wednesday, January 20 at Covenant House.  
  
  The Jewish Community Relations Council coordinated the event, which was co-sponsored by Central Agency for Jewish Eduation, Covenant House/CHAI Apartments, Holocaust Museum and Learning Center, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family & Children's Service, the Jewish Federation and Saul Brodsky Jewish Community Library.  For the second year in a row, those attending heard performances from children's choirs from Saul Mirowitz Reform Jewish Day School, Solomon Schechter Day School and Confluence Academy-Old North Elementary School.   In the closing song, "The Dream of Martin Luther King,"  students from Saul Mirowitz Reform Jewish Day School and Confluence Academy joined forces as a single choir.  
  
  The audience received a welcome from Jacqueline Harris, representing the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Committee.  The program opened with remarks from Rev. Earl Nance, Jr.,  Pastor, Greater Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church and Former Chair of the St. Louis Clergy Coalition.  Closing remarks from Rabbi Susan Talve, Central Reform Congregation rounded out the program.  Both Rev. Nance and Rabbi Talve emphasized the long history of collaboration between the Jewish community and the African-American community in the struggle for civil rights.   The program concluded with the audience rising to its feet for several choruses of "We Shall Overcome."  
  
  Please see pictures below taken at the event.
  
  Left: Jacqueline Harris of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Committee welcomes the audience
  Right: Solomon Schechter Day School Shva and Gaya Ensemble
  Middle: Confluence Academy-Old north 5th Grade choir and Saul Mirowitz Reform Jewish Academy Third/Fourth Grade Choir
  Bottom: Rabbi Susan Talve and Reverand Earl Nance, Jr.
  Also, click on the www.jewishinstlouis link below for more pictures. http://jewishinstlouis.mycapture.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=928475&CategoryID=7072
  
              
  
  
            
  
  
                               
  

   

   

  Summer SLICE: Opportunities for Teens

  Young Jewish teens looking for an opportunity to volunteer and make a difference in underserved communities in and around St. Louis this summer have a chance to do just that through the program known as St. Louis Interfaith Community Exploration (SLICE).   The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) is sponsoring a group of teens ages 12 to 16 years of age to take part in SLICE from July 12-16.  SLICE runs each day from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  The cost for teens sponsored through JCRC is $75 per person and includes lunch, water and a free T-shirt.  Kosher meals are provided on request.

  SLICE is a community service program sponsored by Interfaith Partnership/Faith Beyond Walls.  The Jewish students participating under the auspices of the JCRC will join with up to 50 other teens from different faiths and backgrounds throughout the St. Louis area and beyond.  The program begins with a one-day poverty simulation where participants will learn about the struggles of poverty including housing, childcare, food and transportation issues.  The remainder of the week, students will volunteer on various projects in the community of Kinloch in the City of St. Louis. 

  The Poverty Simulation that begins each session of SLICE is a very meaningful activity for participants.  “When you really think about it, poverty is something you hear about but you tend to brush it off,” said Hannah Cropf, one of the teens who participated in SLICE last summer.  “So it was informative to experience something similar, because you realize there are people who have to go through this every day.”   

  Parents also praise the SLICE program.  Jenny Wolkowitz, whose daugther, Talia, attended SLICE Camp last summer, said  "SLICE gave Talia the opportunity to learn about a different part of St. Louis, meet friends of other faiths, and do meaningful community service. She loved last year and will be back for another experience this summer!"

  To learn more about SLICE and to register, contact Gail Wechsler at the JCRC at 314-442-3894 or gwechsler@jcrcstl.org. 

  PHOTOS FROM 2009 SUMMER SLICE CAMP

  Pictured below in a group shot, campers are:
  front row, left to right: Rachell Mitchell, Hannah Cropf, Chip Bloch
  second row, left to right: Kyla Gersten, Talia Wolkowitz, Valerie Zhuravel, Hannah Jacks,Alex Jacks
  top row, left to right: Catherine Polk, Elizabeth Crisman

  
   
  2009 SLICE Campers at clean-up project at Valley Park
  (below and left)

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  Efforts by JCRC Helped Restore Metro Cuts

By Gail Wechsler, Director of Domestic Issues/Social Justice


Gerry Greiman, JCRC President, assisting
Stuart Falk in asking a question

Concerned that major cuts in public transit slated to begin on March 30 would have a devastating effect on the poor, elderly and people with disabilities, JCRC went into action.  On March 27, JCRC convened a public meeting with State Senator Joan Bray to discuss the service cuts and their impact on the entire region.  Over one hundred twenty five people attended the meeting, which provided an opportunity both to hear community leaders speak and to hear from consumers of public transit who were directly affected by the cuts.

Those attending learned that reductions in service would impact many different communities, as representatives from Missouri Council of the Blind, the Older Adults Community Action Program (OACAP) and Paraquad, as well as numerous faith leaders, took the podium to describe in real terms what loss of public transit would mean to them.   Les Sterman, President of East/West Gateway Coordinating Council, spoke about his concerns about the future health of the St. Louis metro area.  “Great cities have great transit systems,” he said.  “If we don’t have good transportation, people are deprived of opportunity and they are deprived of choice.”  Jessica Mefford-Miller, acting chief of Planning and System Development for Metro, cited several options that are being explored in light of Metro’s financial troubles.  She included state funding as one of the critical steps needed to keep Metro functioning and serving all the populations relying upon it.  

 “I feel very emotional about this issue,” said State Senator Joan Bray, in her opening remarks.  “I can see only one real resolution immediately, and that is to use some of the stabilization money that is coming in to Jefferson City . We are desperate and we have to make it happen now.” 

The public forum proved to be the beginning of many actions taken to keep the issue of Metro funding in the forefront.  Clergy speaking at the forum subsequently gave sermons on the importance of advocating on behalf of restoring transit cuts.  Through numerous action alerts, JCRC urged its Council and Committee members and supporters to contact their members of the State House and Senate to let them know that Metro cuts would mean fewer transportation options for those most in need and  would negatively effect the state’s economy.  For example, one JCRC Council member forwarded JCRC Action Alerts to all of her co-workers and JCRC received copies of numerous letters and emails these co-workers sent to Jeff City . Letters also were sent by JCRC to all members of the Missouri House and Senate leadership, including all members of the Budget Conference Committee, urging them to include funding for Metro as part of Missouri ’s share of Federal Stabilization Funds. In the final week of the session, HB 22, including $12 million in funding to restore Metro cuts coming from Federal Stabilization Funds, was voted on and finally passed by both Houses.  This funding, although less than needed to restore all cuts, is unprecedented in terms of the State of Missouri providing a large infusion of money for public transit.   

By continuing to keep this issue in the public spotlight and urging its members and supporters to keep up advocacy efforts, JCRC was able to make a difference in the lives of those for whom access to public transit is a critical need.  JCRC will continue to monitor this issue and will continue advocacy efforts to support and expand public transit in the St. Louis region as a means of improving the economic health of the region.

About

The JCRC Bohm Social Justice Initiative works in partnership with Jewish agencies, congregations and organizations to engage Jewish individuals and groups in meaningful social justice learning and effective social action projects, most of which take place within the St. Louis interfaith/intergroup community.

Social Justice refers to the recognition of social inequality and the commitment to rectify through action, service, and education. 

Social Action is our ability to mobilize on behalf of a cause – volunteering, advocating, teaching, mentoring, giving resources/goods or money.

Please see our Volunteer and Donate Goods pages to learn more about how YOU can get involved.

For more information contact Gail Wechsler (314) 442-3894 or gwechsler@jcrcstl.org

"It is not for you to complete the work, nor are you free to desist from it."
                                                                Rabbi Tarfon, Pirke Avot 2:20

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JCRC AWARDED MAZON HUNGER FELLOW

St. Louis JCRC recently was awarded a MAZON Hunger Fellow grant from the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.  Our JCRC was one of only six JCRCs nationwide awarded a grant.  The grant will allow JCRC to hire a college student to act as a MAZON Hunger Fellow for the second half of the autumn semester 2009 and 2010 the entirety of the spring semester.  The presence of a Fellow will give the JCRC greater staff capacity to work on anti-poverty activism with a strong focus on hunger advocacy issues. In addition, the MAZON Hunger Fellow program allows JCRC directors to play a direct and crucial role in the mentorship of the next generation of young leaders in the JCRC community.These fellowships were made possible through a collaboration between the JCPA and MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger. MAZON makes strategic, targeted grants to agencies working on the front lines of hunger relief. Its key public policy innovation is helping grantees to see advocacy and activism as legitimate-and necessary-means of advancing an anti-hunger agenda.

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