The Belonging Project - JCA Full Report

Dear JCA Community,

As many of you know, last fall we conducted a survey to better understand how JCA community members feel about belonging, connection, and engagement. We are excited to share with you an overview of those results, as well as the steps we’re taking in response.

The survey provided us with invaluable insights, and one of the key takeaways is that, as our community continues to grow, we are being asked: How to create opportunities to gather in ways that foster deeper, more meaningful connections? In addition, another central theme that emerged was the desire to shift back to a community-centered approach and create more opportunities for meaningful volunteerism.

To address these questions, we’ve formed the Belonging Task Force, a dedicated group of individuals who are committed to examining the survey results and implementing initiatives that will help us continue to build a community where everyone feels connected, supported, and valued.

We’re approaching this work with an experimental mindset, and we’re excited to bring you along for the ride. As we explore different ideas and solutions, your participation and feedback will be essential in shaping the path forward.

Here are some of the key initiatives that the task force will be focusing on:

1. Small-Group Gatherings: We will explore and create opportunities for smaller, more intimate gatherings as part of our larger community celebrations—whether virtual or in-person—that allow for deeper connection and conversation. You can already see the first glimmer of this idea in the addition of a smaller, contemplative Tu Bishvat seder taking place in parallel to the bigger, louder community event.  

2. Volunteer Re-Engagement: We’re focusing on revitalizing our volunteer programs by identifying new opportunities for individuals to contribute meaningfully, in both ongoing and one-off ways. Please keep an eye out for announcements about upcoming volunteer opportunities.

As we roll out these programs, we recognize that some ideas will succeed, and others may need to be adjusted. Your input will be crucial in helping us refine our approach, so please stay engaged and share your thoughts with us along the way.  We are looking for additional thought partners to join us in this work, either to become a part of the task force, or to take on the implementation of particular initiatives.  Please reach out if you are interested. 

We’re so excited to embark on this journey together and to build a community that is even more connected and engaged. Thank you for being a part of this vibrant, growing community. We can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together.

The Belonging Task Force

Barbara Burkart, Sarah Cohen, Emmett Wald, Keren Rhodes

Please click here to view or download the full report