About Jewish youth for community action
Jewish Youth for Community Action: Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders
Jewish Youth for Community Action (JYCA) is a non-profit organization that aims to empower young Jewish individuals to become leaders in their communities. Founded in 1990, JYCA has been providing opportunities for Jewish youth to engage in social justice work and activism, while also fostering a sense of community and connection.
At JYCA, we believe that young people have the power to create positive change in the world. Through our programs and initiatives, we provide a platform for Jewish youth to explore their passions and interests, while also developing important skills such as leadership, communication, and critical thinking.
Our Programs
JYCA offers a variety of programs designed to meet the needs and interests of our diverse community. Our flagship program is our Leadership Training Institute (LTI), which provides intensive training on social justice issues such as racism, sexism, homophobia/transphobia, anti-Semitism/anti-Judaism/anti-Zionism/anti-Israel sentiment etc., community organizing skills such as campaign planning & execution; coalition building; public speaking; facilitation etc., identity exploration & development through various lenses including but not limited to race/ethnicity/nationality/culture/gender/sexuality/class/disability etc., self-care practices like mindfulness meditation/yoga/exercise/art therapy/journaling etc., spiritual growth through exploring Judaism's rich history/traditions/values/practices/texts/languages/music/dance/art/film/literature/theater/etc.
In addition to LTI program which runs from September through May each year with weekly meetings on Sundays from 1-5pm at various locations around San Francisco Bay Area where participants come together from all over Northern California region including Sacramento/San Jose/Marin County/East Bay/Peninsula/San Francisco itself/etc.; we also offer other programs throughout the year such as:
- Summer Leadership Institute (SLI): A week-long residential program that provides an immersive experience in social justice work and leadership development. Participants engage in workshops, discussions, and hands-on projects focused on issues such as environmental justice, immigrant rights, and more.
- Community Organizing Internship: A summer internship program that provides young people with the opportunity to work alongside experienced community organizers on a variety of campaigns and initiatives.
- Jewish Youth Activist Network (JYAN): A national network of Jewish youth activists who come together to share resources, ideas, and support for their social justice work.
Our Impact
Over the past 30 years, JYCA has had a significant impact on the lives of countless young people. Our alumni have gone on to become leaders in their communities and beyond, working in fields such as law, politics, education, social work etc. Many have also continued to be involved with JYCA as volunteers or staff members.
Through our programs and initiatives we have:
- Empowered young people to become agents of change in their communities
- Provided opportunities for personal growth and development
- Fostered a sense of community among Jewish youth from diverse backgrounds
- Raised awareness about important social justice issues
- Built bridges between different communities through coalition building & allyship practices
Join Us!
If you are a young person looking for ways to get involved in social justice work or if you are interested in supporting our mission at JYCA please visit our website at www.jyca.org or email us at info@jyca.org. We look forward to hearing from you!