A message from Stacey Leavitt-Wright, CEO Jewish Federation of Edmonton

by Stacey Leavitt-Wright

(Edmonton) – Spring is in full swing, and it’s our community that’s growing. On the heels of connecting over 1,000 people at the Yoms, the Edmonton Jewish Film Festival, and the Dianne and Irving Kipnes Holocaust Education Symposium, we have seen our community grow in strength. Growing community is simple; all it takes is people who show up, be it to volunteer, to attend an event, or to celebrate together.

Our Federation is leading the way, convening the community while welcoming allies. Our events, whether solemn or celebratory, reflect our dignified and warm approach to living full Jewish lives, supported by many friends.

New cohorts of volunteers have shown up to plan, organize and take part in the programs and activities offered this month. March of the Living alumni spoke at Yom Hashoah and at the Holocaust Symposium, showing that young people are ready to lead and create greater understanding by sharing their experiences.

New program aimed at Jewish teens

We are launching a program to engage Jewish teens from across our diverse community and build on the pride of our Jewish youth. Student to Student is a program that will train and facilitate Jewish teenagers to speak with high school students about their Jewish identity and the Jewish community. We are the first Canadian community to be accepted into this initiative, which is part of our strategic priorities to foster young leaders and to strengthen Jewish youth in combatting antisemitism.

Building community leaders

Our extensive strategy for fostering community leadership has continued with engaging lay leaders in a Shalom Hartman Institute programs, as well as high potential Jewish professionals in an upcoming summer program. The generosity of large philanthropic funders, including the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation, the Morris and Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation, and the Azrieli Foundation, made these opportunities possible as they see the potential in our community along with other smaller communities, and in our future.

The same generous funders are now offering to bring the Wexner Heritage Program to our communities. This world class Jewish leadership program will benefit our community and every organization in it for generations to come through the cultivation of the next generation of local lay leadership. Grounded in Jewish context and values, the program also connects participants to their peers nationwide. Nominations for the Wexner Heritage Program will open at the end of the summer, and I am eager to divulge more about this in upcoming Shabbat messages.

As we examine the health and future of our community, we are delivering on established strategic priorities and strengthening our community today and for the long term. This includes moving forward with the Jewish Community Centre project. Please join us for a first look at our new community centre at our “show and share” event on June 20.

Let’s continue this momentum as we consider the future we desire to build and the community we hope to create.

Stacey Leavitt-Wright is the CEO of Jewish Federation of Edmonton.