Amy Weiss has been named Chief Program Officer. Weiss, who previously served as JFCS’ Community Services Director, speaks below about why she is excited for her new position.

Weiss: I’ve seen how the programs and services at JFCS are connected and I’m looking forward to building even greater collaboration between our programs, staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners. At JFCS, we look at the whole person – we look for ways to help people sustain healthy relationships, ease suffering, and offer support – and the ripple effect of those efforts on the whole community, beyond that one individual or family. I’m excited to work with an even larger cross section of the staff to see how we can make an even bigger impact.

Sheilah Howard has been named Chief HR and Administrative Officer. Howard, who previously served as JFCS’ Career Services Director, speaks below about why she is excited for her new position.

Howard: After nine years in Career Services in program delivery, it’s exciting to learn more about operations at the agency, and to help ensure we continue to grow and evolve while still keeping the heart of what makes JFCS so special. In my role, I will oversee the reception, facilities, information technology, and human resources staff who all work to ensure JFCS is a great place to work and a welcoming place for our clients and participants.

The 2023-24 school year has been unlike any other for Jewish students, teachers, and families. What are the challenges facing Jews in schools? What opportunities are there for building school communities that embrace their Jewish families? Join an expert panel of school stakeholders and advocates for a reflective discussion that will assess problems and offer ideas and solutions.

Spring is in the air and you know what that means. April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month and we have a lot planned to celebrate our volunteers during the coming months. We are so grateful to the 880 volunteers of all ages who supported our programs and services in 2023!

>Subscribe to our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram to stay informed and see some upcoming videos about JFCS Volunteer Services.

Stay informed about volunteering at JFCS through our quarterly volunteer e-newsletter and the volunteer page on our website. Contact Dana Shapiro, Community & Volunteer Engagement Manager, at dshapiro@jfcsmpls.org with any other volunteer-related questions or to be added to the list to receive future editions of the e-newsletter.

By Leah Persky, Phd & CFLE • Parent Coach and Manager of Professional and Community Education

News about the upcoming presidential election is everywhere. No doubt you heard much about the primaries, Super Tuesday and speeches by the presidential hopefuls, even if you have been trying to avoid the news! As we get more clarity about the November elections and learn that it will most likely be a repeat of 2020, many of us feel an impending sense of concern and anxiety.

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Leah Persky presented “Mental Health 101” at the Golden Valley Rotary Club’s February meeting. She discussed the definition of mental health – a state of being that enables you to be productive and cope with life’s challenges – which the World Health Organization defines as a human right.

She spoke about how many in the U.S. still feel a stigma associated with mental health issues and Americans often wait as long as 10 to 12 years between the first onset of mental health symptoms before seeking care. She stressed how mental health is fundamental to an individual’s overall health. Click here to watch the video!

Professional and Community Education takes JFCS out into the community and brings the community into JFCS through presentations, trainings, workshops, classes, support groups, individual meetings and consultations. If you are interested in learning more, click here, or reach out to Leah Persky at lpersky@jfcsmpls.org

JFCS will host a six-week class, “Powerful Tools for Caregivers.” The class is designed to provide you with a wealth of self-care tools that will help you take care of yourself while taking care of others. You will learn to reduce stress, improve your self-confidence, bring more balance to your life, better communicate your feelings, and increase your ability to make tough decisions. Class is open to people from the Jewish and broader community.

This class will meet in person at the Minnesota JCC Sabes Center, 4330 Cedar Lk Rd S