When we launched the JCC Teen Mental Health Committee, our mission was clear: break the stigma surrounding mental health, promote emotional wellness, and empower teens to speak up, support each other, and share resources. Since then, this dedicated group has led powerful conversations, created wellness kits, and hosted impactful community mental health fairs. But this […] Learn More ›

Big crowds, large events, and loud noises stress me out. As a little kid, I was scared of trains because they made loud noises. Now, I don’t like loud music. I used to avoid grocery stores because they felt overwhelming—big, crowded, and chaotic. While I’ve grown more comfortable with grocery stores over time, I still […] Learn More ›

Most of my school year is spent drowning in a pool of stress. Between homework, endless late-night practices, and countless sleepless evenings spent bent over a history textbook, school never seems to give me any sort of break. But there was always one light at the end of the tunnel: Summer vacation. Each May, I feverishly […] Learn More ›

It’s okay to cry on your birthday. My family loves birthdays and makes a party out of everything. They have an even better excuse to do so when it’s double digits, a permit, a license, or any other extra special birthday. But here’s the thing… I can promise that I cried on every one of […] Learn More ›

It’s been a hard time for Jewish teens across the Chicagoland area. Casey Luchs, a senior at Walter Payton High School and one of our JCC Chicago teens, shares her experience following a recent sit-in at school. Her powerful essay sheds a light on how she feels to be a Jewish teen today. JCC Chicago […] Learn More ›