What is Growing Hope?

Growing Hope is a call to action, a mindset, and movement designed to combat a growing crisis of hopelessness, anxiety, and fear by engaging our community, and youth in particular, as upstanders in their communities. Rooted in the Jewish spirit of Tikkun Olam (repairing our world), Growing Hope will empower our community to use the tools of empathy, kindness, and creativity in service of building a brighter future for all.

At JCC Chicago, we believe in the collective impact of the Jewish spirit and are moving forward on an ambitious course of action with an urgent sense of purpose ignited by our 6-month Violins of Hope residency–which reached over 200,000 people throughout the state of Illinois.

Don’t Miss The 2nd Annual Growing Hope Concert

Wednesday, September 25

Community Fair: 4:30-6:00pm
Concert: 7-8:30pm

This year’s Growing Hope Concert is intended to inspire, motivate, and mobilize individuals to use their voices and talents to make the world a kinder, more inclusive place.

Gallagher Way
3635 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613
Tickets: FREE with registration

Featuring

Shoshana Bean
Grammy and 2X Tony Award Nominee and Star of Broadway’s Hell’s Kitchen & Wicked

Edwin McCain
Singer, Songwriter, Top 40 Artist

Rachel Barton Pine
Chicagoan and Award-winning Concert Violinist

Plus special guests and performances with the Violins of Hope!

Don’t miss the feel-good event of the season! All-ages welcome.

Learn More About The Concert

Last year’s Growing Hope Concert grew out of an urgent sense of purpose ignited by our groundbreaking 6-month Violins of Hope Chicago residency.
View last year’s concert

Community Fair | 4:30-6:00pm

Join us prior to the Concert as we welcome civic non-profit organizations from the Chicagoland area. Learn how you can do good in the world.
Learn More About The Community Fair

In partnership with:

Exhibitions

Triumph Of The Spirit, Humans Of October 7, and more, JCC Chicago brings highly compelling and interactive Jewishly-focused exhibits that seek to educate and engage our community.

Learn More

Films

Inspiring moviegoers to expand their understanding of Jewish culture and to bring a wide-variety of thought-provoking and entertaining films, with a Jewish lens, to our community. Our curated film selections aspire to encourage discussion and change mind-sets.

Learn More

Curriculum & Educational Programming

These proprietary materials feature lessons and activities designed to teach the concepts of kindness, empathy, and resilience, and to encourage youth to change the world for the better by becoming upstanders in their communities.

Learn More

Growing Hope Concert & Music Video

On August 8, 2023, JCC Chicago partnered with the Chicago Cubs and Gallagher Way to present the inaugural Growing Hope concert. It was an unforgettable evening of sounds & stories supporting tolerance, acceptance, understanding, and hope.

Learn More

On April 14, 2024, JCC Chicago proudly premiered Growing Hope, a documentary that captures the story of Violins of Hope Chicago, and how JCC Chicago is focused on making our world a better, more hopeful place. Ours is the story about how one agency, a Jewish community center in middle America, had the foresight and determination to stand up for what is good and right at a time when the world needed it the most. Narrated exquisitely by actor David Eigenberg, best known for his roles as Lieutenant Christopher Herrmann on NBC’s Chicago Fire and Steve Brady on HBO’s Sex and the City.

Sowing the Seeds of a Brighter Future: Cook County United Against Hate is Growing Hope

JCC Chicago has been proud to partner with Cook County United Against Hate, starting with our Violins of Hope Chicago initiative in 2023. What was a big idea all about kindness, unity and hope inspired JCC Chicago to launch a movement that we call Growing Hope. Read More

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