Good and Important Work
Good and Important Work
When I took my position three years ago, I was excited about the good and important work that was ahead. Over the past 18 months, “good and important work” took on a whole new meaning. While myself and our leadership team dug in for what I now refer to as “saving the J,” our staff […] Learn More ›
Guiding Children Towards Resiliency & Kindness
Social distancing, masks, quarantine, zoom, lockdown – unprecedented times. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, most of us never imagined a world in which these words would become a part of our everyday existence. Now they are common, bordering on cliché and meme-worthy. I often think about a conversation I had with my sister when schools first […] Learn More ›
Celebrating Our Female Leaders
Today is Women’s Equality Day, commemorating the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote nationally on August 18, 1920, and it was signed into law on August 26 of that year. Three years ago, I was appointed President & CEO of JCC Chicago and became the first female to hold the position in […] Learn More ›
How We’ve Evolved Over 30 Years
Back in 1991, I picked up the Daily Herald, and saw a “wanted ad” for a teaching position at Northwest Suburban JCC in Buffalo Grove. I can remember going to my interview all dressed up with my big 80’s hairstyle, that somehow made its way into the 90’s, and thinking this would be a great […] Learn More ›
50 In 50
How a commitment to 50 books in my 50th year became an obsession (in a good way) In January of 2020, I was contemplating my 50th birthday and trying to figure out what I could do just for me, something meaningful that I gave myself and would always remember…not a trip or an experience, not […] Learn More ›
Continuing Our Connections
It’s hard to believe that the days and weeks of isolation introduced in March 2020 turned so quickly to months. Now, well over a year since JCC Chicago reopened its doors to Early Childhood families, appreciation for how and why people connect has taken root. Family vacations at Camp Chi last summer, Apachi Family Days […] Learn More ›
Sharing The Spirit
Apachi Day Camp’s values are respect, kindness and community and we intentionally create programs that put our values into practice. We want campers to experience the feeling of belonging, making new connections and new friendships! Last week, our Apachi campers were able to model these values in our first-ever partnership with Camp No Limits. Our oldest campers […] Learn More ›
From Acceptance To Belonging
The profound impact of connection and feeling of belonging is something one never forgets. At the shy age of eighteen, I interviewed for a role as an Early Childhood teacher at Mayer Kaplan JCC. During my interview, a little boy smiled and played a short game of hide and seek just before he walked up, […] Learn More ›
110 Years & Still Going Strong
Early summer is my favorite time of the year because it marks the start of camp. It’s a time for kids to come together, make new friendships, try new experiences, and enjoy being kids. After a year where kids spent their days inside, in front of computer screens or iPads, they need some much-needed fresh […] Learn More ›
Our Second Home, Our Community, Our Family
Three years ago, I was a “first time parent” sending my son to daycare and I experienced a plethora of emotions. I had a million questions and thoughts running through my head. Will the daycare center love him? Will the teachers understand what he wants and needs? Do they know that he must sleep with […] Learn More ›
My Future Is In The Hands Of Chi Winkle
For the last decade of my life, my summers have been one thing. Summer Camp. I would spend my time amid the forest and the lake, soaking up the summer sun and my voice would be shot from cheering so loudly. My summers were meant for camp. You see, summer camp is in my blood. […] Learn More ›
Standing in Solidarity with GLSEN Day of Silence
The GLSEN Day of Silence is a national student-led demonstration where LGBTQ students and allies around the country—and the world—take a vow of silence to protest the harmful effects of harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ people in schools. As an agency, JCC Chicago will be joining the GLSEN Day of Silence on Friday, April 23 in […] Learn More ›
No Need To Fear, The J Is Here
It was March 16, 2020. I got an email from the Florence G. Heller JCC: “School will be closed for the next 3 weeks.” Panic set in. Two full-time working parents with two adorable, BUSY kids and no family in town – how would we survive the next 3 weeks without the J? Florence G. […] Learn More ›
Becoming Miss Barnett
Teachers have always had a great impact on me, but there is one teacher in particular who has had the most profound influence on my life. That teacher is Mrs. Barnett, a preschool teacher from JCC Chicago Early Childhood at Am Shalom – and she just happens to also be my mom. I grew up getting […] Learn More ›
Community, Togetherness and Teamwork
As a summer camp director, my family and friends ask, “isn’t it stressful planning for camp during a global pandemic?” This question always catches me off guard, because the first emotion that comes to mind when I think about summer camp is not stress; it’s gratitude. When I started as director for Apachi Rogers Park […] Learn More ›
Choosing Jewish Camp
Among our four kids, only one is a product of Jewish camp. When the older three were of camp age, they were enrolled in a Jewish day school and we chose a secular camp for its diversity and the opportunity to broaden their circle of friends. For a series of reasons, we shifted course to […] Learn More ›