The teen and tween years are all about being with friends. The J helps extend social circles beyond school to foster meaningful new relationships. It’s where something fun – and someone fun – is waiting for your child every time they walk into the JCC.
Shalom Corps is a free program where you commit to doing 60 hours of service over a calendar year and we commit to helping expose you to local community partners working in all areas of social justice.
The Jewish Student Connection provides programming opportunities throughout Chicagoland.
These inclusive high school clubs help teens find a deeper connection to Jewish values and their community. By becoming a part of the JSC experience, teens can participate in monthly club experiences as well as the following opportunities:
Summer programming to continue engagement year-round and connect JSC teens across participating schools
Scholarships to enable access to life-enriching Jewish programs such as the Maccabi Games, Diller, Write On and others
New and strengthened partnerships, including opportunities for JSC teens to give back through volunteer efforts
Seed613 empowers female-identifying Jewish teens to work together to identify challenges in the community and create solutions, whether big or small, that will make a meaningful difference. Fellows will practice innovative problem solving, critical thinking, and human-centered design, as well as project design. They will discuss pressing social issues, learn business skills such as marketing, fundraising and budgeting tactics, and they will create community among peers.
Fellows work on their impact projects in small groups and are partnered with a mentor – entrepreneurs, activists, and successful professionals – to guide them through the development of their project. Through innovative curriculum, supportive staff, and collaboration, Fellows will explore all aspects relating to business and entrepreneurial success throughout the program.
Fellows will participate in workshops related to issues such as breaking through the gender bias, risk-taking, and overcoming fears and self-doubt. Seed613 Fellows will complete the program having applied their skills learned to develop a socially responsible venture that will positively impact the community, and will have the opportunity to pitch their idea to the community at the program’s Launch Night in April.
Fellows will meet one to two times per month to work within the cohort, with their mentor, and with their small group on their impact projects. Time will also be spent on their projects outside of group sessions.
If you have any questions, contact Jessie Morris at jmorris@jccchicago.org or 847.763.3595.
Teens in 8th – 11th grades can join Chi Town Connection (CTC), a year-round youth group connected to JCC Camp Chi, known nationally as one of the leading overnight camps in the country. CTC offers tons of fun and camaraderie among young people as well as unique opportunities for hands-on leadership experiences.
Teens in CTC participate in social and recreational events, community service activities and leadership opportunities, including the leadership advisory board where teens plan, promote and implement events, participate in outreach work, and help influence the growth of both JCC Camp Chi and Chi Town Connection.
CTC is open to all.
For more information about upcoming events, call Kyle Kolling, Camp Chi Assistant Director, at 847.763.3637.
