[Jewish] Another post-graduation social justice opportunity for Jewish students

[Steven Nathan]

*/Are you up for a challenge? //JOI//N us./*

Community organizing means developing leaders and bringing people 
together to form powerful organizations that allow people to act on 
their own behalf to make systemic changes in their lives. Community 
organizers are people who want to stir things up to motivate people to 
act for change, who embrace challenge, and who think strategically about 
power.

*The Jewish Organizing Initiative* (JOI) builds a vibrant, pluralistic 
community of Jewish young adults who learn grassroots community 
organizing, explore their Jewish identity together, and become leaders 
in the pursuit of social justice.

Our year-long paid community organizing fellowship is a year of field 
experience and professional development for young Jewish adults (21-30) 
who are interested in systemic change and community building.  

/Applicants:/ We are looking for passion, commitment, and a drive to 
work for social justice.  We want people who are interested in 
co-creating a pluralistic Jewish community and who want to know more 
about their roots and what Judaism teaches about social justice. JOI 
Fellows are critical thinkers who see problems in the world and have 
some track record of working to address these issues.  

/Placement:/  Fellows work as full-time paid grassroots organizers with 
organizations in the Boston region that are working for social change. 
Past placements include the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, 
UNITE HERE Local 26, Chelsea Neighborhood Housing Services, Jewish 
Community Relations Council, North Shore Labor Council, Boston Youth 
Organizing Project, Keshet, Dorchester Bay Economic Development 
Corporation and Stand for Children. 

/Training:/ Our JOI training program consists of regular, intensive 
workshops and reflection on campaign building, power analysis, and 
building leadership. We focus on topics such as relationship building 
and developing the leadership of volunteers, and we study Jewish texts 
and history to give context to the work we do. JOI trainers include 
veteran organizers, seasoned activists, politicians, rabbis and Jewish 
professionals. Building a pluralistic Jewish community is also an 
important component of our program, and once a month Fellows come 
together to celebrate Shabbat. 

 */Application Process: /* 

/Applications will be processed on a rolling basis.  Completed 
application files must be received by //Monday, March 2nd 2009 /

Please submit by email a resume with a cover letter that speaks to the 
following:

    * Tell us why you want to learn or deepen your skills in organizing
      as a method for social change.
    * Why do you want to learn organizing in a specifically *Jewish*
      *context*?
    * Please include the names and contact information for three
      *references* that are familiar with you and your professional,
      volunteer, or Jewish experiences. Please do not send the names of
      family members, or of teachers or professors if they only know you
      in an academic context.
    * Also, please let us know how you found out about JOI.

  /Group Interview in Boston Sunday, March 29/^/th/ / and Monday, March 
30/^/th/ / 2009/

    * Once a completed application has been processed by JOI, a phone
      interview will be conducted by a JOI alum, fellow, or staff. 
      Applicants will be informed by March 16th if they qualify to
      attend the Spring event, and must commit to attending by March 20th.
    * This two-day interview and matching event is an opportunity for
      applicants to learn more about JOI, to get a taste of a JOI
      organizing training session, and to demonstrate their skills in
      group and individualized interview settings. The second day is the
      matching section of the event, and applicants will have short,
      face-to-face interviews with the JOI placement organizations that
      most interest them.
    * The event will be held in Boston. Applicants are expected to
      arrange for their own transportation and lodging, and JOI will
      provide breakfast and lunch during the two-day event. For those
      who need it, JOI can help provide housing with program alumni. 
      Limited scholarships for travel may be available; please inquire.
    * After the matching event, placement organizations may request
      second interviews in person or by phone.
    * Potential supervisors are encouraged to make offers as soon as
      possible to their top candidates. The first round of matches
      should be finished by late April.

 
 

*/For More Information/*

Please visit _www.jewishorganizing.org_ 
<http://www.jewishorganizing.org/>, call the office at 617-350-9994, or 
email Vered at _vmeir at jewishorganizing.org_ 
<mailto:rherst at jewishorganizing.org> with other questions.



-- 
Vered Meir
Jewish Organizing Initiative
99 Chauncy Street
Suite 600
Boston, MA 02111

Ph: 617.350.9994
Fx: 617.350.9995
www.jewishorganizing.org <http://www.jewishorganizing.org>
-- 


 


Steven P. Nathan

Campus Rabbi

Interim LGBTQ Advisor

Hampshire College 
                                                           

Office of Spiritual Life -- Box SA

Amherst, MA 01002

Phone: (413) 559-5282

Fax: (413) 559-5663

snathan at hampshire.edu <mailto:snathan at hampshire.edu>


 

/"The more deeply immersed I became in the thinking of the prophets, the 
more powerfully it became clear to me what the lives of the prophets 
sought to convey: that morally speaking there is no limit to the concern 
one must feel for the suffering of human beings. It also became clear to 
me that in regard to cruelties committed in the name of a free society, 
some are guilty, all are responsible."/

/-Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel/


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