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Grants in Action
The Next Generation Initiative: Involving the Next Generation of Jews
Rose Community Foundation is embarking on a new project in the Jewish community – the Next Generation Initiative, geared at deepening the connection of Jews in their 20s and 30s with Jewish life. Following is an interview with Lisa Farber Miller, the Foundation’s senior program officer in Jewish Life, and Shawna Friedman, Jewish Life initiatives manager, who will serve as the organizer for the project.
Q: What is the Next Generation Initiative?
SF: The Next Generation Initiative is designed to engage
Jews in their 20s and 30s in Jewish life in their own ways and on their
own terms. Specifically, we’ll seek out a diverse group of young
Jews, bring them together to have a Jewish conversation, expose them to
new Jewish ideas and give them resources to create programs and activities
that are interesting to them and, we hope, to other Jews of the same age.
Q: What led Rose Community Foundation to create this
initiative?
LFM: The project fits directly into our outreach priority.
Jews in their 20s and 30s are not participating in Jewish life, and their
vitality is missing. As a foundation, our grantmaking is often purposely
responsive – we listen to what the community tells us it wants and
support programs and organizations that will address those needs. But
we also want to be proactive. We don’t often get grant proposals
aimed at 20- through 30-year-olds that are planned by them. The lack of
engagement among Jews in their 20s and 30s is enough of a concern to warrant
the creation of this initiative.
Q: How was the initiative designed?
LFM: We are partnering with a national organization named
Reboot, started by 20- and 30-something Jews. Reboot’s goal is “to
help us ‘Reboot’ the traditions we've inherited and make them
vital and resonant in our own lives.” We hope to replicate Reboot’s
programs here.
Q: How will the Next Generation Initiative in Denver
work?
SF: The first step has been to interview lots of young
Jews. How do they see their Jewish identity? What is their connection
to Jewish life? What type of programming would interest them?
Q: What have you discovered so far?
SF: We know from research by the Andrea and Charles Bronfman
Philanthropies that Jews in their 20s and 30s feel positive about their
Jewish identity, but don’t feel like there are activities geared
to their interests. They are looking for a balance of fun, intellectual
and joyous Jewish experiences, and recognition that being Jewish is just
one aspect of their identity.
Q: What is the next step?
SF: Lots of interviews and information gathering. We
plan to assemble a group of Jewish 20- through 30-year-olds who will eventually
take over direction of the initiative. They will decide what they want
to see, hear and experience, but we can envision a wide range of possibilities
for cultural and intellectual activities – bringing Jewish thinkers
and writers to Denver, scheduling discussion and/or lecture series, perhaps
the opportunity to work on issues of social justice. Also, the David and
Laura Merage Foundation is working with us to establish an artist-in-residence
program that will bring nationally known cutting-edge Jewish creative
artists to live together in Denver for a month while they work with our
local 20- through 30-year-olds.
LFM: Jews in their 20s and 30s are the Jewish community’s
future. We see the Next Generation Initiative as a great opportunity for
them to find their own voice.
- From Impact, Rose Community Foundation's newsletter - Spring 2006
Shawna Friedman
Rose Community Foundation focuses on four funding priorities within its Jewish Life program area:
• Outreach to unconnected Jews
• Experiences that promote Jewish growth
• Organizational development
• Leadership development
With its focus on outreach to unconnected Jews, the Foundation has committed
funding of up to $280,000 for the Next Generation Initiative to respond
to the needs of Jewish young adults.