USY (United Synagogue Youth) is thrilled to announce that the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation has awarded a $350,000 CAD multi-year grant to support the new Community Director initiative in Vancouver. This funding will subsidize the program’s growth through 2029 and aims to foster deep Jewish engagement for teens through enriching programming, mentorship, and community involvement.
The Community Director initiative – a rapidly growing feature of a revamped USY – is a collaborative effort between multiple synagogues in a geographic area to serve teens. In Vancouver, the three main participating Conservative/Masorti congregations include Congregation Beth Israel (Vancouver), Congregation Har El (West Vancouver), and Beth Tikvah Congregation (Richmond). Launched in September 2024 with the hiring of Shayla Brewer as Vancouver’s first Community Director, the program has already seen rapid growth in local and international USY participation by teens. USY, with nearly 75 years of experience nurturing Jewish teens into exceptional leaders, provides a creative and supportive environment for Jewish learning and living, personal growth, and leadership development.
“Our goal is to create accessible and authentic Jewish experiences for teens,” said Julie Marder, senior director of USY. “With this incredible support from the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation, USY can expand our programming and reach hundreds of Jewish youth across Vancouver, ensuring they have a space where they can thrive spiritually and socially within the values of Conservative/Masorti Judaism.”
The Vancouver Community Director initiative will work to connect teens with meaningful educational, social, and advocacy opportunities locally and with USY International. By prioritizing collaboration among congregations, this program will maximize resources and engagement, making Jewish life vibrant and relevant for a new generation of teens hungry for connection after October 7th.
The success of pilot USY Community Director programs in several other cities over the past two years have quickly demonstrated the efficacy of this model, significantly increasing participation and interest in Jewish youth activities. Strengthening and securing communities is a core priority for the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation. The foundation awards capacity building grants to local Jewish institutions to help each one be the best they can be and ensure a thriving organizational ecosystem to serve the community as a whole. With the support of the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation, USY is committed to building upon this foundation to empower the next generation of Jewish leaders.
About USY
USY is the youth movement of USCJ (United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism), dedicated to serving Conservative/Masorti Jewish teens across North America. Through a variety of engaging programs, USY instills core Jewish values and fosters leadership skills among its members, ensuring a vibrant future for the Jewish community. USY is truly a second home – a safe, fun space where teens can be themselves and discover their potential.
If you and your community are similarly interested in re-energizing USY in your area, please get in touch with Brad Sugar, USCJ CDO at [email protected]
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For further inquiries, please contact Gary Susswein at BandOne: [email protected] or 512-694-7909.
