ANNUAL REPORT 2016 - 2017 Table of Contents
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ANNUAL REPORT 2016 - 2017 Table of Contents Introduction ...................................................................3 Strengthening the JCRC Network ....................5 Programs and Initiatives ..........................................6 Policy and Legislative Advocacy .........................8 National Convenings ............................................... 11 Israel .................................................................................... 13 Leadership......................................................................... 14 Communications .......................................................... 14 Board of Directors .................................................. 17 2 Introduction Overview of JCPA’s Work 2016 was a year of great transition and progress for the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA). JCPA undertook a wholesale reexamination of our structure, governance, and func- tion within the Jewish communal space. A renewed and restructured focus on JCPA’s role as a national hub of the community relations field led to significant realignment in staffing, enabling us to better serve our stakeholders and our national and local member agencies. We hired new personnel, consolidated the Washington, D.C. office, and enhanced staff coordination. JCPA’s new structure proved timely, enabling our organization to respond to the outcome of the 2016 election and the resulting increase in fast-paced, high-stakes advocacy now called for to protect programs and populations for which JCPA has long fought. At the national level, JCPA and its interfaith and secular partners focused first on preparing for a new Administration and a new Congress. We were soon immersed in preventing the rollback of policies and programs that reduce poverty, welcome newcomers to our country, and support humanitarian assistance. At the same time, we expanded our advocacy to ensure that the U.S.-Israel relationship would remain strong and built greater support for meaningful criminal justice reform, which JCPA launched as a new Criminal Justice Initiative. With a streamlined spotlight on specific policy areas, JCPA was a more effective advocate, both for the Jewish community and as an intergroup partner in our coalitions. Under the new structure, JCPA also focused more on bolstering and serving the Jewish Community Relations Councils (JCRCs). Discovering that more than 60 directors had assumed their positions only within the prior two years, JCPA pivoted to onboarding, skill and resource development, and support for these new directors. In addition to retreats, trainings, and one-on-one consultations, JCPA produced a host of written materials for those new to community relations work. For 2016-2017, JCPA set out five strategic goals: • Strengthen JCPA’s role as the national network hub of the community relations field; • Narrow the scope of national advocacy to key issues on which JCPA can make a distinct impact; • Enhance much needed support and services to JCRCs, such as JCRC staff trainings and developing turnkey programs; • Make the case for community relations within the Federation system; and • Diversify JCPA’s revenue streams. 3 Aligning Staffing In order to align staffing to the new strategy, JCPA made significant changes. In January 2016, David Bernstein took over as the new President and CEO and embarked on a 25-city listening tour, meeting with local JCRCs, Federation leadership, and other community leaders. JCPA also recruited Melanie Roth Gorelick as Senior Vice President, who brought extensive experience in the JCRC and advocacy arenas. David also consolidated JCPA’s Washington office, appointing a Washington Representative and moving its offices into the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) Washington office to promote coordination between the two organizations. Other hires included a new development professional to diversify the campaign, a communications associate, and a Senior Policy Associate in the New York headquarters. Aligning Governance The JCPA leadership team worked to re-align its governance structure with the new strategy. They moved JCPA’s traditional structure away from large standing committees devoted to policy development and toward more action-oriented task forces able to respond and adapt quickly to the organization’s key priorities. A Policy Advisory Committee to oversee the short-term task forces was established, which included member agencies, board members, and policy experts. The Committee’s main function would be to oversee policy and respond rapidly to emerging issues. JCPA also established a Governance Task Force to examine a broader range of governance changes. JCPA’s 2016-17 Task Forces and Committees Program and Policy: • Policy Advisory Standing Committee • Israel Two-State Solution Task Force • Muslim-Jewish Outreach Task Force • Criminal Justice Reform Task Force Leadership: • Governance Task Force • Nominating Committee • Development Committee • Emerging Leaders Committee 4 Strengthening the JCRC Network Over the summer, JCPA surveyed the field on their issue based priorities and structures to determine commonalities as well as challenges and differences, with a 90% participation rate. Through this survey JCPA discovered that more than 60 directors were new to their jobs in the past two years, so JCPA pivoted its focus to onboarding, skill development, and the ongoing work of educating the new directors. More than half of the staff’s time was spent working with the JCRCs around the country. JCPA made professional development a priority in 2017 as well. JCPA launched a new professional development program for JCRC Professionals and Chairs, for which JCPA received a generous supplemental grant from the National Federation/Agency Alliance (Alliance) of The Jewish Federations of North America. We brought in a consultant to assist in building and running the program. JCPA organized a two-day Shabbat Retreat for 20 new JCRC directors based on the newly developed curriculum and toolkit for directors. The retreat was followed with a webinar for all JCRC staff introducing the toolkit. In addition, we prepared a Playbook for new JCRC professionals, and a JCRC Resources Guide for seasoned professionals. We onboarded every new JCRC director individually, and provided individual counseling to JCRCs as a whole. JCPA also rolled out a new initiative to train and support JCRC Chairs, strengthening their connections to JCPA and to each other. JCRC Chairs play an important role in carrying out JCPA’s work, as they often shape, lead, and advocate for the JCRC’s agenda. During our national conference, we held a breakfast with 23 JCRC Chairs and launched the JCRC Chairs Initiative. Highlights of JCPA’s Accomplishments: • Assisted the field in responding to current events, by numerous briefing calls for JCRC staff and lay leadership, including police shootings, refugees, Israel and the Middle East, national elections, executive orders, and the Women’s March in D.C. • Compiled best practices around the country on gun violence programs, prepared a guide for local action on policing and the inner city, and provided civility guidance for polarized communities during the election. • Developed a strategic planning template for JCRCs and produced a toolkit for new JCRC Professionals. • JCPA worked with several Federations around the country to help establish JCRCs, including Phoenix, Orange County, Atlanta, and Buffalo. 5 Programs and Initiatives National Elections and the Jewish Community JCPA focused on civic engagement during the national election period. JCRCs typically carry-out election education programs and partner with other community groups on voter turnout drives. To support these efforts, JCPA created an election guide that included information on how to run a program forum, candidate questions, program resources, and voter turnout. At the national level, JCPA focused on civility, developing and pushing for adoption of a “plank” encouraging civility in the Democratic and Republican party platforms. JCPA led a sign-on letter signed by 32 Jewish organizations urging the parties to adopt the plank. Click here to read the letter. Ultimately, the Democratic party adopted the plank in its platform. In addition, David Bernstein was a featured panelist at both the Republican and Democratic national conventions. JCPA also promoted National Voter Registration Day and “Get Out the Vote” efforts around the country. After the election, JCPA, in partnership with the JFNA Washington office, set up a New Administration Engagement Task Force, a group of prominent lay leaders seeking connections with the new White House. JCPA also held a post-election conference call with JFNA for a post- election round-up a few days after the election, featuring JTA Editor in Chief Andrew Silow- Carroll and Lynn Sweet, the Washington Bureau Chief of the Chicago Sun-Times. Muslim-Jewish Engagement In order to strengthen ties between Muslims and Jews, and reduce the potential for conflict, JCPA established a Muslim-Jewish Task Force. JCPA held a four-part Muslim-Jewish engagement webinar series for JCRC professionals and lay leaders. More than 300 people participated in this programming. JCPA helped to launch the “Know Your Neighbor Campaign” as one of three organizations (and the only Jewish organization). The Know Your Neighbor Campaign is an interfaith initiative made of 70 interfaith organizations to encourage individuals and groups to encounter people of faith different from their own. To read more click here. 6