YouthFirst

Do you like working with teens? Are you (or someone you know) a dynamic and passionate teen program coordinator, excited to deliver high quality Jewish values-based educational experiences? If so, you will love working with us at JFCS YouthFirst! Check out our awesome team. Click through to learn more about a fantastic opportunity in our San Mateo office! Apply to TEEN PROGRAM COORDINATOR: https://www.jfcs.org/about/careers/ Please share widely! ... Jewish Family and Children's Services

Meet Natalie Arbatman. Natalie is a 2nd year Palo Alto Impact Year Leader and Mountain View High School Senior, who helped to plan an Impact Year service-learning event in December called Everyone Deserves a Home, a panel discussion highlighting the Homeless epidemic in Silicon Valley. Natalie took her advocacy work one step further by collaborating on an in-depth article in her school newspaper. Take a look at it here: https://mvhsoracle.atavist.com/rv-ban-adds-burden-to-...homele MVHS Oracle We asked Natalie to answer a few questions about herself and her involvement with YouthFirst. Her responses are below: How did you first get involved with YouthFirst? Through the Summer Internship Program. I was placed for an immigration lawyer in Menlo Park. I later joined as an Impact Year Leader because I love making a tangible impact in the community and advocating for causes I care about. It's also a great environment to work with people who are as passionate as I am. What has been satisfying about being an Impact Year leader? One of my favorite projects I planned with JFCS was a panel on homelessness. We moderated a discussion with 3 professionals who work with the homeless in some capacity and learned about how we, as teenagers, can help the homeless community. This is an ongoing project so the team and I hope to hold some more panels on a similar subject matter throughout the year. What have you gleaned from your experiences with YouthFirst and and how has it helped to shape your Jewish identity? The skills I've learned at JFCS are definitely going to help me in every arena in life. I am passionate about Zionism and run the Israel club at my school. I'm also an intern for StandWithUs and I am a member of Club Z. I am committed to defending my identity and Jewry, especially on college campuses. I'm planning on taking a gap year in Israel and will continue advocating for this cause in the future. I know my experiences at JFCS have helped prepare me for these goals. Jewish Family and Children's Services

In order to promote the Jewish values of treating all people with dignity and embracing acts of human kindness, our Palo Alto teen leaders Sarah, Michelle and Hailey are collecting NEW donations of scarves, gloves, hats and hand warmers. They will donate them to LifeMoves of Menlo Park, to benefit the many people in our community living in shelters this Winter. Please bring your donations to JFCS, 200 Channing Ave., Palo Alto, 94036. Congregation Kol Emeth

Sending us off with one more song for Hanukkah!

What a perfect moment, among the warm glow of the Chanukah candles, to take a moment to pause and reflect on all the hope that our Impact Year Leaders have contributed to their communities so far this year. Thank you teens leaders!

This Sunday night! Teens, you can register at https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx