Dear Beloved JYCA Community,
We are writing to let you know that after nearly 30 years of successful youth leadership development and community involvement, Jewish Youth for Community Action is closing its doors this summer. After exploring multiple options, the board made the very tough decision to close JYCA because we could not find a financial sustainable way forward.
Thank you, for everything, nonetheless.
Like you, we are sad! JYCA has touched so many people’s lives over a long time. Retreats, check-ins, actions...the list goes on. While it’s sad to say goodbye, these memories and learnings will stay with us forever.
We are also proud! We are proud that we have been able to cultivate youth leaders and organizers. JYCA is unique in the way we center youth empowerment and social justice in Jewish identity formation. JYCA’s legacy will live on through the contributions of our current and former youth participants, parents, staff, and larger community.
The only way JYCA has survived is through our collective efforts over these many years. That’s an achievement. So thanks again.
A lot of time and consideration went into trying to keep JYCA afloat (see below for details). And a lot of time and consideration are now being put into closing JYCA with love, care, and integrity and celebrating JYCA’s impact in our community.
Here is some additional context for your awareness:
JYCA has struggled with instability for a long time, including fundraising challenges, administrative burdens, and chronic staff turnover.
COVID, changes in the funder landscape, challenges in youth organizing, October 7 and its aftermath are additional destabilizing factors.
Recently, we faced a combination of major staffing transitions and drastic revenue reduction in grants, major gifts, and tuition (see charts above).
We took this as an opportunity to pursue a merger with an organization that could lend support towards fundraising and administrative efforts.
An exploration of 12 potential merger partners ended with no viable options due to issues with capacity, timing, or values alignment.
The board, youth, staff and other community stakeholders are working together to close out our beloved organization in a way that honors JYCA's history and celebrates our community impact, including:
Preserving JYCA’s legacy through storytelling, video and written reflections, packaging curriculum for a wider audience, and publishing a report on JOC youth wellbeing.
Convening listening circles to process this transition together.
Celebrating JYCA’s impact with a community gathering in the fall.
Redistributing our remaining resources to organizations that deepen racial justice and collective liberation work.
JYCA contributed to many incredible campaigns over the years. Here are a few highlights–cue the reminiscent soundtrack. We’ve been involved in…
Eliminating youth curfew in Oakland
Fighting Prop 21 (juvenile incarceration and detention)
Supporting hotel worker strikes and sweatshop worker campaigns
Getting the Port of Oakland to stop transporting coal
Addressing sexual assault and consent education at Berkeley High School
Getting police out of Oakland schools
JOC youth-led campaigning for a liberatory ethnic studies model in California
And many, many other campaigns, actions, and youth empowerment experiences (workshops, retreats, etc.) that have enriched our communal landscape for generations to come.
To JYCA's last breath, we will continue toresist youth oppression and antisemitismas well ascommit to anti-racist growth.
The Bay Area's justice ecosystem is vibrant and vital. We are grateful to have contributed to its ongoing work. After our closure, we will be putting our money where our mouth is and donating to youth-selected, purpose-aligned organizations viaJYCA's Legacy for Liberation Fund!
We understand this news may seem abrupt. For JYCA's beloved community, here is our schedule of closing events to give you (at least) one more experience of JYCA's magic.
Summer JAM Party - July 17
We invite current JAM youth, JAM alumni, and all JOCSM supporters since 2019 for summer fun! More details and registration information to come; save the date.
Processing circles holding space to process the transition for youth, alumni, current and alumni families, former staff and board, and legacy partners. These spaces will be hybrid, in-person location TBD and Zoom:
Sunday, July 28 at 2pm pst / 5pm est - Zoom registration
Sunday, August 11 at 5pm pst / 8pm est - Zoom registration
Monday, August 26 at 5:30pm pst / 8:30pm est - Zoom registration
JYCA's Celebration of Life - Sunday, November 17, from 10am to 1pm pst
More information to come; save the date and put it in your calendar! Here, we will bring the community together to celebrate and commemorate our legacy. Together, we will determine to which organizations the remaining funds should be redistributed.
How can you get involved?
Stay tuned for invitations to join with others to share memories, tell stories, and honor JYCA! Spread the message about our closure and coming events! Step into the circle when it's time to volunteer for various projects!
More updates to come...
In community and solidarity,
Geo Tatsuya Kanegawa, Executive Director
Andrew Gordon-Kirsch, Board Chair
Pella Schafer Weisman, Founder