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Diversity
Programs
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MISSION
The mission of the York Jewish Community Center's diversity programs is to work towards eliminating prejudice and encouraging respect for diversity through the education of every child and adult. The York Jewish Community Center serves as a leader in the area of diversity acceptance, offering proven programs since 1996. Our programs focus on bias awareness and the impact of words and actions when face-to-face with that bias. Diversity is more than differences in race and religion and therefore our programs focus on appreciation of all differences, including gender, socio-economic, age, sexual orientation, abilities, education, size, interests, career and personality.JCC diversity programs include both introspective, self-awareness opportunities as well as opportunities to gain skills in encouraging accepting attitudes with co-workers and clients. Our programs are filled with interactive and fun activities that result in participants' stretching their own comfort zones. Participants broaden their awareness of diversity and learn strategies for building a more positive and stereotype-free environment whether in school, on the job, in the home, or in the community. What's so unique about the JCC diversity programs is that we develop a workshop or training session to specifically meet the needs of the clients we serve. Our curriculum toolbox has been refined over the years through the influence of educational institutions; business, industry and historical experience to ensure our training materials keep current with the changing diversity issues. In addition, we use trainee evaluations and feedback to guarantee our curriculum remains current and effective.
CODE OF CONDUCT JCC trainers have extensive experience training groups ranging from six individuals to 100+ and know how to make participants feel comfortable and engaged. Tough issues and controversial topics are handled in a way that stimulates discussion without putting participants in a defensive posture.
The JCC's guidelines for each session are:
- Each of us will be honest with ourselves.
- Everyone will be candid so we can all learn.
- We won't misjudge or prejudge each other.
- We will become more aware of and better understand our own biases.
- We can have a mindset for diversity that makes sense to us.
- We will stretch our awareness of differences.
- We will recognize how valuing diversity will benefit professional and personal relationships.
And that...
- We can agree to disagree
- What is said here, stays here (confidentiality)
- Every opinion counts
JCC diversity programs do not make judgment on people's beliefs and values; nor do they tell someone they need to change their beliefs and values. Instead, JCC diversity programs facilitate discussion and thinking that empowers the participants to evaluate and take action on their diversity views.
EXPERIENCE
In addition to working with most of the York County school districts, some of the clients JCC has served include: Kinsley Construction, BMC (Beard-Miller & Co.), The Pfaltzgraff Co., The York Chamber of Commerce, The Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center, Family Services, Planned Parenthood, York Housing Authority, Leadership York, Society of Human Resource Managers, Headstart of York County, and Focus on Our Future.
HISTORY
The JCC's diversity department began in the summer of 1994when a "coalition" of Jewish leaders, school districts, and community members who share in a passion for diversity met to discuss the concept of prejudice reduction programming in York County. This was as a result of several hate incidents happening in York County at the time, as well as teachers requesting Jewish students to participate in activities celebrating Halloween, Christmas and Easter. The group called themselves the Prejudice Reduction Task Force and agreed to focus on a prejudice reduction program for elementary aged students. In 1995 the JCC purchased and became certified in the Green Circle program, a series of lessons designed to help young children develop an awareness, understanding, and appreciation of human differences while encouraging a positive sense of self-worth. It was piloted in select elementary schools and then rolled out to schools in fall 1996. After a few years of success with Green Circle, school administrators asked the JCC for a program for middle-school aged students. The JCC researched for such a program but found none existed to purchase. So, the JCC, the Prejudice Reduction Task Force members, and select teachers from Dallastown Middle School developed The PROMISE Program® (Prejudice Reduction Opens Minds In Schools Everywhere). This program is a series of lessons that provides students with knowledge and skills to combat prejudice and stereotyping in their world. It, too, was piloted and then rolled out to York County schools in 1998. Since then, the JCC’s menu of services has grown to include additional programs and training sessions for elementary and middle school aged students, as well as high school students and adults. During the 2006-2007 school year JCC diversity programs reached 20,000 people. Green Circle and PROMISE are still used by select schools today. The Prejudice Reduction Task Force, now referred to as the Diversity Advisory Council, continues as an advisory group to the JCC’s diversity programs. The York Jewish Community Center is the only JCC in the United States that has a diversity department. All JCC’s have a cultural department that focuses on Jewish holidays, beliefs, and values, but diversity education is unique to the York Jewish Community Center. We are honored to carry on the foresight of the original “coalition” who met in 1994 as we work each day to help build a better York County.
2007-2008 DIVERSITY ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Dr. Nancy Ahalt
Cathy Ash
Susan Attig, Staff
Dr. Rita Becker
Cathy Bollinger, Staff
Jessica Brein
Jazmin Byers
Iris Katz, Staff
Mary Jo Kraft
Dr. Robert Krantz
Dr. Michele Merkle
Craig Milsten
Joan Sattler
Mark Schmidt
Stephanie Seaton
Charlotte Sullivan
Dr. Michael Thew
Dr. Stewart Weinberg
Wicky Woerthwein
Dr. LeeAnn Zeroth
JCC’S MENU OF DIVERSITY PROGRAMS (PDF)
All pricing effective September 1, 2006 through August 31, 2007.
Green Circle
Green Circle is a series of lessons designed to help young children develop an awareness, understanding, and appreciation of human differences while encouraging a positive sense of self-worth. Children recognize they should not exclude someone from their circle of friends based on a difference and learn strategies for building a world of caring, sharing, and respect. Pricing based on how implemented in the school, either JCC facilitated or trained teacher facilitated
Assembly)
a Nonprofit Innovation Award Winner, is a fun and fast-paced mini-musical production has children joining Commander Cathy in a mission that results in exploring how everyone, no matter how different, is unique, special, and full of possibilities! Includes a packet of activities for processing the message in the classroom.Grades K – 4; 30 minutes; $350/performance; additional performances at same location on same day $300 each
Click here for exciting new information about the Award-winning "Possibilities."
We’re Alike — Differently
This interactive program helps children learn the importance of embracing differences instead of building walls around them. Children explore feelings through a set of “emotion” balls and learn the importance of judging the message of a person, not his or her outside package. Includes strategies for what to do when being picked on and students writing a respect pledge. Presentation changes to be grade appropriate.$110/presentation; Grades 1 – 4; one 60-minute session or two 30-minute sessions.
Presented in the classroom by JCC trainer; two classrooms can be combined
UPPER ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOL
The PROMISE ProgramŇ
The PROMISE Program® (Prejudice Reduction Opens Minds In Schools Everywhere) is a series of lessons for middle school-aged students that focus on recognizing, accepting, and celebrating diversity. This positive, interactive program provides students with knowledge and skills to combat prejudice and stereotyping in their world. $330/presentation; Grades 5-8; six 30-minute sessions. Presented in the classroom by JCC trainer; two classrooms can be combined.
This program has students exploring how biased feelings, if left unchecked, can lead to hate. Students learn about hate crimes in the York area, the profile of a hate perpetrator, and read a confession from a former member of a white supremacist group. Students are given knowledge and skills to combat prejudice and stereotyping in their world.
$110/presentation; Grades 5-8; one 60-minute session or two 30-minute sessions
Presented in the classroom by JCC trainer; two classrooms can be combined
HIGH SCHOOL
Impact of Hate
This program has students exploring how biased feelings, if left unchecked, can lead to hate. Students first learn about hate in the county, including hate crimes, the profile of a hate perpetrator, hate groups, hate products, and recruiting methods. Students then explore hate in schools, which includes watching a brief movie with processing that provides students with an opportunity to explore concepts of prejudice, discrimination, stereotyping, and scapegoating. Finally, students look within to become more aware of their personal biases and learn strategies on how to prevent and respond to hate-motivated behavior.Abbreviated Version $165/presentation; Grades 9-12; one 90-minute session or three 30-minute sessions. Presented in the classroom by JCC trainer; two classrooms can be combined
More In-depth Version $330/presentation, Grades 9-12; three 60-minute sessions or six 30-minute sessions.
Presented in the classroom by JCC trainer; two classrooms can be combined.
ADULT
Impact of Bias in Schools/Workplaces is a fast-paced, fun, and interactive session that helps people become more aware of their personal biases and how they may impact their schools/businesses and relationships with their students/colleagues.
Diversity Articles, written by JCC diversity staff for use in school or business publications; show how you’re committed to diversity by having a diversity column as a consistent part of your publications.
Diversity Thoughts of the Week created by JCC diversity staff to be used during morning announcements, on bulletin boards, or distributed by email to employees.
Diversity Committees/Councils - JCC diversity staff will chair and/or serve on your diversity committees/councils to help you in developing plans to achieve your diversity goals and bring insights and expertise in the area of diversity acceptance to the table.
Diversity Story time - JCC diversity staff reads a storybook to children Pre-school – Grade 2 that is related to accepting and appreciating differences in people. Includes a brief 15-20 minute activity to process the message.
Diversity Resource - Would you like a confidential and bi-partisan resource to bounce a specific diversity idea or concern with? If yes, JCC diversity staff is here to help.
Diversity Presentation available to speak to parent groups, management teams, clubs, etc. about the benefits of valuing and embracing diversity to schools, businesses, and organizations; includes the business case for needing diversity.
DIDN’T FIND ANYTHING THAT MEETS YOUR DIVERSITY NEEDS?
Give the JCC a call. We pride ourselves on working with our clients to create a workshop or program that focuses on a specific need as defined by a school, business, or organization. Whether addressing specific “isms,” culture, or behavior such as stereotyping, bullying, harassment, personality types, communication, etc., difficult subjects are addressed in a non-threatening manner that leads to bias awareness through self-discovery and taking action to value and celebrate the many ways people are special and unique. Call us at 843-0918 to learn how we can help you.
NEW PROGRAMS
Coming Soon!
Get Real - a new powerful program for secondary students New diversity assembly for elementary students
Jewish Traditions
Our Speakers’ Bureau is designed for sharing Jewish cultural resources in an educational setting. We can provide information sheets, examples of holiday stories and where appropriate we are delighted to provide a speaker to introduce the customs and traditions of the holidays.We do not orient our resources toward detailed religious explanations. Our focus is on the meaning of the holidays along with customs and traditions associated with them. These resources assist children in learning about a culture with which they are often unfamiliar. Learning about other cultures lessens fears and distances between people and promotes unity.
Holocaust Education
Historians worldwide have recognized the critical importance of perpetuating the memory of the Holocaust as a prime means of preventing such a horror from ever again occurring.Volunteers from the Jewish community travel to school and civic organizations to share the video, "What I Remember," the personal stories of Nessy Marks and Bluma Shapiro, two Holocaust survivors who have local ties to York. Following the video presentation, discussion and a question and answer session help audiences understand the content and the importance of the message of remembrance.
The JCC also welcomes groups to view “The Six Million,” a sculpture dedicated to the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust. This can be a combined program with viewing a video of an interview with the artist and the video, “What I Remember.”
Why?
Hate group membership and activity is increasing rapidly. According to a FBI report, police departments reported 8,063 incidents of hate crimes in 2000, 54% motivated by racial bias and 18% by religious bias. In 1995 right here in York, a pig's head was hung on the door of a local synagogue. Most alarmingly, national hate groups have been using south central Pennsylvania as a recruiting and staging area.
The JCC Speakers’ Bureau helps to break down the barriers created through misunderstanding and misinformation and put a human face to differences. The Speakers’ Bureau is a perfect choice for administrators, teachers or other organization representatives who are interested in utilizing cultural educational resources, either in the classroom, meeting or at a staff/faculty level. For all programs, our speakers’ approach is customized to meet the needs of specific audiences with regard to age, previous knowledge, or curriculum.For more information about the JCC’s Diversity Programs, please contact Cathy Bollinger, Diversity Education Director.
For more information about the JCC’s Speakers’ Bureau, please contact Iris Katz, Director of Cultural and Adult Programming.
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York Jewish Community Center
2000 Hollywood Drive York, PA 17403
PH (717)843-0918 FAX (717)843-6988
jcc@yorkjcc.org
