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Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE
The Boulder JCC created a formal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEI) in February 2019. The DEI Committee is composed of staff members from across all areas of the organization (representing approximately 15% of our staff) and Board Members and meets weekly.

As a central place where people of all ages and backgrounds gather to connect, exchange ideas, learn, and grow together in Boulder County, the Boulder JCC and the DEI Committee celebrate diversity and strive to make a space that is more inclusive and less oppressive to all of people’s many identities. We aspire to create a culture where every staff member, board member, and community member feels empowered to call out racism and all forms of oppression against marginalized groups. We are constantly assessing our organization's operations, policies, and procedures while also examining specific steps and training that is required to move our organization in the right direction. We recognize that our organizational and personal journey to anti-oppression will never end. To further our work, we offer regular learning and discussion opportunities for the staff, the board, and the community.

Statements from the Boulder JCC

 

Statement on the crisis in the Middle East and rising anti-Semitism

Monday, May 24, 2021

Dear Friends of the Boulder JCC, 

We are devastated by the recent violence and loss of life in the Middle East, including between neighbors. We are also heartbroken by the subsequent rise in hate and anti-Semitism in the United States and around the world.  
 
Watching violence erupt in the Middle East has been difficult for us. We are not indifferent to the suffering of people in the region. We recognize and support Israel's right to exist and to defend itself against a terrorist organization that threatens that right. We believe that many Israelis and Palestinians are victims in this conflict. As the complexity of the conflict has weighed on our hearts, the Boulder JCC has hosted educational programs about Israel and the Palestinian Territories to bring awareness and understanding to our community. We will continue to engage in learning opportunities and open dialogue. 
 
Closer to home, this recent crisis has created new waves of anti-Semitism veiled as criticism of Israel. The Boulder JCC stands unequivocally against hate and anti-Semitism in all its forms. 
 
With the rise of anti-Semitism, it is important that we share resources about how to talk about these incidents with children. The ADL has produced a resource, 5 Tips for Talking with Children About Hate Incidents and one of our partners in child learning, PJ Library, has compiled a list of resources on how to talk to children about anti-Semitism. 
 
The Boulder JCC remains committed to being a safe space for community building and meaningful discourse, as well as a center for vibrant Jewish life in Boulder County. Our mission is to serve our entire community, to connect with one another, and create space for dialogue. 
 
The conflict and ensuing global anti-Semitism has caused suffering, sorrow, pain, and fear for many. We pray that the recent ceasefire holds and that in the coming days and weeks there may be peace and healing. 
 
In peace, 

Jonathan Lev
Executive Director
Boulder JCC

Lee Strongwater
Board President
Boulder JCC

Statement in Support of AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islanders) Community

Monday, March 22, 2021

Dear Friends of the Boulder JCC, 

We are heartbroken by the mass shooting that took the lives of eight people, including six Asian women, in Georgia last week. We extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones of these victims and the entire Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) community. 

Over the last year, the AAPI community has been scapegoated and has seen a frightening rise in anti-Asian discrimination, racism, and violence. This follows a longer history of anti-Asian racism and violence in the United States. As an organization rooted in Jewish history and tradition, we know the effects of scapegoating and racist rhetoric and violence. 

We ask our community to stand in solidarity with the AAPI community. Racism and all forms of hate are not tolerated at the Boulder JCC. Our words matter. Our actions matter. If you See Something, Say Something.

Learn more and get involved:


Jonathan Lev
Executive Director
Boulder JCC

Lee Strongwater
Board President
Boulder JCC

Statement in Support of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Community

Friday, June 5, 2020

Dear Friends of the Boulder JCC, 

We, like many in our communities, share in the heartbreak and anger over the murder of George Floyd, the spate of racist events and treatment of protesters across the country, and the systemic racism that continues to exist in the United States. 

Jewish tradition compels us to seek ways to heal the world, call out injustices, and pursue justice. It is up to each of us to make our voices heard, but more importantly, to listen, to learn, and to use our voices to amplify the voices of others. 

We stand in solidarity with the Black community, with Jews of Color, with protesters, and with those taking a stand for change. The power of peaceful demonstration has been evident in the last week and throughout history. 

At a time when many of us are focused on the challenges of Coronavirus, we cannot be deterred in ensuring people are valued and treated with respect and dignity.

The Boulder JCC remains committed to discussing issues affecting our community and providing space for dialogue, understanding, and learning. We are exploring opportunities for sustained, meaningful, and continued learning about racism, allyship, and how to become better people. This work cannot be done overnight. Our commitment must be long-term to work towards the world we envision.

In strength,

Jonathan Lev
Executive Director
Boulder JCC

Lee Strongwater
Board President
Boulder JCC

“If, going forward, we can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals.” - Barack Obama, How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change