Supporting an inclusive Greater MetroWest community is a priority of our Jewish Federation. We believe in creating opportunities for all members to meaningfully participate in Jewish life and value inclusion and belonging for all. We regularly engage with our synagogues, agencies, and schools to ensure we’re meeting the needs of our community.
As I reflect on the work we are doing, I often think about the ways that my family and I “live Jewishly.” We have personally benefitted from Jewish preschools, camps, teen programs, youth groups, volunteerism, JCC programming, Jewish Federation, and, of course, our synagogue. I believe that everyone in our community should have opportunities to meaningfully participate in all aspects of Jewish life, just as my family does. Greater MetroWest ABLE, Federation’s department that supports and advocates for people with disabilities and their families, works to ensure that this happens.
One way ABLE supports these efforts is through the Greater MetroWest Madrichim – Teen Advocate Training Program. This program trains teens to facilitate inclusive environments for youth with disabilities our synagogues, recreational programs, and camps. Over the past ten years, ABLE has trained more than 500 teens to create opportunities for all individuals to participate meaningfully in Jewish experiences.
Here’s what some teens who completed the program have shared:
- “This program impacted my role in the classroom by giving me confidence to support students with different levels of needs in the classroom.”
- “This program helped me realize it is important to notice each student to ensure they are comfortable in the classroom and receiving the help they need. “
- “It taught me some activities and techniques to use with the kids and how to find creative solutions to accommodate their needs.”
The impact extends beyond the teens to the individuals and families involved. Students can participate in inclusive spaces alongside their peers, learning from one another. Imagine if your child couldn’t engage in Jewish communal life—would you still feel part of this community? When individuals are excluded, families may leave, seeking other options and sometimes losing faith in their own Jewish communities.
To me, community is a reciprocal relationship where we gain from and give to others. If we believe this, the communities must, by nature, be inclusive. Our classrooms, recreational programs, and camps should reflect this vision of an inclusive community. With the support of the teen madrichim, youth in our community have a greater chance to live these values and experience Jewish community meaningfully.
We are now accepting nominations for the Greater MetroWest Madrichim – Teen Advocate Training Program. If you know a teen who may be interested, please nominate them here.