National Disabilities Employment Awareness Month
AJFCA member agencies work every day to support persons with disabilities through a myriad of services including advocacy, vocational assessments and training, work experience, and job search support. Held each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is a national campaign that raises awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. The theme for 2014 is "Expect. Employ. Empower."  NDEAM's roots go back to 1945, when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week." In 1962, the word "physically" was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to "National Disability Employment Awareness Month." Upon its establishment in 2001, ODEP assumed responsibility for NDEAM and has worked to expand its reach and scope ever since.
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AGENCY HIGHLIGHTS
JFCS Portland Partners with SAIV
Jewish Family & Child Service in Portland, OR is an active member of the local SAIV Chapter. SAIV, the Spiritual Alliance to Stop Intimate Violence, is a world-wide organization co-founded by Riane Eisler, JD, a Holocaust survivor, author, attorney, and activist, see www.saiv.org for details of this remarkable organization. As JFCS Disabilities Inclusion Specialist, Corinne Spiegel has been the voice at SAIV-Portland for some of the most vulnerable victims of domestic violence, those with physical and mental health challenges.  Corinne has participated in a community presentation, reading the voice of a Jewish victim of domestic violence in a "Women's Voices" event early in 2014. Corinne has represented the Jewish community at community events, including a special appearance by Rick Santos in September. Rick is the CEO and President of IMA World Health, whose presentation on "Broken Silence" was a remarkable call to religious and community leaders to take action on the issues of domestic violence.
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On Thursday, December 4th, Jewish Family & Career Services of Atlanta will hold the third annual ArtWORKS Gala Reception from 5:30-7:30pm at the Art Institute of Atlanta in Decatur, GA to celebrate "All Things Bright and Beautiful, and All Creatures Great and Small" with ArtWORKS clients. The reception will feature close to 200 works of art to choose from, all developed as part of the pre-vocational program within the disabilities division of the organization.  ArtWORKS gives JF&CS clients a therapeutic and creative outlet with art while also introducing a commercial element as clients learn to market and sell their art. This award-winning program is highlighted every year in an annual art show. Proceeds from art sales go back into the program for supplies as well as to clients as income. To learn more about ArtWORKS, visit the website at artworksatl.com.
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Calls & Webinars
Visit AJFCA's Calendarto learn more about free calls and webinars. For more information login to the Member Resources section of the AJFCA website, followed by Webinars. Contact Megan at 410-843-7327 with questions.
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Stay updated on AJFCA offerings, agency news & current trends . . .
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D'Var Torah
Lee I. Sherman
President/CEO
This year, Simchat Torah is a little "later" than usual in our Gregorian calendar (are Jewish holidays ever "on time"?). For many of us, when we awake in the morning it is still dark, and as we ready ourselves for the new day, we glimpse the first signs of light of the new day. Similarly, as we conclude, and then begin again our annual Torah reading cycle, it is an opportune time to think about the opening words of Torah and the transition implied therein. As a child, and probably many years beyond, I saw the opening Hebrew words of B'reshit translated as: "In the beginning, God created ...." In more recent English translations, the opening verse begins: "When God began to create heaven and earth."
The second translation certainly gives a different feeling to the text. Instead of a clear demarcation between nothingness and the creation of the world, there is a sense of time that suggests an ongoing process. As we observe each day the gradual emergence of light from the dark, this image of creation as a process resonates with our experience. And, when in the third verse of B'reshit, God creates light and day emerges from the night, we know from our experience that this was not a sudden total illumination like turning on a lamp in a dark room, but rather a gradual dawning of the day.
When we are trying to grasp a novel concept, or teach our children a lesson, or help our clients gain some new understanding, it would be nice to think that this could happen with the proverbial light bulb going on. But, realistically we know that it is much more like the story of creation - a gradual emergence of light from the dark. The light will come; we just need to keep moving forward for it to be fully realized.
Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom.
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National Think Tank on Jewish Poverty in Canada 
On October 17th, the international community will mark the 21st annual UN Day for the Eradication of Poverty. On this same day on the Hebrew calendar, the 23rd of Tishrei 5775, Jews around the world will celebrate the joyous holiday of Simchat Torah, which celebrates the conclusion and start of the reading of the sefer Torah. It is from this ancient and holy text that we derive our communal commitment and obligation to ensuring that every member is sustained by the whole.  The Jewish community's experience with poverty mirrors the broader Canadian reality. Almost 15% of the Canadian Jewish population, including one in five children, lives below the poverty line. But poverty within the Jewish community is as elusive as it is pervasive: it remains largely hidden. Click here to learn more. |
Domestic Violence Awareness MonthDomestic Violence Awareness Month evolved from the first Day of Unity observed in October, 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The intent was to connect battered women's advocates acr oss the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children. Click here to view a compilation of AJFCA member agency domestic violence professionals' original publications addressing domestic violence in their communities in an effort to raise awareness of this devastating epidemic.
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AGENCY PROGRAMMING/OPERATIONS
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New Project Will Identify and Share Best Nonprofit Management Tactics 
For nonprofit organizations to realize their potential for social impact, they need more than a good program and ambitious leaders to expand it. They need good managers who adopt approaches that make the most of opportunities, anticipate threats, develop talent, and produce strong results. Click here to continue reading. |
Good Deeds Day Webinar  Good Deeds Day, held on March 15th celebrates doing good for the benefit of others and the planet. All over the world, hundreds of thousands choose to give of themselves, putting into practice the simple idea that every single person can do a good deed, be it large or small, to improve the lives of others and positively impact the world. Good Deeds Day, held March 15, 2015. Learn how to organize a project in your own community and activate your goodness.
Good Deeds Day Webinar
Tuesday, October 28th, 12pm ET
Mark your calendar. Registration details to come. |
Quarterly Domestic Violence Call: Reaching Out to the Orthodox 
Reaching Out to the OrthodoxTuesday, October 28th, 2pm ET - REGISTER HERE |
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Economic Check Up: Helping Older Adults Find Programs to Boost Their Economic Security
Nearly 23 million older adults in the U.S. are economically insecure-either living in poverty or one "bad break" away from it, and lacking the resources to support their basic health, nutrition, housing, and daily needs. In this webinar, participants will learn about progress to date and lessons learned from a holistic approach to economic assistance that involves a new way of thinking about service delivery at the community level, and www.EconomicCheckUp.org, a new online consumer to  ol from the National Council on Aging, that can empower low-income seniors to assess their needs and seek assistance. Economic Check Up
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A Jewish Communal Response to Addiction 
This 2014 AJFCA Annual Conference session is geared at approaching, treating and educating about addictions within the Jewish community. Leaders in the field of addiction treatment, engagement, and preventive services will explain their modalities and techniques. Techniques such as: Abstinence model, community re-engagement, counseling, and harm reduction will be discussed, as well as prevention through education. Additionally stigma, shame and other addiction treatment barriers will also be reviewed.
A Jewish Communal Response to Addiction
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COMMUNICATIONS & DEVELOPMENT
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2014 NTEN Community Survey Results 
The 2014 Community Survey results are in, and the results are intriguing! This annual survey was taken by over 1,000 individuals in the NTEN Community, and is one of many tools we used to learn more about you, the impact of NTEN's programs, and trends in the nonprofit technology sector over time - all the better to serve you. According to the survey, respondents reveal that while they are tactically deploying technology tools for specific tasks, they actually lack an over-arching strategy that effectively ties all of it together for the mission. Download the 2014 NTEN Community Survey Report here. |
"Ask the Fundraising Expert:" Clear Advice in  Dizzying Times
Fundraising may not be rocket science, but raising dollars in a smart, sophisticated manner can be a complicated undertaking. In 2014, an effective fundraising campaign requires an understanding of contemporary donors, a grasp of increasingly complex tax policies and giving strategies, a systematic approach to cultivating and recognizing donors, and a firm plan to get your message heard above the digital din of everyday life. Continue reading here. |
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E-Verify: What Every Employer Should Know But  Probably Doesn't
As follow-up to his session on the I-9 process, Dave Basham, Homeland Security Analyst, will discuss recent changes and updates to E-Verify. He'll highlight the critical use of this service as well as common mistakes made by employers big and small.
E-Verify: What Every Employer Should Know But Probably Doesn't
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VOLUNTEERS/YOUNG ADULT ENGAGEMENT
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International Volunteer Managers Day 
November 5th is International Volunteer Managers Day. Universally, people recognize the contribution of volunteers - however, volunteering does not succeed in a vacuum. Behind this world's army of volunteers lies an equally dedicated group of individuals who are responsible for the coordination, support, training, administration, and recruitment of volunteers - skilled professionals who are adept at taking singular passion and turning it into effective action. That is why we celebrate International Volunteer Managers Day every year on November 5th.
AJFCA urges you to mark your calendar and, whether you are an administrator, a volunteer, a community leader or someone who receives the benefit of volunteer help, to make sure the people who act as leaders and catalysts get the recognition they deserve.
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